资料来源 : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Home Phoneline Networking Alliance
     
         (HomePNA) A
        non-profit association of more than 100 technology companies
        working together to ensure adoption of a phone line
        {networking} standard which should provide high-speed,
        affordable home networking.
     
        The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) was founded
        in June 1998 by {3Com}, {AMD}, {AT&T Wireless Services},
        {Compaq}, Conexant, Epigram, {Hewlett-Packard}, {IBM},
        {Intel}, {Lucent Technologies}, Rockwell Semiconductor
        Systems, and Tut Systems.  The membership now spans the
        networking, telecommunications, {hardware}, {software}, and
        consumer electronics industries.
     
        The alliance was originally formed because of the increasing
        demand for home networking caused by the growing number of
        homes with multiple PCs (and other devices) to connect
        together to provide facilities such as shared {Internet}
        access, {networked gaming}, and sharing of {peripherals},
        {files} and {applications}.
     
        The member companies aimed to develop {open standards} to
        ensure compatibility between different manufacturers'
        products.  They also decided that this should be done using
        the phone wiring that already existed in people's homes.  The
        concept of "no new wires" networking meant installation was
        simpler.
     
        HomePNA's original specifications could be used to create a 1
        {Mbps} (megabits per second) {Ethernet}-compatible {LAN} with
        no {hubs}, {routers}, {splitters} or {terminations}.  Adapters
        would allow any computer (or other device) with an Ethernet
        port to be linked to the home network.  Up to 25 PCs,
        peripherals and network devices can be connected to such a
        network.
     
        On 1999-12-01, the HomePNA announced a new release of its
        networking technology specification, called Home PNA 2.0.
        Like the first specification, it uses existing phone lines,
        but it can operate at speeds up to 10 Mbps.  The new version
        is {backwardly compatible} with the original 1 Mbps HomePNA
        technology, and is designed to provide faster networks
        suitable for future voice, video and data applications.
     
        {HomePNA.org (http://www.homepna.org/)}.  {HomePNA.Com
        (http://www.HomePNA.com/)}.
     
        (2000-03-24)