The Wireless USB Promoter Group has announced that it has finalised the Wireless USB (WUSB) specification and given the go-ahead to public. Wireless USB is based on the WiMedia MAC convergence architecture, utilising the WiMedia Alliance's MB-OFDM ultrawideband (UWB) MAC and PHY. It was designed to coexist with the other upper-layer protocols built atop WiMedia's common radio platform, and delivers speeds equivalent to wired Hi-Speed USB, with bandwidth of 480Mbit/s at 3 meters and 110Mbit/s at 10 meters.
Wireless USB is the new wireless extension to USB that combines the speed and security of wired technology with the ease-of-use of wireless technology. The major benefit of the technology is that it'll allow USB device, such as printers, scanners, external hard drives, and digital cameras to be connected to your PC without any wires.
At the Spring 2004 Intel Developer Forum, formation of the Wireless USB Promoter Group was announced. The group is comprised of seven industry leaders: Agere Systems, HP, Intel, Microsoft Corporation, NEC, Philips Semiconductors and Samsung Electronics. The Wireless USB Promoter Group is chartered with defining the wireless USB (WUSB) specification. This specification maintains the same usage and architecture as wired USB with a high-speed host-to-device connection. With these considerations in place, it will enable an easy migration path for today's wired USB solutions.
According to the organisation, the specification will now transition to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) to undertake certification, compliance testing, logo licensing and marketing for Wireless USB (WUSB). WUSB is designed to complement wired USB with similar functionality and backwards compatibility. The Wireless USB Promoter Group believes WUSB will be adopted for PC, consumer electronics and mobile device applications with first products expected to be available by the end of 2005.
However, there is a downside to ditching the cable. Because Wireless USB is wireless, anyone can 'hear' it. With USB, it's a cable, so it's inherently private. Therefore, Wireless USB needs to implement the same level of security as 802.11x. And for Wireless USB to replace USB for very short-range networks, companies will have to make it as widespread in the home and office as USB is today. Wireless can be snooped, so assuring privacy and security are essential to achieve this goal.
According to the Wireless USB Promoter Group, product development is currently underway and the first implementations will be in the form of discrete silicon that is being introduced in a number of form factors such as add-in cards, external adapters and embedded silicon modules for integrated solutions. However, there is still quite some work to be done before products can be developed, and the USB Implementers Forum will undertake certification, compliance testing, logo licensing and the marketing for Wireless USB.
BIOS, May 27, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0)
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