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FireWire(R) System Architecture: IEEE 1394A (2nd Edition) (PC System Architecture Series): MindShare Inc., Don Anderson
Editorial Reviews
Review
It’s difficult to categorize FireWire System Architecture: IEEE 1394. It’s not quite technical enough to serve as a replacement for the official IEEE 1394 specification, yet it’s definitely not written for laymen. My impression is that FireWire System Architecture: IEEE 1394 was intended to replace the IEEE 1394 specification, but it doesn’t ever quite get there. The purpose of a book such as this one should be, in my opinion, to supplement the official specification: To explain the parts of the specification that are ambiguous and to supply real-world technical examples of each major IEEE 1394 feature. This book doesn’t do either of these things.
That said, however, the book on its own terms is well written and technically accurate. The IEEE 1394 technical details are covered well, and the diagrams are quite nicely rendered. The chapter entitled “Example 1394 Chip Solutions” (written by Texas Instruments, arguably the IEEE 1394 technology leaders) was a nice touch, and showed IEEE 1394 hardware examples, although I didn’t think it was anywhere near long enough.
As an engineer who works daily with IEEE 1394 technology, I didn’t really find anything in this book that I didn’t find in the official specification, and I can’t imagine that anyone interested enough in IEEE 1394 to buy this book wouldn’t have the official IEEE 1394 specification at hand. For example, one of the most misunderstood areas of 1394 node management is the Configuration ROM and I expected to find some examples of properly formatted Configuration ROM data; however, it wasn’t included. Another thing that was lacking was a detailed bibliography or detailed reference listing, which is essential in such books.
I also didn’t think the title was appropriate. FireWireTM is a registered trademark of Apple Computer and virtually all companies developing IEEE 1394 products (such as Sony, Texas Instruments, Symbios Logic, Adaptec, Fujitsu, etc.) avoid the name FireWire like the plague. Sony, for example, has coined its own term — I Link. The title should have been IEEE 1394 System Architecture instead, but I’m sure the publisher thought that FireWire was more catchy.
My criticisms notwithstanding, the book reads well, and is a good value at $34.95. Depending on the depth of your interest in IEEE 1394 technology, the book can certainly be worth having in your library. — Thomas “Rick” Tewell, Dr. Dobb’s Journal — Dr. Dobb’s Journal
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
FireWire (IEEE 1394) is an emerging technology that provides high-speed serial bus communications. This book offers an in-depth overview of the IEEE 1394 cable environment based on the 1394-1995 release of the standard and includes changes introduced by the 1394a supplement. IEEE 1394 defines a layered software and hardware approach for serial bus communications. This book details the various layers and provides transaction examples to explain and illustrate the relationships between each layer. It explores important features of 1394 including:
* Node architecture * Address space * Arbitration * Transaction types: isochronous, asynchronous, lock * Broadcast transactions * Control and status registers (CSRs) * Automatic configuration * Configuration ROM * Bus management * Physical layer * Transaction layer * Link layer * Cable and electrical interface Comprehensive, concise, and well-organized, this book is an essential resource and reference for anyone who designs or tests hardware or software involving FireWire( (IEEE 1394) technology.
The PC System Architecture Series is a crisply written and comprehensive set of guides to the most important PC hardware standards. Each title is designed to illustrate the relationship between the software and hardware, and thoroughly explains the architecture, features, and operation of systems built using one particular type of chip or hardware specification.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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