MANHASSET, N.Y. — The IEEE 802.15.3a working group maintained its breakneck pace last week when it took up the Multiband-OFDM Alliance's (MBOA) proposal for a multiband, frequency-hopping ultrawideband (UWB) implementation.
The selection puts the group on track to complete a standard for short-range wireless communications at rates of up to 480 Mbits/s. The standard could go to a ballot by the middle of 2004 and be completed before the end of next year.
The group started in February with 31 proposals, though the total quickly dropped due to dropouts and industry group mergers such as the Multiband Coalition. A week before the IEEE meeting in San Francisco, Texas Instruments merged its multiband-OFDM proposal with the Coalition's to form the MBOA.
The move left Xtremespectrum Inc. (XSI), backed by Motorola, as the most likely alternative of the six alternatives up for discussion as the working group convened last week. Early in the discussions, the XSI/Motorola camp was joined by ParthusCeva, which dropped its own proposal.
"We're definitely on schedule, if not ahead," said Bob Heile, chair of the .15.3a working group leading the effort. Though the MBOA failed to get the critical 75 percent vote it needed for confirmation, Heile said there's a good chance it will do so when the group meets again between Sept. 15-19 in Singapore to resolve remaining issues.
Until then, said Heile, those who voted against the MBOA proposal will air their reservations in order to give MBOA a chance to resolve issues. Most revolve around the legality of frequency-hopping in the context of FCC regulations as well as multiuser performance and interference rejection.
If the issues are not resolved, the process will "reset," said Heile Then, votes will be recast and the XSI/Motorola/ParthusCeva proposal will be back on the table for consideration.
