February 2018 Vol. 16 No. 2

Front-line Researchers

• Seiichiro Tani, Senior Distinguished Researcher, NTT Communication Science Laboratories

  

  Overview
  Research toward the development of a practical quantum computer began more than 30 years ago in the 1980s, and it is now entering a new phase. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan recognizes the significance of this development and has included 3.2 billion yen in its budget request as a development fund for photonics-quantum technology. Senior Distinguished Researcher Seiichiro Tani of NTT Communication Science Laboratories has had many world-first achievements in this field. The quantum computer is attracting attention as a driver of future trends, so we asked him to tell us about the current state of quantum computer research and some research achievements. We also asked him his views on how a researcher should approach the work of research.

Feature Articles: OSS Activities in Era of Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Software-defined Everything

• NTT’s Increased Focus on Open Source Software

  

  Abstract
  The emergence of new information technology (IT) applications such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and software-defined infrastructures is stimulating more use of open source software (OSS), and consequently, the skills needed for using OSS are broadening. While legacy IT applications would require skills in using only a few standard OSS packages, these new application areas require the ability to select software modules from many choices and integrate them into a system tailored to a company’s or customer’s requirements. Such integration activities often require collaboration with OSS communities. Additionally, because these activities incur costs, it is also important to develop business strategies to leverage OSS and gain a rewarding return.

• Open Source Software Efforts to Transform IoT/AI Services

  

  Abstract
  The NTT laboratories have been focusing on expanding the use and development of open source software (OSS), primarily through the NTT Software Innovation Center (NTT SIC). NTT’s active contributions to OSS communities such as OpenStack and Apache Hadoop have yielded productive results with refinement of the company’s own technologies and training of personnel. Meanwhile, the wave of OSS is steadily spreading to new fields, including virtualization and artificial intelligence. NTT SIC is also engaged in these efforts, and its contributions are beginning to bear fruit. In this article, NTT SIC’s work in OSS is introduced from a technical perspective and its community activities are also described.

• Open Source Software behind NTT Network Services

  

  Abstract
  Open source software (OSS) has been gaining importance in many industries, including network services. Members of the NTT laboratories have been involved in numerous activities in OSS communities both as users and as active contributors by doing coding and by providing requirements for telecom operators. These efforts are expected to give us a significant advantage over our competitors. This article introduces the involvement of the NTT laboratories in OSS community activities related to OpenStack Blazar, Lagopus, and GoBGP.

• NTT’s Contributions to OSS Upstream First Development

  

  Abstract
  Open source software (OSS) has been used in various information technology systems in recent years. OSS is developed by the collaborative OSS community, which consists of many companies and individuals. Additionally, several large cloud service providers such as Google and Facebook have released their own software used in their services as open source to continue to improve the software in the OSS community. We explain here the advantages of companies developing software as OSS and the significance of companies’ contributions to OSS communities. In addition, we also describe two examples of the NTT laboratories’ involvement in OSS communities.

• Open Source Software Initiatives Supporting NTT Group Software Development and Operations

  

  Abstract
  The operation of system integrator and service provider businesses conducted by NTT Group companies requires particularly high performance and quality SoR (systems of record) information technology (IT) systems, and these systems must also be maintained and operated stably and efficiently over long periods of time. This article introduces some initiatives in community development to improve the quality, functionality, and performance of open source software (OSS) and to accumulate and develop know-how for promoting application of OSS at the NTT Open Source Software Center. It also reviews initiatives involving the Macchinetta framework to improve the productivity and quality of software development and to eliminate duplicated investment at the NTT Software Innovation Center, with the goal of realizing an environment in which OSS can be used with confidence throughout the life cycle of IT systems.

• Open Source Software and Community Activities Supporting Development of Cloud Services at NTT Communications

  

  Abstract
  At NTT Communications, the opportunities for using open source software (OSS) in system development and operations have been increasing. In the case of cloud services, we have been using OpenStack as the OSS of choice while proactively engaging with the OpenStack community by submitting contributions, joining related organizations, and making presentations at OpenStack events. We have also been holding OSS-related study groups within the NTT Group as well as technology-exchange events with organizations outside the NTT Group.

• Global Expansion of Apache Hadoop/Apache Spark Activities at NTT DATA

  

  Abstract
  Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark are open source software projects that have been attracting worldwide attention as platforms for big data applications. NTT DATA has been developing systems using Hadoop/Spark since Hadoop/Spark’s early days and providing one-stop technical support for the entire NTT DATA Group. Furthermore, in addition to participating in community-based development to reflect the feedback gained from technical support service into Hadoop/Spark itself, NTT DATA has been presenting the know-how accumulated from these activities at numerous events to raise its global presence.

• Achieving Greater Work Efficiency in Systems Failure Analysis Using Elastic Stack

  

  Abstract
  The keys in analyzing serious system failures are collecting information and logs in various formats, extracting the necessary information from the collected logs, and analyzing the correlated items; however, such procedures are time-consuming. NTT Comware is working on reducing the work time and simplifying the procedure by using Elastic Stack. This article introduces the details of the method and some future scenarios.

Regular Articles

• Electrical Current Generation by Sorting Thermal Noise

  

  Abstract
  We have achieved the operation of Maxwell’s demon with an electrical device, which is a feedback operation based on single-electron motion. Maxwell’s demon is related to the lower bound of energy consumption in electrical devices and power generation efficiency in small systems. We therefore anticipate that this achievement will contribute to creating nanoscale energy-efficient electrical devices.

Global Standardization Activities

• Report on 16th CJK (China, Japan, and Korea) IT Standards Plenary Meeting

  

  Abstract
  The 16th CJK IT (information technology) Standards Meeting was held in Jeju, Korea, on August 30 and 31, 2017. The meeting is attended by members of four domestic standards bodies from the participating countries of China, Japan, and Korea: TTA (Telecommunications Technology Association) of Korea, CCSA (China Communications Standards Association) of China, ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Businesses) of Japan, and TTC (The Telecommunication Technology Committee) of Japan. Its purpose is to enable these bodies to share information about the standardization strategies of the respective countries. Attempts were made for the first time to shorten this and subsequent meeting periods by holding only a Plenary Meeting and a TACT (Group on Administrative Matters) meeting, which is responsible for defining rules regarding meeting administration.

Practical Field Information about Telecommunication Technologies

• Gas Leak Search Techniques for Underground Metallic Cables

  

  Abstract
  Gas leaks that occur in underground metallic cables can potentially cause circuit problems that disrupt communications. This article describes the techniques used to identify gas leaks in underground cables. This is the forty-fourth article in a series on telecommunication technologies. This contribution is from the Access Engineering Group, Technical Assistance and Support Center, Maintenance and Service Operations Department, Network Business Headquarters, NTT EAST.

External Awards/Papers Published in Technical Journals and Conference Proceedings

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