Wireless Card Solution

Wireless Card Solution

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Overview Linux Host Zephyr Host FreeRTOS Host Advantages Typical Applications Development Resources Recommended ICs

Overview

Ameba can act as a wireless network card connected to a Host MCU, providing network access capability. It supports multiple physical interfaces and mainstream operating systems to meet diverse requirements from lightweight to complex applications:

• Host Systems: Supports mainstream platforms such as Linux, FreeRTOS, and Zephyr.
• Hardware Interfaces: Supports multiple physical layer interfaces including UART, SPI, SDIO, and USB.

Compared to traditional Wi-Fi NICs that typically adopt SoftMAC architecture, the Ameba Device implements the complete IEEE 802.11 MAC layer, including scanning, authentication, power saving modes, frame aggregation, etc. The Host side does not need to handle complex Wi-Fi protocol details, resulting in a lighter driver, lower resource consumption, and easier porting.

Item	Linux Host	Zephyr Host	FreeRTOS Host
Wi-Fi Development	Standard Linux system Wi-Fi API	Standard Zephyr system Wi-Fi API	Realtek-provided IoT Wi-Fi API
Network Programming	Develop using standard Socket API	Develop using standard Socket API	Develop using standard Socket API

Linux Host

Seamlessly integrates with the standard Linux wireless network framework (cfg80211). All development can be based on standard Linux APIs.

• Easy Development: Lightweight Host driver with minimal porting effort and low maintenance cost
• High Stability: Leverages Linux's mature network stack and power management mechanisms
• Ecosystem Compatibility: Fully compatible with standard wpa_supplicant, supports P2P/NAN
• Device-side TCP Keep-Alive: Ameba and host run TCP/IP protocol stacks in parallel. Ameba can independently handle network keep-alive, data preprocessing, etc., reducing Host wake-up frequency, optimizing overall power consumption, and improving network traffic processing efficiency

Zephyr Host

Seamlessly integrates with the standard Zephyr wireless network framework. All development can be based on standard Zephyr APIs.

• Framework Compatibility: Directly uses Zephyr Wi-Fi APIs without additional adaptation layer
• Development Efficiency: Utilizes network debugging and testing tools within the Zephyr ecosystem
• Device-side TCP Keep-Alive: Ameba and host run TCP/IP protocol stacks in parallel. Ameba can independently handle network keep-alive, data preprocessing, etc., reducing Host wake-up frequency, optimizing overall power consumption, and improving network traffic processing efficiency

FreeRTOS Host

Host development is based on standard Realtek IoT development APIs

• Resource savings: Host side only needs a simple data interface driver with low memory footprint
• Fast integration: No need to implement a Wi-Fi stack on the FreeRTOS Host, shortening development cycles
• Device-side TCP Keep-Alive: Ameba and host run TCP/IP protocol stacks in parallel. Ameba can independently handle network keep-alive, data preprocessing, etc., reducing Host wake-up frequency, optimizing overall power consumption, and improving network traffic processing efficiency

Advantages

Compatible with multiple development scenarios

Compatible with multiple interfaces including UART, SPI, SDIO, USB, and compatible with various Host operating systems including Linux, FreeRTOS, Zephyr

Standard Linux network card support

Supports standard wpa_supplicant/cfg80211 architecture, significantly reducing development complexity, and supports P2P and NAN

Excellent TCP/IP keepalive mechanism

The device side and the Host side can run TCP/IP in parallel, with the device-side TCP/IP used to provide the necessary keepalive mechanisms to avoid frequent wake-ups of the Host side.

Low power consumption and fast response

The device can maintain a connected state with low power consumption in the tens of microamperes and quickly wake up to enter the transmit-receive state.

Typical Applications

Smart Home

• Extends Wi-Fi capability to the main MCU of major appliances (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines), small appliances (robot vacuums, air purifiers, smart sockets), and sensing/control devices (wireless sensor nodes, smart locks, lighting systems).
• The device-side protocol stack handles heartbeat and cloud keep-alive, allowing the main MCU to sleep and reduce overall power consumption.
• Supports direct discovery and communication, enabling local ad-hoc networking and rapid provisioning.

Industrial Sensing & Data Acquisition

• Provides industrial sensor nodes with flexible intermittent connectivity and batch data reporting capabilities, adapting to various field interface requirements.
• Supports ad-hoc communication in router-less scenarios, enabling quick setup of temporary networks for data exchange among field devices.
• Features microamp-level low-power standby, meeting long-term stability requirements for battery-powered applications.

Rapid Network Expansion for Embedded Systems

• Quickly adds network functionality to embedded products (RTOS-based or bare‑metal) without replacing the main MCU, significantly shortening development cycles.
• Serves as a wireless backup or supplementary link for existing wired network devices, enhancing connection reliability.

Smart Home

• Extends Wi-Fi capability to the main MCU of major appliances (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines), small appliances (robot vacuums, air purifiers, smart sockets), and sensing/control devices (wireless sensor nodes, smart locks, lighting systems).
• The device-side protocol stack handles heartbeat and cloud keep-alive, allowing the main MCU to sleep and reduce overall power consumption.
• Supports direct discovery and communication, enabling local ad‑hoc networking and rapid provisioning.

Industrial Sensing & Data Acquisition

• Provides industrial sensor nodes with flexible intermittent connectivity and batch data reporting capabilities, adapting to various field interface requirements.
• Supports ad-hoc communication in router-less scenarios, enabling quick setup of temporary networks for data exchange among field devices.
• Features microamp-level low-power standby, meeting long-term stability requirements for battery-powered applications.

Rapid Network Expansion for Embedded Systems

• Quickly adds network functionality to embedded products (RTOS-based or bare‑metal) without replacing the main MCU, significantly shortening development cycles.
• Serves as a wireless backup or supplementary link for existing wired network devices, enhancing connection reliability.

Development Resources

			Link
	Linux Host	Device Porting	Link
		Host Porting	Link
		Verification	Link
	Zephyr Host	Device Porting	Link
		Host Porting	Link
		Verification	Link
	FreeRTOS Host	Device Porting	Link
		Host Porting	Link
		Verification	Link
	Contact Us		Link

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