Co-link configuration: using wireless diversity for more than just connectivity

This paper describes a novel approach to setting up peer to wireless links, such as IrDA, Bluetooth, and 802.11b. We explain how the lack of physical contact inherent in wireless creates new configuration challenges and ease of use issues, and we discuss the limitations of current wireless autoconfiguration techniques. We present co-link configuration and co-link activation, two techniques using wireless diversity to improve the performance of minimise the power consumption of autoconfiguration. We then describe the implementations of co-link, the simple IrDA connection point and the peer-to-peer co-link implemented within the connection diversity framework.