Ultra Wideband: Will it Rule The Wireless PAN?,

One of the hotbeds of standards and vendor activity in the past two years has been Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs). Traditionally the preserve of industrial networks, fast links between PCs and peripherals, or cell phones and their headsets, these short range connections have now raised their profile. Their potential to support home media networks and other consumer electronics applications, and even last mile delivery via mesh or high frequency technologies, has increased media interest. The most interesting technology in this area is Ultra Wideband (UWB), which has the potential to be the physical layer for a range of short range wireless standards, including 802.15.3a for fast home networks, and the next generation of Bluetooth and ZigBee. However, it is hobbled by regulatory uncertainty and by a standards deadlock within the IEEE. This could open a door for some other technological approaches, some of which are experimental whilst others seek to establish de facto standards. It also raises the possibility that many of the functions of WPANs will be fulfilled by variants of Wi-Fi - using 802.11n in high speed digital media applications, and other versions tailored for low power in industrial or home control sectors. The interest of the vendors in these technologies has been stimulated by growing demand for fully wireless homes and the ability to stream audio and video around buildings without cables. This opens a wide range of applications in consumer electronics that could greatly increase the volume of chips shipped to this market. This research paper examines the state of play in UWB, which remains the most important of the various WPAN options; despite its risks. This is an update for our previous research paper, dedicated to UWB, which was published in May 2004. It also looks at the potential for Wi-Fi in short range networks, the future for other IEEE WPAN standards, and the emergence of a number of experimental technologies.