Product comparison
Compare our different models to understand which model suits your application the best. An explanation of the different feature areas can be found further down on this page.
Fully supported
Optional
Not supported
Fleet positioning
The positioning is based on GPS and can normally position the client device to within ten metres. For IMS and IVG, the positioning information can be shared with applications on the vehicle. For all products, the information is sent to a central repository for storage and/or presentation on a map. The frequency with which the information is sent to the central servers is configurable and based on a minimum distance travelled together with a minimum number of seconds while standing still.
Multiple links
Our communication products include the patented ability to use multiple links and to provide seamless communication services for an onboard network over those communication links. The links can be of the same or different types and the software will automatically select which link or links will be used at any one time. The optmisation can be based on a number of criteria (e.g. cost, bandwidth and geographical location).
GPRS / EDGE
All our products include GPRS and EDGE capabilities for wide area coverage with a high level of availability.
UMTS / HSDPA
For higher throughput, the system supports UMTS and HSDPA networks. Modems in our systems include support for both types of network, although HSDPA networks are not yet available. When such networks become operational, those modems will automatically be able to make us of them.
Wi-Fi (external)
Wi-Fi for external access is typically used to large data transfers when the vehicle is at a station, a depot or another area where there is a Wi-Fi network present. This provides for a suitable back-haul connection to perform major upgrades or to transfer backups (e.g. point of sale information, CCTV video data) from other onboard systems off the train.
Satellite communication
A satellite link can be used to increase the bandwidth or to provide coverage in areas where there is no mobile coverage at all. The satellite link is normally downlink only, although there are bi-directional satellite options, which, while costly, are required when a connection needs to be maintained using satellite only.
WiMAX
Although currently not used for our commercial customers, WiMAX can be added as an access network. This requires the availability of a WiMAX network.
Paying users
The system supports paying users by including a captive portal, different forms of payment or vouchers as well as reports to monitor the real-time as well as historic usage of the service. The payment options include abilities to integrate with a backend ticketing system as well as online credit card payments.
Onboard staff that need to use the Internet access for internal applications can use a client application (available for laptops and PDAs) to avoid having to log on to the network. These users can be authenticated to a backend RADIUS server.
Location awareness
Location information can be used for a number of purposes. The system automatically detects the current country which can be used as input to point of sales equipment for VAT purposes for vehicles travelling between countries. There are also triggers that control the use of the communication resources based on the location.
In addition to the location of the vehicle, there is also support for positioning users within the vehicle. This can be used to provide different levels of service (e.g. complementary or at a cost) for passengers in different carriages.
Acceleration technologies
The system includes features to increase the performance when using standard applications based on caching and proxying technologies. This is totally transparent to the user.
Onboard wireless network
The onboard wireless network is specifically designed to be used onboard trains or other types of vehicles. It is a standard 802.11b/g network that works with all laptops and PDAs that support those standards. For situations when there are multiple carriages (i.e. trains) the onboard wireless network will automatically configure itself as carriages are removed or added to the configuration.
The onboard wireless network also includes security features to limit the exposure of passengers from potential malicious users.
External sensors
The system is designed to allow external sensors to be added to the onboard network. Such sensors typically allow a legacy piece of equipment with a serial port connector to be remotely monitored from a land based station.
Staff application framework
The system can optionally include an extensible application framework that supports context aware applications to be added. Icomera can assist in the development of such applications or they can be developed by our customers or by a third party.