September 2017 Vol. 15 No. 9

Feature Articles: The Internet of Things and New Value Creation

• Research and Development Initiatives on the Internet of Things at NTT

  

  Abstract
  The Internet of Things (IoT) holds great promise for creation of new value in society, and this age of utilizing IoT represents a third era, which could be called the driving era, with great changes in the role of telecommunication networks and their requirements. This article introduces network and information processing requirements for realizing this new IoT era and describes a reference architecture for this functionality. It also introduces IoT related initiatives at NTT.

• NTT Group Initiatives to Create New Internet of Things Business

  

  Abstract
  The NTT Group is promoting initiatives to solve societal issues and bring lifestyle innovation using a business-to-business-to-X (B2B2X) model through collaboration with partner companies in a wide range of industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation. We are developing businesses that use the Internet of Things to provide new added value to end users, represented by the X in B2B2X. The NTT Group is also supporting promotional activities such as trade shows to distribute information about new business initiatives.

• Natural Sensing with “hitoe” Functional Material and Initiatives towards Its Applications

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces initiatives to expand the range of applications for “hitoe” wear, clothing that can sense biological data when the user wears it, including services for monitoring rehabilitation patients and bus drivers. It also describes a data collection technology that accommodates the sensors and middleware for storing and analyzing the data, which is called the Fast and Distributed IoT Processing Platform.

• Data Exchange Technology Providing Real-time Data Processing and Scalability

  

  Abstract
  The pervasive spread of the Internet of Things, or IoT, in recent years is remarkable, and NTT is working to incorporate IoT in industries showing the greatest promise for creating new value―manufacturing, the auto industry, agriculture, and other sectors. This article provides an overview of NTT’s initiatives in IoT data exchange technology and edge computing technology, and reviews standardization trends pertaining to these technologies.

• Optimal Crowd Navigation via Spatio-temporal Multidimensional Collective Data Analysis

  

  Abstract
  We introduce technology for predicting the risk of congestion in the near future from real-time observational data of people or automobile flows and for automatically deriving an optimal crowd navigation plan online to avoid that risk. This technology can deal with unforeseen situations by performing simulations based on machine learning. Our aim in establishing this technology is to help construct a safe and secure and more comfortable social infrastructure.

Regular Articles

• Orbital Angular Momentum Multiplexing Technology towards the Realization of Tbit/s Wireless Transmission

  

  Abstract
  We explore the potential of orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing towards enabling high-speed wireless transmission. OAM is a physical property of electromagnetic waves that are characterized by a helical phase front in the propagation direction. This characteristic can be exploited to create multiple orthogonal channels, and thus, wireless transmission using OAM can enhance the wireless transmission rate. We clarify two major issues in OAM multiplexing: beam divergence and mode-dependent performance degradation. To address these issues, we present a simple but practical receiver antenna design method. Because there are specific location sets with phase differences of 90 or 180 degrees, the method allows each OAM mode to be received at its high signal-to-noise ratio region. We confirm the feasibility of OAM multiplexing in a proof of concept experiment at 5.2 GHz. Finally, we briefly introduce the future directions of this work.

Global Standardization Activities

• ITU-R Study Group 3 Activities towards Use of High Frequency Bands for 5G and Other Wireless Communication Systems

  

  Abstract
  Before frequencies are allocated to new wireless communication systems, it is important to investigate frequency sharing to avoid interference with existing systems. The International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector Study Group 3 (ITU-R SG 3) supports activities of other SGs by developing and maintaining recommendations for radiowave propagation characteristics and prediction models necessary for frequency sharing studies. This article introduces the activities of ITU-R SG 3 focused on the use of high frequency bands in new wireless communication systems such as the fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G).

Short Reports

• Successful Field Trial of All-Raman Optical Amplification Technology for Multiband Large Capacity Transmission of 400-Gbit/s Signals in Installed Fiber―Double the Usable Bandwidth of Installed Fiber

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

• External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings