August 2018 Vol. 16 No. 8

Front-line Researchers

• Hiroki Takesue, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Basic Research Laboratories

  

  Overview
  The pace of achieving further advancements in digital computers is slowing down, but research and development of new types of computers is accelerating throughout the world. NTT has achieved a coherent Ising machine that enables high-speed computation based on phase transition phenomena in laser oscillators. Dr. Hiroki Takesue, Senior Distinguished Researcher at NTT Basic Research Laboratories, received the Nishina Memorial Prize in 2017, a prize awarded to researchers with outstanding achievements in physics and its applications. We asked him about his pioneering research results that could lead to solutions to a variety of problems facing modern society and his mind frame as a researcher.

Feature Articles: NTT’s Artificial Intelligence Evolves to Create Novel Services

• Developing Artificial Intelligence Services that Satisfy Customer Demands: Moving forward with Social Implementation of corevo^® Technologies

  

  Abstract
  Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are playing a steadily increasing role in supporting human work and social activities, such as in contact center operations and smart speaker implementations. This article introduces NTT’s initiatives in developing AI technologies that are essential in providing services needed by customers in the real world, including the technologies needed for effectively utilizing AI in the real world, such as AI applications for household voice communication systems and medicine. Technologies for accelerating processing speed to collect more extensive data from the real world and improve the accuracy of AI are also introduced.

• Efforts to Enhance Far-field Speech Recognition

  

  Abstract
  We collected more than 15,000 hours of pseudo data to enhance training data for robust speech recognition by adding various impulse responses and noises to clean data and re-recording the clean data under actual environments. As a result, we reduced the rate of errors by 43% or more in both close and distant conditions. In this article, we introduce the various approaches that we researched, with the focus being on countering the distant conditions.

• Automatic Degradation Estimation of Manhole Covers for Efficient Inspection via Vehicle-mounted Cameras

  

  Abstract
  Automatic inspection of infrastructure using artificial intelligence and robot technology has increased in recent years because of the aging infrastructure and a lack of personnel with expertise in this area. NTT is developing various technologies for use with infrastructure equipment that the NTT Group owns. In this article, we describe a technique for inspecting manhole covers and a method for automatically estimating degradation of the covers via vehicle-mounted cameras for safe and efficient inspection.

• Artificial Intelligence-based Health Management System: Unequally Spaced Medical Data Analysis

  

  Abstract
  We are developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based health management system that suggests efficient and effective interventions for keeping people healthy based on the potential risk of disease predicted by using AI. We proposed a new feature extraction model for unequally spaced medical data that improves the disease risk prediction. We introduce the model in detail in this article and also describe an application of the model that demonstrates the improved prediction accuracy.

• Biosignal Processing Methods Targeting Healthcare Support Services

  

  Abstract
  NTT is pursuing research and development (R&D) of Heart-Touching-AI―artificial intelligence that will help better our understanding of human physical and mental states that are only dimly perceived by the individual. We provide here an overview of recent NTT R&D in biosignal processing for estimating physical and mental states using shirt-type wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices such as a “hitoe” shirt. We also explain how we dealt with the inherent problems in shirt-type wearable ECG devices.

• Advanced Learning Technologies for Deep Learning

  

  Abstract
  NTT is focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) as a key technology in developing business strategies. The NTT laboratories have been engaged in research and development (R&D) of deep learning algorithms, which play a central role in AI. This article presents an overview of our R&D of novel algorithms that speed up and stabilize deep learning and touches on our collaboration with several partners to verify those algorithms.

• Efforts toward Service Creation with Neural Machine Translation

  

  Abstract
  The accuracy of machine translation has been improving rapidly with the emergence of neural machine translation (NMT) that incorporates deep-learning technology, and it is therefore being utilized in many applications. NTT Media Intelligence Laboratories is working on research and development aimed at creating and enhancing new services using NMT. In this article, we present an overview of NMT and explain some technical points in utilizing it in actual services.

• People Flow Prediction Technology for Crowd Navigation

  

  Abstract
  We are investigating the use of incomplete observation data in order to predict the large-scale flow of people for major events such as the Olympic Games and to derive guidance measures in advance to prevent the occurrence of congestion. In this article, we introduce a spatio-temporal variable online prediction algorithm for forecasting congestion risk, and we explain our research and development efforts to utilize the algorithm.

Regular Articles

• Cell Encapsulation and 3D Self-assembly Using Multi-layered Polymeric Thin Films

  

  Abstract
  Multi-layered thin films are spontaneously folded to form three-dimensional (3D) geometries. In this study, we demonstrate that polymeric thin films are self-folded to encapsulate cells. The films consist of two types of polymers with different mechanical stiffnesses; thereby, the rolled-up 3D tubular architectures with controllable diameters are fabricated based on the strain engineering. A batch release of sacrificial layers forms the multiple cells wrapped in rolled-up films, leading to artificial reconstruction of fiber-shaped cellular 3D constructs with the intrinsic morphologies and functions of living tissues. This system can potentially provide 3D biointerfaces that are necessary for the reconstruction and assembly of functional tissues and implantable tissue grafts.

• Multi-layer SDN Control Technology

  

  Abstract
  To cope with the transition of fixed and mobile networks to fifth-generation services and the further spread of cloud services, NTT Network Technology Laboratories is developing multi-layer software-defined networking (SDN) control technology to achieve integrated control of the IP (Internet protocol) and optical layers, on-demand support, and automatic network operations. In this article, we provide an overview of multi-layer SDN control technology and describe a technical verification test.

Global Standardization Activities

• Standardization by IETF and Discussion in Open Communities on Network Virtualization and Unified Method of Configuration

  

  Abstract
  Network virtualization technologies have progressed with the emergence of software-defined networking, and the standardization of technologies for virtualized networks on autonomous Internet protocol networks is continuing. In addition, progress is being made in the standardization of standard protocols and data models for network devices that enable virtualized networks to be built using overlay networks. This article introduces the progress being made in standardization of network virtualization technologies by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) and presents related discussions underway in open communities.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Case Study of Problem in Multifunction Telephones Connected to a Business Phone System

  

  Abstract
  This article describes a non-activation problem that was occurring in customer’s multifunction telephones connected to a business telephone system and the investigation that was carried out to determine the cause. This is the forty-seventh article in a series on telecommunication technologies.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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