The iGateway is a key product element in the iSCADA architecture It connects customer devices (eg electricity meters, compressor controllers, etc) within or around an area or premise to external IP networks Devices may be connected directly or through iAdaptors connected to each customer device iGateway processes data as needed and sends it to and receives it from an IP network, which may be a LAN or a WAN Internet or company Intranet iGateway manages the Adapters, if employed, communicates with the customer devices, processes, stores data input, converts it to IP data streams and/or Web pages, and transmits data to a server It manages the network connection, data insertion into the IP network and network user authentication It includes a full IP stack and a suite of IP services It establishes network physical connectivity via one of three methods, an integrated Ethernet port, telephone modem, or serial port It can dial an ISP or connect to a LAN via an Ethernet port The serial port can be used to connect to a data radio, satellite uplink or a router In addition, iGateway may be connected directly to a PC where the device(s) data can be accessed by that PC's Web browser