Wireless communications and coexistence for smart environments
Jon M. Peha · IEEE Personal Communications · 2000
Technology is emerging that will support the pervasive deployment of small intelligent devices that serve their owner and communicate using wireless transmissions. Collectively, these devices would provide a smart environment. Before this vision can become a reality, significant challenges must be overcome in the design of access protocols, and in spectrum management policies. Some devices in a smart environment must be able to communicate, and all devices in a smart environment must be able to coexist without excessive mutual interference. This article discusses various methods of achieving these goals, and the fundamental trade-offs involved. Some of the alternative methods include the allocation of unlicensed spectrum for this purpose, establishment of an etiquette that constrains access protocol designs, adoption of a full standard for access protocols, and the creation of a spectrum band manager.