Echelon's LonWorks Technology Links Fiber-Optic Network and Security Control System at Puerto Rico Telephone Co

Business Wire, Sept 30, 1999

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 1999--

Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) today announced that Raytheon Control-By-Light(tm) and ALYA International will provide LonWorks(R) based products for a state-of-the-art, contactless security and access control system solution for the Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC).

Echelon's LonWorks technology provides the communication backbone for both the fiber-optic links manufactured by Raytheon Control-By-Light and the O.P.E.N.centrix(tm) (Open Platform for Essential Networks) advanced security management system from ALYA International, for the new security system to be installed in PRTC's entire 300-building network before December 1, 1999.

Motorola's Worldwide Smartcard Solutions Division, which utilizes ALYA's O.P.E.N.centrix system, has been awarded a security system contract by PRTC. Raytheon Control-By-Light and ALYA entered into a cooperative agreement earlier this year to jointly promote sales of Raytheon's fiber optic technology solutions with ALYA's O.P.E.N. centrix system. Raytheon's fiber optic solutions implement the newly approved Electronic Industry Association fiber optic transceiver protocol standard (EIA-709.4).

The EIA standard, co-authored by Raytheon Control-By-Light, supports a new generation of interoperable, energy-efficient, intelligent buildings by enabling lights, appliances, heating/air-conditioning equipment, security and access control, power control, sprinkler systems, audio/video equipment and other separately manufactured products and systems to be networked via fiber optic transceivers that communicate using the standard LonWorks protocol.

Raytheon's standard modular transceiver provides the interface that links Neuron(r) microprocessors in LonWorks nodes to fiber optic backbones, links or networks. The transceiver also is used within Raytheon's popular LonWorks twisted pair to fiber router.

ALYA's O.P.E.N.centrix system, a high-end security management system, utilizes Echelon's LNS(tm) network operating system and LonMaker(tm) for Windows(R) tool to supply the critical information of who is in a facility. Raytheon Control-By-Light, part of the Commercial Electronics Division of Raytheon Company, provides the industry's first complete LonWorks based fiber-optic solution that allows a single fiber optic cable to communicate simultaneously in two directions. This feature, coupled with other aspects of the system architecture, ensures continuous operation of the entire system even in the event of a part or cable failure.

Douglas H. Corbett, President of ALYA International, stated, "Echelon's LonWorks technology is key to the high communication reliability demonstrated by O.P.E.N.centrix and required by security installations such as PRTC. In addition, by utilizing the philosophy of interoperability, products such as Raytheon's can be integrated with O.P.E.N.centrix to satisfy very sophisticated customer requirements."

"This is an important project for all parties involved, and a wonderful chance for us to demonstrate the benefits of fiber-optics over traditional copper or coaxial cables in a security system," said Brian D. Morrison, director of Raytheon Control-By-Light. "Echelon's LonWorks technology helps differentiate our products and gives us an edge over the competition."

"The market is voting for open, interoperable solutions based on LonWorks and the cost and flexibility advantage they offer," said Ed Sterbenc, Echelon's Vice President, Americas. "The Puerto Rico Telephone Company's selection of these products from Raytheon and ALYA is the latest example of this trend."

About Echelon Corporation

Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) is the developer of LonWorks networks, recognized internationally as a standard for interoperable control networks. With thousands of application developers and millions of devices installed worldwide, LonWorks is a leading open, networked control solution for building and home automation, industrial, transportation, and public utility applications. Echelon offers a full range of off-the-shelf hardware and software products to support the development, installation and management of intelligent, open and interoperable control networks.

Echelon is based in Palo Alto, California with international offices in China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. News and information are available at www.echelon.com.

Echelon, the Echelon logo, LonWorks, and LonPoint are registered trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the U.S. and other countries. LNS and LonMaker are trademarks of Echelon Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.