The Future of Spread Spectrum

1
The Future of Spread Spectrum

• (or should I say CDMA?)
• Randy Roberts, Director
• RF / Spread Spectrum Consulting

2
Our Agenda

• Some Background
• Technology Segments
• Directions
• Examples
• Predictions

3
SS Technology Background

• Early Spark was really SS
• WW2 Saw first real SS Systems
• Military used SS In 50s and 60s
• FCC opened commercial SS 1988
• IC technology will provide future impetus and
  direction(?) of past year

4
SS Technology Segments

• WLANs
• Wireless Telecom
• Position Location, etc.
• RFID
• Data Comm
• Proprietary Systems

5
WLANs Today Tomorrow
6
WLANs Performance, Price Problems
7
More on WLANs

• Wireless Promised LANs Still Elusive by M. R.
  McLean http//www.lantimes.com/lantimes/96nov/611a
  035a.html
• The Cook Report The Players and The Prospects
  http//cookreport.com/wireless.html
• Reality vs. Hype by Andrew Seybold
  http//www.outlook.com/articles/january98articles1
  .html

8
WLANs - Home Networks

• The Convergence of Communications and Computing
  by Andrew Seybold http//www.outlook.com/articles/
  may98article1.html
• http//www.bluetooth.com/
• Home networking draws diverse crew by Stephen
  Shankland http//www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,27451,
  00.html?pt.ms..feed.ne_home
• Home networking set to take off by Ben Heskett
  http//www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,24050,00.html?st
  .ne.ni.rel
• IEEE 802.11(E) / PAN others ???

9
Wireless Telecom

• CDMA / W-CDMA / 3G ???
• IMT-2000 / UMTS ?
• CDPD Cellular Variants ?
• Digital Cellular / PCS / PCN
• STANDARDS ???
• WLLs and wireless last mile connectivity

10
Position Location, etc.

• GPS Receivers are now 2 ICs
• Cellular 911 Position Location requirements (FCC
  mandate)
• Big Brother Systems are GROWING in popularity
• Beam me up, Scotty systems are on their way!

11
RFID

• RFID Systems have been very slow to adopt SS
  Techniques
• Reasons
• Cost complexity questionable performance
  advantages in very short range / noisy
  environments
• Perceived customer needs
• Current Systems have acceptable performance
• Better / Cheaper ICs will change this SOON!

12
Datacom

• Wireless ISP Wireless Internet Access are
  probably the TWO Biggest New Opportunities!
• Plenty of other niches needs out there for SS
  applications
• Newest Video Compression ICs make SS Viable for
  many more uses - security, video conference, etc.

13
Proprietary Systems

• Metricom Richochet
• Future ARDIS - like Systems
• LEO Satellite Data / Telecom Systems will provide
  Great SS / CDMA application opportunities
• Other infrastructure intensive systems will bring
  SS to All of US!

14
Three Future SS Examples

• CDCs LPS System
• RF/SS Wireless ISP Project
• Distance measurement the Intelligent Highway

15
CDC Local Position Location System

• Hazardous area personnel monitoring / tracking
• lt 1 meter Location CEP desired
• 2.4 GHz Indoors - 100 m range
• Must minimize Multipath Fading problems
• Must provide multi-story building coverage with
  some data exchange / networking

16
Wireless ISP Technology at 5 GHz

• Now evaluating UNII bands / modulation vs. SS
  System Implementations for performance and
  cost
• UNII systems are Great for data rates up to ATM
  (50 Mbps) a few miles LOS range
• SS Systems are better for longer ranges data
  rates up to 10 Mbps

17
Distance Measurement / IVHS

• SS Systems are a Natural for IVHS, because
  of
• Inherent range measurement capability
• Inherent Frequency diversity aspect of SS
• Superior multiple access ability of SS (CDMA)
• Ease of implementation with New ICs
• Add multiple antennas for Space Diversity and
  coding (for Time Diversity) to get a REALLY
  Robust SS IVHS!

18
Summary Predictions

• Ever Improving Chip Technology Will Power Future
  SS Systems
• Resulting in
• Lower power, cheaper, faster, more functionality
• More Bandwidth / Data Rate Higher Chip Rates
• Higher Carrier Frequencies
• Ever more Complex Robust Modulation
• Look for Parallel Advances in Antennas, DSP
  Coding
• Maybe Y2K will bring More Performance Less
  Hype!