Digital Wireless Conference System - IRP dwcs 2.4

1024bit encoding of the digital data transmission
provides absolute privacy

Introducing..


The IRP dwcs 2.4 Digital Wireless Conferencing System was developed by IRP engineers after a detailed marketing and needs analysis. These surveys of many end-users (prospective clients) base turned up the fact that one of the primary concerns associated with the use of such systems was the need for security and the anti-monitoring aspects of any such proposed system.


Previous Technology

Heretofore, such wireless conferencing systems were an outgrowth of developments in wireless microphone technology - a medium that is primarily oriented to the entertainment and sound reinforcement aspects of our industry. Consequently, such UHF based technology does not provide the inherent security that is being demanded in conferencing type situations.
Another shortcoming of the UHF frequency range (400 - 958MHz) is the need to utilize a relatively high transmitting power in order to ensure an error-free transmission transfer. Use in the UHF range also raises the need for government licensing and frequency regulation inasmuch as systems operating in this frequency range are considered to be 'broadcasting mediums' - and are subsequently subject to restrictions with respect to operational modes
Consequently, a combination of relatively high transmit levels - which can penetrate walls and radiate into the surrounding environment -- and the relative ease in which UHF frequencies can be severely compromised in an otherwise secure environment; and, the absence of any encryption makes such UHF systems inherently un-secure. Inasmuch, as such UHF systems are subject to licensing, it is relatively easy to secure the operating frequencies of such systems; and, with an appropriate 'scanner' such systems can quickly be compromised by merely introducing UHF monitors into the integrating of the operating UHF devices. This is a totally un-acceptable mode of operation for those users that are demanding and are reliant on safe, secure, uncompromised security for their conferencing operations.
Hence, it is a given, that conference systems in the UHF band have a high degree of uncertainty with respect to security in any type of secure conferencing applications.


The IRP Approach

To circumvent many of the problems inherent in the UHF range transmission band, and to ensure total security provisions; IRP choose to take a brand new look at the development of their new conferencing system. What evolved was the IRP dwcs 2.4 network. As the name implies, the dwcs 2.4 operates in the 2.4GHz band -- a band that is license-free, world-wide [the dwcs 2.4 is FCC part 15 and CE compliant]. Other inherent advantages of operating in the 2.4GHz band is the reduced transmitting power required as compared to UHF based systems; and, for all practicality the exclusion of signal penetration of walls.
In order to attain maximum security, the dwcs 2.4 signal transmission is handled in a complete different and unique method. The analog microphone signal from each system microphone station is converted at each station into a digital signal and transferred into a packet-like structure - similar to usual network systems. Subsequently, these packets are encoded with a 1024bit code and then transmitted in time slots. Two microphone stations always share one transmission channel with the packets nested into each other.
The central control unit maintains and transmits the system clock data that permits the microphone stations to transmit their encoded audio data. The received packets from the microphones are decoded by the central control and converted into a constant digital audio data stream. The digital audio is then further converted back into an analog audio signal. In systems that employ a fold-back channel, the composite digital audio stream is re-transmitted to all other microphone stations, converted to analog and delivered to all but the talker's station loudspeakers.


System Address Capability

Each delivered system is uniquely equipped with its own specific system address. All system components must bear the identical address to allow decoding of the 1024bit encryption. All system address information is maintained in a tightly secure data base administered by IRP. Since each system address is unique to that system it is impossible for other systems to communicate with each other. In this way, maximum security can be virtually guaranteed.
In the event a customer or client should need to expand a system using the same unique system address, IRP will verify that the address is indeed assigned to the requesting party. Additionally, multiple systems each with a unique address can be used by the same end-user. For example, in a conference center application multiple dwcs 2.4 system can be used simultaneously and adjacently without interference between the multiple systems. To provide maximum flexibility while maintaining security IRP will provide a PC software program that will allow the reprogramming of the owned microphone stations. Consequently, it is possible to use a varying number of microphones within any given system depending on the circumstances. The system address is not field re-programmable.


Interference

It is true that an external 2.4GHz device might pickup signal from the dwcs 2.4. However, since the external device will not have the system address characteristics and consequently cannot break the encryption code no audible audio will be delivered. In the worst case, some extraneous noise might be audible.
In the unlikely event that an extraneous 2.4GHz signal is introduced to the dwcs 2.4, the central control unit will reject the offending signal. Only data packets that are identified as system-own data will be processed and subsequently converted into an audible audio signal.