JEDEC prepares to standardize wireless data transfer

The nonvolatile memory space just got a little more interesting with JEDEC’s announcement of the formation of a subcommittee focused on creating a standard for high-speed, low-power wireless data transfer from device to device and device to accessory. According to Harald Kaaja, Chairman of JEDEC’s JC-64.9 Subcommittee for Wireless Memory, the hardware/software standard will detail the functionalities belonging to both the wireless memory host and the wireless memory tag (embedded tag) that allows the host to power, detect, read and write high capacity tags to memory at high speed, even if they are passive.

Why this standard, and why now? “Consumer usage hasn't really proven out to be looking for a solution as such but you don't know until you have a product,” says Michael Yang, senior principal analyst, memory & storage at IHS/iSuppli. “I think there are a lot of ideas of what can happen  if you have a card.”

“It is an important step toward innovative memory usage opportunities, to expand memory applications use cases,” Kaaja agrees. One example involves kiosks that would allow users to download content in a manner of minutes or even seconds without using up bandwidth from their data plan. That could be very appealing, considering how rapidly streaming television or movie can eat up data allowances.

Certainly, the user base exists. The number of micro-SD cards shipped this year, alone, will approach will approach 930 million, Yang says. Micro-SD cards don't have the capability for data transfer, of course. Coming up with a device that does will be no small task. "You need to have intelligence, you need to have the interface built in, you need to have a standard across devices, not just cards but on the on the receiving side,” he notes. “When you look at the current micro-SD, it's too small to have any kind of wireless chip on it. It will need to be a new form factor. That's why JEDEC needs to be involved because no one company can truly can really develop a product like this.”

“Standardization activities will focus to create a solution which is memory interface agnostic with respect to the actual structure of the Wireless Memory Tag and Wireless Memory Host,” says Micron Senior Director for Wireless Solutions Group R&D, Marco Dallabora.
 
To participate or find out more, visit JEDEC’s website or call 703-907-7560.