XRS (Extensible Radio Specification) first started as an in-house effort to standardize the software development at WiNRADiO Communications.

As the efforts progressed towards more complicated applications, it was realized that a special, modular approach to development of control software for radio devices was necessary, especially as efforts were made to continuously improve the software and provide an upgrade path to customers.

This specification grew gradually and when it eventually became a rather voluminous book, we realized that its usefulness had surpassed the scope of the originally intended in-house document.

We believe that by introducing this specification to the general public as a universal development platform, we are making a modest contribution towards the progress of radio communications. We are grateful to all our customers and associates whose patient patronage made this development possible.

The advantages of XRS benefit everyone:

  End users, because XRS application software purchased for one model of an XRS-compliant radio device will work equally well with another. The greater number of XRS applications, the better value an investment in an XRS-compliant radio device will represent for the radio device user.

  Developers, because once developed, an XRS application software will work across all XRS-compliant radio devices, not just one model of one particular manufacturer. This saves time for application development and increases the market size for radio device applications, thus providing a better return on investment and a greater incentive to develop add-on software.

  Manufacturers, because they can take advantage of already existing XRS applications. By making a radio device software XRS-compatible, manufacturers make it automatically more useful to prospective purchasers, and therefore more attractive to the market.

The XRS specifies the interface between a radio device control program (the 'Server') and an add-on plug-in module (the 'Client'). The specification is flexible enough to allow for a wide range of radio devices to be controlled by a wide range of plug-ins. This means that application software developed for one particular model of a radio device will work equally well on another, provided they are both XRS-compliant.

The primary design goals for XRS were:

  To enable new radio functions to be developed separately, in a modular way, and added quickly and easily to expand the functionality of the radio device control software.

  To eliminate compatibility issues between different models of radio devices. Once written, an XRS application will work with every XRS-compliant radio device.

  To provide an open platform for third party software developers. The XRS developer information exposes all interfaces needed to enable development of new radio control tools and applications. The XRS standard is designed from the ground up to provide a flexible platform for development of software suitable for a wide variety of radio applications.

  To provide the opportunity for radio device manufacturers to take advantage of existing and future XRS applications. By licensing the XRS server technology for use in their products, other radio manufacturers will benefit of the combined efforts of all third-party XRS developers.

  To ensure that the XRS standard itself is extensible in order to be able to accommodate new advances in both radio and computer technology.

In order to be able to access the full XRS specification, you need to agree with the terms of a Limited Evaluation License. This license makes it possible for you to read and evaluate the specification, however it does not yet entitle you to use it for productive or commercial purposes. (For such purposes, you need to apply for an XRS Client Developer's License, which is free to XRS plug-in developers, or the XRS OEM License if you are a radio manufacturer. For more details see the Developers page.)

The full text of the Limited Evaluation License is below. By indicating your agreement with this license by clicking on "I agree" at the bottom of this page, you will gain access to full XRS specification.

GRANT OF LIMITED LICENSE

WiNRADiO Communications (hereinafter called "WiNRADiO") hereby grants to you at no charge a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide, limited license (without any right to sublicense) under WiNRADiO's intellectual property rights that are essential to practice the Extended Radio Specification (XRS, hereinafter called "Specification") to use the Specification for internal evaluation purposes only. Other than this limited license, you acquire no right, title, or interest in or to the Specification and you shall have no right to use the Specification for productive or commercial use. Should you wish to use the Specification for productive or commercial use, you need to apply for XRS Client Developer License or XRS Server OEM License.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

This documentation is the confidential and proprietary information of WiNRADiO. You shall not disclose this confidential information and shall use it only in accordance with the terms of this license agreement you entered into with WiNRADiO.

LIMITED WARRANTY

The specification is provided "AS IS" and all warranties whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise, relating in any way to the subject matter of this licence or to this licence generally, including without limitation, warranties as to: quality; fitness; merchantability; correctness; accuracy; reliability; correspondence with any description or sample, meeting your or any other requirements; uninterrupted use; compliance with any relevant legislation and being error or virus free are excluded.

Where any legislation implies in this agreement any term, and that legislation avoids or prohibits provisions in a contract excluding or modifying such a term, such term shall be deemed to be included in this agreement. However, the liability of WiNRADiO for any breach of such term shall if permitted by that legislation be limited, at WiNRADiO's option, to any one or more of the following: if the breach related to goods: the replacement of the goods or the supply of equivalent goods; the repair of such goods; the payment of the cost of replacing the goods or of acquiring equivalent goods; or the payment of the cost of having the goods repaired; and if the breach relates to services: the supplying of the services again; or the payment of the cost of having the services supplied again.

Licensee warrants that it has not relied on any representation made by WiNRADiO or upon this specification in any way.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Except for the limited warranty (above), WiNRADiO shall not be under any liability to Licensee in respect of any loss or damage (including consequential loss or damage) however caused, which may be suffered or incurred or which may arise directly or indirectly in respect to the use of this specification or the failure or omission on the part of WiNRADiO to comply with its obligations under this licence.

TRADEMARKS

WiNRADiO, VisiTune and XRS are trademarks or registered trademarks of WiNRADiO Communications in the United States, EC and other countries.

COPYRIGHTS

The copyright in this document is owned by WiNRADiO. All rights reserved.

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