NearLink (formerly called StarSpark) is a new wireless communication technology specifically designed for short-distance data transmission. It has undergone significant innovative upgrades compared to traditional technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, incorporating key technologies from 5G to achieve comprehensive improvements in speed, latency, transmission distance, security, and reliability.
In other words, NearLink is an enhanced version of a "Wi-Fi + Bluetooth" hybrid. NearLink adopts a special architectural design consisting of three layers: the basic application layer, the basic service layer, and the NearLink access layer.
The basic application layer implements various application functions serving different scenarios, including automotive, home, audiovisual, and more.
The basic service layer comprises numerous basic functional units that provide support for upper-layer application functionality and system management and maintenance.
The NearLink access layer is particularly unique. It provides two communication interfaces: SLB (Standard Link Base) for basic access and SLE (Standard Link Energy) for low-power access, corresponding to different network scenario requirements of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, respectively. The underlying technologies and performance indicators differ between the two interfaces:
SLB
SLB, comparable to Wi-Fi, aims for high bandwidth, large capacity, and high precision. SLB supports single-carrier/multi-carrier operations in the 5GHz unlicensed frequency. The narrowest single-carrier bandwidth is 20MHz, with support for 40/60/80/100/160/320MHz and modulation schemes including QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM, and 1024QAM. SLB incorporates various technologies such as ultra-short frames, multi-point synchronization, bi-directional authentication, fast interference coordination, bi-directional authenticated encryption, and cross-layer scheduling optimization. It integrates a significant amount of 5G technologies, including support for asynchronous HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) similar to 5G, frequency domain scheduling design, frame structure, etc., to enhance communication performance.
SLE
SLE, comparable to Bluetooth, focuses on low power consumption, low latency, and high reliability. SLE uses single-carrier transmission in the 2.4GHz unlicensed frequency, supporting bandwidths of 1MHz, 2MHz, and 4MHz, and modulation schemes including GFSK, BPSK, QPSK, and 8PSK. SLE supports 1-to-many reliable multicast, 4kHz short latency interactivity, secure pairing, privacy protection, and other features. It considers energy-saving factors while maximizing transmission efficiency. In terms of networking, NearLink is similar to traditional technologies, operating in point-to-point (P2P) or point-to-multipoint (P2MP) configurations. NearLink nodes are divided into management nodes (G nodes, Grant) and terminal nodes (T nodes, Terminal). G nodes provide access layer services such as connection management, resource allocation, and information security to the T nodes within their coverage. A single G node, along with the connected T nodes, forms a communication domain.
Security
NearLink employs multiple security mechanisms to protect security and privacy. For example, it uses 128-bit AES encryption algorithm to encrypt and decrypt data, preventing unauthorized access or tampering. It also employs bi-directional authentication and key negotiation mechanisms to ensure device authentication and key generation. Overall, it is evident that NearLink surpasses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in various capabilities.
With over 300 members, the NearLink Alliance is primarily composed of Chinese companies, while the Bluetooth Alliance (with over 36,000 members) and the Wi-Fi Alliance (with over 850 members) have established their positions through over two decades of dedicated efforts. Challenging their dominance poses significant difficulties for the NearLink Alliance.
