The console PC must be Intel compatible, equipped with an ISA bus and an VGA or EGA video card. The controlling terminal must be VT100/VT340 compatible. EPIS consists of an electronic board installed in the PC with a set of connectors which support remote video, as well as remote and local keyboard connectivity. The solution is independent of the operating system (DOS, XENIX, SCO UNIX, NETWARE, etc.) and of the (character) applications executing in the PC.
The principle of EPIS operation is based on analyzing signals destined for the PC's video buffer, converting them into VT340 data streams (support for colour and special characters), and transmitting to the controlling terminal. This function does not affect the PC's screen output at all. Keyboard input data generated by the controlling (VT340) terminal is converted by the board into PC keyboard signals and is treated by the receiving operating system and/or application as if it were entered directly from the PC's keyboard. To provide full flexibility, the original keyboard can remain attached to the PC through EPIS, and its signals are processed unchanged.
In essence, EPIS represents a module which is fully transparent to the housing PC and yet allowing to transmit video (out) and keyboard signals (in) to/from the controlling terminal. Performance and other characteristics of the PC are unaffected. EPIS contains a set of memory buffers which allow for storing several screen-fulls of data. This is particularly useful for controlling applications which generate unsolicited output (for example: host system consoles).
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