Amazon's low-band communication "Sidewalk", which is also available to the launch of-Tile Tracker

　After a few years of development, Amazon will strengthen its efforts to build long-range wireless networks that can always be connected even on devices outside the common home Wi-Fi connection.The company has announced that it will begin on June 8, US time, named "Amazon Sidewalk".Sidewalk supports most of the "Echo" smart speakers, a home security company RING's product, TILE's Bluetooth tracker, and other early partners.

　With the response of Echo, Sidewalk's low-power Bluetooth connection can be used as a reserve network for home Wi-Fi, and according to the company, the stability of the device is increased, and the network name.It is said that the time to reconnect to the router will be reduced when updating the password.

　In other words, these Sidewalk connections are always connected to these devices, even if devices such as outdoor lights, postal receivers, and network-connected garage doors are at the end of the Wi-Fi network at home.Useful.At the beginning of the service, it supports a series of products such as RING outdoor lights and cameras, LEVEL smart locks, and Tile's Bluetooth tracker tags.

　Amazon also has a partnership with Careband, a wide range of wearable sensor products for patients with dementia, to conduct indoor and outdoor tracking, behavioral patterns, and help button function pilot programs.

　Such connections, which are widely expanded from home Wi-Fi networks, may also be involved in others outside the house.For example, when there is a Sidewalk -compatible device at home, a nearby dog in a tile tracker on the collar enters the garden, the owner receives a notification that informs you of the approximate location of her dog.

　Just as such a connection outside the home reaches the Amazon server, Sidewalk diverts a maximum of 80 kbps data to a maximum of 500MB per month, only a small part of the Wi-Fi bandwidth at home.

　When Sidewalk was first announced, such an explanation quickly raised questions about privacy and security.Amazon answered the question in 2020 with a detailed white paper describing how to protect such communications.In this announcement, the explanation of the white paper was repeated.

　Amazon stated on the official blog:"Sidewalk is designed to maintain data safety and manage the experience. The data shared in the Sidewalk network is protected by three layers, and only the user selects the device.I can't, and I'm automatically deleted every 24 hours to protect my privacy. "

　According to MANOLO ARANA, a general manager in charge of Sidewalk on Amazon, said, "After all, the user does not get information about the neighboring bridge, and the neighbor may know information about the device of that user."There is no" "information that can be exceeded the layer can always be minimized to this level."

　Sidewalk can be completely disabled in the "account setting" of the Alexa app.Since the end of 2020, Amazon has been able to enable this function in advance with corresponding devices, and the question aroused why it was opt -out instead of opt -in method.

　At that time, Amazon's spokeswoman said, "We have notified existing Echo users who have compatible devices how each device becomes part of Sidewalk and how to change the settings before the function is provided."He explained, "Customers can change the Amazon Sidewalk settings at any time when the device is set up or the Alexa app settings."

　The Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and the 900MHz wireless frequency band are used for Sidewalk communication.A device called "Sidewalk Bridge" is a mechanism that plays the role of a relay device. In addition to many Echo devices, "Ring Floodlight Cam" and "Ring Spotlight Cam", a security camera, function as Sidewalk Bridge.

This article edited by Asahi Interactive for an article from overseas RED VENTURES for Japan.