| History Of Wireless Lan |
In 1970 University of Hawaii, under the leadership of Norman Abramson,
developed the world�s first computer communication network using low-cost
ham-like radios, named ALOHAnet. The bi-directional star topology of the system
included seven computers deployed over four islands to communicate with the
central computer on the Oahu Island without using phone lines.
"In 1979, F.R. Gfeller and U. Bapst published a paper in the IEEE Proceedings
reporting an experimental wireless local area network using diffused infrared
communications. Shortly thereafter, in 1980, P. Ferrert reported on an
experimental application of a single code spread spectrum radio for wireless
terminal communications in the IEEE National Telecommunications Conference. In
1984, a comparison between Infrared and CDMA spread spectrum communications for
wireless office information networks was published by Kaveh Pahlavan in IEEE
Computer Networking Symposium which appeared later in the IEEE Communication
Society Magazine. In May 1985, the efforts of Marcus led the FCC to announce
experimental ISM bands for commercial application of spread spectrum technology.
Later on, M. Kavehrad reported on an experimental wireless PBX system using code
division multiple access. These efforts prompted significant industrial
activities in the development of a new generation of wireless local area
networks and it updated several old discussions in the portable and mobile radio
industry.
The first generation of wireless data modems was developed in the early
1980's by amateur radio operators. They added a voice band data communication
modem, with data rates below 9600 bit/s, to an existing short distance radio
system, typically in the two meter amateur band. The second generation of
wireless modems was developed immediately after the FCC announcement in the
experimental bands for non-military use of the spread spectrum technology. These
modems provided data rates on the order of hundreds of kbit/s. The third
generation of wireless modem [then] aimed at compatibility with the existing
LANs with data rates on the order of Mbit/s. Several companies [developed] the
third generation products with data rates above 1 Mbit/s and a couple of
products [had] already been announced [by the time of the first IEEE Workshop on
Wireless LANs]."
"The first of the IEEE Workshops on Wireless LAN was held in 1991. At that
time early wireless LAN products had just appeared in the market and the IEEE
802.11 committee had just started its activities to develop a standard for
wireless LANs. The focus of that first workshop was evaluation of the
alternative technologies. [By 1996], the technology [was] relatively mature, a
variety of applications [had] been identified and addressed and technologies
that enable these applications [were] well understood. Chip sets aimed at
wireless LAN implementations and applications, a key enabling technology for
rapid market growth, [were] emerging in the market. Wireless LANs [were being]
used in hospitals, stock exchanges, and other in building and campus settings
for nomadic access, point-to-point LAN bridges, ad-hoc networking, and even
larger applications through internetworking. The IEEE 802.11 standard and
variants and alternatives, such as the wireless LAN interoperability forum and
the European HIPERLAN specification [had] made rapid progress, and the
unlicensed PCS [ Unlicensed Personal Communications Services ] and the proposed
SUPERNet, later on renamed as U-NII, bands also presented new opportunities."
On July 21, 1999, AirPort debuted at the Macworld Expo in New York City with
Steve Jobs picking up an iBook supposedly to give the cameraman a better shot as
he surfed the Web. Applause quickly built as people realized there were no
wires. This was the first time Wireless LAN became publicly available at
consumer pricing and easily available for home use. Before the release of the
Airport, Wireless LAN was too expensive for consumer use and used exclusively in
large corporate settings.
Originally WLAN hardware was so expensive that it was only used as an
alternative to cabled LAN in places where cabling was difficult or impossible.
Early development included industry-specific solutions and proprietary
protocols, but at the end of the 1990s these were replaced by standards,
primarily the various versions of IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi). An alternative ATM-like 5
GHz standardized technology, HIPERLAN, has so far not succeeded in the market,
and with the release of the faster 54 Mbit/s 802.11a (5 GHz) and 802.11g (2.4
GHz) standards, almost certainly never will.
In November 2006, the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation (CSIRO) won a legal battle in the US federal court of
Texas against Buffalo Technology which found the US manufacturer had failed to
pay royalties on a US WLAN patent CSIRO had filed in 1996. CSIRO are currently
engaged in legal cases with computer companies including Microsoft, Intel, Dell,
Hewlett-Packard and Netgear which argue that the patent is invalid and should
negate any royalties paid to CSIRO for WLAN-based products.
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