Subject: Re: Info. on Infrared wireless lans From: strtultd@ix.netcom.com (Strategies Unlimited) In <3ot0s8$20f@ftpbox.mot.com> 9208046w@lux.levels.unisa.edu.au (Andre' Furstenrecht) writes: >I am currently trying to find out information on wireless infra-red lans. >I am interested in obtaining the following information: >1) Protocols used >2) Information on the hardware >3) Available products >If anyone has either information or sources about any or all of these areas >I would greatly appreciate it if you could please e-mail the information to >me. >Thanks in advane. >Andre' Furstenrecht >9208046w@lux.levels.unisa.edu.au >9208046w@cis0.levels.unisa.edu.au Andre', Perhaps this excerpt from an article I wrote for our monthly newsletter, The Light Source, will help get you started. Best regards, Eric Bergles Strategies Unlimited 201 San Antonio Circle, Suite 205 Mountain View, California 94040 USA ph 415-941-3438 fax 415-941-5120 email: strtultd@ix.netcom.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Photonics Corp. (San Jose, California) was founded in 1985 and is a pioneering supplier of IR-based LAN products. Photolink, designed for Apple computer-based work groups, was introduced in 1989. Apple Computer continues to be one of Photonics' largest investors, with a 21% interest. IBM has also signed a strategic licensing agreement. The company also had an IPO in November 1993, raising $15 million. Revenues fell from $1.6 million in 1993 to $1.1 million in 1994, largely because of the lack of licensing fees received. [Note added by CGA: Photonics is now in Chap. 11]
Photonics expanded its family of wireless connectivity products products with the introduction of the COLLABORATIVE line at the beginning of 1993. COLLABORATIVE creates instant wireless connections at up to 1 Mbps between indust ry standard portable and desktop computers, peripherals, intelligent appliances, personal digital assistants, industrial products and existing wired networks. The COLLABORATIVE PCMCIA product for mobile computing include s a Type II and Type IIe PCMCIA card in a one piece unit which is tethered to a flexibly mounted transceiver unit. COLLABORATIVE PC includes an internal ISA adapter card along with the tethered transceiver. COLLABORATIV E Port is a parallel port adapter with external transceiver for portable computers without the expansion slot.
Photonic's COOPERATIVE Mac adapter serves Macintosh desktop and PowerBook computers. It also serves as a bridge linking portable nodes to a wired LocalTalk network. COOPERATIVE Mac works with all AppleTalk/LocalTalk co mpatible devices such as network printers, net modems, net routers or scanners. The adapter is compatible with standard AppleTalk software; no special software is required.
The infrared transceiver is at the heart of Photonics product mix, which use diffused, not directed, infrared technology. Diffuse infrared signals bounce off passive surfaces, including walls, ceilings and floors. The whole room reflects the signal, eliminating the need to aim the device.
The infrared transmission covers a 25' x 25' room and does not propagate beyond a room. COLLABORATIVE Extension expands this range to 50' x 50', st oring and rebroadcasting all signals. COLLABORATIVE Access completes the line of products, providing enterprise-wide networking.
Photonics introduced four new products during 1994 that extend its Collaborative networking system for Macintosh or PC users. Photonics uses diffuse infrared LEDs for data rates up to 1 Mbps in a service area 25 ft. x25 ft. Two new adapters, Collaborative Port and Collaborative microPCMCIA, combine with the new access point products, Collaborative EtherPoint and Collaborative Etherpoint Kit.
The Collaborative Port is designed for use with desktop or notebook PCs with an available parallel port. It consists of a parallel port adapter with an external infrared transceiver. Suggested retail price for the Port Adapter is $349. The Collaborative microPCMCIA is designed for use with notebook PCs with an available Type II PCMCIA slot. Collaborative microPCMCIA features an integrated PCMCIA slot. Collaborative microPCMCIA featu res an integrated PMCIA card and transceiver for maximum convenience and portability, and is priced at $399.
The Collaborative EtherPoint provides instant wireless access to Ethernet networks, maintains live network sessions as users move throughout their facility and extends wireless service area range. An EtherPoint unit i s a pre-configured 386/33 CPU with an Ethernet adapter, collaborative PC adapter, and EtherPoint software. Suggested pricing is $799. The EtherPoint kit, a software-only option, sells for $129.
IBM (Armonk, New York) entered the infrared LAN business through a licensing agreement with Photonics in 1991. IBM licensed the Photonics technology so as to accelerate development of infrared LAN products. Three agree ments included three licensing and one development agreement under which IBM was to provide $900,000 for the research and development of the infrared transceiver. In November 1992, Photonics and IBM jointly demonstrated prototypes of the first infrared communications product incorporating Photonics infrared transceiver at the COMDEX show. In June 1993, IBM announced a family of products incorporating the Photonics infrared transceiver i ncluding two types of adapter cards for IBM desktop personal computers and a PCMCIA Type II card for IBM portable computers.
In April of 1993, IBM signed another agreement with Photonics to co-develop the software specification for the media access control layer needed to insure the interoperability of IBM's family of products. IBM and Photon ics co-own this software. IBM and Photonics have also worked on a smaller, lower-powered and less-expensive integrated circuit Under these agreements, IBM competes directly with Photonics in the sale of wireless network products for IBM PC and PC compatible computers.
InfraLAN (Acton, Massachusetts) was started up in 1992 by several employees from the now defunct BICC Communications, a networking division of BICC PLC of the UK. BICC was an early player in the IR-based LAN market. Wh ile BICC Communications had been a major producer of both copper- and fiber optics-based LANs, the company sold its copper-based LAN business to 3COM in the first quarter of 1992. InfraLAN, their first wireless product, was introduced in January 1991 to support 4 Mbps token-ring protocols for stand-alone workstations. InfraLAN Technology was purchased in early 1994 by Laser Communications Inc. (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), but was again sp un out in February of 1995 and now is an independently operated company.
InfraLAN has expanded its offerings to include 4 and 16 Mbps Token Ring protocols, as well as an Ethernet product released in early 1994. InfraLAN is fully compliant with the IEEE 802.5 and 802.3 Token Ring and Ethernet specifications, respectively. The 16 Mbps Token Ring base station costs $1,995 and can connect up to 6 wireless terminals. The 4 Mbps verson costs only $1,195. The Ethernet product costs $795. An ATM product is in de velopment which is compatible with the ATM standard at 25 Mbps and is expected to cost $900. An outdoor product has been tested at up to 1,000 feet, but no units have been sold.
Both Token Ring and Ethernet products use a direct, line-of-sight LED. In the InfraLAN system, as seen in the figure below, an LED is electronically modulated with computer-generated signals. The infrared light is then focused by a mirror and directed towards another mirror positioned at a second computer station. The mirror at the second station collects the infrared light and directs it onto a photodetector diode where the optical s ignals are converted back to electronic signals. The range is quoted at 80-feet, but longer distances have been measured. A modified version, basically consisting of a lens attachment, increases the range up to 300 feet InfraLAN have been using Hitachi 870 nm LEDs at 40 mWs, as well as some custom LEDs.
A.T. Schindler Communications (ATS) (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) was established in 1985. ATS offers full data rate IR units, an Ethernet system at 10 Mbps and a 4/16 Mbps switchable Token Ring unit. The Ethernet product line has been manufactured and sold in production volumes for three years, while Token Ring units have been developed and are operating satisfactorily at customer sites over the last two year. Both conform to IEEE standa rds 802.3 and 802.5, respectively. ATS transceivers use highly focused optics to achieve transmission distances rated up to 1,250 feet. Both units provide seamless connectivity when incorporated into already established networks, or alternatively can operate as stand-alone units. ATS is targeting indoor operations, such as open office or factory environments, as well as outdoor interconnects between separate buildings.
With the Ethernet product line, a pair of wireless Ethernet FiRLAN transceivers (ET300 Series) act as a "wired repeater". Wireless units can be used in a point to point configuration (transceiver to transceiver) or poin t to multi-point configuration (many transceivers to one hub). Unit prices range from $1,595 to $4,995 for ranges between 110 and 1,250 feet. Outdoor versions are $1,000 more. The Hub cost is $3,995. Transceivers thro ugh two input connectors will directly support three platforms of Ethernet:
· Coaxial BNC Port: 29 end users (10Base2 connection) · 15 pin D Connector - AUI cable to Thick Backbone (10Base5) · 15 pin D Connector -Optional Microtransceiver connected to N port, 10BaseT Hub (UTP)
The second ATS product line is the TR500 Token Ring family. Data from the wired LAN cable is fed to the FiRLAN units through mini-wire concentrators (MAU), using either UTP or STP wiring. A primary 110-foot Token Ring transceiver costs $1,595, with the secondary transceiver costing $795. For distances of 360 feet, the primary transceiver costs $1,995, and the second $1,195.
The FiRLAN product has been sold to over 30 customer accounts worldwide, and exhibited at over a dozen trade shows.
Spectrix Corp. (Evanston, Illinois) was founded in 1987 to develop IR-based wireless networks for use with mobile computers. Spectrix recently completed the latest round of venture capital funding raising $4 million. C urrently, Spectrix has 10 employees.
In November of 1994, the company won an order from the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) to install an IR-based mobile wireless network. The wireless terminals can record trades, transmit trade data for price report ing and clearing fuctions and provide market makers with up-to-the-minute trading information. The initial order was for 14 wireless terminals and 70 tethered units. By year end, 1995, the company plans to rollout 800 t erminals.
The network is designed to connect mobile handheld terminals to a host computer operating in a large open area such as a commodity trading floor. The Epson EHT-30 terminals weigh 20-ounces (the transceiver attachment is 6-ounces), are battery-powered and feature touch-sensitive, flat-screen displays. The communications link can connect to any portable computer and provide up to 50 feet of diffuse, infrared coverage. The system does no t have full per-to-peer communication capabilities.
Spectrix has spent considerable time on refining its offering. Its software protocol is unique, having moved away from the CSMA Ethernet standard to a deterministic standard that synchronizes signals, thereby allowing t he mobile device greater power consumption efficiencies by allowing the device to "sleep" when not in use waiting for signal reception.
Spectrix has also started selling its IR-LAN system to the broader market. A starter kit has been introduced, which includes a pair of communication links, two antennae, two cables, an ethernet adapter card, a network i nterface card, power supply, and system software . Units are selling for $2,998 and have been shipped to over 20 customers. A PCMCIA card is planned for 1995. A partial list of customers include: IBM, GM/Canada, Polaro id, Fujitsu, AT&T, BT Labs, and Panasonic. Systems have also been sold to a hospital value-added reseller.
Spectrix has been using Stanley Model DN304 IR-LEDs, which are rated at 850 nm and 15 mW of output power at 50 mA. There has been some concern over large variations from batch to batch, so much so that the company is co nsidering a second source. In the future, laser diodes might also be considered.
In addition to CBOE, Spectrix had been working with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade on a trial basis. Trials were completed in the third quarter of 1992, and met with disappointment, as anothe r radio-based supplier won the contract on their ability to provide OCR handwriting recognition. Spectrix's unit utilized touch screens only. Spectrix also worked with the New York Stock Exchange on a similar trial.
