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R&D Focus

USBsync Allows Easy One-to-Many File Transfers

Video of USBsync.

When sharing files, users frequently employ mobile storage devices or network servers. This, however, can be time-consuming and inconvenient. ITRI’s USBsync is a portable cloud storage and sharing service which adopts a USB interface system, allowing one-to-many synchronous file transfers, enabling everyone under the same domain to simultaneously send any document formats without the Internet.

ITRI’s USBsync, a portable device which functions as a personal pocket cloud, allows one-to-many synchronous file transfers.

ITRI’s USBsync, a portable device which functions as a personal pocket cloud, allows one-to-many synchronous file transfers.

The USBsync, controlled by an application program, is able to transfer and share files wirelessly. A file can be shared with up to 8 users simultaneously. The device also supports synchronous video broadcasting. Such direct wireless file sharing eliminates lengthy transmission time in which files must first be moved to a storage device or a network server. USBsync has the following specifications and advantages: one-to-eight sharing, 100m effective transmission distance, supporting any file format for sharing, USB 3.0 interface for high data rate transmission, wireless LAN for 802.11 n/ac standard, synchronized image (movies) broadcast and data sharing, and compatibility with Microsoft’s Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

In order to achieve synchronous stability for one-to-many video streaming and high-speed data transmission, the TCP/IP protocol is applied. The pocket cloud is established by one master and many slaves; therefore the cloud requires the most effective way to manage video in a secure system. There are two often-discussed video transmission methods: Multicast and Unicast. Since both have their benefits, ITRI implemented both algorithms in the software of the pocket cloud so that different methods can be applied depending on different situations. Moreover, ITRI developed the functions of remote control and master/slave switch on USBsync. The user can control the master at the slave side after getting the remote control token; the slave can also provide the sharing service to others once switching to the master.

  ITRI USBsync Brand A Brand B Brand C
Sharing Numbers 1 to 8 1 to 1 1 to 1 1 to 1
Capability Screen Syn. O O O O
File Sharing O X X X
Screen Syn. Compression Tech. Software (FFmpeg) Hardware (VP 8) Hardware -
Highest Resolution 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p
Wireless Protocol 802.11 b/g/n/ac (Dual Band 2.4 GHz/5GHZ) 802.11 b/g/n(Only 2.4 GHz) WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (Only 2.4 GHz) WiFi 802.11 b/g/n (Only 2.4 GHz ISM Band)
MIMO SISO SISO SISO
Interface USB 3.0 HDMI HDMI USB 2.0
Power Line X O O X
OS Win 7/Win 8/ Win10 Android/iOS/Mac OS/Win 7/Win 8/ Android/Win 8 Win XP/Vista/Win 7
Dimensions 73 (mm)*21 (mm) 72 (mm)*32 (mm) 110 (mm)*50 (mm) 53 (mm)*25 (mm)

Comparison between ITRI’s USBsync solution and other global brands.

This dongle technology is useful in conferences, education systems, group file sharing, wireless data transmission, Industry 4.0 smart production, and more. No projector will be needed for meetings. The presenter’s slides will be displayed on the audience’s computer screens just by inserting the USBsync. Employees in different areas can all participate in discussion together using pocket cloud devices, enabling them to communicate without even being in the same room.

Future applications of the pocket cloud technology include education, service, entertainment, work, and other smart living scenarios. For example, in automatic production, the data of machines can be wirelessly transmitted to workstations for the purposes of storing and sharing data. For teaching, compared to the traditional computer teaching broadcast system that is inconvenient, complicated, and costly, ITRI’s USBsync allows students to easily learn and cooperate in real time without the constraint of fixed hardware, elevating the quality and efficiency of education.