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Research Paves Way for Better Wi-Fi in Autos

Researchers find a way to stabilize mobile internet access

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 25, 2008 6:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – Researchers at Microsoft and two US universities have designed a system to give drivers better Wi-Fi connections, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. The technology, presented last week in Seattle, allows a moving computer to hook into one Wi-Fi station as an "anchor" while using other stations as support. Researchers say this will avoid "hiccups" that occur when traveling computers jump from station to station.

"Today's Wi-Fi handoff protocols are incredibly fragile in outdoor environments and mobile environments," one Microsoft researcher said. But he doesn't encouraging web surfing behind the wheel; the new system is mostly for satellite navigation and online phone calls.

A GO Networks Wi-Fi base station can be seen installed on an Osseo, Minnesota Lamp Post in this undated file photo.
A GO Networks Wi-Fi base station can be seen installed on an Osseo, Minnesota Lamp Post in this undated file photo.   (AP Photo)
A driver touches the dashboard screen showing a computer-graphic panoramic bird's-eye-view of what's surrounding his car in Tokyo, in this March 14, 2006 file photo.
A driver touches the dashboard screen showing a computer-graphic panoramic bird's-eye-view of what's surrounding his car in Tokyo, in this March 14, 2006 file photo.   (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, FILE)
Medtronic Diabetes unveiled its new M-POWERED concept car at this yearâ%uFFFD%uFFFDs American Diabetes Association (ADA) annual meeting in San Francisco, June 6-10.
Medtronic Diabetes unveiled its new M-POWERED concept car at this yearâ%uFFFD%uFFFDs American Diabetes Association (ADA) annual meeting in San Francisco, June 6-10.   (AP Photo)
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