Hello Surf, let me address question #2 first, because I just
read Jim's post. (Please bear in mind that I'm a very old tech person who (I think) knows just enough to be dangerous. )
Referring to one of jim's links to (Hatim's post) -- siliconinvestor.com
In it - Hatim suggests that he does not intend to compete with Cable Modem.
I would assume that - just as Terayon (TERN) has created
a successful CDMA modem, someone else could create a successful W-OFDM modem, but I do not have the technical knowhow to really back up my assumption.
Terayon already is quite successful (and on G Gilder's Telecosm list) so I would not expect to see one of these
W-OFDM modems soon.
Backing up to Question #1 --
Wi-Lan's US Patent 5,282,222 is available from the OFDM link on the Wi-Lan site.
In it are block diagrams of transmitters and receivers, which utilize "gee whiz circuitry blocks" labeled "Pre-distortion", "Processor", "De-processor", and "Channel Estimator" . These are apparently all unique to, and part of the "W" in Wi-Lan's W-OFDM product.
From a description of the "Lan Architecture" figure, and
the OSI Physical Level description in the book by SAMS Publishing ( Teach Yourself TCP/IP In 14 Days) --
I would say that those transmitters & receivers, along with their associated antennas, do fit in the Physical Layer
of the OSI model.
The physical layer is broken up into a AIU (attachment Unit Interface) which I think is analogous to the Antenna Connection & Band Pass Filter; and a Media Attachment Unit (MAU) which would be the combined transmitter & receiver (a transceiver).
Regarding the Data Link Layer -
The IEEE specifications for LANs refer to a Media Access Control "sublayer" which defines a Collision Detection and recovery scheme.
While the IEEE specifications for Radio Frequency LANs define a complex Collision Avoidance in that same MAC sublayer.
Finally, I would guess that the answer to question #3
is Yes.
In order to get some really correct answers though, we need to hear from Hatim and/or from Wireless_Wonk.
That ends my struggle for today.
I will not be around much next week. An investment opportunity in Las Vegas will take up my time :-).
I hope that you all will keep my WILIF shares properly
inflated while I'm gone.
Best Regards,
Mardy. |
