Qualcomm has announced Mesh Networking Platform that allows original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and broadband carriers to deliver next-generation “connected” home experiences. It is based upon the Qualcomm IPQ40x8/9 network system-on-chip, which is used in nearly every mesh networking product available today.
Devices based on the Qualcomm Mesh Networking Platform will offer connectivity to smart home devices along with voice control capabilities, centralized management and security, and a range of mesh system features essential for carrier-grade networks. Qualcomm has also showcased Mesh Networking Reference Design. A mesh network is a network topology in which each node relays data for the network. All mesh nodes cooperate in the distribution of data in the network. It can be applied to both wired and wireless networks.
The Qualcomm platform includes Wi-Fi self-organising (SON) feature suite, integrated voice capabilities, IoT connectivity feature suite and backhaul flexibility. It can support a built-in microphone array and speaker, voice recognition software, and supports APIs to the most popular cloud-based assistant applications.
Qualcomm is also enabling software features, such as cloud-based diagnostics to enable remote monitoring, diagnostics and analytics for troubleshooting. The platform features backhaul flexibility that offers a variety of backhaul options that can be used to maximize the performance of mesh networks, including 802.11ac, 802.11ad, 802.11ax, or Powerline technologies.
Gopi Sirineni, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc said,
With our new Qualcomm Mesh Networking Platform, we are building upon that foundation to accelerate the next generation of mesh systems to further enhance connected services in the home. New capabilities like voice assistance and IoT radio integration will not only transform consumer experiences at home, but along with carrier-grade feature enhancements, make it easier for our customers to adopt and deploy mesh systems aligned to how people want their networks to perform.