Wireless connection for PCs

Electronic News, March 9, 1998 by Cynthia Bournellis

Los Angeles--A new group, the Home Radio Frequency Working Group (HRFWG), has been formed to develop a specification for wireless communications in the home. The proposed specification, called the Shared Wireless Access Protocol, or SWAP, would allow PCs, peripherals, cordless telephones and consumer electronics devices to interoperate with one another.

"We were motivated to start the group based on the observation that home PCs aren't used a lot," said Ben Manny, chairperson of the working group, during a press teleconference at the Computer Telephony show last week. Mr. Manny was joined by executives from a number of working group member companies to discuss the spec, which is expected to be finalized later this year. Mr. Manny, who is the engineering manager of residential networking at Intel's Architecture Labs, said that in order to enable PCs to offer more capabilities, thus becoming the hub that would connect such devices, a wireless connection is a good place to start.

SWAP defines a new common interface specification that supports wireless voice and data services in the home. The protocol is designed to deal with radio frequency interference often found in the home, from appliances such as microwave ovens.

The protocol will combine elements of two current standards. The first is IEEE 802.11, which supports data. The second is the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone standard for voice.

"We chose a technology that combined key elements of both standards and stripped out many elements of both," said Kevin Negus, principal engineer from Hewlett-Packard's HomeRF Solutions group.

SWAP supports data rates of one and two megabits per second, data rates needed to access the Internet via broadband pipes or to do voice or low data rate control commands.

SWAP will support up to six near-line quality voice connections. It runs at 2,400MHz and uses 100 milliwatts to transmit power. It includes a 40-bit encryption algorithm for security, and enables long battery life.

The Universal Serial Bus interface will be the key connection point for these devices through a device bay to start; no new hardware will be needed in the PC.

The spec will initially support the upcoming Windows 98 operating systems, and other OSs as the market determines.

One problem, though, is that there is no standard among embedded operating systems. So, how will they all work together? "It will be a large task to get applications to interoperate," said Mr. Manny. "We plan to take it one step at a time.

SWAP doesn't rule out power lines. But the group said it will stay focused on untethered wireless devices, while other standards will be developed that address the issue of no additional wires.

Intel, through its new home networking division (EN, February 23), is working on wired solutions. Group members believe SWAP will ensure the interoperability of myriad devices.

Some examples of what users might be able to do with products that adhere to SWAP include setting up a wireless home network to share voice and data between peripherals, PCs and new devices such as portable remote display pads; reviewing incoming voice, fax and E-mail messages from a small cordless telephone handset; forwarding incoming telephone calls to cordless handsets, fax machines and voice mailboxes; accessing the Internet from anywhere in and around the home from portable display devices; and activating other home electronic systems by speaking a command into a cordless handset.

Products based on SWAP are expected to be commercially available in the second half of 1999. One device could be a cordless phone, similar to today's digital spread spectrum phones, but with added user interface features such as a computer button that dials in the computer's ability to recognize speech.

Mr. Hegus said the first round of OEM products will use existing components, with future products seeing significant cost reduction curves that would result in $100 products.

The working group is being led by companies from the personal computer, communications and consumer electronics industries. They include Compaq Computer, Ericsson Enterprise Networks, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Samsung Electronics and Philips Consumer Communications L.P., as well as leading semiconductor companies.