What is the FiRa Certification Program?
This can be accessed using this link: https://cms.firaconsortium.org/caslogin
A certified device has been tested by an independent Authorized Test Lab (ATL) according to the FiRa Device Certification Process. Passing this testing demonstrates that the device conforms to the relevant FiRa specifications.
All FiRa Certified™ devices conform with the applicable FiRa specifications, providing a basic foundation for interoperability. However, certification does not guarantee that all certified devices will be fully interoperable.
To improve interoperability, FiRa is doing two things: (1) currently conducting Test Events; and (2) in the future performing Interoperability Testing.
Test Events, which are taking place today, provide an environment for vendors to evaluate interoperability of their devices with devices of other participating vendors in a friendly, real-world environment. Test Events are held three to four times per year in different regions of the world.
Interoperability Testing, planned to be in place when certification is launched, is an integral part of certification. FiRa will identify a list of Reference Devices that have successfully passed MAC and PHY conformance testing. These Reference Devices will form a test environment that each device submitted for certification must be able to interoperate with.
The certification listing fee is USD 2,500 for an initial tested device and USD 1,000 for a rebranded device, a variant device or a device that uses a certified module. The listing fee does not include the cost of testing the device by an independent Authorized Test Lab (ATL).
The FiRa Certified™ logo is available for use by FiRa members who have UWB-enabled devices that fulfill the criteria of the FiRa Certification Program. This industry-facing logo is designed to assure the market that a device conforms to the applicable FiRa standards. Use of the FiRa Certified logo is granted to a FiRa member once the certification process is completed. In accordance with the FiRa Brand Guidelines, the FiRa Certified logo may be used on websites, sales materials and collateral, documentation, product packaging, etc.
Here is a high-level overview of the FiRa Certification Process Overview.
Why Should We Certify Our Products?
Yes! FiRa certification provides proof that your device conforms with FiRa specifications. It's the first step in demonstrating that your device will work with other FiRa Certified™ devices.
Benefits to your company of device certification include:
- Providing proof that your device meets the requirements of the FiRa Certification Program
- Listing your device(s) on the FiRa website along with all other certified devices
- Attracting customers who prefer to purchase a certified device instead of a non-certified device
- Improving the likelihood that your device will interoperate with other FiRa Certified™ devices
Certification is optional but you may not claim that your device is FiRa-compliant unless the device has been certified.
Once your device is certified, you will be allowed to use the FiRa Certified™ logo on your product, packaging, website, manuals, etc. This must be done in accordance with the FiRa Brand Guidelines. In addition, to help bring broader visibility to certified devices, all FiRa Certified™ devices will be listed on the FiRa website.
How Does the Certification Program Work?
Base Certification covers the mandatory MAC and PHY features that must be supported by all devices certified by FiRa. Enhanced Certification adds additional requirements on top of the Base Certification that provide additional requirements related to security and privacy. It is up to the vendor to choose which certification to get for their device.
No. The certification criteria will continue to evolve over time. The initial Certification Program only covers the mandatory MAC and PHY features. Future certification releases will include additional optional features as they are specified by the FiRa Technical Working Group (TWG) and are eventually implemented and validated in test platforms.
However, nothing prevents a vendor from implementing a feature even if it will not be tested during certification. Once that feature has been included as part of certification, the device may be submitted to re-certify that feature.
As the FiRa specifications evolve, features are collected into a stable set of requirements. These requirements are included in test specifications which are then implemented by test tool vendors. Once those test tools have been validated by FiRa, they are added to the certification criteria in a phased approach. As required, typically two or three times per year, a new certification release is published.
There is a 180-day overlap period upon the publication of a new certification release. During this 180-day period, a vendor may choose to certify their device to either the previous certification release or the new certification release. At the end of the 180 days, all devices must be certified to the new certification release.
Yes. Devices are certified to a specific certification release. In addition, each certification is tied to a specific hardware, software and/or firmware version of the device. Any changes to the device are outside the scope of FiRa certification.
Devices already certified to a certification release are not subject to future changes in the certification criteria. Retesting is not required when a new certification release is issued.
However, if a vendor would like their product listing on the FiRa website to reflect a newer certification release, the vendor may submit their device for re-certification.
FiRa grants certification to a specific certification release for a specific hardware, software and/or firmware version of a device. Any changes made to a previously-certified device are outside the scope of FiRa certification.
FiRa expects that vendors will not change their devices in a way that would make them no longer conform to the FiRa certification criteria.
The certification release that was used to certify a device is listed on the FiRa Certified™ device listing on the FiRa website. If a vendor would like their device to reflect a newer certification release, they may submit their device to be re-certified to the new certification criteria.
Yes. A device that incorporates a previously-certified device may inherit all or part of its certification test results. Which test results are inherited and how much re-testing is required, if any, is determined by FiRa on a case-by-case basis and depends on the scope of the changes made to the certified device.
The vendor of a certified device may grant another vendor (i.e., a reseller) the right to sell the device under a different name, model and/or revision number. Certification of this rebranded device is not automatically granted.
The reseller must submit the rebranded device for certification and identify the original certified device. The rebranded device may reuse some or all of the test results depending on the scope of the changes made to the original certified device.
All certification testing must be done at a FiRa Authorized Test Lab (ATL).
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