New IEEE standard enables home 'network of the future'

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an industry group for powerline network solutions, is backing the IEEE P1905 working group’s efforts to define the first standard for hybrid home networks.

A P1905 network would include combinations of stationary home networking devices such as set-top boxes, home gateways, Blu-Ray players and televisions, and mobile devices such as laptops, tablets and cellphones.

The IEEE P1905 standard enables consumers and service providers to combine the capabilities of otherwise disparate networks to maximize a home network’s overall performance and reliability. IEEE P1905 also simplifies network setup by providing common setup procedures for adding devices, establishing secure links, implementing quality of service (QoS) and managing the network.

“The hybrid home network is clearly the network of the future — offering the best networking technology to meet the consumer’s needs — so IEEE establishing this standard is significant,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “Consumers will immediately benefit from enhanced reliability, ease of use and flexibility. For service providers, this translates into the promise of reduced installation and support costs. Encompassing the capabilities of the most commonly installed home networking technologies, this standard promises to deliver the maximum level of interoperability.”

Several HomePlug member companies are contributing to the development of IEEE P1905, including Broadcom, Cisco Systems, France Telecom, Qualcomm Atheros, Ralink, Sigma Designs, SPiDCOM Technologies and STMicroelectronics. The group made substantial progress in April by approving the technical requirements, architecture and definitions upon which the standard will be based.