Connectivity stands for being connected to different kind of net – structures.
RF-Network
The use of an RF-Network enables a connection to mobile devices such as mobile PCs, mobile phones or mobile data collector at same time. Like a regular network different users and equipment can be connected. This networks can be spread over different area, it is only a question of how many access points are installed.
Most common technologies are: Bluetooth, WiFi/WLAN, GSM/GPRS, ZigBee.
WLAN
Wireless Local Aria Network. A so called network is working like a LAN Local Area Network, the only difference is that RF is used instead of cable.
LAN
Local Aria Network. A Local Area Network is a connection in between several data sources and user which has agreed to use a standardized way of interchanging data. A very popular protocol is called TCP/IP. All partners are definitely been recognized by their IP-addresses.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth operating units are operating at the license free ISM-Band between 2,402 and 2,480GHz. To ensure a stable usage the frequency-hopping technology is being used. The used range is defided into 79 steps of 1MHz, which are changed 1600 times per second. Bluetooth allows the transmission of data and speech. An encryption of data can also been done. Operating range is about 10 to 100m pending on the class ( class1 = 100mW à 100m, class 2 = 2,5mW à 10m ).
PAN
A PAN is a Personal Area Network. A PAN is a short range network, which f.e. can be established by using Bluetooth class2 with 10m range. “Personal” because this area should only cover the personal operating area which could be a headset for mobile phone, a MP3 player, a cordless barcode- or transponder reader or a printer, all connected without cable.
Communication-unit
The Communication-unit in mobile systems in most cases is build as a recharge and interface unit, in which the mobile device is placed after being used. Beside recharging the unit establishes the connection between host computer and mobile data collector. The interfacing to the host can be done by cable using RS232/485, USB, keyboard interface or Ethernet. The connection between mobile unit and communication unit can be RS232 or Bluetooth. In case of Bluetooth and the communication unit using Ethernet, the mobile data collector is wireless direct connected to Internet.
ZigBee
ZigBee is a newly developed standard to connect any kind of peripherals of various applications. ZigBee does support 20, 40 and 250kBit/s in frequency range of 868MHz, 915MHz or 2,4GHz. Maximum operating range is about 75m. A ZigBee network can handle more users then Bluetooth.
Mobile
Mobile devices can be used at any place, most of them are working wireless using RF to communicate with a host system OnLine. In case of working OffLine data have to be stored and uploaded to host device when data collecting finished ( Batch operating ).
Local
In case of local data collecting usage, the communication to the host device is via cable, which could be RS232/485, USB, keyboard or Ethernet.
