Microsoft is working on Wi-Fi for Cars

Would it be possible to take advantage of Wi-Fi while travelling by car? That is the question that arises Microsoft accompanied by researchers at the University of Washington and Massachusetts. The main problem to take advantage of such wireless connectivity is the change from one network to another, over the path of the car. For instant messaging software for example, this leads intempestives of disconnections and the final user will be upset by this experience.

"Wi-Fi protocols are quite fragile when it connects outside and on a mobile device," explains a researcher at Microsoft Ratul Mahajan before adding that these devices are "artificially limited to communicate with one access point or one station at a time even if there are other stations in the vicinity "

To solve this problem, researchers have created an algorithm that can predict the likelihood that a transmission packet is received on an auxiliary station, which could then be used in case of disconnection. Mahajan said he does not surf the Internet in the car for the driver (!) But still sees a potential use for passengers board aircraft or vehicle, including automatic updating maps GPS .

Thereafter it will be interesting to see how this research therefore evolve in relation to the new IEEE 802.11r protocol, developed specifically to solve these problems disconnection during a call to VOIP. Finally, perhaps Microsoft will consider there to integrate this technology into Windows Embedded NavReady 2009, their new GPS navigation system based on Live Maps.

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