Ricochet
The first high-speed wireless Internet service for commuters in the U.S. Originally developed by Metricom, Inc. and launched in 1994 at 28.8 Kbps, its speed reached a minimum of 128 Kbps in 1999. However, with some 50,000 customers in 17 cities, Metricom closed its doors in 2001. Its assets were acquired by Aerie Networks and turned into Ricochet Networks with service restored in Denver and San Diego in 2002. A year later, Ricochet was acquired by EDL Holdings, and once again in 2004 by YDI Wireless, which later became Proxim Wireless Corporation. In 2008, Ricochet was shut down.A MicroCellular Data Network (MCDN)
Ricochet used approximately 100 small "microcell" radio transceivers attached to utility poles within a 20-square mile cell. Each cell had one wired access point with a frame relay connection to the Internet. Ricochet modems attached to laptops via the serial port. See CDPD.
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| Ricochet System |
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| The microcells "ricochet" signals from the mobile device to other microcells and eventually to the wired access point that connects to the land-based Internet. |
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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Ricochet
the rebounding flight of a shell, bullet, or other solid body that has struck an obstacle at a slight angle to its surface. For example, the angle for artillery shells given different types of ground (soft, hard, or medium) ranges between 15° and 20°.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.