As consumer electronics and computer networks collide, Ruckus Wireless, an innovator in next-generation smart Wi-Fi technology, announced plans to conduct one of the first public demonstrations of streaming high definition, digital TV (DTV) and multicast IPTV over standard Wi-Fi technology at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 5-8, 2006.

Ruckus Wireless will show how advances in wireless computer networking now make it possible to reliably transmit multiple HDTV, DTV and IPTV streams over a standard in-home 802.11g Wi-Fi network. With the new smart Wi-Fi technology developed by Ruckus Wireless, consumers can extend the freedom and flexibility of wireless to their in-home video systems, TVs and other set-top-boxes with the reliability and stability offered by wired alternatives. Demonstrations will include, for example, reliably transmitting high definition digital video content from a media center system over 802.11g to a media extender for viewing on a TV.

"For service providers, moving digital multimedia around the home reliably and cost-effectively remains a significant obstacle to the successful deployment of IPTV and other triple-play services," said Jeff Heynen, directing analyst, Broadband and IPTV at Infonetics Research. "Up to now, this problem has been largely swept under the carpet because no one has really figured it out."

Heynen noted that while consumers love Wi-Fi, the technology was developed for data applications that can tolerate delays. "A single Wi-Fi network for every type of multimedia content is what consumers and carriers would really love to have, if they could get it. But the technology hasn't yet shown itself worthy of dealing with interference or providing a connection that is stable or predictable enough to support new services entering the home like IPTV."

Recent advances in compression and networking technology are quickly bringing digital voice, IPTV and data to consumers over a single broadband IP connection coming into the home. But once dropped at the doorstep, consumers must deal with how best to distribute this digital multimedia content that is now wrapped within the Internet Protocol (IP), to televisions, personal video recorders, and other new multimedia appliances located throughout the home.

"Emerging services such as IPTV are dependent on new ways to distribute IP-based multimedia throughout the home," said Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless. "Consumers love Wi-Fi for data but also want it for video and voice if they can reliably get it. Now they can, and we're proving it."

Lo said that while emerging Wi-Fi technologies, such as 802.11n, will increase the overall capacity or bandwidth in the air, they will do little to ensure the integrity or predictability of the Wi-Fi link between two points.

"Our technology lets users trust the air by literally creating Wi-Fi links between endpoints that can be managed and monitored. Until now this just hasn't been possible. We've applied Internet techniques to the air. Our system picks the best path for a Wi-Fi signal at any given time and can automatically steer that Wi-Fi signal around interference in real time. This virtually guarantees a high-quality video experience for consumers without the hassles and complexity of wires and networks."

Demo Details

To showcase the newest technologies enabling the digital living room, the Ruckus "TV over Wi-Fi" demonstration will include different types of video streaming:

• Using the Ruckus MF2900 Wi-Fi wireless multimedia router, HD MPEG-2 digital video content on a media center system will be streamed over 802.11g to an Xbox360 equipped with the Ruckus MF2501 adapter as well as to a tablet PC with integrated 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi.
• Multiple MPEG-4 IPTV streams, representing different TV channels, will be simultaneously transmitted over the Ruckus smart Wi-Fi system to an Amino set-top-box connected to a TV, as well as to PDAs and tablet PCs with integrated 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi.
• Finally, Ruckus will distribute live analog and digital cable TV signals from digital set-top-boxes, satellite receivers and even recorded content from a digital video recorder, wirelessly to other devices in the home using the Slingbox from Sling Media. The Slingbox is a revolutionary consumer electronics product that takes an analog TV signal, digitizes it and encapsulates it in IP for transmission over a computer network. Ruckus will demonstrate how both stored digital content from a TiVo or other DVR or a live cable feed, can be reliably streamed over an in-home Wi-Fi network using the Slingbox and the Ruckus Wireless system.

The Ruckus Wireless "TV over Wi-Fi" digital living room demonstrations will be taking place in a private suite in the central tower of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. For more information or to book a private appointment contact David Callisch at 408-504-5487 or visit http://www.ruckuswireless.com/ces2006/