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Wireless Media Resources

Industry Organizations, Standards, Formats

    by Douglas Dixon

See also: Streaming Media Resources  (Streaming formats)


Mobile Wireless Industry Organizations


Open Mobile Alliance

      (Logo image removed as per Cease Trademark Violation notice from OMA)

  • Mobile service specifications
  • Mobile Broadcast (BCAST) specification
        Open global standard for interactive mobile TV and on-demand video services
        Adaptable to any IP-based mobile content delivery technology
  • www.openmobilealliance.org
  • was Wap Forum - www.wapforum.org

Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)

   

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Mobile Wireless Data Services


AT&T (Cingular) EDGE Mobile Data Service

   

  • Third-generation (2.5 G), high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology
  • Average data speeds between 75 - 135 kbps
  • Supports advanced data services: video and music clips, full picture & video messaging,
        high-speed color Internet access, email on the move
  • late 07 - Available in more than 13,000 cities and towns and in areas along 40,000 miles of highways
  • www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/technology/edge.jsp

T-Mobile 3G Wireless Broadband Service

   

  • UMTS / HSDPA high-speed data network / 3G wireless broadband service
  • 9/08 - Available across 13 major metropolitan markets
  • In 22 markets at G1 launch (end Oct.)
  • Expand to 27 major markets in U.S. by end of 2008
        More than two-thirds of T-Mobile's current data customers
  • Meaningful expansion to additional customers and markets through 2009.

Verizon Wireless Mobile Broadband Data Service

   

  • Now at 3G (third-generation) mobile broadband service
  • "DSL-like" data rates: no need for a Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Best with "Unlimited" data service plan
        But: forbids usage for services including streaming video, 
        extra charge for VZAccess connection for your computer through your phone to the Internet
  • www.verizonwireless.com
  • Find related Verizon Wireless articles in the Manifest Tech Blog

Verizon NationalAccess (CDMA 1xRTT)

  • Previous generation
  • Typical download 60 to 80 kbps, burst to 144 kbps

Verizon BroadbandAccess EV-DO

  • 06 - Verizon BroadbandAccess service (up to $45 a month) 
  • CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO)
  • Asymmetric data rates, much faster download than upload
  • Typical download 400 to 700 kbps, burst to 2.4 mbps
  • Typical upload of 40 to 60 kbps

Verizon EV-DO Rev A

  • 1/07 - Revision A (Rev. A) technology, greater Chicago area
        Uploads 5 - 6X faster
  • Typical download 450 to 800 kbps (600 kbps to 1.4 mbps), burst to 3.1 mbps
  • Typical upload 300 to 400 kbps (500 to 800 kbps), burst to 1.8 mbps
  • 3/07 - Many cities, Philadelphia tri-state, Northeast corridor
  • 3/07 - Sierra Wireless AirCard 595 $99.99 (two-year contract), service $79.99 per month

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Mobile Wireless TV Services


QUALCOMM MediaFLO -- Live TV Broadcast to Handhelds  ( CES 07)

   

  • Designed for multicasting rich multimedia content
  • Allows up to 20 live streaming video channels 
    split among national, regional, and local content
  • Up to 50 nationwide "non-real-time" channels (pre-recorded content)
        and 15 local "non-real-time" channels, each up to 20 minutes of content a day
  • Up to QVGA at 30 fps plus stereo audio within single 6 MHz bandwidth
  • Supports H.264 (312 kbps) and AAC+ (48 kbps) at 360 kbps average
        vs. single voice circuit peak 13 kbps, average 4 kbps
  • Power efficient, fast channel change (< 2 secs)
  • Can deploy across wide area regions, transmitters typically 60 km apart
        Cover entire major metropolitan area with 2 to 3 towers
  • Forward link only (FLO) technology
        Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)
        Simultaneously optimizes power consumption, frequency diversity, time diversity
  • Base layer transmission + enhancement for better quality reception
  • www.qualcomm.com/mediaflo

DVB-H - Global Mobile TV  (Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld)

   

  • Based on DVB-T specification for digital terrestrial television
  • Add features for battery life and environments of small handheld devices
        Time-slicing bursts of data allows the receiver to power off when inactive 
        Forward error correction
  • www.dvb-h.org

Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC)

   

  • Alliance of U.S. commercial and public broadcasters
  • Mission to accelerate the development of mobile digital video in the United States
  • Testing mobile digital television technologies
  • Builds on current ATSC transmission standard to receive to display television broadcasts while in motion
  • www.openmobilevideo.com

Advanced Television Systems Committee

A-VSB -- Advanced-VSB Mobile DTV system - Samsung / Rohde & Schwarz

   

MPH -- Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld Mobile DTV system - LG / Harris

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Local Device Networking Technology 


WiMedia Ultra-Wideband (UWB)

   

  • High-speed (480Mbps and beyond), low power consumption multimedia data transfers
  • Wireless personal area network (WPAN)
  • Up to 10 meters and beyond
  • Selected by Bluetooth SIG and USB Implementers Forum as foundation of high-speed wireless 
        for next generation consumer electronics, mobile and computer applications
  • Supports industry protocols including Certified Wireless USB, Wireless 1394, TCP/IP
        Bluetooth, Ethernet, DVI, HDMI
  • Ecma International standards - ECMA-368 and ECMA-369
  • WiMedia Alliance - www.wimedia.org
  • Intel - www.intel.com/technology/comms/uwb

Wireless USB

   

  • Certified Wireless USB will support robust high-speed wireless connectivity 
        by utilizing the common WiMedia MB-OFDM Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio platform 
        as developed by the WiMedia Alliance
  • Targeted at 480 Mbps at 3 meters110 Mbps at 10 meters
  • Will integrate with high rate Bluetooth
  • USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) - www.usb.org/developers/wusb

Bluetooth

   

  • See Bluetooth Technology details below
  • Low-power, short-range radio technology
  • Operates in unlicensed, 2.4 GHz ISM band
  • Data Rate - Up to 3 Mbps with Version 2.0 + EDR; 1 Mbps for earlier versions
  • Range - Class 2 Bluetooth device max range about 10 meters / 33 feet
        or 100 meters depending on the Bluetooth device class
  • Bluetooth Specification Version 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
  • 3/06 - WiMedia multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) 
        ultra-wideband (UWB) for integration with Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth Special Interest Group - www.bluetooth.com

Near Field Communication (NFC) / NFC Forum

   

  • Short-range wireless connectivity: ticketing, payment, gaming
  • Intuitive, simple, and safe communication between electronic devices
  • Devices within four centimeters of one another
  • Operates at 13.56 MHz, 212 kbps to 20 centimeters, up to 424 Kbps
  • Inherently secure, short transmission range
  • NFC Forum - www.nfc-forum.org

ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4)

   

  • wireless standard for industrial remote control
  • range 10 - 100 M, 250 Kbits at 2.4 GHz, 40 Kpbs at 915 Mhz, 20 Kpbs at 868 Mhz 
  • three levels of security
  • ZigBee Alliance - www.zigbee.org

Infrared

   

  • point-to-point, narrow angle (30° cone), ad-hoc data transmission 
  • operate over a distance of 0 to 1 meter, speeds of 9600 bps to 16 Mbps
  • mainly used in payment systems, remote control, synchronizing PDAs
  • Infrared Data Association (IrDA) - www.irda.org

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

  • over 140 ISO standards for RFID for a broad range of applications
  • passive tag can be powered at a distance by a reader device.
  • receiver within a few feet, 
  • self-powered, active tags can be read from a greater distance
  • can operate in low frequency (less than 100 MHz), high frequency (more than 100 MHz), 
        and UHF (868 to 954 MHz)

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Wireless Broadband Networking Technology


Wi-Fi Alliance (IEEE 802.11)

   

  • wireless Local Area Network, based on IEEE 802.11 family of specifications
  • actual 180 Mbps or higher
  • Wi-Fi Protected Setup (previously Wi-Fi Simple Config) optional certification program 
        simple configuration
  • 802.11a - OFDM, 5 GHz spectrum,  54 Mbps max data rate
  • 802.11b - DSSS, 2.4 GHz spectrum, 11 Mbps data rate (original Wi-Fi)
  • 802.11g - OFDM, 2.4 GHz spectrum,  54 Mbps max data rate
  • 802.11n - 5 GHz, at least 100 Mbps, up to 540 Mbps
  • 802.11e - improve quality of service
  • 802.11h - supplement to 802.11a in Europe
  • 802.11i - enhanced security, AES - WPA2
  • 802.11k - Under development, increased radio resource management
  • 802.11p - Under development, automotive communications, 5.9 GHz spectrum
        Dedicated short range communications (DSRC) in North America
  • 802.11r - Under development, improved roaming
  • 802.11s - Mesh networking
  • Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology for improved performance
        multiple receivers and multiple transmitters in both client and access point
  • Wi-Fi Zone Finder - wi-fi.jiwire.com
  • Wi-Fi Alliance - tests and certifies
        www.wi-fi.org / www.wirelessethernet.org

WiMAX Forum

   

  • Wireless metropolitan area network
  • IEEE 802.16e-2005 Wireless Broadband Access (BWA)
  • Range 50 km, data rates of 70 Mbps
  • High power RF, high-speed wireless broadband Internet access
        speed of multiple Mbps within a range of several miles
  • Guaranteed QoS (Quality of Service) for VoIP, IPTV
  • Original 10 - 66 GHz frequency bands, line of sight environments
  • 802.16a - 2 - 11 GHz, does not need line of sight
  • ZyXEL models operate at 2.5, 3.5, and 2.3 GHz bands for different regions' regulations
  • Last-mile solution for service providers to extend DSL coverage
  • WiMAX Forum - www.wimaxforum.org

WiBro (Wireless Broadband)

  • Portable Internet Service (WiBro) 
  • high data rate wireless internet access with PSS (Personal Subscriber Station) stationary or mobile 
  • Primarily based in South Korea based on TTA specifications. 2300-2400 MHz, TDD, OFDMA, channel bandwidth 10 MHz, etc. 
  • 512 / 128 Kbps DL / UL to 3 / 1 Mbps 

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Bluetooth Technology


Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)

   

  • Low-power, short-range radio technology
  • Operates in unlicensed, 2.4 GHz ISM band. (Cordless phones, microwaves, Wi-Fi 
  • Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) reduces interference in sharing spectrum
  • Class 2 radios - most commonly found in mobile devices - range 10 meters, 30 feet
  • Class 1 radios - used primarily in industrial use cases - range 100 meters, 300 feet
  • Bluetooth Specification Version 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) Nov 2004
  • Up to 3Mbps with Version 2.0 + EDR; 1 Mbps for earlier versions
  • 3/06 - WiMedia multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) 
        ultra-wideband (UWB) for integration with Bluetooth
  • www.bluetooth.com

Bluetooth Features

  • Paring
  • Remote control
        Phone answer, hang up, mute
        Player: Play/pause, forward/reverse
  • Multipoint - Pair multiple devices
        Switch between music listening and incoming phone calls
  • Interoperate
        Receiver - play from phone to speakers, hi-fi, PC
        Transmitter - from media player, PC to speakers, phone, headset

Bluetooth Specs

  • Radio operates in unlicensed ISM band at 2.4 GHz  (Cordless phones, microwaves, Wi-Fi)
  • Operates in unlicensed, 2.4 GHz ISM band. (Cordless phones, microwaves, Wi-Fi 
  • Data rate 1 Mbps, or 2 or 3 Mbps with EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
  • Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) reduces interference in sharing spectrum
  • Class 2 radios - most commonly found in mobile devices - range 10 meters, 33 feet
  • Class 1 radios - used primarily in industrial use - range 100 meters, 300 feet

Bluetooth Core Specification

  • Bluetooth v1.1, v1.2, v 2.0, v 2.1
  • Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) - Peak 3.0 Mbps, Nov 2004
  • v2.1 - Automatic pairing, lower power consumption, improved security

Bluetooth Portable Device Profiles

   

Bluetooth Profiles - Headset / Telephony

  • HFP - Hands-Free Profile - Mobile connectivity, place and receive calls
  • HSP - Head Set Profile
  • CTP - Cordless Telephony Profile - Cordless phone
  • ICP - Intercom Profile - Mobile phones communicate directly

Bluetooth Portable Device Profiles - Music / Audio

  • A2DP - Advanced Audio Distribution Profile - streaming stereo
        CD quality stereo over wireless
        stereo wireless speakers, music phones, headphones, headsets, hands free car kits ...
  • AVRCP - Audio & Video Remote Control Profile - Play remote control
        music & phone - Volume, mute, call answer /end, track forward/back, pause/play, etc.
  • AVRCP Headset (HSP v1.1) and Hands-free (HFP v1.5)

Bluetooth Portable Device Profiles - Video

  • GAVDP - General Audio/Video Distribution Profile - Basis for A2DP and VDP, video and audio streams
  • VDP - Video Distribution Profile - Stream video over Bluetooth wireless technology

Bluetooth Profiles - Transfer / Communications

  • DUN - Dial-up Networking Profile -  Internet and dial-up services
  • FAX - Fax Profile - Dial-up fax
  • FTP -  File Transfer -  File system browsing and transfer
  • OPP - Object Push Profile - Push server and push client, file exchange
  • PAN - Personal Area Networking Profile - Ad-hoc network,  access remote network through access point
  • SDAP - Service Discovery Application Profile - Discover services on remote device.
  • SPP - Service Port Profile - Set up virtual serial ports to connect two Bluetooth enabled devices.
  • SYNC - Synchronization Profile - Personal Information Manager (PIM) synch, with GOEP

Bluetooth Profiles - Input

  • HID - Human Interface Device Profile - Keyboards, pointing devices, gaming, and remote monitoring

Bluetooth Profiles - Print /  Imaging

  • BIP - Basic Imaging Profile - Transfer, print images
  • BPP - Basic Printing Profile - Send text, e-mails, vCards, images to printers
  • HCRP - Hardcopy Cable Replacement Profile - Driver-based printing

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