Mercury Provides Efficient and Scalable Intercom Communications over IP Networks

Mercury is a real-time intercom communications platform that enables multichannel full-duplex one-to-one, group and conference communications over LAN, WAN and Internet. It also provides seamless interoperability with other commonly used voice communications systems.

Each Mercury system is comprised of one or more Mercury PCI Cards, Mini-Mercury Units (MMU), Mercury USB Adapters or Mercury Interface Units (MIU). These devices, known as Mercury hosts, are equipped with 8 to 32 IP audio channels. IP audio channels are dynamically allocated to support two-way communications over an IP network. Multiple IP channels can be used simultaneously to conduct communications with any combination of other Mercury hosts distributed on the enterprise. Examples of call types include point-to-point, group and conference calls. Communications capacity grows when Mercury is deployed on multicast-enabled networks. Multicast conferencing makes it possible for hundreds of users to communicate using bandwidth efficiently. If required, IP audio channels can be reserved for use as static audio trunks or for emergency communications.

The Mercury product line also includes a variety of hardware or software panels with up to 256 one-touch buttons or keys. Panels provide users with a single, unified method of communicating with any other device incorporated in the Mercury enterprise. Because Mercury is a multichannel intercom platform, users can monitor and engage in multiple voice communications simultaneously. Combined, these features can dramatically improve the speed and agility of voice communications within an organization.

Mercury is an all in one communications platform that allows an organization to leverage every voice communications asset across the enterprise. In addition to providing intercom capability as a Mercury host, the Mercury Interface Unit is designed to provide interoperability with a wide variety of communications devices in a space-efficient manner. Each unit can be equipped with any combination of four internal hardware expansion modules. Audio, radio and telephone options provide enterprise-wide interoperability with:

• Mercury intercom panels
• Legacy intercom systems or other 4-wire audio devices
• Radios of all types
• Conventional telephones, cell phones, satellite phones (FXS, FXO, E&M)
• SIP phones and SIP PBXs

Unlike many other IP communications and interoperability products, there is no need to add external interconnect hardware and audio conversion devices. At 2U high, the MIU uses very little rack space and is simple to install, integrate and manage.

Once in place, any combination of devices can conduct two-way communications locally or over the network - intercom-to-intercom, intercom-to-radio/telephone/SIP phone, radio-to-radio, and so on. This enables powerful communications capabilities such as connecting a cell phone user at one site to a two-way radio user at another. Dynamic and static conferencing between radios of different types is possible on a local or world-wide basis. A landline connected to an MIU in one country can be made available to Mercury users anywhere on the globe. The communications capability is limited only by what is determined to be suitable for the application.

For applications that don't require communications over IP, the Mercury Interface Unit can be used as a stand-alone intercom or interoperability platform with no reliance on an external PC or network.

All Mercury products are designed to operate with standards-based IT and network technologies - no special routers, switches or gateways are required. A Mercury system can be constructed using network infrastructure ranging from something as simple as a 5 port switch to a global terrestrial and satellite based network.

Mercury uses protocol stacks that are optimized for the types of communications involved. They are:

Trilogy Transparent Mode: This protocol provides the fastest connections with the lowest latency. Intercom, radio, and 4-wire audio are transmitted using this method. It is reliable, faster, and uses less bandwidth than other Voice over IP protocols. First used over five years ago, this protocol is uniquely well-suited for multichannel communications over IP and is only available on Mercury.

Trilogy Switched Mode: This protocol is used for handling conventional telephony over IP. It extends the reach of these communications assets over the IP network and makes them accessible to other communications devices that are a part of the Mercury enterprise.

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP): Use of this protocol makes Mercury interoperable with SIP phones and SIP PBXs.

A list of all standards and ports used by Mercury is available in the FAQ section of this site.

Security is implemented at the network level and standards-based encryption devices including VPN can be used transparently. The system is designed to give administrators precise control over all relevant system, network and security parameters including administrative access and speak and listen privileges for each user. Mercury has been deployed on multiple military networks around the globe following rigorous security and intelligence community scrutiny. In some cases Mercury is being used to provide an audio communications bridge between classified and unclassified networks.