SUMMARY

The USB is the solution for any computer user who is looking for a hassle-free way of interconnecting their PCs and A/V electronic devices at home. USB plays a key role in the fast-growing area of home networking. The presence of USB means that PCs and peripherals will work together with a high degree of reliability. The 1394 bus is a versatile, high-speed, and inexpensive method of interconnecting a variety of consumer electronics devices (e.g., home theater equipment) and personal computer peripherals (e.g., color printers). IEEE 1394 allows the direct connection of up to 63 devices in one subnet. Up to 1,023 subnets may be interconnected to allow more than 64,000 devices on one bus. The 1394 standard defines three signaling rates: 98.304, 196.608, and 393.216 Mbps. These rates are referred to in the 1394 1995 standard as S100, S200, and S400. At present, existing implementations of IEEE 1394 deliver S200 or S400 performance. The 420-page standards document can be purchased by contacting the IEEE.