rOBEX IrCOMM Access Service (LM-IAS) Tiny Transport Protocol (Tiny-TP) In Link Management Protocol (IrLMP) In Link Access Protocol (IrLAP) Physical layer (IrPHY) SIR 9.9-115.2 kbps FIR to 4 Mbps VFIR to 16 Mbps Figure 10-13: IrDA Optional Protocol Stack Chapter Ten conversion of any file into a universal object and also provides tools to enable the object to be understood and handled correctly on the receiving side of the link. IrOBEX serves a similar role to HTTP in the Internet protocol suite. IrLAN IrLAN allows devices to access Local Area Networks by emulating a low level Ethernet link, including TCP/IP. Using IrLAN, a computer can attach to a LAN via an access point device (an IrLAN adapter) or through a second computer already attached to the LAN. Two computers can also use IrLAN to communicate as though attached via a LAN, giving each computer access to the other computer's directories and other network resources. IrDA in Practice IrDA is the most widespread wireless networking technology in use today. It provides a simple and secure method for transferring files between personal computing and communication devices, and is firmly associated with such applications as PDA to laptop synchronisation, business card and mobile phone data exchange. Apart from IrDA ports in laptops and PDAs, over 200 million IrDA enabled mobile phones were shipped in 2004. With the increased popularity and pixel count of digital cameras in mobile phones, these IrDA links are also being put to use for direct photo printing and image file transfer. Current and Future Developments of IrDA The IrDA IrBurst and UFIR Special Interest Groups have been working since 2003 on the next generation IrDA specification, with IrBurst targeting 100 Mbps and Ultra Fast IR (UFIR) aiming for a data rate of 500 Mbps. These specifications will also deliver a new Ir protocol stack, since tests show that the existing IrCOMM and Tiny-TP protocols have maximum throughputs in the region of 3 Mbps. The market driver for these developments is seen as a user d