Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) USB 2.0 Simple Signaling VS Smart Signaling

[Kiriakos GR]

This is an article about Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and USB 2.0 communication with PC and it relative software.

Most of times when we see an overpriced UPS at just 1000VA (850W), with connectivity option for several external battery pack, we do not see the entire picture.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies remote monitoring this is no regular lesson for an electrician.

In most cases IT department this requiring remote monitoring, so to keep an eye at all single UPS (Backup power system) this be part of a networking environment.
Small to Medium networks,  they need having at least their Servers and Significant work stations, all be protected due sudden power loss.


Schneider Electric  / APC (2011), this uses this Single and or Smart Signaling at the standard USB 2.0 port of their SUA series of UPS.
Schneider Electric this is entitled to discontinue products and entire product series.

But the question of what is the difference between  Single and or Smart Signaling this has never been answered.

Here is my version of the story: 
Example: SUA1000XL
Entire constantly active USB 2.0 communication this is happening, by the UPS this communicating REAL TIME with APC AGENT software this be installed for it, at our workstation.
 
APC PowerChute Business Console software, this receives messages from entire number of  APC AGENT software installed at entire PC these be part of a larger network.
When and network Admin he is about to inspect as specific UPS unit, he gets connected at specific APC AGENT software.
The software cannot deliver all the action in to a single page, and the network Admin he has to select and retrieve battery remaining charge status as this be a single information.
Viewing of recorded status logs this is another task of retrieving a single information.

Long story in sort, Smart Signaling this is invisible part, of USB 2.0 communication, when the UPS this talking with it own AGENT.
It is somewhat sad, that software developers of original APC brand, they are not here anymore to them to explain, of the tweaks that they did, in favor of Smart Signaling.       
From a technical point of view, this is all about proprietary software engineering, rather USB 2.0 port in hardware capabilities.

Schneider Electric  / APC (2011), they thought that their customers, will eventually purchase special ADD-ON cards PCB, so them to enjoy in full, detailed UPS monitoring within a LAN.

In conclusion:
Schneider Electric  / APC (2011), they thought making money by forcing the customer so him to perform three purchases.
a) UPS unit (this with a missing monitoring card PCB with a LAN port)
b) PowerChute Business Console software
c) Monitoring card PCB with a LAN port

PowerChute AGENT, this using USB connectivity, even this it should be able to transfer even the half amount of information, in contrast to a Full featured monitoring card with LAN port.
The most simplified answer, this is that APC software developers, they did find a way using USB 2.0 connectivity, as this to was a LAN port.
Due a LAN port, you have no restriction running multiple commands, and or receiving multiple streams of data, in the unit of time.