Introduction

FireWire, a hardware and software standard for transporting data, is described

in this paper. The questions what FireWire is, how it works, what areas it is
working in and the difference between it and USB will hopefully be answered
here.

FireWire, or its original name IEEE 1394, is a protocol for high-speed

communications between peers. There are three existing protocols 1394, 1394a
and 1394b, and one on the way 1394c.

Origins of Firewire

The cross-platform implementation of the high-speed data bus that can move
large amounts of data between computers and peripheral devices, FireWire was
originally developed by Apple Computer Inc. in 1986. The goal with the
development was to find a cheap bus which could transfer digital sound. The
existing solution at Apple could at this time not handle this. But to make the
market more interested Apple realized the bus had to be able to handle more
than just transferring digital sound fast. So the goal with the development
became a bus that was very fast, easy to use and cheap to implement at the
same time as it should be able to replace most other port in a PC (Personal
Computer).
The first specification for this link was completed in 1987 and in 1990 a
prototype of the FireWire-bus was ready. In this prototype the signals was sent
over optic fiber a solution that was replaced by a copper cable to make the bus
cheaper. At this point a group consisting of representatives from Apple, Texas
Instruments, Stewart Connector, Molex, Adaptec and Western Digital within
IEEE was founded to start the standardization of FireWire. In 1992 IBM
affiliated to the group and the work of the group increased. The real interest for
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FireWire arrived when Apple demonstrated it at a show in Las Vegas in 1993. A
year later in 1994 the “1394 Trade Association” was founded, an organization
to facilitate the development of FireWire products
In 1995 the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers adopted FireWire as
an industry standard. The FireWire technology was at that point named “IEEE
1394- 1995 Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus”. PC developers as
NEC, Compaq and Sony was slower but did as well implement the IEEE 1394
technology in their computers. But the name FireWire is Apples name for the
technology and there are other names for the technology as well, for example
Sony’s i.Link
A new version of IEEE 1394, IEEE 1394a was developed in 2000. It includes
specifications for 100, 200 and 400 Mbps transfer speed, cable power, hot
plugging, plug-and-play and isochronous data mediation. IEEE 1394a supports
a cable length up to 60 meters. The third version of IEEE 1394, IEEE 1394b
came to the market in early 2003 and supports a cable length up to 100 meters
and a speed of 800, 1 600 and 3 200 Mbps. Now days Apple Computer Inc. has
agreed for others to use the name FireWire, so this name is now widely spread
as the name of the technology

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FUNDAMENTALS OF FIREWIR

The IEEE 1394 protocol (or Firewire, which is Apple’s trademarked term)
is one of the emerging bus protocols that will be important components of
the connected future. Here’s how it works.

People are sharing video, still images, and audio, and are constantly
searching for faster, easier ways of transferring such information. This
phenomenon is driving the convergence of computers, consumer
equipment, and communications. Communication is the force that draws
these separate market segments together.

Convergence will happen when seamless, high-speed communication

becomes readily available. The IEEE 1394 protocol appears to be a strong
contender for the communications channel that will make this happen.

The IEEE 1394-1995 protocol had its genesis at Apple Computer, which
still retains the Firewire trademark. The goal of the protocol is to provide
easy-to-use, low-cost, high-speed communications. The protocol is also
very scaleable, provides for both asynchronous and isochronous
applications, allows for access to vast amounts of memory mapped
address space, and—perhaps most important for the aforementioned
convergence—allows peer-to-peer communication.

Some people see 1394 and

Maharishi USB
Arvind as competitors
Institute of Engineeringfor
andthe communications
Technology, Jaipur
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 FIREWIRE HI-SPEED USB
• Theoretically, faster than FireWire
400 (but not 800)
• Designed to handle up to
• 400Mbps (FireWire 400) 480Mbps
• 800Mbps (FireWire 800)
• But USB uses more of your
Speed
• In practice, however, it comes computer's CPU resources than
out ahead of USB most of the FireWire so once you start using
time. your computer for other tasks,
fewer resources are available to
run your USB device, and the
slower it works
• Peer-to-peer technology
• A FireWire digital camcorder
can transfer video and audio
• Uses a computer to control the
data to another FireWire device
transfer of data to and from the
- such as a digital VCR -
gadget
without the need of a computer
Architecture
• You can't yet directly connect
• Multiple computers can be
USB devices to each other and
networked or share a
you can't use USB without a
peripheral without special
computer
support - such as software
drivers - in the computer or
device
Availability • Historically, FireWire was the • USB models exist for all types of
technology of choice for digital peripherals, especially lower-
video gadgets like camcorders, bandwidth devices, such as
but it's now making gains in keyboards, mouses, hard drives
other consumer electronics and portable drives (USB keys)
• Recommended for digital
video tasks such as DVD
players and writers

• Manufacturers also are

supporting it for other devices,

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 such as webcams, scanners,
external hard drives, optical
drives, digital TVs, gaming
consoles and audio equipment
• FireWire 800 is compatible
with older, FireWire 400
devices
Compatibility
• You'll only get faster speed of
800 is you use a compatible
FireWire 800 device
• FireWire requires a special
inbuilt chip in the device so it's
more expensive to build into
Costs products
• Many manufacturers absorb
the extra costs
• USB 2.0 is compatible with its
older counterparts, USB 1.0 and
USB 1.1
• It uses the same cables and
connectors as USB 1.1
• The problem is that the two
devices won't communicate at the
faster speed
• You'll only achieve the speed
benefits of Hi-Speed USB gadgets
when they're plugged into a USB
2.0 port
• Some USB-enabled devices are
slightly cheaper than FireWire
gadgets

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 CONCLUSION

Apple’s attempt to be a standard bearer on peripheral interconnection

technologies has hit a significant speed bump with FireWire 800. For FireWire
800 to have been broadly successful, it should have been promoted as a
consumer technology, not as a professional technology. This would have spread
costs over many more platforms, and would have allowed FireWire 800 a great
chance to become ubiquitous. This did not happen, and FireWire 800 is used
(and will continue to be used) mostly by professionals as a result.
Users have missed out on the benefits of FireWire 800, which include speed
and durability.
The alternatives are making a push for market share, and are having some
success. NAS has great potential; but will have to work through some huge
implementation issues.
SATA is a hot technology and is on the upswing. Those who promote SATA
correctly perceive that high speed interconnection technologies are best created
and promoted as broad consumer technologies. This has lead to the promise of
nearly immediate 3Ghz transfer rates at low costs. SATA will have a profound
impact in the marketplace, affecting the competitive landscape across Windows
and Macintosh platforms. The world is changing and consumers will benefit.
Apple’s role as a storage standard bearer has been diminished because of
errors in the FireWire 800 rollout. While professionals and high end consumers
will continue to acquire and use FireWire 800 for a long period of time,
purchasing decisions will move in other directions, starting in 2005. FireWire
400 will continue to retain market share.
USB2 will be popular among cost conscious consumers. NAS will offer benefits
for some, but SATA will be the biggest winner, because of its low costs and high
performance.
FireWire 800 is a great technology which was not supported by great planning
or great marketing. It succeeded in its mission to provide a technically superior
alternative to FireWire 400, but failed to gain prominence in the market. Due to
a variety of errors and miscalculations in how it was marketed, it has not been
a cost effective choice for consumers. It will continue to have a role of
prominence for professionals, because it does work extremely well, but will be
threatened by SATA and other emerging storage
technologies.

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 References

[1] ANDERSSON, P. Överföring av digital video via FireWire. Master’s

thesis, Linköpings Tekniska Högskola, Feb. 8, 2002. LITH-ISYEX-
3182-2002, available at http://www.diva-portal.org/diva/getDocument?-
urn_nbn_se_liu_diva-1009-1__fulltext.pdf.
[2] APPLE COMPUTER, INC. Web site,Mar. 19, 2009. http://www.apple.com,
date visited given.
[3] DHIR, A., AND MOUSAVI, S. Home networking using new wires - IEEE
1394,
USB and fast Ethernet technologies. White paper, Xilinx,Mar. 21, 2001.
Available
at http://direct.xilinx.com/bvdocs/whitepapers/wp134.pdf.
[4] GOWAN, M. How it works: IEEE 1394. PC World (Dec. 20, 1999). Also
available
at http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,14371,00.asp.
[5] HUFFMAN, G., AND MOORE, D. IEEE 1394: A ubiquitous bus. Web page,
Mar. 1995. http://www.skipstone.com/compcon.html, original article
presented
at COMPCON ’95 in San Francisco, CA on March 5–9, 1995.
[6] IKRAM, G. Firewire vs. USB: A simplified approach. Web page, Mar. 25,
2005.
http://www.directron.com/firewirevsusba.html.
[7] TEENER, M. J. IEEE 1394b: Faster, longer and simpler. Electronic
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index.asp?layout=article&articleId=CA91031

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