December 2012 Vol. 10 No. 12

View from the Top

• Kaoru Kato, President and Chief Executive Officer, NTT DOCOMO, Inc.

  

  Overview
  Competition in Japan's mobile communications market is becoming increasingly severe, fueled by the rapidly expanding sales of smartphones and the appearance of global players. In this environment, NTT DOCOMO must prove its worth as a leading company in the mobile communications business, and to do so, it is orchestrating all of its expertise and know-how to meet the increasingly diverse and advanced needs of its customers. In the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we sat down with Kaoru Kato, President of NTT DOCOMO, to ask him about the role of mobile communications as a major lifeline for society, recognizing his experience in spearheading restoration measures at many disaster sites.

Feature Articles: Platform Technologies for Open Source Cloud Big Data

• IaaS Platform Using OpenStack and OpenFlow Overlay Technology

  

  Abstract
  This article describes how OpenStack and a virtual network controller that uses OpenFlow overlay technology can be orchestrated to deploy virtual environments with complex network configurations, as in on-premise systems, in an on-demand manner.

• PaaS Software Based on Cloud Foundry

  

  Abstract
  NTT is developing platform-as-a-service (PaaS) software based on Cloud Foundry, which is open-source PaaS software. We introduce the advantages of developing applications on a PaaS, the features of Cloud Foundry, and our efforts to put these developments into commercial use.

• NoSQL Database Characteristics and Benchmark System

  

  Abstract
  The NTT Software Innovation Center has been researching and developing NoSQL (Not Only SQL; SQL: structured query language) databases as storage platforms for big data. In this article, we discuss the characteristics of NoSQL databases and their benchmark system. We also report the results of applying the benchmark to MongoDB, a typical example of a NoSQL database.

• Efficient Large-scale Data Analysis Using MapReduce

  

  Abstract
  Techniques for efficiently analyzing large-scale collections of data, such as log data or sensor data, are attracting attention as important for improving the operating speed of businesses and enhancing the user experience. This article outlines MapReduce, which is a typical framework for analyzing big data, and introduces our techniques for achieving high-speed analytical processing by extending MapReduce.

• Jubatus in Action: Report on Realtime Big Data Analysis by Jubatus

  

  Abstract
  This article revisits Jubatus, a scalable distributed framework for profound realtime analysis of big data that improves availability and reduces communication overheads among servers by using parallel data processing and by loosely sharing intermediate results. After briefly reviewing Jubatus, it describes the technical challenges and goals that should be resolved and introduces our design concept, open source community activities, achievements to date, and future plans for expanding Jubatus.

Feature Articles: Optical Semiconductor Technologies for Photonic Networks

• High-speed Tunable Distributed Amplification Distributed Feedback (TDA-DFB) Lasers

  

  Abstract
  In this article, we describe experimental results and an accurate wavelength control method for tunable distributed amplification distributed feedback (TDA-DFB) lasers, which can offer fast wavelength switching and high controllability because wavelengths can be changed continuously. They should provide light sources for future photonic networks such as wavelength routing systems.

• Electroabsorption Modulator Integrated Light Sources for Future High-speed Ethernet

  

  Abstract
  Recent progress in electroabsorption modulator integrated distributed feedback (EADFB) lasers for high-speed data communications is described. For 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) applications, an ultrasmall optical semiconductor chip, in which four 1.3-μm 25-Gbit/s EADFB lasers and an optical multiplexer are monolithically integrated, has been developed for future 100GbE transceivers. This small chip enables the overall transmitter size and the number of optical components to be significantly reduced compared with conventional 100GbE transmitters. Furthermore, for future beyond-100-Gbit/s applications, we have developed 50-Gbit/s EADFB lasers and obtained very clear eye openings even after 40-km transmission.

• High-speed Photodetector Technologies

  

  Abstract
  We have developed several kinds of high-speed photodetector technologies for broadband photonic networks. This article reviews three of NTT's high-speed photodiodes: ultrahigh-speed photodiodes, specially designed photodiodes with high responsivity and low operating voltage, and avalanche photodiodes.

• InGaAs Metamorphic Laser for Low-power-consumption Operation

  

  Abstract
  In this article, we review our efforts to reduce the power consumption of optical transmitter modules for Ethernet and telecommunications use. To reduce the power consumption, we aim to eliminate the light source's temperature controller and improve the stability of the output power and modulation characteristics under ambient temperature conditions. We describe a 1.3-μm-range metamorphic laser on a GaAs substrate that exhibits improved temperature characteristics. It has a characteristic temperature of 220 K and is capable of lasing up to 200°C. In addition, the bias current for 10-Gbit/s modulation at high temperature has been reduced. This laser is promising for uncooled light sources operating with low power consumption.

• Current-injection Photonic-crystal Laser

  

  Abstract
  This article introduces current-injection photonic-crystal lasers featuring ultralow power consumption, which were achieved by using photonic-crystal nanocavities and small buried active regions fabricated through a crystal regrowth process. They should provide light sources suitable for future lower-power-consumption information and communications technology (ICT) devices.

Regular Article

• Advertising Effectiveness Measurement Using Crowd Measurement and Facial Image Processing Techniques

  

  Abstract
  As digital signage becomes more common, there is increasing need for camera-based techniques that can measure the effectiveness of advertising. NTT is researching and developing 1) a crowd measurement technique to measure the number of people at a location; 2) a transient-audience measurement technique to measure the number of people passing through that location; and 3) a face detection, orientation estimation, and attribute classification technique to detect faces in an image and estimate the age and sex of each person. Version 3 of our advertising effectiveness measurement system combines these three techniques.

Global Standardization Activities

• Report on ITU Radiocommunication Assembly 2012 and ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2012

  

  Abstract
  This report summarizes the activities and outcomes of the Radiocommunication Assembly 2012 (RA-12) and World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 (WRC-12), which were held from January to February 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. RA and WRC are the major conferences of ITU-R (International Telecommunication Union, Radiocommunication Sector).

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Weather-resistance Tests for Recycled Polyethylene

  

  Abstract
  This article reports on weather-resistance tests performed on recycled plastic materials by the Technical Assistance and Support Center to evaluate the effectiveness of resource-saving technologies. Since the formulation of the NTT Global Environmental Charter in 1991, the NTT Group has been increasingly committed to deploying resource-saving technologies in its telecommunication facilities toward a recycling-oriented society. In 2002, both NTT EAST and NTT WEST began to deploy communication cables using recycled plastic materials collected during facility upgrading and to design facilities so that the communication infrastructure makes a positive contribution to global environment protection efforts.
  This is the fourteenth in a bimonthly series on the theme of practical field information about telecommunication technologies. This month's contribution is from the Materials Engineering Group, Technical Assistance and Support Center, Maintenance and Service Operations Department, Network Business Headquarters, NTT EAST.

External Awards

• External Awards