2. Devices that use μWirelessWeb

Are products that use this technology being developed?

FujiokaYes. We’ve embedded μWirelessWeb technology in Hitachi’s "Albirey" electronic paper display product. The electronic paper display can be used to display notices in offices, to present advertising in stores and public facilities, and to distribute traffic information and so on. The data is sent to the display device from a distribution server over a wireless LAN, and the μWirelessWeb technology fits right in for that communication function.
Also, an affiliate of Hitachi has developed the "smartMODULE", an embedded wireless communication product that implements the world’s smallest class protocol software in a one-chip microprocessor. The product’s communication functions are implemented using μWirelessWeb technology, and it can access the Internet with TCP/IP, HTTP or other such protocols. The ECHONET protocol is supported too, of course, so incorporating that product into home electronics makes them ECHONET compatible.

What other applications are possible?

FujiokaWe have also built a prototype that we call the "Web wall plug", which has a wireless LAN communication function. To use it, you plug it into an electrical wall socket, and then you can turn the power on or off by accessing the Web server in the "Web wall plug" from a PDA or cell phone that can connect to the Internet.

Figure 2: Applications for the μWirelessWeb technology