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Wi-Fi Direct allows Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices to connect without a router. It operates at distances up to 656 feet and can join devices 1:1 or one to many. It is not intended to replace WLANs but facilitate sharing between devices. It can optionally join a traditional WLAN to provide a shared internet connection. The most optimal device of the group manages the network, and it is backward compatible with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices.
Wi-Fi Direct, formerly Wi-Fi Peer-To-Peer, is a Wi-Fi Alliance technology that brings together Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices without the need for a hotspot or router. Similar to Bluetooth® but more robust, this technology allows devices to automatically find each other and connect with the click of a button, to share files, synchronize, play games, exchange text messages or use resources such as printing.
According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi Direct can operate at distances of up to 656 feet (200m) and can join devices 1:1 or one to many, depending on the equipment and its certifications. It works in the 2.4GHz band, but can work in the 5GHz band as well, although not all certified devices work in both bands.
This technology is not intended to replace WLANs, but to facilitate sharing between Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices. Only one device in a group needs to be compliant to link them together. The certification involves scanning all devices within range to obtain basic information, such as power management and the type of services the device might offer. An invitation is displayed that a user can decline or accept, and upon acceptance, a secure connection is established using second generation Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2).
This type of network can optionally join a traditional wireless local area network (WLAN) to provide a shared Internet connection, compatible with 802.11/a/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED equipment. The ability to maintain a Wi-Fi Direct network simultaneously with a traditional WLAN is an optional feature that may not be offered in all products.
The specification calls for the most optimal device of the group to manage the network. Power, software, and other considerations play a role in the self-determination of which device becomes the software access point (AP) for the network, although all Wi-Fi Direct devices have AP capabilities.
In practical terms, a Wi-Fi Direct digital camera can stream home videos to a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED High Definition TV or Blu-ray player, a mobile phone can share pictures with another phone or computer, or two people traveling on a train can play a video game against each other. Remote printing and text messaging are additional uses. Enabled kiosks could open the door to more convenient printing on the go, data offloading to flash media, or other transit services.
This technology is backward compatible with Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices and, depending on the equipment, can achieve data transfer speeds of up to 250 megabits per second, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance. In most cases, applications on connected devices will limit the content available on the network, prohibiting remote browsing. Energy saving features are also built into the specification. Released in October 2010, these products are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED and carry the Wi-Fi Direct logo.
