Introduction

Wireless USB is the new wireless extension to USB. Wireless USB is a short-range, high-bandwidth

wireless radio communication protocol and combines the speed and security of wired technology with

the ease-of-use of wireless technology. Wireless USB is a short-range, high-bandwidth wireless radio

communication protocol. Wireless USB is based on the WiMedia Alliance's Ultra-WideBand

common radio platform and can send 480 Mbit/s at distances up to 3 meters and 110 Mbit/s at up to

10 meters. The Wireless USB Promoter Group is chartered with defining the wireless USB (WUSB)

specification. There has been some progress with the definition of a WUSB specification with a

targeted bandwidth of 480 Mbps. This specification maintains the same usage and architecture as

wired USB with a high-speed host-to-device connection.

The fundamental relationship in WUSB is a hub and spoke topology.  In this topology, the host

initiates all the data traffic among the devices connected to it, allotting time slots and data bandwidth

to each device connected. This kind of relationship is called clusters. The connections are point-to-

point and directed between the host and device. The WUSB host can logically connect to a maximum

of 127 WUSB devices for an informal WUSB cluster. WUSB clusters coexist within an overlapping

spatial environment with minimum interference, thus allowing a number of other WUSB clusters to

be present within the same radio cell.

 Topology will support a dual role model where a device can also support limited host capabilities.

This model allows mobile devices to access services with a central host supporting the services. This

model also allows a device to access data outside an existing cluster it may currently be connected to

by creating a second cluster as a limited host.

Additionally, high spatial capacity in small areas is needed to enable multiple device access to high

bandwidth concurrently. Multiple channel activities may take place within a given area. The topology

will support multiple clusters in the same area. The number of clusters to be supported is still being

determined. 

There are several architectural considerations in developing WUSB. In addition to providing wireless

connectivity, WUSB must be backwards compatible with wired USB and provide a bridge to wired

USB devices. Also, the host and solutions will need to enable the exchange of data between clusters

or devices not related to the same host. 

Low-cost implementation of WUSB will also be important to the successful integration of the

technology. Implementation will follow the wired USB connectivity models as closely as possible to

reduce development time and to preserve the low-cost, easy-to-use model, which has become

pervasive in the PC industry. 

With the growing use of digital media in the PC, consumer electronic (CE) and mobile

communication environments, a common standard interconnect is needed to support the on-going

convergence of these environments. The trend toward convenient wireless distribution of digital

information provides an opportunity to introduce a single, standard wireless interconnect capable of

supporting usage models across all three environments. 

WUSB security will ensure the same level of security as wired USB. Connection-level security

between devices will ensure that the appropriate device is associated and authenticated before

operation of the device is permitted. Higher levels of security involving encryption should be

implemented at the application level. Processing overhead supporting security should not impose

noticeable performance impacts or add device costs.

 One of the primary objectives when implementing a wireless connection is that it is easy to install

and use. Wired connections provide the user with implied expectations, that is that the device is

connected as specified by the user when they install the wire. When the wire is installed, the user has

basic expectations and when these expectations do not take place, there is a known recourse.  

Wireless connections, on the other hand, due to environmental characteristics, may establish

connection paths that are not obvious. In fact, it may not be obvious when a device is connected. 

So WUSB devices installed for the first time should automatically install drivers, security features,

and so on and associate with systems that they can interact with. The concepts of 'turn on and use it'

with an easy setup procedure will be employed.

The first Wireless USB implementations will likely be in the form of discrete silicon that will be

introduced in a number of form factors. These may include add-in cards along with embedded

solutions to support the technology. But the wireless future will arrive once WUSB, along with the

common ultra wideband platform, becomes a standard part of every processor and chipset and is

integrated in CMOS silicon.

Advantages of WUSB

Give a good wireless range

speedy through out

Simple in installation

You can share it with many Pc's

Light weight

Most important Portable

comes with 40-bit WEP , 64-bit WEP , 128-bit WEP Encryption Algorithms (depends on

different models i think)

Disadvantage of WUSB

More prone to damage

Fragile

Could be expensive

Business Implications

Today 10 million users connect their PC to their TV so that they can stream online content from their

PC to their choice of display device. The various wireless USB products can provide this connection

wirelessly up to 30 feet away, thus saving consumer from hassles of adaptors and long cables.

Today many consumers feel the need of having a little extra display space on their laptops and

desktops for data display. Many companies are coming up with low cost, light and low power

consuming TFT controller boards that can be connected to the parent device using WUSB.

Certain companies have come up with WUSB HD Media Players that can again be used to wirelessly

stream anything from the laptop onto the TV. Thus the consumers will now be able to view any sort

of data on HDTV.

Certain vendors have introduced a WUSB based docking station that use ultra wideband wireless

technology which supports Certified Wireless USB Device Controller functionality and supports the

full array of WUSB device functions, including all transfer types i.e. control, bulk, interrupt, and

isochronous plus a multi-host capability. It also allows us to wirelessly connect our laptop/notebook

to our external display, projector, networks, and USB devices, such as a mouse, keyboard and printer,

in addition to external speakers.

Companies are coming up with WUSB security cameras these days. These are very advanced versions

over previous cameras, as in they offer ease of installation, offer higher quality pictures from a longer

range and offer better clarity in near complete darkness as well.

Emerging Players and Competitors

Wireless USB was created by the Wireless USB promoter group. The wireless USB promoter group is

comprised of seven industry leaders: Intel, Microsoft Corporation, NEC, Agere Systems, HP, Philips

Semiconductors and Samsung Electronics.

Transferjet is a close proximity wireless transfer technology developed by Sony. The Transferjet

consortium was formed in July 2008 and has 19 promoter member companies which are: Casio,

Canon, Eastman Kodak, Hitachi, JVC-Kenwood, KDDI, NEC, Nikon, NTT docomo, Olympus,

Panasonic, Pioneer, Samsung, Seiko Epson, Sharp, SoftBank Mobile, Sony, Sony Ericsson and

Toshiba. Transferjet is faster than wireless USB. Bluetooth 4.0 is another major innovative

technology.

Sources:

www.wikipedia.com, www.emergingwirelesstechnology.com, www.intel.com,

FAQ on www.everythingusb.com, www.usb.org, www.deviceforge.com/articles/AT9015145687.html