HomeRF Overview and Market Positioning
2 HomeRF Working Group
Launched in March 1998 the
Home Radio Frequency Working Group (HomeRF WG)
has developed a single specification, the Shared Wireless Application
Protocol (SWAP), for a broad range of interoperable consumer devices. The
HomeRF working group includes many leading companies from the personal
computer, software and semi-conductor industries. Together they have
developed the open industry SWAP specification.
Cost factors as well as the
impracticability of extra wiring has inhibited the widespread adoption of
the previous home networking technologies. It is hoped that HomeRF will
break through these barriers. Since its foundation in 1998 the number of
companies joining the HomeRF working group has risen steadily. It now
boasts almost 100 member companies. The inclusion of all the leading
electronic companies in the working group ensures that a variety of
innovative, interoperable devices for use in and around the home will be
available to the consumer. The working groups’ newly expanded
organizational structure includes 6 promoter companies. Compaq, Intel,
Motorola, National Semiconductor, Proxim and Siemens.
In this capacity, these six
companies will work to establish the mass deployment of interoperable
wireless networking access devices for voice, data and streaming media in
consumer environments. The six promoters, each representing a key industry
sector will be instrumental in the final development of SWAP 2.0, which is
being designed to handle 10Mbps Ethernet speeds while at the same time
meeting the cost, range and interference avoidance requirements of
consumer markets. Essentially, the SWAP specification defines a new common
interface that supports wireless voice and data networking in the home.
The wide range of industries represented ensures that the specification is
reasonably complete in all sectors. SWAP compliant products operate in the
license free 2.4GHz frequency band and utilize frequency
hopping spread spectrum radio frequency technology for secure
and robust wireless communications.
Introduction | Working Group |
Vision | Technical
Specification | Software Architecture |
Security | Implementations | Rival
Technologies | Future
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