Updating an RFDC standard
By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 9/1/1998
Industry organizations are moving ahead with collaborative efforts and work on standards development to make radio frequency data communication (RFDC) systems talk to one another-interoperability is the concern, as a Special Report in this month's issue (see p. 42) points out.One activity centers on the 802.11 standard from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), a professional association. Changes in this standard-aimed at ex-panding its scope- are occurring in three areas.
At the 2.4 GHz frequency, standards for data rates of 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 megabits/sec are being written. All four standards will allow systems to send data faster through the RF system. At 11 megabits/sec, both videoconferencing and telephony can be accommodated. Although there may be little demand for these applications on the plant or warehouse floor now, the capability to operate at this rate may open the door to some unforeseen applications in the future.
Second, a standard is being written for data transmission at the 5 GHz frequency and 30 megabits/sec. Perhaps most importantly, this effort is in synch with European standards development, simplifyingthe potential for rollout of a worldwide RFDC strategy for a single company.
Third, there's an effort focusing on the wireless personal area network (WPAN). A study group is likely to be formed to consider a standard for this low cost, low power, low range use of RFDC. A typical use would be a package courier using a wireless scanner to communicate with a wireless terminal and a host computer in the truck. At this point, WPAN is not a formal activity of the 802.11 committee of IEEE.
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