IEEE Approves 1905.1 Draft Standard for Home Networking

The IEEE 1905.1 Working Group has approved the Hybrid Networking (P1905.1) draft standard.


The HomePlug Powerline Alliance hailed the approval, saying the approval marks a significant step forward for home networking.


IEEE 1905.1 is a software abstraction layer for unifying wired and wireless home networks. It leverages widely adopted standards, including the IEEE 802.11 standards for Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.3 for Ethernet, IEEE 1901 for Powerline and MoCA for Coaxial Cables. 1905.1’s common interface enables applications and upper layer protocols to be “agnostic�? to the underlying home networking technologies, and data packets can be communicated according to quality of service (QoS) priorities. IEEE 1905.1 also simplifies network setup by providing common procedures for adding devices, establishing secure links and managing the network.


“Consumers want the best of both worlds – the in-home mobility of wireless and the reliability and coverage of wired networks – so creating a single industry standard for hybrid networking is a significant step forward. This will provide the capability for service providers, product manufacturers and retailers to offer more interoperable solutions to customers, reducing the complexity and cost of network installations,�? said Paul Houzé of France Telecom-Orange and chair of the IEEE 1905.1 Working Group.


“Hybrid products that combine Wi-Fi, HomePlug, MoCA or Ethernet technologies are already sold in many retail stores today. The IEEE 1905.1 standard enables seamless communication from one medium to another and is an important step towards mass deployment of hybrid networking products,�? comments Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
http://www.homeplug.orghttp://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1905/1/