The Wireless Data Handbook

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ISBN: 9780471316510 | 0471316512
Cover: Hardcover
Copyright: 10/6/1999

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This new edition of a highly successful book is completely updated and revised to reflect the latest developments involving the transmission of digital information over wireless networks. Written by an industry expert with over 32 years in the field, the Wireless Data Handbook offers a broad, unbiased treatment-unencumbered by various corporate interests-covering both the technical and business aspects of wireless technologies.

PREFACE

I GETTING STARTED

(84)

1 A Short History of Data Radio

(8)

1.1 In the Beginning

(1)

1.2 Private Networks Lead the Way

(1)

1.3 Rise of Public Packet Switched Networks

(1)

1.4 Circuit Switched Skims the Early Cream

(1)

1.5 Packet Switched Gates Creak Open

(1)

1.6 New Wireless Data Alternatives

(1)

1.7 Summary

(1)

References

(2)

2 Data Network Types

(9)

2.1 A Rough Sort of Two-Way Systems

(1)

2.2 Private Systems

(5)

2.2.1 Overview

(4)

2.2.2 Estimating Private Users

(1)

2.3 Public Systems

(2)

2.3.1 Satellite Systems

(1)

2.3.1.1 One-Way Paging

(1)

2.3.2 Terrestrial Systems

(1)

2.3.2.1 Packet Confusion

(1)

2.4 Summary

(1)

References

(1)

3 Key Public Network Characteristics

(5)

3.1 Coverage

(1)

3.2 Penetration

(1)

3.3 Message Length

(1)

3.4 Message Rates

(1)

3.5 Device Speed

(1)

3.6 Connectivity

(1)

3.7 Summary

(1)

4 Public Terrestrial Packet Switched Networks

(32)

4.1 Messaging/Dispatch Orientation

(1)

4.2 Alphanuneric Paging Orientation

(1)

4.3 Representative Nationwide Networks

(5)

4.3.1 Advanced Radio Data Information System

(3)

4.3.2 BellSouth Wireless Data

(1)

4.3.3 SkyTel2

(1)

4.4 Representative Regional Networks

(10)

4.4.1 Cellular Digital Packet Data

(2)

4.4.1.1 Ameritech

(1)

4.4.1.2 AT&T Wireless

(1)

4.4.1.3 Bell Atlantic Mobile

(1)

4.4.1.4 GTE MobileCom

(1)

4.4.1.5 CDPD Summary

(2)

4.4.2 Cellular Control Channel

(1)

4.4.2.1 Cellemetry

(2)

4.4.2.2 Aeris Communications

(2)

4.5 Representative Metropolitan Networks

(4)

4.5.1 Introduction

(1)

4.5.2 Metricom Ricochet

(2)

4.5.3 Teletrac

(2)

4.6 Notable Closings

(6)

4.6.1 AirTouch CDPD

(1)

4.6.2 Cellular Data Incorporated

(1)

4.6.3 Cincinnati Microwave

(1)

4.6.4 CoveragePLUS

(1)

4.6.5 Electrocom Automation

(1)

4.6.6 Geotek

(1)

4.6.7 Global Vehicle Tracking System

(1)

4.6.8 Kustom Electronics

(1)

4.6.9 Magnavox (Nav-Com) Automatic Vehicle Location

(1)

4.6.10 Mobile Data International

(1)

4.6.11 Motorola Tracknet/Diversified Computer Systems (DCP)

(1)

4.6.12 Navtech

(1)

4.6.13 Pacific Communication Sciences

(1)

4.6.14 PinPoint Communications

(1)

4.6.15 RAMTrack

(1)

4.6.16 RadioMail

(1)

4.6.17 Skywire

(1)

References

(5)

5 Public Terrestrial Circuit Switched Networks

(13)

5.1 Representative Nationwide Networks

(5)

5.1.1 HighwayMaster: A Stubborn Fighter

(3)

5.1.2 Nextel: Good Field, No Hit

(1)

5.1.3 PeopleNet: A New Kid on the Block

(1)

5.2 Representative Regional Networks

(6)

5.2.1 Data over Analog Cellular Voice Channels

(1)

5.2.1.1 Modem Pools

(2)

5.2.2 Broadband PCS: GSM

(1)

5.2.2.1 Introduction

(1)

5.2.2.2 Representative GSM Carriers

(2)

5.2.2.3 The GSM Alliance

(1)

5.3 Notable Closings

(1)

5.3.1 AirTouch Cellular and CTA

(1)

5.3.2 Rockwell/GTE Mobile

(1)

References

(2)

6 Public Satellite Networks

(10)

6.1 Introduction

(1)

6.2 Geostationary Satellite Systems

(3)

6.2.1 GEOS Overview

(1)

6.2.2 OmniTRACS

(1)

6.2.3 AMSC Skycell

(2)

6.2.4 GEOS Summary

(1)

6.3 Low Earth-Orbiting Satellites

(3)

6.3.1 LEOS Overview

(1)

6.3.2 Orbcomm

(1)

6.3.3 GlobalStar

(1)

6.3.4 LEOS Summary

(1)

6.4 Notable Closings

(1)

6.4.1 Geostar

(1)

6.4.2 MARCOR Humminbird

(1)

6.4.3 Meteorburst Approaches

(1)

6.4.3.1 Introduction

(1)

6.4.3.2 Broadcomm

(1)

6.4.3.3 Pegasus Messaging

(1)

6.4.3.4 Transtrack

(1)

References

(2)

7 Hybrid Networks

(7)

7.1 Terrestrial Packet/Satellite

(2)

7.1.1 AMSC/ARDIS Multimode System

(1)

7.1.2 BSWD/Norcom

(1)

7.2 Terrestrial Packet/Circuit Switched Cellular

(1)

7.2.1 CS-CDPD

(1)

7.2.2 BSWD Strategic Network

(1)

References

(4)

II BUSINESS 101: PRICE AND QUANTITY FIXATIONS

(84)

8 Fitting Applications to Public Offerings

(25)

8.1 Network Price Positioning

(1)

8.2 Representative Public Packet Switched Networks

(10)

8.2.1 ARDIS Examples

(1)

8.2.1.1 Short-Message Service

(1)

8.2.1.2 Basic Message Unit Pricing

(1)

8.2.1.3 DataPak Pricing

(1)

8.2.1.4 Two-Way Messaging Services

(1)

8.2.1.5 "All-You-Can-Eat" Pricing

(1)

8.2.2 BSWD Examples

(1)

8.2.2.1 Wireless Lotus Notes

(1)

8.2.2.2 WyndMail Pricing

(1)

8.2.2.3 Two-Way Paging

(1)

8.2.3 CDPD Examples

(1)

8.2.3.1 Low-Volume Usage

(2)

8.2.3.2 High-Volume Usage

(1)

8.2.3.3 "All You Can Eat" Plans

(2)

8.3 Comparative Pricing: Nationwide Carriers

(4)

8.3.1 Mobile Office

(1)

8.3.2 Electronic Mail

(2)

8.3.3 Nationwide Two-Way Paging

(2)

8.4 Establishing a Representative Packet Switched Price Curve

101

(5)

8.4.1 ARDIS

101

(1)

8.4.1.1 Internal Traffic: RadioMail

101

(1)

8.4.1.2 External From/To/Date Traffic: RadioMail

102

(1)

8.4.1.3 ARDIS Test Results

103

(1)

8.4.2 BAM CDPD

104

(1)

8.4.2.1 Test Conditions

104

(1)

8.4.2.2 BAM Test Results

104

(1)

8.4.3 Creating a Representative Packet Curve

105

(1)

8.5 Establishing a Representative Circuit Switched Cellular Curve

106

(4)

8.5.1 Data Using Voice Tariffs

106

(1)

8.5.1.1 Selecting a Representative Cellular Tariff

106

(1)

8.5.1.2 Establishing the Connect Time

106

(1)

8.5.1.3 Estimating the Customer Data/Message Rate

107

(1)

8.5.1.4 Application Variables

108

(2)

8.6 Summary

110

(1)

References

111

(1)

9 Subscriber Growth: History and Barriers

112

(32)

9.1 Approach

112

(1)

9.2 Public Packet Switched Networks

113

(14)

9.2.1 Cross-Network Applications: E-mail

113

(1)

9.2.1.1 RadioMail

113

(1)

9.2.1.2 WyndMail

114

(1)

9.2.1.3 Zap-it

114

(1)

9.2.2 ARDIS

114

(3)

9.2.3 BSWD

117

(1)

9.2.4 CDPD

118

(2)

9.2.5 Geotek

120

(1)

9.2.6 Metricom Ricochet

121

(1)

9.2.7 SkyTel2

122

(2)

9.2.8 Teletrac

124

(1)

9.2.9 Analog SMRS

124

(1)

9.2.10 Public Packet Switched Summary

125

(2)

9.3 Public Circuit Switched Subscribers

127

(9)

9.3.1 Data over Cellular

127

(1)

9.3.1.1 Practical Counting Problems

128

(1)

9.3.1.2 Search for the Right Ballpark

129

(1)

9.3.1.3 Sanity Checks

129

(5)

9.3.1.4 Realistic Expectations

134

(1)

9.3.2 Broadband PCS: GSM

134

(1)

9.3.2.1 Voice Subscriber Growth

134

(1)

9.3.2.2 Data Estimates

135

(1)

9.3.3 ESMR: Nextel Digital Subscribers

135

(1)

9.4 Public Satellite Networks

136

(3)

9.4.1 AMSC

136

(1)

9.4.2 OmniTRACS

137

(2)

9.5 Summary

139

(1)

References

140

(4)

10 Market Opportunity

144

(17)

10.1 Second Era of Low Hanging Fruit

144

(4)

10.2 Some Unpleasant History

148

(5)

10.2.1 Job-Based Market Opportunity Approach

148

(1)

10.2.2 1996 Projections: 1987 Work

149

(4)

10.2.3 Analyzing the Data

153

(1)

10.3 A New(er) Look at Jobs

153

(6)

10.4 Summary

159

(1)

References

160

(1)

11 Airtime Price Projections

161

(10)

11.1 Great Expectations

161

(1)

11.2 Subscriber Capacity Potential

161

(1)

11.3 List Price History: CDPD

162

(1)

11.4 Voice/Data Channel Resource Competition: CDPD

163

(4)

11.4.1 Choosing a Representative Carrier

163

(1)

11.4.2 Establishing a Representative Voice Profile

164

(1)

11.4.3 Estimating Voice Capacity per Cell

164

(1)

11.4.4 Estimating Voice Revenue per Sector

165

(1)

11.4.5 Calculating the Required Data Revenue

166

(1)

11.5 Estimating Future Data Price Levels

167

(1)

References

168

(3)

III BUSINESS 102: OTHER THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TOO

171

(32)

12 Coverage Versus Capacity

171

(32)

12.1 Introduction

171

(1)

12.2 Key Coverage Philosophies

172

(7)

12.2.1 ARDIS

172

(1)

12.2.2 BSWD

173

(1)

12.2.3 ARDIS Versus BSWD: Representative 90% Coverage Contours

174

(1)

12.2.4 Improving Building Penetration with More Base Stations

175

(1)

12.2.5 CDPD

176

(1)

12.2.6 Other Coverage Considerations

177

(1)

12.2.6.1 Transmit Power Levels

177

(2)

12.2.6.2 External Antennas

179

(1)

12.2.6.3 Repeaters

179

(1)

12.3 Estimating Coverage Without Field Tests

179

(11)

12.3.1 License Examinations

179

(3)

12.3.2 Coverage Maps

182

(1)

12.3.2.1 Obfuscation, Not Illumination

182

(1)

12.3.2.2 Useful But with Careless Errors

183

(2)

12.3.2.3 Misleading

185

(2)

12.3.3 ZIP Code Predictors

187

(3)

12.4 Field Tests

190

(6)

12.4.1 Simplified Approaches

190

(1)

12.4.2 External Approaches

191

(1)

12.4.3 Summary Field Test Results

192

(1)

12.4.3.1 Street-Level Tests

192

(3)

12.4.3.2 In-Building Tests

195

(1)

12.5 Capacity Cost of Better In-Building Penetration

196

(3)

12.5.1 Agreeing on a Baseline

196

(1)

12.5.2 Single-Base-Station Cities

197

(1)

12.5.3 Putting Multiple Base Stations to Work

197

(2)

12.5.4 Future Outlook: Coverage Versus Capacity

199

(1)

12.6 Summary

199

(1)

References

200

(3)

IV SOME PRIMITIVE TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

203

(56)

13 Understanding Airtime Protocols

203

(27)

13.1 The Packet Revisited

203

(4)

13.1.1 Message Segmentation: The Flag

203

(1)

13.1.2 Address Field

204

(1)

13.1.3 Control Field

204

(2)

13.1.4 Information Field

206

(1)

13.1.5 Frame Check Sequence Field

207

(1)

13.2 Error-Handling Approaches

207

(7)

13.2.1 Philosophy

207

(1)

13.2.2 Error Detection Versus Correction Basics

208

(1)

13.2.3 Error Detection Versus Correction: Vendor Examples

208

(4)

13.2.4 ARQ Alternatives

212

(1)

13.2.4.1 ARQ Variations

212

(1)

13.2.4.2 Practical Results

213

(1)

13.2.5 Data Flow Example

214

(1)

13.3 Fade Rate Versus Fade Duration

214

(7)

13.3.1 Characteristics of a Fading Channel

214

(1)

13.3.2 Fade Rate

215

(2)

13.3.3 Fade Duration

217

(1)

13.3.4 Optimum Target Velocity

218

(3)

13.4 Synchronization Errors

221

(1)

13.5 Inbound Access: Contention Mode

222

(3)

13.5.1 ALOHA

222

(1)

13.5.2 Slotted ALOHA

223

(1)

13.5.3 Slotted CSMA

223

(2)

13.6 Retransmission Rates

225

(3)

References

228

(2)

14 Estimating Airlink Capacity: Packet Systems

230

(17)

14.1 Introduction

230

(1)

14.2 Illustrative Single-Base-Station Comparison

230

(8)

14.2.1 ARDIS

231

(2)

14.2.2 CDPD

233

(5)

14.3 Multicell Capacity

238

(6)

14.3.1 Base Station Quantity Mismatch

238

(1)

14.3.2 CDPD Sector Impact

239

(2)

14.3.3 CDPD Channel Hopping

241

(1)

14.3.4 Busy-Cell-Factor Impact

241

(2)

14.3.5 Message Rate Activity

243

(1)

14.4 Dealing with TCP/IP Impact

244

(2)

References

246

(1)

15 Enabling "Soft" Technologies

247

(12)

15.1 Alphabet Soup

247

(1)

15.2 Modulation

247

(5)

15.2.1 Circuit Switched

247

(3)

15.2.2 Packet Switched

250

(1)

15.2.2.1 Narrow-Band Low-Speed Devices

250

(1)

15.2.2.2 Narrow-Band Medium-Speed Devices

251

(1)

15.2.2.3 Wide-Band High-Speed Devices

251

(1)

15.3 Error Detection: V.42/V.42 Fast and MNP4/10

252

(1)

15.4 Data Compression: V.42BIS and MNP5/7

253

(1)

15.5 On-Going Enhancements to Alphabet Soup Modems

254

(1)

References

255

(4)

V PUTTING IT TOGETHER

259

(84)

16 Device Alternatives

259

(20)

16.1 Introduction: Combinations and Permutations

259

(2)

16.2 Modem Complexity

261

(1)

16.3 Cellular Spearheads Modem Development

262

(1)

16.4 Voice/Data Push-Pull

263

(14)

16.4.1 Positioning Tussles

263

(1)

16.4.2 Voice Devices Swallow Modems

263

(1)

16.4.2.1 Voice Devices Try to Do It All

263

(1)

16.4.2.2 A Compromise: SmartPhones

264

(1)

16.4.2.3 Annoying Residual Problems

265

(2)

16.4.3 Data Devices Swallow the Radio

267

(1)

16.4.3.1 External Radio Modems

268

(1)

16.4.3.2 PC Card Radio Modems

269

(2)

16.4.3.3 Under-the-Cover Solutions

271

(6)

References

277

(2)

17 Connectivity

279

(13)

17.1 Introduction

279

(1)

17.2 Defining the Problem

279

(3)

17.2.1 Origins

279

(1)

17.2.2 Connectivity Goals

280

(2)

17.3 Supporting Software

282

(6)

17.3.1 Radio Modems

282

(1)

17.3.1.1 Single-Network Implementations

282

(1)

17.3.1.2 Multiple-Network Implementations

283

(2)

17.3.2 Exploiting Gateways

285

(3)

17.4 Nongateway Host Connectivity Options

288

(3)

17.4.1 All Wireless

288

(1)

17.4.2 Dial-Up

289

(1)

17.4.3 Public Data Networks

290

(1)

17.4.4 Leased-Line Connections

291

(1)

References

291

(1)

18 Systems and Subsystems

292

(10)

18.1 Control Approaches

292

(1)

18.2 Decentralized: Metricom Ricochet

293

(1)

18.3 Partially Decentralized: BSWD

294

(2)

18.4 Partially Centralized: CDPD

296

(2)

18.5 Centralized: ARDIS

298

(3)

18.5.1 System Approach

298

(1)

18.5.2 System Details

299

(1)

18.5.3 Network Availability

300

(1)

References

301

(1)

19 User Applications

302

(26)

19.1 Vertical Versus Horizontal

302

(2)

19.2 Vertical Application Examples: Field Service

304

(12)

19.2.1 IBM's DCS

304

(5)

19.2.2 Pitney Bowes' AIM

309

(1)

19.2.3 Sears

310

(1)

19.2.4 A Generic Approach

310

(6)

19.3 Horizontal Application Examples: E-mail

316

(5)

19.3.1 The Search for the "Killer App"

316

(1)

19.3.2 Limiting the Search

317

(1)

19.3.2.1 Overview

317

(1)

19.3.2.2 Standardization Muddles

318

(2)

19.3.3 Gateway Example: RadioMail

320

(1)

19.3.3.1 Structure

320

(1)

19.3.3.2 Key Functions

320

(1)

19.3.4 Wireless E-mail Service Example: BSWD

321

(1)

19.4 Horizontal Application Example: Two-Way Paging

321

(4)

19.4.1 Introduction

321

(1)

19.4.2 BSWD Makes Its Move

322

(2)

19.4.3 ARDIS Counterattacks

324

(1)

19.4.4 Meanwhile, At SkyTel...

325

(1)

19.5 Summary

325

(1)

References

325

(3)

20 Network Mythologies

328

(15)

20.1 Introduction

328

(1)

20.2 CDPD is an Open Standard; ARDIS and BSWD are Proprietary

328

(1)

20.3 ARDIS has Limited Capacity

329

(1)

20.4 ARDIS is Old Technology

330

(1)

20.5 BSWD has Inferior In-Building Coverage

330

(1)

20.6 Packet Provides Faster Access than Circuit Because it is Always Connected

330

(1)

20.7 CDPD has High User Bit Rates

331

(2)

20.7.1 Big Claims and Shrinking Claims

331

(1)

20.7.2 Combinatorial Pinging: A CDPD Static Bit Rate Test

331

(1)

20.7.3 Realistic CDPD Bit Rates in a Busy Channel

332

(1)

20.8 CDPD will Move to Higher Bit Rates When They are Available

333

(1)

20.9 ARDIS, BSWD, CDPD (Pick a Name) Will be Out of Business Soon

334

(1)

20.10 When Wireless Data Succeeds, It Will be a Great Business!

334

(4)

20.10.1 ARDIS

334

(2)

20.10.2 BSWD

336

(1)

20.10.3 CDPD

337

(1)

References

338

(5)

VI APPENDIXES

343

(40)

Appendix A Acronyms

343

(8)

Appendix B IBM Auto-alert

351

(1)

Appendix C TCP/IP Count: BAM Inbound Message

352

(2)

Appendix D Number of ARDIS Subscribers

354

(8)

Appendix E Number of BSWD Subscribers

362

(5)

Appendix F Number of CDPD Subscribers

367

(3)

Appendix G Number of HighwayMaster Subscribers

370

(1)

Appendix H Number of OmniTRACS Subscribers

371

(4)

Appendix I Connecticut Base Station Sites

375

(3)

Appendix J ARDIS Cost-Benefit Example

378

(2)

Appendix K CDPD Log Sample (January 30, 1995)

380

(3)

Index

383

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The Wireless Data Handbook

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials