Hello,
This is a general question regarding the WiLink modules. We are in the process of integrating Wireless capabilities to an existing data acquisition system. We are in seach of a pre-certified wifi module which will operate in the 5GHz band, with antenna diversity supported, which we will integrate into our embedded design. Our embedded design utilizes a Freescale Vybrid processor running a custom distribution of Linux (Timesys). We would hope to be able to achieve a data throughput of somewhere on the order of 5MB/s if possible. With all of that said, there is one additional requirement that has proven to be difficult in our search for a module. We would like to be able to synchronize sub-systems from a broadcasted message. In our application we would have several (lets call it 4) platforms in close proximity to one another, within 20 feet. Each of these platforms will have a Wifi Module on it and they must be synchronized with respect to one another. A separate WiFi module would broadcast a synchronization message. Since we are not worried about synchronization between the broadcaster and receiving modules, any latency/uncertainty on the transmitting side is negligible. We are however concerned with the uncertainty on the receiving modules (the uncertainty in time between when the module receives the message at the physical antenna and when it is available through some host interface). We are looking to achieve an uncertainty on the order of 1us. With all of that said this would mean we would need some sort of event fairly close to the radio so we do not inherit the uncertainty involved in the various processing that is required for 802.11. Do you feel that this can be accomplished using one of the TI WiLink products? Would we have access that deep into the layers to achieve this? Is there any MAC layer timestamping that may be utilized to determine time of flight on that level of uncertainty? I would love to discuss this.
Best regards.
Matt
