IEEE Publishes New Edition of Book on Low-Rate, Wireless Personal Area Networks.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The IEEE updated its standard on low-rate, wireless personal area networks (WPAN), IEEE 802.15.4[TM], in 2006. This has led it to publish a second edition of the book , "Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks: Enabling Wireless Sensors with IEEE 802.15.4", which was written to complement the standard and to help those implementing the standard for sensors and actuators.

The new edition, authored by Jose Gutierrez, Edgar Callaway and Raymond Barrett, expands the book to include changes made in the revised standard and the new opportunities it presents. The changes made include two additional physical layers that allow higher data rates at lower frequency bands (at 868 and 915 MHz), an updated security mechanism, and alterations to the MAC sub-layer.

IEEE 802.15.4 addresses applications for sensors and actuators in industrial, agricultural, vehicular, residential, medical and other fields that need relaxed throughput and latency requirements and low-cost, low-power designs. The updated book reviews the standard, the applications that motivate it, and the rationale for design options made in its creation.

The book is a companion to the standard for those interested in "simple" wireless connectivity who want to understand the inner workings of IEEE 802.15.4. It has three parts:

* Part I looks at low-rate WPAN technology, why the standard was created, and likely application scenarios. This section is a technical introduction to the standard and provides marketing, business, and other professionals with background on the technology and the vision behind it.

* Part II concentrates on the technical elements of the standard. It also goes beyond the standard by including material on network layer functionality for possible applications and gives the rationale behind several components of the standard.

* Part III focuses on implementation and system design, including an analysis of system-level, real-world issues.

"Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks: Enabling Wireless Sensors with IEEE 802.15.4", can be ordered by e-mailing [e-mail] or by going to http://shop.ieee.org/ieeestore/product.aspx?product_no=SP1150. It also can be ordered by calling 800-678-4333 in the U.S. and Canada or [phone] from elsewhere.

About the Standards Information Network/IEEE Press

The Standards Information Network/IEEE Press publishes peer-reviewed guides, handbooks and tutorials that enhance the understanding and implementation of standards. For more information visit: http://standards.ieee.org/standardspress/index.html.

About the IEEE Standards Association 

The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized standards-setting body, develops consensus standards through an open process that brings diverse parts of an industry together. These standards set specifications and procedures based on current scientific consensus. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of more than 870 completed standards and more than 400 standards in development. For information on IEEE-SA see: http://standards.ieee.org/.

About the IEEE

The IEEE has more than 375,000 members in approximately 150 countries. Through its members, the organization is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace, computers and telecommunications to biomedicine, electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE produces nearly 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering, computing and control technology fields. This nonprofit organization also sponsors or cosponsors more than 300 technical conferences each year. Additional information about the IEEE can be found at http://www.ieee.org.