Page 19 - DECT Today - Issue 3 - May 2015

ULE IS GIVING IoT A VOICE
ULE is giving IoT a Voice
By Jochen Kilian, Core Technology, DSP Group
IoT-enabled smart homes are here to make our lives more comfortable, secure and energy-efficient. But how can this smart environment be managed in a simple and intuitive manner? This article proposes an alternative to today’s touch screen-centric approaches that use voice to control the smart home easily and efficiently.
ULE, Key to the Voice-Enabled Smart Home
Giving the Internet of Things (IoT) a voice will take the smart home world from techie toy to mass deployment.
DECT is the only low-power, wireless technology supporting voice and ULE home control functions with a fully standardized protocol stack. Chipsets supporting DECT, including ULE, are already available on the mass market, offering multiple benefits.
1) Open Standard
ULE is an open standard whose transport layer is defined within ETSI. ULE also offers a complete standard for the application layer that allows mixing and matching devices from different vendors using different chipsets. A free download of application layer standard (HAN-FUN) is available from the ULE Alliance website. In addition, the ULE Alliance has set a plan to integrate 6LowPAN during 2015.
Since the outset of 2015, the ULE certification program has been ensuring interoperability between various ULE implementations.
2) Interference-Free Band
Based on the physical layer of DECT, ULE operates in a protected, regulated frequency band where only DECT-based technologies such as GAP, CAT-iq or ULE are allowed. DECT has a proven track record, operating reliably in densely populated environments due to robust, channel access technologies. This prevents frequency band overlap, such as with 2.4 GHz or 868 MHz, where many different technologies with different package sizes and hopping schemes are used. Installation of new equipment may be especially problematic in these frequency bands causing previously working devices to suddenly malfunction. In contrast ULE operates according to DECT
channel selection rules and collision avoidance techniques.
3) Outstanding Range, Response Time and Security
ULE offers a range of at least 50m in buildings (>600 m open air). This supports an easily installed and maintained star topology network. There is no need to upgrade the range with difficult to manage and maintain meshed networks.
ULE provides extremely fast response time. An event detected by a sensor is received at the concentrator within 50ms!
ULE uses CCM AES 128 to encrypt and authenticate all communication between network nodes and concentrators.
4) Lowest Cost of Ownership
When computing total cost of ownership, multiple factors makes should be taken in to account – making ULE the best solution:
• Because ULE uses a star topology, there are fewer nodes, reducing the overall system cost, the installation and maintenances cost
• Building on the underlying DECT technology results in manifold cost reductions:
= The large installed base of DECT, with over 820 million worldwide, provides a secure supply chain with multiple-source semiconductors sold at high volumes at reduced costs.
= Re-use of the simple plug ’n play mechanisms deployed by DECT products saves both time and cost.
= The existing component hardware, such has DECT-enabled home gateways provided by operators worldwide, supports ULE with only a low-cost software upgrade. This can be implemented without interrupting existing user service.
= Existing nodes are updated over the air (SUOTA) with new versions and feature enhancements, without sending costly technicians to consumer premises.
= The ability to transport two-way voice and video data using the same device enables IoT devices to “listen and talk” effectively at a very low price point.
Voice-Enabled Smart Home is Happening Now
ULE chipsets are available today that both allow sending/receiving information from smart things and setting up voice links to enable full communication. These chipsets enable multiple new functionality to enrich the future of IoT and smart home solutions, interact with devices by voice, communicate within and outside the home more easily, analyze indoor voice activities, and provide new and better ways to monitor the home and validate events.
Just a simple software update away, ULE voice-enabled smart homes are set to have the biggest installed base of all other IoT RF technologies.
During 2015, several voice-enabled ULE products will hit the market; e.g., talking smoke detectors and other voice-controlled applications such as operating household appliances and entry points.
DSP Group is the leading chipset supplier for DECT-based products and a key contributor to the ULE standard. DSP Group’s ULE product offering – including the DHX91 platform for low-power nodes, the DCX81 platforms for home gateways and the DVF99 family for hubs and Over-The-Top (OTT) boxes – are ready to serve as the ears, voice and sensors for today’s voice-controlled smart home.
About DSP Group
DSP Group®, Inc. (NASDAQ:DSPG) is a leading global provider of wireless chipset solutions for converged communications. Delivering semiconductor system solutions with software and hardware reference designs, DSP Group enables OEMs/ODMs, consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers and service providers to cost-effectively develop new revenue-generating products with fast time to market. At the forefront of semiconductor innovation and operational excellence for over two decades, DSP Group provides a broad portfolio of wireless chipsets integrating DECT/CAT-iq, ULE, Wi-Fi, PSTN, HDClearTM, video and VoIP technologies. DSP Group enables converged voice, audio, video and data connectivity across diverse mobile, consumer and enterprise products – from mobile devices, connected multimedia screens, and home automation & security to cordless phones, VoIP systems, and home gateways. Leveraging industry- leading experience and expertise, DSP Group partners with CE manufacturers and service providers to shape the future of converged communications at home, office and on the go. For more information, visit www.dspg.com.
Or contact:
Tali Chen, Tel: +1(408) 240-6826, tali.chen@dspg.com
DECT Today - The Success Story Continues · www.dect.org
19