Wi-Fi 6: Offering smart connections to smart homes
This is in contrast to Wi-Fi 5, which despite being the first Wi-Fi iteration to offer MU-MIMO, offers a downlink connection only. This means that Wi-Fi 5 routers can only send more than one stream simultaneously to multiple users’ devices (e.g. laptops) – but such devices cannot transmit multiple streams to routers. In other words, Wi-Fi 6, by being the first Wi-Fi standard [2] to offer an uplink connection, offers bi-directional connectivity between routers and devices, therefore allowing more reliable multiplexing than that of previous iterations. Such an advancement in communications efficiency opens the door to advancements in smart home safety and security applications. This is especially in terms of connected sensors, which are integral to the data collection capabilities offered by smart homes. For instance, in the 2021
paper ‘Design and Implementation of Low-Cost Smart Home System with Sensor Multiplexing’ [4] , the researchers explain how the detection of hazards (such as dangerous gases and intruders) in the smart home can be carried out using their “extendable, cheap, and multi-faceted” sensor multiplexing system. The researchers explain that the sensors’ data can be efficiently uploaded to an IoT cloud platform and go on to consider Wi- Fi for remote observance a “major development” in home automation systems. By offering the benefits of both OFDMA and MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi 6 has the potential to prove integral to further research and development into the use of multiplexing within smart home automation and security systems. The next section explores further efficiency and security benefits of Wi-Fi 6.
Further efficiency and security benefits of Wi-Fi 6 The technical specifications of the Wi-Fi 6 technology make it beneficial to a plethora of smart home applications. For instance, Wi-Fi 6’s said OBSS feature (namely BSS [basic service sets] colouring) minimises interference within the wireless network from a neighbour’s router by ignoring unwanted signals, allowing for a more efficient smart home system. Another key benefit of Wi-Fi 6-connected smart home systems is its improved WPA3 256-bit encryption security technology that gives users a higher feeling of security. The WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) security protocol enhances Wi-Fi security for home users, therefore providing them with a similar connection
Figure 3. A diagram that shows a reduction in overlapping basic service set interference with Wi-Fi 6’s BSS colouring feature. Credit: tp-link
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