PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS: AN INTRODUCTION By Dr. Ernest Simo 1.0 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES For millenniums, there has always been a requirement for people to communicate, even when separated by distance. Ironically, to meet this need, the oldest forms of communications were wireless. During the early ages, 5000-2000 B.C., most communications were between one human and another. As a result, information was sent in a form that is compatible with a person's audio and visual senses: gestures, facial and body expressions were first used. Then the drum and smoke signals were used to extend the communications range from hundreds to thousands of feet. These forms of communications strategies presented significant limitations however: The range of communications was restricted to the person's immediate vicinity, and; the capacity and rate of information transfer was extremely low. As a result, these early communications schemes were good only for simple announcements such as danger or the approach of a friendly visitor. To meet the requirement for higher capacity and greater communications range, various telecommunications methods, devices and systems have been used over the years. a) The nineteenth century brought some significant breakthroughs such as the transmission of information using electrical signals. b) During the twentieth century, giant steps were made and telecommunications systems have become more powertul more reliable and extremely sophisticated. Coupled with powerful switching systems, transmission technologies, such as radio, microwaves, terrestrial copper lines, Optical fiber and satellites now support communications capabilities ranging from Global networks to Personal Communication Systems. Today, voice, data, image and video signals can be virtually transmitted between any major cities-pair around the world on a real-time basis. Despite these sophisticated technologies, nearly all existing telecommunication networks have a Location-oriented connectivity. They interconnect user devices at fixed locations. For example, telephone sets, computer terminals, fax machines, video receivers are typically located at home, in the office or public facilities. The nineteen nineties will define, develop and produce novel technologies and networks that will revolutionize telecommunications throughout the 21st century. These new technologies are broadly defined as Personal Communications Networks or PCN. PCN, by contrast to conventional networks, will have a user-oriented connectivity. Here a user number identifies and tracks, not a location or a fixed user device, but a person. This presentation discusses the fundamentals of Personal Communication Networks [PCN] and associated Personal Communications Services [PCS]. CODE: AN INTRODUCTION By Dr. Ernest Simo © 1999 DR. ERNEST SIMO - SPACE2000