LAS VEGAS -- As EchoStar gears up for proposed acquisition of Hughes Electronics and DirecTV, it expects to have set-top box (STB) by spring capable of receiving rival’s service. Pro 301 will ship as EchoStar receiver but WILL contain 4 MB of memory for DirecTV’s advanced program guide and it will be modified to handle its satellite switching, Senior Vp Mark Jackson said at CES here. Final detail, should $26 billion deal be approved, would be for DirecTV to transfer source code to box via software download to receiver’s flash memory, Jackson said in interview Wed.
National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks research proposals from small businesses to develop advances in areas such as mobile communications privacy and e-commerce. NIST’s Small Business Innovation Research program provides funding to carry out such research, with goal of “stimulating technological innovation in the private sector.” Although NIST said it acknowledged usefulness of wireless location services, it identified need “to develop technologies for mobile devices and mobile device infrastructure that will protect the privacy of the mobile work force while providing accountability and security.” Related topic is development of secure e-commerce technologies for personal digital assistants and other wireless mobile devices. Proposals also will be accepted for digital communications home and office networking software specifically to enable seamless interaction of plug-and-play electronics devices. Submissions are due Feb. 15 -- 301-975-3085.
National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks proposals from small businesses to develop digital home and office networking software, specifically to enable seamless interaction of plug-and-play electronic devices. “Smart sensor network” development is one of numerous R&D subject areas that NIST will consider funding under its Small Business Innovation Research program, it said. It said Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently approved new interface standard (IEEE 1451) that provided new model for plug-and-play hardware and software, and that some companies already were producing hardware that complied with that standard. However, it said “need exists for complementary software tools that enable the fast and efficient building of application solutions. Innovative ideas are sought that create new ways to provide the benefits of a plug-and-play hardware and software architecture such as 1451 to a wider community of users. Simplicity comparable to the connection, programming and operation of home audio and video equipment should be the goal.” Proposals are due Feb. 15 -- 301-975-3085.
National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) will host networked appliances workshop Jan. 15-16. Focus of NIST and Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) event is on home networking environment and desire to network home appliances, entertainment electronics and communications and computing devices. Topics include home local area networks, network and intellectual property security, applications and appliances for people with special needs. Field trials and demonstrations by BellSouth and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab also are on agenda. Event, originally scheduled last Oct., will be at NIST hq, Gaithersburg, Md. -- 301-975-5681.
Streaming Media East 2001, which bills itself as “the world’s largest internet and audio video event,” is scheduled Dec. 10-13 at Javits Convention Center, N.Y. Keynoters include Robert Pittman of AOL Time Warner, Rob Glaser of RealNetworks, Christie Hefner of Playboy, Will Pool of Microsoft Digital Media Div., Paul Lego of Virage -- 1-888- 301-8890.
Patuxent River Naval Warfare Center (NAWC) in Md. is upgrading its mid-Atlantic wireless voice and data system. Project involves service and replacement equipment for “antennas, transmission lines and other communications equipment” at locations from N.J. to N.C. Navy is accepting bids until Sept. 28. -- 301-757-9719.
Radiofrequency emission standards and Advanced Technology Program funding levels are on agenda for National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) meetings Sept. 11-12. NIST’s Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology will meet Sept. 11, 8:25 a.m.-5:30 p.m., including closed session 5-5:30 p.m. Committee meeting Sept. 12, 8 a.m.-noon, is closed to public. Meetings will be in Rm. 1107, NIST Radio Bldg., Boulder, Colo. -- 301-975-2107.
Aircraft voice and data communications system used by Bush Administration officials will be upgraded to ensure uninterruptible communications among President, State Dept. and Pentagon, govt. said. First stage of upgrade involves integration of new encryption equipment into Mystic Star system, worldwide ground relay station and satellite network operated by Air Force. Air Mobility Command is looking for private sector contractor that can provide logistic and technical support for system control station at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and “geographically dispersed” remote switching units. Statements of interest are due Aug. 30. -- 301-981-2301.
National Institute of Standards & Technology is accepting nominations to its Advanced Technology Program Advisory Board. Deadline is Aug. 28 (301-975-4644).
FCC electronic filing requirements and procedures once again are under attack by attorneys and engineers who are required to use Consolidated Database System (CDBS) for most of their filings on behalf of clients. Making matters worse, according one lawyer, is that “there’s a complete lack of communication” on electronic filings between bureaus. Such communication is “absolutely necessary” for system to work, lawyer said, because, for example, Wireless Bureau handles broadcast auxiliary applications while Mass Media handles all other TV-radio applications. Principal complaint of lawyers was that attachments to electronically filed documents weren’t properly put with applications they referred to until days, sometimes weeks, later. Electronic filing system was criticized year ago (CD July 5 p1/00), and recently was shut down for overhaul (CD June 15 p10).