08.18.10
802.16h published
A couple weeks ago (7/30/10). Wow I’m behind.
Can be purchased from IEEE here. (It’ll be free in about 6 months from get802).
07.20.10
Air Force floods the CR Zone in SBIR/STTR 10.3 Solicitation
(link) The 10.3 SBIR / STTR topics are out this morning. There are 10 (!) CR related SBIR or STTR topics in the solicitation all from the Air Force (some indirectly through the Office of the Secretary of Defense) I’ve listed them below (hopefully the table posts correctly).
| Agency | # | Title | SBIR/STTR | Objective |
| Air Force | AF103-070 | Airborne Networking: Using Context-Awareness for Better Network Routing and Management | SBIR | Development of complete prototypes that demonstrate the use of wide-area network states and user intents in a complex and uncertain environment to automatically enhance network routing and management. |
| Air Force | AF103-085 | Agile Space Radio (ASR) | SBIR | Develop agile multiband radios/transceivers that can automatically find and use the most efficient frequencies, modulation waveforms, protocols, etc., for communications satellites. |
| Air Force | AF103-168 | Unknown Wireless Network Discovery | SBIR | Research, develop and evaluate algorithms and methodologies for discovering and characterizing non-cooperative hidden nodes with selfish or malicious intent operating in real world environments. |
| Air Force | AF103-044 | Auto-configuring routers to support dynamically forming networks | SBIR | Develop a capability for routing entities in an airborne network to automatically optimize configuration and performance and adhere to network policies by selection of appropriate routing protocols |
| Air Force | AF103-048 | Network Virtualization | SBIR | Research and develop virtualization technologies to provide innovative approaches for infinite horizontal network scalability via cloning, replication, expansion, as well as extra “spike-capacity”. |
| OSD / AF | OSD10-AN1 | Cross-layer Wireless Networking Architectures and Protocols | SBIR | Design and assess innovative methods to create cognitive cross-layer wireless networking protocols to achieve autonomous network resiliency in contested RF spectra. |
| OSD / AF | OSD10-AN3 | Autonomous Network Management | SBIR | Provide a technology that automatically determines network status/condition and takes appropriate corrective actions as necessary. |
| OSD / AF | OSD10-AN5 | Wireless Autonomic Airborne Infrastructure | SBIR | Provide an autonomic wireless networking infrastructure that offers near-commercial grade throughput to edge data producers/consumers using thousands of airborne network nodes. |
| Air Force | AF10-BT09 | Dynamic Cross-layer Routing Using Cognitive Spectrum Allocation Techniques | STTR | Design and assess innovative methods to create adaptive cross-layer wireless networking protocols to achieve network resiliency in contested RF spectra |
| Air Force | AF10-BT03 | Innovative Approaches to On-Demand Cloud Computing over Ad-Hoc Wireless Networks |
STTR | Develop techniques, algorithms, protocols and architectures to enable on-demand cloud computing across varied tactical platforms utilizing distributed ad-hoc wireless networks |
I remember when we started way back in Aught-seven and it was good when there was a single CR SBIR solicitation across all departments for an entire year. But for this one, we’re in the pleasant position of getting to downselect our responses to the topics we think are the most interesting and make the most sense for the business.
You can also see how I prioritize things over the last two posts: wait a couple months to catch up on proposed spectrum regs, but read and synthesize SBIR solicitations an hour or so after they’re released.
07.19.10
New band (1675-1710 MHz) considered for secondary use
Horribly late to the party, but the FCC and NTIA are considering allowing the use of the 1675-1710 MHz band for secondary use. Key graphs from the solicitation for comment.
The 1675-1710 MHz band is allocated on a co-primary basis for federal and non-federal use for the Meteorological Aids Service and the Meteorological Satellite Service (Space-to-earth). Specifically, this band is used for downlinks from certain weather satellites and radiosondes (weather balloons) that are administered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA provides these services for weather forecasting, tracking of hurricanes and other storms, prediction of flooding and drought conditions, and warning against other hazards to life and property.
We expect that this band is relatively lightly used, both geographically and temporally, and thus could be shared by others. We seek comment on the utility of the 1675-1710 MHz band of spectrum for wireless broadband services, and approaches to making the band available for such uses. It may be possible that reception of the weather satellite downlink transmissions could occur at a relatively small number of sites and be distributed via terrestrial services, such as over the Internet or other managed services. Thus, with regard to incumbent satellite receive-only stations, we seek comment on the extent to which and manner in which non-federal users directly access federally authorized Meteorological Satellite Service space station downlink transmissions. We also seek comment on the extent to which non-federal users directly access transmissions from radiosondes. Also, it may be feasible for radiosondes to operate using substantially less bandwidth than they currently do, freeing spectrum for other uses, or for them to use an alternative technology or relocate to other spectrum.
(pdf) OET request for information.
(link) Here’s a link to 214 comments (I think some are double-counted though from duplicate filings).
07.06.10
Quick Links 7/6/10
Finished some slides early, so let’s dump some links…
(youtube) Nokia has a cartoon about cognitive radio (I’m late to this linking party)
(link) SDR10 papers are due this Friday
(link) The CRWG’s presentation on measurable benefits of cognitive radio given at ERRT as well as all of the ERRT talks can be downloaded from the link. FYI - online I’m listed as the only presenter for the talk, but that’s because we didn’t know which of the CRWG members would actually be there until the day before. John Fitton (Harris), Neal Mellen (TDK), and Rick Taylor (Harris) also presented sections of that talk. [Hmm... seems to need a log-in. Don't know if I can host it locally though...]
(link) The IET is hosting a Cognitive Radio Communications Seminar and have issued a call for posters. Looks like it’s addressing regulatory, research, and business interests.
- Date & Venue: 4 October 2010. IET London, Savoy Place, UK
- (link) 23 July posters due
- 9 August: notification of acceptance
(link) ISART: I’ll be part of a large Wireless Innovation Forum tag-team tutorial on cognitive radio at NTIA’s Symposium on cognitive radio.
- July 27-30, Boulder CO
(pdf) Illinois won the 2010 Qualcomm Cogntiive Radio Challenge. While I’m also late to this linking party (even later than the Nokia video), the linked slides give much more technical depth on the contest than I’ve seen elsewhere.
06.23.10
Musings on measuring knowledge [Update]
There was just a question in the Forum plenary along the lines of: “I know how to measure information - that’s entropy - but how do you measure knowledge?”
I thought this was a good question and am using this post as an excuse to flesh out some ideas.
For a little context for the following analysis, this week I offered the following construction.
- Information = data + meta-data
- Knowledge = information + meta-information (information about information)
- Wisdom = knowledge + meta-knowledge
Now entropy as a measure of entropy is measuring the uncertainty associated with data. In effect given that I got a symbol in my comm stream, how many different forms could that symbol have taken?
Entropy is more formally calculated as SUM(p_x_i * log_b(x_i)) where x is the set of possible values for the data (random variable) numbered from 1:n (x_1 to 1_n) and p_x_i is the probability of a specific value being realized.
Now consider knowledge as informaton + meta_information. I propose that knowledge is then the entropy of the joint distribution of the information and meta-information. Let x be the random variable drawn from the information set X and y be the random variable drawn form the information set Y so that the total possible knowledge space is XY with elements z from XY and assume M possible values.
Now we can measure knowledge with an entropy metric as SUM(p_z_i * log_b(z_i)).
*Update*
A couple quick comments.
1) I mistyped and then propagated an error in the entropy calculation. The logs should be p_x_i and p_z_i.
2) This is not intended as ground-breaking math, just showing that once you have a definition for “wisdom”, it becomes pretty easy to measure. In this case, we defined it in terms of information (a hierarchy of meta-information to be precise, but still information) so it’s measured with an information metric.
Another proposed definition for wisdom I’ve seen is the relative effectiveness of the application of knowledge. Wisdom could then be measured as an efficiency metric, e.g., the ratio of measured performance (via the goal or utility function of the CR or CN) to the optimal performance, presumably averaged over many different situations.
06.22.10
Small Entity Compliance for TVWS Devices
Somehow I didn’t know this existed, but this is a nice summary of the rules for TVBD (08-260) the FCC released in Spring 2009.
(pdf) Small Entity Compliance Guide: Part 15 TV Band Devices
06.18.10
White Space Regulation Push
(link) Kerry and Snow are pushing for regulations to be finalized. I have some notes to post from Tuesday still and some other links, but work beckons. Seem to want to hold the FCC to the Q3 plan.
06.15.10
TVWS Summit: Panel on Commercialization
Random comment: This is an awesome group of attendees today.
Moderator: Neeraj Srivastava [S] Spectrum Bridge
Participants:
- Joe Hamilla [H], Spectrum Bridge,
- John Chapin[C], MIT
- Kiran Challpali[K], Phillips (CogNeA)
- Apurva Mody[M], BAE Systems (802.22)
- Alex Reznik[R}, InterDigital (802.19)
[S}: 2.4 GHz was a tremendous success in unlicensed spectrum. More radios are sold into 2.4 GHz than into any other band on the planet. Plus tremendous innovation success. Similar stuff will happen with TVWS.
[H]: Pitching Spectrum Bridge.
- Trials with: FSK, Rebanded 802.11 (5 MHz), Rebanded WiMAX (3.5, 5 MHz). No interference.
- Notes Claudville. 5 node network. LMDS like operation. Experimental license. Fiber backhaul. Whitespace middle mile. WiFi (2.4 GHz) last hop. 2 Mbps
- Plumas County, CA: 20 node Smart Grid application (smart meters and surveilance) + rural broadband. Experimental license. Live about a month ago.
- National access: Major metro areas (top 20, not good user experience). Outside top 20: Good. 50-300 Great.
- About 50 companies that want them to deploy white space networks. Expects uptake to be faster.
[C] TV Band Service in Wilmington
- With Spectrum Bridge and Wilmington
- Launched Feb 24, 2010. Smart City Applications (some internet access, monitoring and control of government processes, e.g., traffic camera, water level sensor…).
- Radios from Koos Technologies.
- Wants Wilmington to be the testbed.
[I'm starting to take away that the killer app for TVWS is as affordable LMDS]
[K] talking on CogNeA (ECMA-392)
- A little history of CogNeA (HDTV and access, though some looking at longer range)
- Covering highlights of the standard. Agnostic to split between sensing and database in their “toolbox” approach to coexistence and PU protection (algorithms not in standard)
[M] 802.22
- Hopes finished by middle 2011
- Notes PHY in 802.22 supports speeds up to 114 km/h, but no current handoff mechanism; PHY / MAC designed to support ranges of up to 100 km
- Will support portable subscribers.
- Standard wants both vertical and horizontally polarization for sensing
- Treats CR as a separate plane. Suggests flexible to rules on sensing / database availability
- Notes some companies are implementing 802.22. 15 different sensing schemes meet the 802.22 requirements
- 2 security sublayers (Layer 1 is non-cognitive; layer 2 is cognitive - authorization)
- Notes that quiet periods can be unscheduled where/when sensing is not required
- Says Coexistence is either independent or frame-by-frame coexistence [I thought there was some scheduling...]
[R] on 802.19
- Notes 802.23 is starting up [New to me, so here's an overview].
- Internal ballot next year?
- language and a set of mechanisms for different networks to figure out how to best take advantage of the spectrum
- Assumes multiple coexistence managers, set of procedures for each media type (.11, .16h, .22…) Starting with 802.22
[S] All presentations will be online.
Q: Why so many interfaces for coexistence in 802.19 architecture? A: reviewed interfaces and what they’re used for
Q: Schedule for 802.22? A: Mid next year.
Q: 802.19 working with 1900.4? A: Yes
Q: CogNeA chipsets. A: 3 implementations (prototypes). Nothing implementing 100% compliant. Nothing has been released yet.
Q: How does regulatory outreach work? A: 802.18. Some companies have their own outreach to regulators.
Q: Any participation from US regulators? A: No. But from other countries.
Q: What is being used in TVWS prototypes? A: [H] Not really focused on standards. [C] Just using what we can get, but not part of the standards (used from Koos in Wilmington)
Q: Wireless mics considered in trials? A: [H] Trying to avoid both mics and TV. New channel map every day.
Q: So microphone information in the database? A: [H} We allow the microphones to register in the database.
TVWS Summit: Meredith Atwell Baker (FCC Commissioner)
While my battery will eventually run out and I have to step out for phone calls during the day, I’ll see if I can capture today’s events in real time,
There’s a real good turn out today. Looks like 80 people here [Update - Al says 75-80. Yay counting!]. For a conference with little lead, that’s pretty good.
Meredith has the keynote.
- Says the spectrum chapter from the national broadband plan is a useful outline. [I liked that chapter too]
- Now speaking on the WcS spectrum, says TVWS compares favorably.
Says important to move forward on regulation
- Too long - going on since before 2004.
- Impeding manufacturers
- Other regulators are passing us by.
Giving a positive review of CR capabilities (location, sensing, use in 3G/4G and so on).
Says that progress is being made. Cites SpectrumBridge (but not by name). Suggests meter reading and remote services are important apps. Cites Wilmington with meter readers.
Cites public safety interoperability and rapid network setup as example value-added of CR.
Notes relocations are hard. Shared spectrum better, DSA better still. Wants more intense sharing and dynamic management.
Wants action in 3 areas
- Finalize TV Band rules
- Encourage spectrum sensing technologies and test methods for this. [Seems to indicating that she is favorable to sensing + database.]
- Database - start with an inventory soon, includes sensing of TV bands and other bands. Thinks key to secondary spectrum markets
Question time:
Q: Timeframe for rule process? A: “Hope soon… Don’t want to move wireless mics again… If we repack, [DSA manufacturers] can adjust.”
Q: Notes crop and livestock monitoring over long distances is also an application. A: Would like to see interjection of defense and commercial spectrum applicaitons… Would like to see DSA get started in real commercial world.
Q: What still needs to be done on studying? A:Keep at it. Keep testing. Thinks database is important for use across all bands. Keep advancing the technology. [Didn't really answer]
Q: Impact on wireless microphones? A: Notes illegal mics in 700 MHz. Wants to find mics a home.
Q: Can TVWS databases serve spectrum dashboard? A: Thinks TVWS databases could encompass dashboard. Notes past database compatibility issues. Really emphasizing “holistic” database.
06.14.10
Upcoming (and recently past) speaking engagements
(pdf) Last week @ the International Software Radio Conference, I gave a talk entitled, “Issues in Fielding Large Scale Cognitive Radio Networks in Hostile Environments,”
(pdf) Tomorrow, I’m on a panel to talk about TVWS databases, which is not much fun as I don’t like panels and thought I was just lined up to give a talk on a CRWG project.
Wednesday, I’ll be at another conference. Alas no slides will be posted for that one. But view it as the in-depth version (more problems, more solutions, more mores!) of the London talk above.
Next week, I’m in Germany and Dublin (no link, just talking at Trinity). I’ll post links to copies of those presentations after they’re done.
