An update from IBM on its Linux wrist watch . . .

At the recent LinuxWorld Expo & Conference in San Francisco, IBM demonstrated IP layer mobility using IP version 6 and Intelligent notification on the next generation of its Linux wrist watch prototype. IBM is the first to demonstrate Mobile IP version 6 on such small platforms as a wrist watch.

The watch was featured as a mobile node that was assigned different IPv6 addresses as it moved from one network to another. IPv6 mobility stacks handled the transition and the forwarding of the IP packets to the new address. TCP connections stayed up during this switch. Such a capability is necessary for keeping streaming applications such as instant messaging, voice over IP, etc., alive, as the device moves from one location to another. The watch includes a low footprint version of the IPv6 mobility stack that was applicable to mobile nodes. This demonstration showed the feasibility of Mobile IPv6 on small embedded devices.

IBM also demonstrated a comprehensive video streaming scenario using Linux and PowerPC technologies. The watch delivered a wireless notification to the user when new videos were completely dowloaded to a home appliance from a remote video server. The user then had the option of using the watch to choose and play a video.

The watch runs Linux 2.4.18, X11 graphics, and a Bluetooth ™ wireless protocol stack. This generation of the watch computer prototype, built jointly by IBM and Citizen Watch Company, includes a Cirrus ARM EP7312 processor, 16 MB of Flash, 8MB of RAM, a 320×240 monochrome reflective LCD display, a touch sensitive screen, jog dial, three buttons, Bluetooth wireless communication hardware, a fingerprint sensor, a two axis accelerometer, a vibration device, a speaker, a microphone, and infrared module.

Since unveiling the first wrist watch running Linux in Aug 2000, IBM has been using the platform to push the limits of Linux in the embedded space by demonstrating cutting edge functionality.

Further details are available in this fact sheet

 
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