Definitions: Ultra-Wide Band
Created on: Mar 3, 2009 9:53 AM by Carl Weinschenk - Last Modified: Mar 3, 2009 9:59 AM by Carl Weinschenk
Definition
Ultra-wide band is a means of transmitting data at speeds of 480 Megabits per second using low power in a wireless personal-area network (PAN). The bottom line is that there are several technologies, such as Bluetooth and 802.11n that do many of the things for which UWB was originally aimed at.
After a long and frustrating process that failed to produce an IEEE standard, the WiMedia Alliance has emerged as the key UWB consortium. The group consists of more than 350 companies including Alereon, CSR, Intel, Nokia, NXP, Samsung Electronics, Staccato Communications, Stonestreet One, and Wisair. Recent news about the technology has not been good. For instance, last autumn UWB vendor WiQuest closed down. This led to speculation that the technology was dead.
Prospects
The gloom is not universal, however. There have been some recent signs that UWB is making a comeback as a means to distribute high definition and other demanding signals in home networks. There are reports that Sony is pushing a UWB technology it calls TransferJet as a way to link cameras into networks. At CES, a company named Tzero demonstrated HDMI multimedia streaming using UWB. Reports say that the technology delivers content at the UWB speed of 480 Mbps over 20 meters.
UWB appears to have limited application for business. Of course, it can have an impact in its role a wireless USB enabler. UWB can ferry signals in a small office/home office and for niche applications such as trading electronic business card information at shows.
Implementations
There also has been some recent news. For instance, in January, ShopperTrak extended its employee locator service to include UWB functionality. The real time locating system (RTLS) is aimed at helping store personnel find the best possible position to help shoppers. Its FloorTrak enhancement features UWB badges from Time Domain that enables other elements of the system such as heat sensors and video cameras to more effectively distinguish between store personnel and customers. Despite these utilizations, it seems that UWB has found limited success in commercial applications.
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Unfortunately, Tzero Technologies shut down a few weeks ago (in early Feb.), so the downward spiral for UWB start-ups continues. Hopefully, the remaining UWB companies in the WiMedia Alliance will be able to further the efforts made within the industry and carry this innovative technology to market.