Future Watch

Better Way for Devices to Share Info

Dave Andrews

Hewlett-Packard is promoting a new communications protocol called JetSend, which will let two devices directly negotiate -- without user intervention -- the best way to share data. The goal is to enable a new generation of devices that are easier to use and automatically generate the highest-quality output possible, given the capabilities of two or more devices.

When two JetSend-enabled devices communicate, they will not need an intermediary, such as a network server, device driver, or even two people, to translate and process the information exchange. Each device can communicate its capabilities to other devices regarding the range of options it supports. The sending device initiates a conv ersation and informs the receiver of its capabilities (e.g., reso lution or color). A negotiation takes place, and data is output in the format that is most appropriate.

With JetSend, each device, or information appliance, is embedded with device firmware or software that contains information about how it works. The JetSend approach doesn't require a device that wants to share data with peripherals to have a different software driver for each peripheral it talks to, which is one reason why HP thinks JetSend is a good fit for future Internet-connected appliances that need to share data with a wide range of other devices. At press time, HP was discussing with Microsoft putting JetSend in a future version of Windows. HP says its first JetSend-enabled products will likely ship within a year.

HP says it wants to make JetSend openly available to the industry. It has released the specification at http://www.jetsend.hp.com to allow companies to build their own JetSend devices. Or, companies can buy a kit from HP for a onetime cost of about $15,000.