Wireless communications deployment in industry: a review of issues, options and technologies

Present basis of knowledge management is the efficient share of information. The challenges that modern industrial processes have to face are multimedia information gathering and system integration, through large investments and adopting new technologies. Driven by a notable commercial interest, wireless networks like GSM or IEEE 802.11 are now the focus of industrial attention, because they provide numerous benefits, such as low cost, fast deployment and the ability to develop new applications. However, wireless nets must satisfy industrial requisites: scalability, flexibility, high availability, immunity to interference, security and many others that are crucial in hazardous and noisy environments. This paper presents a thorough survey of all this requirements, reviews the existing wireless solutions, and explores possible matching between industry and the current existing wireless standards.