What is IrDA (Infrared Data Association)?

IrDA represents the Infrared Data Association, a universal consortium of hardware and software manufacturers that creates and supports interoperable solutions for infrared (IR) data networking for computer networks, connections, and different networking applications.

Infrared communication uses a transceiver (a set of transmitters and receivers) in both devices that connect. Specialized microchips support this functionality, and several devices may require specific software for synchronized communication. An example is the special provision for IR in Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system. In the IrDA-1.1 standard, the maximum data frame size is 2048 bytes and the maximum transmission rate is 4 Mbps.

IrDA Control

IrDA Control is a standard developed in 1998 by the Infrared Data Association for connection over IR light between cordless peripheral devices and host machines. Peripherals including keyboards, joysticks, mouse devices, and pointing devices use IrDA Control for communicating with their host device.

IrDA Control is implemented using a suite of protocols that includes the following:

• IrDA Control PHY (physical layer) − Supports bidirectional and error-correcting data transmission over IR light at speeds up to 75 Kbps over distances up to 5 meters.

• IrDA Control MAC (media access control) − Allows host devices to connect with multiple IrDA Control peripherals, supporting up to eight peripherals concurrently. Provides quick response time using a polling interval of 13.8 milliseconds and enables dynamic assignment and reuse of addresses for peripheral devices.

• IrDA Control LLC (logical link control) − Provides reliable data sequencing and handles retransmissions when errors occur.

IrDA Data

IrDA Data is a standard established by the Infrared Data Association in 1994 for bidirectional point-to-point connection over IR light at speeds up to 4 Mbps. IrDA Data is used for connection between palm computers, digital cameras, mobile phones, and various other devices.

It is implemented using a suite of protocols, which include:

• IrDA Data PHY (physical layer) − Supports low-level bidirectional error-correcting services from 9600 bps up to 4 Mbps over distances of at least 1 meter. Supports asynchronous serial transmission at 9600 bps and 115.2 Kbps, synchronous serial transmission at 1.152 Mbps, and synchronous transmission at 4 Mbps.

• IrDA Data Infrared Link Access Protocol (IrLAP) − A serial link protocol adapted by IrDA for infrared serial connection, derived from the High-level Data Link Control (HDLC) protocol.

• IrDA Data Infrared Link Management Protocol (IrLMP) − Used for link control and multiplexing of IrDA devices. IrLMP enables multiple IrDA devices to communicate over a single infrared link and supports protocol and service discovery through the Information Access Service (IAS).

Comparison of IrDA Standards

Conclusion

IrDA (Infrared Data Association) provides standardized infrared communication protocols for wireless data transmission between devices. The IrDA Control standard focuses on peripheral device connectivity, while IrDA Data enables high-speed point-to-point communication for various computing devices.