While many of the office telephone systems that we sell today are of the “Hosted” variety, DataCom Inc. also continues to provide “On-Premise” units when requested.  This system is defined where there is a controller (traditionally known as the PBX) that physically resides within your office space.  Additionally, I would have to say that most of my customers continue to prefer an actual keyset sitting on their desk, with a handset that they may lodge between their shoulder and their chin, freeing them to use both of their hands to type, or whatever, while they are conducting their telephone conversations.

Recently, I installed such a system at a mansion in nearby Leetonia, OH.  Sadly, the mansion had been completely destroyed by a fire about 6 years ago.  Getting the owner back into the completely-rebuilt dwelling has been a long, drawn out, arduous task.  You see, the owner mandated that the new house would be an exact replica of the old structure where physically able; built to modern standards with today’s materials and safety codes included.  Luckily, the drawings and spec’s of the original mansion were available.  What I’m trying to get across, is that the owner wanted exactly what he remembered – with a few selective niceties thrown in.  The owner was very happy with the VoIP system utilizing large-screen, LED displays on all of the new keysets.  I am not complaining, I am only explaining, that this customer is definitely “Old School”.

So it was no surprise when he called just a few days after the install to enquire if he might get a user manual sent out to him.  Now, like said customer, I also remember the days before “Google it” had any meaning beyond gibberish; and I do remember being advised to “read the directions” when faced with questions about a newly acquired device.  But working in the IT community for almost 30 years has taught me that “manuals” are, sad, but true, a thing of the past.

When I was in the service, I did my job from a seat on an airplane.  Each seat was a station with different responsibilities being assigned to it.  It was an incredibly technical job, using very complicated, precise equipment, in a vehicle that travelled above the earth.  That mode of travel carried its’ own responsibilities just to maintain flight – often involving dealing with emergency situations.  Each station/seat had a User Manual; It was about 3-4 inches thick.  While there were smaller supplements, for certain specialized items, this one tome held instructions and schematics for virtually every piece of equipment related to that station and job.  How?  How could one book possibly contain ALL of the information that was required?

Well, you’ve got to understand that there were only so many modes in which each those early-days pieces of equipment could operate.  Many devices only had one bit of info that pertained to it.

It seems that designers of today’s gadgets have made certain that every piece of high tech equipment performs on MANY different levels.  Consider that; all of the activities that your cell phone performs, probably least among these is using it as a telephone.  I’m guessing that internet access for checking your social media is, almost certainly, number one.  Texting, followed by taking pictures would be next; with checking emails falling into that “last” category of usage along with your phone calls.  And those are only the Major systems!  Let's not forget the tertiary systems; the alarm clocks, timers, calculators, bug & plant identifiers, etc.

Well, cell phones are not alone in this multi-tasking world we find ourselves in.  To stay on subject, be aware that today’s telephone systems are often coupled with your alarm, camera, or access control systems.  They may provide screen pops of video or other useful data while giving some control of these systems through your keypad.

Your voicemail, after receiving a message, is not only capable of lighting the little “Message” light on your keyset, but can be set up to send either an email or text alerting you to your message.  The email might even contain a Wave file of the voicemail itself.  With all of these amazing possibilities, is it any wonder that there are no manuals automatically provided with your new system?  If there were, they would be incredibly immense with pages numbering into the thousands.  Today, it is easier – and quicker – for you to ascertain the answer to your questions through the internet.  Just Google It.

As I was researching ways for DataCom Inc. to “stay ahead” of our local competition as regards IT infrastructure, I was trying to ascertain, even if it was only a theory: “What is the future of IT cabling in order to facilitate the use of AI in the workplace?”.  That quickly evolved into the idea that it involves a Converged Network.  Ok, so what is a Converged Network?  Simply, it is a data network that is capable of carrying both data and power to and from all of your devices; those already on the network – your computers, laptops, Wireless Access Points, printers, copiers, faxes, telephones, and possibly even alarms – as well as the devices not thought to traditionally occupy space on the network.  These are your lights, appliances, etc.  Your HVAC is powered traditionally, but controlled through the network.

A prime example of this is the Sinclair hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.  At that location, there is one main Telecom closet which houses the voice and data services running in from the street, i.e. Internet and Telephone Service.  These are run through the routers and firewalls before being broken out and sent to the customer’s switchgear.  Using traditional terms, this is the Main Distribution Frame, or MDF.  From this location there is a single fiber cable dedicated to each of the 164 rooms and suites.  The fiber is terminated and connected to another, much smaller, switch above the ceiling of each of the rooms.  It is then a simple matter to install copper Cat6a cables the short distance between the ceiling switch and every location in that room which requires connectivity.  Everything else in the room, excepting only the clothes iron and the hair dryer, and the HVAC (already mentioned) is powered by and controlled through this small switch.  In the same manner as it has been for years, you gain access through either a key-card, or an app on your cell phone.  But now these not only unlock the door, but also tell the room's atmospheric and light controls that you are either in the room or away.  The mirrors are touch-screen.  The blinds are open and shut remotely from anywhere in the room.  The shower control is digital, allowing you to select the water direction, temperature, rate, and pressure.  The TV’s are 8K, receiving their power and signal from the network.  The refrigerator and coffee pot are both on the network and controllable by the consumer remotely.  Of course the lights are operated in this fashion as well along with your room heating and airconditioning controls.  All of this, while simultaneously providing you with WiFi and hard-wire data, and your in-room telephone.

In large scale applications, when running higher wattages of Power over Ethernet (PoE), care must be taken when installing the copper cabling.  Large bundles of cables must be avoided due to the heat generated within these smaller cables with each one possibly carrying up to 90Watts of power.  With the style of Converged Network installed in the Sinclair, the inherently smaller bundles make this a moot point – safety by design!

So this is the Converged Network.  This particular style of network infrastructure is a pseudo GPON, or Gigabit ethernet Passive Optical Network.  Now this handy little acronym is just a short way of saying that we, and I am completely oversimplifying this here, start out with a multitude of fibers and break it down the further we remove ourselves from the provider.  In this instance the large fiber bringing the service to the router and switch is broken down to a smaller fiber to another switch, which in turn is broken down to multiple copper cables homerun to the devices.

So, I guess my research only “sort of” answered my original question regarding AI implementation, but it was an interesting search regardless.  What DataCom Inc. is going to take away from this is that we are going to ensure that this knowledge remains at the forefront of our thinking today - and into our future designs.  This forward-thinking style of a data network definitely has applications beyond hotels.  In a very short time of looking I found a myriad of companies that are also offering these amenities to their customers and employees alike.  We will be introducing ourselves to several of them very shortly that we might establish a relationship where we will learn how to design these systems, as well as properly install them.  It’s always a good idea to have as many arrows in your quiver as possible.

We can’t wait!