In an unprecedented move, LeCroy Corp. has shipped the industry’s first ultra wideband (UWB) protocol analyzer, the UWBTracer MPI system, which supports WiMedia and wireless USB (WUSB) solutions. The UWBTracer protocol analyzer was developed by LeCroy’s Protocol Solutions Group (formerly Computer Access Technology Corporation [CATC]). Built on LeCroy’s modular protocol analyzer platform, the UWBTracer MPI system allows engineers to troubleshoot the source of errors and verify proper operation for MAC-PHY integration. As the industry looks toward validating interoperability between WUSB devices, early adopters require protocol analysis tools to help improve time-to-market for this new standard.

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The UWBTracer MPI system captures and decodes WiMedia and WUSB protocols. By capturing traffic between a MAC and PHY, the user can display protocol traffic from boards currently in the design phase. The analyzer software can logically organize and display the protocol either chronologically or hierarchically at the WiMedia and WUSB protocol layers. The CATC Trace software display not only shows the protocol, it also includes information about the WiMedia and WUSB specification in pop-up Tool Tips, including packet structure and field usage. This allows engineers to concentrate on completing their design.

The UWBTracer can search and view on PHY headers, beacon headers, plus WUSB transfers and transactions. The real time reporting capabilities display statistics on the number of frames, errors and signal strength. Supporting the latest releases of the WiMedia Alliance/MBOA specification, the instrument provides the key features needed to analyze WiMedia and wireless USB signals at the MAC-PHY interface layer.