At home with a IPv6 enabled wireless network

Moving about the house operating domestic appliances, checking the garage surveillance camera while being home entertained - such a sci-fi scenario seems to require a multitasking complexity far beyond current capacity. Nevertheless, FUTURE HOME is developing a wireless network solution to transform the living room into ground control.

Ubiquity in the home

By introducing the usage of IPv6 and Mobile IP protocols in a wireless home network, the three-year FUTURE HOME project wants to define a solid intelligent solution that allows high-speed media transportation and low speed control, as well as the automation of information flow.

Essential features of the home network are the intelligent auto-configurable connections between devices and terminals in the home as well as interoperability with the external world. Ensuring privacy and security in wireless networking is also an integral part of concept. The final results would allow people at home to move, control, communicate and enjoy the entertainment without noticing the underlying technologies or networks.

Visitor interest at IBC 2003

Future Home demonstrated its intelligent communication platform recently at Amsterdam's recent International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2003. The platform consisted of the Home Network Service Point (HNSP) and the following devices and applications:

Oven and the white goods gateway
TV
CD player
Surveillance camera
Personal trainer including an exercise bike
Remote control of a car related applications and car Web cams
Messaging service for sending and receiving events of the system
Rule engine to automate further events of the system.

Although problems with the external Internet connection provided by IBC prohibited the connection to the car and receiving event information to a cellular phone, project manager Timo Kyntäjä says most of the services could be demonstrated using a TV infrared remote controller.

"This worked fine," says Kyntäjä. "We have been able to design and implement a system that promotes wireless, IPv6 and also PC technologies for the home environment." He added that some of the booth visitors expressed that they "would have liked to buy the system for their own homes."

While the demonstrator was not yet fully finalised at IBC, the base of the system known as the Home Network Service Point is fully implemented, as well as the major applications for the demonstrator. According to Kyntäjä, the user interfaces will be finalised during this autumn and the final demonstration will take place next year January within the final audit of the project. After that the consortium will begin commercialisation efforts.

"The most promising commercialisation prospects lie within the plans of the project business partners," Kyntäjä says, adding that national and company efforts by the partners are being launched to further capitalise the results.

Contact:
Timo Kyntäjä
Technical Research Centre of Finland
VTT Information Technology
Vuorimiehentie 5
PO Box 1000
02044 Espoo
Finland
Tel: +358-9-4565674
Fax: +358-9-4567053
Email: Timo.Kyntaja@vtt.fi

Source: Based on information from Future Home

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Information :

DATE :

4 Nov 2003

TECHNOLOGY AREA:

Internet protocol
Mobile/wireless

MARKET APPLICATION:

Transport