enhanced performance architecture (MAP) (EPA)

Enhanced Performance Architecture (EPA) is a Proway architecture. A MAP/EPA station is compatible with both Manufacturing Automation Protocol (MAP) and Proway.

An EPA-only station is only MAP-Proway compatible and thus has limited communication outside of its own system. MAP/EPA stations, in addition to the full MAP protocol architecture, have the ability to skip layers 3 through 6 and access the layer service interface directly from the RS-511 interface.

As an extension at layer 2b( LCC, logical connection control), connectionless operation is provided, optionally allowing direct acknowledgements or a reply to the transmission of a message (LCC type 3, immediate response). This enhancement allows for efficient message/response message cycles. Inconjunction with the option to skip layers 3 to 6, compliance with particularly short response times is made possible.