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1.2 System technology
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MCA-STREAM digital audio processing and
transmission technology
TAIDEN proprietary MCA-STREAM technology is the
essential data transmission technology in the voting
system, e.g. transmitting control and other information
data over a single dedicated 100 Mbps high speed
6-pin cable. Every unit - congress main unit, voting unit
- is equipped with a high performance CPU as the
kernel of the advanced technology infrastructure.
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System hardware structure
Voting system hardware is an embedded structure
based on dual high performance CPUs. Even in
stand-alone mode, voting is competent for the
management of electronic voting.
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Modular system structure
Any kind of configuration can be set up just by
daisy-chaining Large-Scale Voting System voting units.
The modular system structure of the voting system is
applicable to any kind of conference and provides an
accurate and efficient solution. Additional voting units
can be added when needed. More system functions
are available in connection with a PC and control
software.
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Dual main unit hot spare
The voting system hardware systems can be operated
on hot standby with a master and a backup main unit. If
the master main unit fails, the backup unit starts to
operate automatically as master and takes over the
meeting. Thus continuation of the conference is
guaranteed.
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System software infrastructure
The voting system software is designed for the
prevalent Client/Server structure. Client and server
communicate with each other by using TCP/IP network
protocol, ensuring both data security and transmission
efficiency. Client and server software can run on the
same computer as well as on different computers in the
same LAN, enabling the operator to manage the
conference more flexibly.
System software imports the hot-spare dual server
structure by using a main server and a back-up server.
While the main server is processing, data are stored
real time on the back-up server to prevent conference
related information from loss in case of a crash of the
main server. As a result, security and reliability of the
conference system are improved vitally.
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Duplicate and backup connection via
“Closed Loop - Daisy Chain” connection
For important meetings, especially those which
consider connection reliability as their leading point,
Large-Scale Voting System adopts advanced “Closed
Loop - Daisy Chain” connection topology, connecting
the last unit in the loop back to the congress main unit.
Therefore, any congress unit in the loop has two
connection paths to the congress main unit. As a result,
breakdown or replacement of a congress unit and
connection failure of a cable will not influence other
congress units. As such the system features the
advantages of a daisy chain connection system with its
simpleness of cabling as well as the improvement of
the system reliability through duplicate and backup
connection functions.
In Large-Scale Voting System,
only the congress main unit supports “Closed Loop -
Daisy Chain” connection topology, and only one ring
connection allows.
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Advanced TCP/IP communication protocol in
PC control
In a PC controlled system, the congress main unit and
the PC use the advanced TCP/IP protocol.
Theoretically, the communication distance between the
PC and the CMU can be infinite. This is decisively
different to traditional RS-232 connection modes where
the distance between the PC and the CMU cannot
exceed 15 meters. TCP/IP enables remote control,
remote diagnosis and remote update.
By using network techniques, conference systems are
linked tightly to the rapidly developing internet
technology, computer science and communication
technology. Users enjoy the convenience of the
contemporary leading techniques, e.g. by using the
compatible wireless LAN techniques (802.11) - such as
PDAs - which can be used to control a conference
system wirelessly. The import of network topology also
makes the conference system merge with intelligent
building networks.
