Use of 115 kb/s infra-red interface for mobile multimedia

This paper introduces the current status of the 115 kb/s infra-red interface that has been designed to connect PDAs, sub-notebooks and other portable computers to cellphones. Experience from mobile multimedia trials has enabled us to identify key issues with mobile multimedia communications. These potential problems are addressed using infra-red communications, as proposed by the Infra-Red Data Communications Association (IRDA), to firstly decouple the functions of the mobile phone and mobile computing device, and secondly to provide a simple and inexpensive communications interface. We outline the key issues and introduce the Hewlett-Packard Serial Infra-Red Link (HP SIR) before reviewing the current proposal.