03.15.10
Posted in Broadband Initiative, TV Bands, White Space, regulation, spectrum at 12:10 pm by jody
(This was going to be a quick link, but then I decided it was too important for a passing mention)
Some years Thomas Hazlett gave a talk at VT on paying broadcasters to move / stop transmitting and have everyone get their TV via satellite or wired (cable, fiber, phone) and to pay for it all (including covering those who are getting TV over the air now) via spectrum auctions (presumably to cellular operators). I thought it was a really good idea at the time, though since them, I’ve grown to appreciate the value of unlicensed spectrum for fostering innovation so I’m not as onboard with it as I once was.
Now it appears to have gained significant support at the FCC and it looks like it will be part of the broadband initiative being unveiled tomorrow. (I’ll try to link tomorrow).
(link) From Reuters [emphasis added]
The top U.S. communications regulator offered to pay television broadcasters to give up their rights to airwaves worth an estimated $50 billion as it looks to overcome a looming scarcity of wireless spectrum for advanced mobile phone services.
But analysts say the plan could run into opposition from broadcasters reluctant to give up their airwaves unless they are offered a price that might be too expensive for the government to pay.
In a move that would more than double the amount of airwaves assigned to commercial operators today, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski said on Wednesday that he wants to free up 500 megahertz of spectrum to wireless carriers over 10 years, as part of the National Broadband Plan. Parts of the plan will be released to the commissioners at an open meeting on March 16 and the full plan will be released to Congress on March 17.
He hopes some of the airwaves would come from broadcasters, which would get a portion of spectrum auction proceeds. He did not say how much the broadcasters would be paid to give up their licenses to use the airwaves.
While an interesting intellectual exercise and quite possibly the best way forward for the country, its late appearance could seriously derail everyone’s TV white space plans if the available unlicensed spectrum is greatly reduced or elimintated in favor for licensed spectrum. And since this looks like a significant pivot (and slowly developing - note the 10 year roll out), it could create headaches just from the regime uncertainty.
Background
(link) An overview of Hazlett’s proposal shows up in this February NYT article.
(link) Some of Hazlett’s other publications, many of which deal with this issue.
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Posted in Business, Conferences, Quick Links, TV Bands, White Space at 12:00 pm by jody
(link) xG Technology at IWCE.
I saw this press release a few places touting xG Technology’s cognitive radio demonstration at IWCE. The little I’ve looked into it, e.g., the company website’s explanation (link), it doesn’t appear to be as focused on traditional CR-type applications (ala DSA in the white spaces or interoperability for public safety) as it emphasizes mobile VOIP in unlicensed bands and appears to have been around for several years. This doesn’t mean they haven’t downbanded it to the white spaces and added a DSA capability, but it appears unlikely. I’ll catch up with some IWCE attenders this week or next and add an update on what they demonstrated.
(link) Access 2010 Call for Papers
In Valencia, has a CR track.
- Submission (full paper) April 20, 2010
- Notification May 25, 2010
- Camera ready June 17, 2010
- Conference September 25-27, 2010
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03.12.10
Posted in Europe, SDRF, research initiatives at 10:16 am by jody
At the Wireless Innovation Forum (formerly SDR Forum) meeting in Mainz, Germany from June 21-23 (link), I’m trying to pull together a session of presentations on the funded EU-area research initiatives on Cognitive Radio and Cognitive Radio related technologies.
The intent is to provide a mechanism for the different groups to share with one another what they’re doing and to help spur research collaborations among the groups and to expose the research efforts to the companies that attend the Forum meeting.
Each group would be given 20 minutes a piece to overview their group’s efforts (I’m really flexible on what can appear in the slides as it’s kinda your time at that point).
If a group can’t attend in person, but would still like their activities highlighted in the session, I’m willing to present any material that’s submitted in the session assuming I can follow the slides. [obviously, you know your research better than I do, so this is suboptimal, but still preferable to nothing]
If we get more interest than can be accommodated in a single session, I’ll try to add time or an extra session. If I can’t extend the session or add another session, then I’ll give first preference to those universities / groups that are members of the Forum and then to those that can be there in person and finally to the rest in a completely unfair, arbitrary, and caprcious manner of my choosing [actually probably via a uniform random number generator, but I like to head off issues preemptively by embracing potential complaints].
Any slides presented would need to be releasable as they’ll be posted on the Forum’s meeting dropbox for all of the Forum members to access.
I’ll send out a formal email invitation next week (this is a kind of advance notice for those in the EU CR community that read this blog), and I think I know who to email for most of the groups, but if you want to make certain I catch you in the announcement, send me an email at
james DOT neel AT crtwireless DOT com
[For those who haven't figured out or didn't otherwise know me, "JODy" is a nickname for "James O'Daniell Neel" and I chair the CRWG.]
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03.10.10
Posted in GNU Radio, USRP, military, open source at 7:01 pm by jody
This is kinda old but I’m putting up stuff while I’m sitting through the WinnForum plenaries…
(link) Key material from the release.
The Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) is creating a Software-Defined Radio lab that will work with the Navy Research Lab to transfer work done previously on the Joint Tactical Radio System to the GNU Radio’s open-source, free software environment.
Tim Leising, director of the Software-Defined Radio lab at CERDEC, said his group is focusing on developing and testing future software defined radios with the GNU platform to promote collaboration and information-sharing via network connections.
Upshot - some more efforts behind open source CR. Cheaper radios also allows for more cognitive networking kinds of work.
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Posted in IEEE SCC41, SDRF at 6:43 pm by jody
1900.4 (Architecture)
- Three use cases:
- dynamic spectrum assignment, dynamic spectrum sharing, distributed radio resource usage optimization (considers heterogeneous networks)
- Architecture consists of terminal and network with terminal reconfiguration manager, controller and collector. Network has similar parts but with operator spectrum manager. Both sides work together to effect reconfigurations.
1900.4a interfaces for DSA in TVWS; updated system functional archs
Status: draft almost ready. Ballot to start in April
1900.4.1 Interfaces and protocols for distributed decision making for optimize RRM in heterogeneous wireless nets.
Status: Draft in development. Still with a call for contributions.
In effect these two (1900.4a, 1900.4.1) specify the comm between the TRM and NRM
1900.5 (Policy languages)
Status: Liasion wiht 1900.4; Formal MOU with WinnForum MLM (Meta-Language for Mobility). Draft standard in progress. Much more work required
1900.6 (datastructure and interface for spectrum sensing)
Architecture views sensors managed by one or more cognitive engines, possibly co-located
Status: Resolbed all 131 comments. Initial draft for sponsor ballot was approved. Move to readiness review.
New Business
New standard proposal - white space radio interface standard based on SCC41
Next PLenary July 6-9 in Delft.
1900.4, 6 on May 25-27 in Okinawa Japan
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02.10.10
Posted in open source at 1:34 pm by jody
Again too busy to blog (lots of interesting things to dump when I have a chance), but thought I would note that Ettus Research (makers of the USRP) were bought by National Instruments on Feb 5.
(link) Here’s Matt’s announcment on the Ettus homepage.
(link) Long discussion on a GNU board.
(link) Here’s some discussion of the sale from Bob McGwier from the GNU radio perspective.
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01.27.10
Posted in DSA, architecture, military at 3:40 pm by jody
(link, doc) Yesterday, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) posted a BAA (BAA-DSO-10-01) on analytic spectrum studies of DSA networks. The link is to the FBO page, the doc to the solicitation. More specifically, they appear to be looking for guidance on how to manage spectrum in a DSA world and want an architecture for how to do this. Excerpting the key part of the solicitation from the document…
and capable of performing analytical spectrum studies of DSA networks. The areas of focus for Proposal abstracts and Proposals submitted in response to this BAA as follows:
The proposal should focus on developing system architectures for DSA networks, with a particular emphasis on their application to policy-based management system architecture that is integrated with the Global Information Grid (GiG). The proposal should address one or more of (but is not limited to) the following areas: (1) develop scalable and federated policy-based management system architectures that can effectively and efficiently manage DSA radios across the battlespace. The system architecture should address spectrum management, network management, and security; (2) develop system architectures that enable automated request, control, exchanges, cross domain automated policy negotiation, and negotiation between systems in different networks and security domains in support of coalition partners and provide deconfliction with EW devices based on real-time battlefield needs, (3) Address interface requirements of selecting spectrum planning tools and gateway between ground, sea, air and space networks in support of DoD, coalition forces, and other government agencies; (4) Conduct a trade-off study of centralized versus distributed policy-based management system architecture.
The architecture deliverable should be compliant with the DoD Architecture Framework, Version 2.0. In addition, it is important that the incumbent be knowledgeable of the Defense Spectrum Management Architecture (DSMA), as this architectural product will ultimately either be subsumed within or federated with the DSMA.
Full proposal response date is Mar 26, 2010. Abstracts are encouranged (but not required) to be submitted within 20 days of the BAA (Jan 26, 2010).
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01.22.10
Posted in military at 10:29 am by jody
(link) (Response date Feb 4) AFRL Wright-Pat issued an RFI on Wednesday (Jan 20) seeking information on cogntiive jammers.
The Electronic Warfare Techniques Development and Analysis Branch of the Senors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, WPAFB OH (AFRL/RYRE) is issuing a request for information (RFI) for new and innovative technologies, techniques, and concepts that will enable development and implementation of a first generation Cognitive Jammer (CJ) system. Candidate technologies/techniques/concepts will be considered for potential funding…
Traditionally countermeasures are categorized as either Radar or Communications. They have limited adaptability and are effective against a pre-determined or well exploited threat. The advent of Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) technologies such as Software Defined Radio (SDR) / Cognitive Radio and its proliferation further challenges the EW community. The objective of the CJ is to promote spectrum dominance by improving the jamming effectiveness while at the same time taking measures to minimize fratricide. CJ is envisioned as an adaptive, multifunctional (communications, radar, navigation and etc.), cross-layered jamming system based on a networked Software Defined Architecture (SDA). This RFI seeks ideas addressing each one of the current limitations and how to fill in those gaps.
Submission information at the link.
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01.15.10
Posted in CRWG, CogNeA, Conferences, IEEE SCC41, SDRF, Shameless self-promotion, cognitive standards, database, military, public safety at 1:24 pm by jody
(link) March Wireless Innovation (SDR) Forum Meeting
March 8-11, 2010 in San Diego (or so much CR, so little time)
where JTRS will be hosting its JTRS Science and Technology Forum (JSTeF) meeting and IEEE SCC41 will be hosting a meeting. So lots and lots of cutting edge SDR and CR activities in one place. Plus the normal meetings will be heavily CR-related to, e.g., the CRWG will be discussing capabiliites to add to TVWS database, the PSSIG will be doing a study on the TRL of CR techs, and the T&M group will be discussing testing guidelines for TVBD.
(link) Wireless Innovation (SDR) Technical Conference
Nov 30- Dec 3 in Washington DC
Solicitation for papers / tutorials just went out (see the link). It’s the best mix of business and academia I find in a wireless conference, plus it has a heavy emphasis on CR, while remaining grounded in practical implementation issues.
Key Dates:
-
Abstracts Due (All tracks): 2 Apr 2010
-
Abstracts Accepted Notification: 17 May 2010
-
Final Papers Due: 9 Jul 2010
-
Workshop/Tutorial Syllabus: 9 Jul 2010
-
Papers Accepted Notification: 23 Aug 2010
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Demonstration Proposals Due: 1 Sep 2010
-
Demonstrations Accepted Notification: 15 Sep 2010
-
Camera Ready Papers Due: 1 Oct 2010
-
Presentation Materials Due: 15 Oct 2010
CR Related areas
Dynamic Spectrum Access, Cognitive Radio Technologies (Antenna, Application Layer, PHY/Link/MAC), Cognitive Engines, Policy Ontology and Language, Sensing and Awareness, Regulatory Considerations and Spectrum Policy, Spectrum Etiquettes, Spectrum and Resource Management, Commercial SDR, CR and DSA Business Models, Commercial SDR, CR and DSA Markets, Database services, TVBD, Defense Applications, Public Safety, Education in SDR and CR
(link) Wireless @ VT Summer School and Symposium
Today’s the deadline for submitting papers and tutorial proposals for the 20th Annual Wireless @ VT Summer School and Symposium. It’ll be in Blacksburg June 2-4, 2010. Somewhat presumptively, I’ll be giving an updated version of my tutorial on emerging wireless standards, but with a focus on TV white space standards. You can see last year’s version (focused on LTE, but had the most discussions on WiMAX) @ this link and the abstract for the tutorial in the full post. Read the rest of this entry »
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01.05.10
Posted in CommSearch, FCC, KB Enterprises, Key Bridge, LS Telcom, NeuStar, Spectrum Bridge, TV Bands, Telcordia, WSdb, White Space, database at 2:44 pm by jody
[Updated as a I encounter press releases]
They were due yesterday, so presumably everyone who’s interested in being a white space database administrator has submitted a proposal now. So looking for news releases today and at the FCC site for 04-186, we see the following:
CommSearch: No press release, proposal (pdf)
FrequencyFinder / RadioSoft (don’t know of a link for FFI): press release, proposal (
pdf)
NeuStar:No press release, proposal (link, multiple files)
Spectrum Bridge: PressRelease, proposal (pdf)
Telcordia: No press release, proposal (pdf)
WSdB: No press release, proposal (link - lots of attachments)
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