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Topic: DirectBand

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	directband (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-29)
		DirectBand is a new communications technology for continuously delivering time, sports, weather, news and relevant web-based information to your wristwatch.
		It uses the deregulated (1983) sidebands (or subcarriers) available to broadcasters operating FM radio stations, that normally are utilised for RDS (Radio Data System).
		DirectBand is a two-chip set that consists of a system-on-chip processor which includes an ARM7 CPU along with SRAM and ROM, and a radio chip that contains a tiny, sensitive 100 MHz RF receiver.
	www.yourencyclopedia.net /DirectBand.html (141 words)

	danhon.com articles: Microsoft's SPOT
		DirectBand uses FM radio stations and unused frequencies to transmit a whole bunch of data (the usage of bunch here is rather loose, since it's not a terribly large amount of data at all).
		DirectBand is, for all intents and purposes, a closed system.
		We'll see exactly how closed DirectBand is when it launches, but I have the feeling that there's not enough bandwidth for anyone to make a feed available over the network.
	danhon.com /articles/archive/000322.shtml (719 words)

	Howstuffworks "How Smart Watches Work"
		DirectBand consists of two components: a special chipset in the watch that houses the radio receiver and a nationwide, wide-area network (WAN).
		DirectBand transmits Web-based data on subcarrier frequencies using radio protocols designed specially for Smart Watches.
		The DirectBand broadcast range covers 100 metropolitan areas in the United States and five major cities in Canada.
	electronics.howstuffworks.com /smart-watch2.htm (249 words)

	Microsoft SPOT off with DirectBand
		Which is what Microsoft has done with DirectBand that forms part of its SPOT (Smart Personal Objects) initiative announced recently at CES, Las Vegas.
		DirectBand is a "new" comms technology for delivering sports, weather and news inforamtion to your wristwatch.
		The necessary DirectBand chips employ an ARM7 processor core and are being built in National's facility in South Portland, Maine.
	www.theinquirer.net /?article=7142 (348 words)

	Telnet News Septebmer 2005: : Case Study : Microsoft Selects Spectracom to Provide Accurate Time over MSNÂ® Direct ...
		DirectBand is a North American wireless datacast network that constantly transmits information such as time, stocks, news, sports, weather, movie times, traffic, local events, and Outlook® calendar appointments to subscribers that utilize MSN Direct wristwatches and other devices.
		DirectBand transmits data over the FM radio spectrum covering 125 cities in the United States and Canada.
		Algorithms and protocols that DirectBand employs, to ensure reliable delivery of data to subscribers, relies on the servers in the network being synchronized with accurate time.
	www.telnetnetworks.ca /news/0905/0002.cfm (611 words)

	MSN Direct (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-29)
		DirectBand™ will initially cover over 100 top metropolitan areas across all 50 U.S. states, plus the top 13 Canadian cities.
		Microsoft, along with key partners in the FM broadcasting industry, has created the DirectBand Network a unique, continuous broadcast network across the US and Canada.
		Taking advantage of FM radio subcarrier frequencies, watches with MSN Direct are continuously updated with timely and relevant Web-based information.
	www.microsoft.com /resources/spot/direct.mspx (65 words)

	THE online REPORTER Issue 331 January 18-24, 2003
		DirectBand is a set of technologies for transmitting information off the web to Microsoft-equipped smart objects.
		DirectBand uses a custom radio receiver chip costing less than $10 and a wide area network based on new FM radio protocols to update Microsoft SPOT-based devices continuously with new information.
		The FM spectrum that DirectBand will use can handle limited amounts of data transmitted by the radio stations and is typically used to broadcast radio station call letters and sometimes song title information for display on car radio LCD and LED screens.
	www.onlinereporter.com /TORbackissues/TOR331.htm (9989 words)

	[CAP] Status of real-world CAP deployment?
		On a technical note, we would have to unwrap CAP messages at the DirectBand operations center and repackage them; the bandwidth, memory, power, and noise constraints on FM data transmission all argue for messages being as succinct as possible so XML is not an appropriate data format.
		We would also want to collect all messages at our operation centers (of which there will only be about two), and redistribute them after repackaging to the various transmission towers around the country based on the affected regions.
		I have not researched software interfaces to SPOT defice DirectBand transmitters, but I presume that a protocol such as WTCP would be used to relay messages, much like messages to pagers can be sent.
	www.incident.com /pipermail/cap-list/2003-February/001233.html (587 words)

	Peter O'Kelly's Reality Check
		Wireless News: Microsoft SPOTs a New Opportunity "What is particularly intriguing about Wednesday's announcement is that the SPOT devices will use a nationwide WAN (wide area network) based on FM subcarrier technology, much like that used by the Muzak piped-in music service.
		Dubbed DirectBand, the technology includes a custom radio-receiver chip and new radio protocols to transmit information to smart objects via FM broadcast bands.
		DirectBand's initial coverage area will include some 100 of the largest population centers in North America, the company said, representing cities in all 50 states and in Canada.
	pbokelly.blogspot.com /2003/01/wireless-news-microsoft-spots-new.html (200 words)

	PCWorld.com - Next: News, Sports, and Weather on Your Wristwatch
		Microsoft's focus, however, is on its project with chip maker National Semiconductor to build a nationwide low-bandwidth data network and to develop a wireless chip technology that exploits FM radio technology.
		The network, called Microsoft DirectBand, is expected to go live this fall and could give rise to a host of new wireless Microsoft services beaming information to smart devices powered by Microsoft software and National Semiconductor chips, experts say.
		To build the DirectBand network, Microsoft is subleasing spare radio FM spectrum from a number of broadcasters, including Entercom, Clear Channel, Rodgers Communications, and Greater Media.
	www.pcworld.com /news/article/0,aid,108581,00.asp (1240 words)

	MobileTechNews - Microsoft Presents SPOT-Based Wristwatches at CES
		As demonstrated during Gates' keynote address, the new SPOT-based watches are fashionable timepieces with enhanced timekeeping characteristics such as customizable watch faces and automatic time-adjustment based on location.
		Microsoft's DirectBand is a set of innovative technologies enabling transmission of Web-based information to smart objects.
		DirectBand includes a custom radio receiver, a wide area network based on FM subcarrier technology and new radio protocols created to meet the unique communication requirements of smart objects.
	www.mobiletechnews.com /info/2003/01/10/001117.html (561 words)

	NYTalks
		While most technology firms were chasing the Next Big Thing, the Redmond software giant spent the past two years secretly tinkering with FM radio -- one of the last big things -- to adapt it to info-crazed life in the 21st century.
		The DirectBand network is up and running, as are several dozen prototype watches, but the service and watches won't be commercially available until September.
		But to me, the FM-radio angle is what makes DirectBand a fascinating new player in the race to deliver wireless data.
	www.nytalks.org /news/detail.cfm?id=67 (979 words)

	DirectBand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		DirectBand is a Microsoft-owned trademark for a communications technology for continuously delivering time, sports, weather, news and relevant web-based information to wristwatches.
		It uses the deregulated (1983) sidebands (or subcarriers) available to broadcasters operating FM radio stations, that are normally used for RDS (Radio Data System).
		This page was last modified 17:53, 4 December 2004.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/DirectBand (106 words)

	Jeff Maurone: Metanoya: On the DirectBand Network as Disruptive Innovation
		DirectBand® is a comprehensive nationwide network of FM broadcasting nodes spanning the continent.
		Furthermore, in a striking contrast to standard FM radio transmissions, devices capable of receiving DirectBand® content are addressable.
		Rather, it is the delivery mechanism, the DirectBand® network, that is in a position for mass-market adoption.
	jeffmaurone.typepad.com /metanoya/2004/03/on_the_directba.html (919 words)

	Telecommunicatie
		Data will be beamed by service providers, who will lease carrier capacity from existing FM broadcasters, and watches will automatically retrieve the signals using FM chips built into the watches.
		National is working on designs for several other SPOT devices, including a DirectBand receiver that would fit into the SecureDigital memory slot on handheld computers.
		FM radio was also big news in the automotive pavilion at CES, where Ibiquity Digital was showing off the first car and home receivers to tap into the digital FM spectrum the company is powering.
	home.planet.nl /~ignace/telcom.htm (1268 words)

	MSN Direct Wants a Hit With SPOT (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-29)
		In the smart watches service, MSN Direct is expected to send data to the watches over its new DirectBand wireless network, which utilizes FM radio spectrum being leased from broadcast networks nationwide and in Canada.
		The DirectBand network was developed with the assistance of SCA Data Systems.
		The new smart watches will run on a subset of the.NET Compact Framework within Microsoft's Common Language Runtime (CLR) environment and will be equipped with a chipset from National Semiconductor (Quote, Chart) that will include an application chip with an ARM7 processor, ROM, static RAM, and a 100MHz radio frequency receiver.
	www.internetnews.com /xSP/print.php/2217641 (645 words)

	[ MediaGab ] - Microsoft unveils SPOT (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-29)
		In fact this is by far the coolest thing I have ever seen and you can guarantee that I will be one of the first to get one.
		The watch receives updates using DirectBand Technology which transmits weather updates, time, text messages, scores, news, traffic reports all to your watch.
		DirectBand Technology uses an FM frequency to transmit so your watch acts as a sort of radio.
	www.mediagab.com /story.asp?id=261 (159 words)

	PC Magazine: Networking: Microsoft SPOT
		Microsoft Research worked with SCA Data Systems to develop the protocols for this new radio network, dubbed DirectBand, to take advantage of all this unused bandwidth.
		The DirectBand network runs at a low frequency, like pager networks, so it should be accessible even inside buildings.
		A SPOT gadget scans the various frequencies available to determine where the signal is strongest and uses that frequency to receive data at about 12 Kbps.
	www.findarticles.com /p/articles/mi_zdpcm/is_200307/ai_ziff43561 (589 words)

	SPOT on!
		DirectBand makes your watches and other SPOT devices smarter and more useful for your location and your personal information needs.
		There are no configuration parameters or tweaks that you can make at the device end except for tuning the channels of information.
		All your preferences and settings with regard to informational needs are to be keyed onto a personal Web page allotted to you at the time of registration for the DirectBand service.
	computersathome.com /content/digital_home/digital_life/103040701.asp (921 words)

	Smart wristwatches hit the SPOT
		To launch SPOT, Microsoft worked with National Semiconductor to develop a chipset consisting of an application chip and a radio frequency receiver that's been optimized for low power draw, miniaturization and low cost.
		To provide connectivity to SPOT devices, Microsoft has created DirectBand, a set of radio technologies that enables the transmission of Web-based information to smart objects.
		DirectBand includes the custom radio receiver chip, a nationwide wide-area network based on FM subcarrier technology and new radio protocols created specifically to meet the unique communication requirements of smart objects.
	www.windowsfordevices.com /news/NS3586581888.html (376 words)

	Paul's Down-Home Page: Ambient, stop whining
		Mike Wendland blogs about whining from Ambient Devices: they want Microsoft to open the DirectBand network (which MSN Direct and SPOT use) to anyone who wants to transmit over it.
		Ambient makes some (actually rather cool) devices that receive data over a variety of existing networks (including pager and GPRS).
		However, they don't like it that, after spending tons of money on building DirectBand, Microsoft isn't eager to let them use it.
	www.robichaux.net /blog/archives/2004/01/ambient_stop_wh.html (92 words)

	Sci-Tech Today - - Microsoft SPOTs a New Opportunity
		What is particularly intriguing about Wednesday's announcement is that the SPOT devices will use a nationwide WAN (wide area network) based on FM subcarrier technology, much like that used by the Muzak piped-in music service.
		Dubbed DirectBand, the technology includes a custom radio-receiver
		Broadcasters Clear Channel Communications, Entercom Communications, Greater Media and Rogers Communications are among those working on the project with Microsoft.
	www.sci-tech-today.com /perl/story/20423.html (472 words)

	Free Essay Intellegent vs. Smart (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-29)
		A 6 page paper discussing the development and use of the “smart” antenna as a method of reducing the level of radiation exposure resulting from cellular...
		Microsoft’s DirectBand Network and Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT)
		This is a 5 page paper discussing Microsoft’s DirectBand Network and Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT).
	www.echeat.com /essay.php?t=27843 (620 words)

	Gates Pushes Convergence of Consumer Devices, Connectivity and Services
		First SPOT wrist watches employing DirectBand radio connectivity, to debut by Fall, 2003, Microsoft chairman says.
		The watches will be able to receive information over DirectBand, a one-way FM radio network.
		Among the communications providers working with Microsoft to provide DirectBand are ClearChannel, Rogers, Gilat, Spacenet, Entercom and Greater Media.
	www.microsoft-watch.com /article2/0,2180,814371,00.asp (1077 words)

	Product Contributions
		Improved interfaces for computers and devices with large displays
		Microsoft, ClearType, Windows, DirectX, Windows NT, Windows Media, MSN, Outlook, IntelliShrink, SharePoint, PowerPoint, DirectBand, Xbox Live, Xbox and Encarta are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
		The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
	research.microsoft.com /aboutmsr/pastpresentfuture/contributions.aspx (2051 words)

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