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Special Feature: R&D of Wide-area Ubiquitous Network to Create New Services

Feasibility Test of Next Generation Wireless Network at a Special Ubiquitous Zone

Hideki Toshinaga^†, Hideki Nishizawa, Akihiro Yamagishi,
Koji Fujii, Shigeru Teruhi, Hideyuki Tsuboi, Hiroshi Shibata,
and Yosuke Fujino

Abstract

This article describes a Next Generation Wireless Communication Network feasibility test being conducted at a special ubiquitous-computing zone using NTT’s wide-area ubiquitous network, which connects compact wireless terminals economically and allows communication with objects.

†	NTT Network Innovation Laboratories Yokosuka-shi, 239-0847 Japan

1. Introduction

NTT is conducting a feasibility test of the Next Generation Wireless Communication Network under the auspices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). The aim is to establish a model that can be developed internationally based on a Japanese initiative and provide a framework for developing and testing world-leading information and communications technology (ICT) services [1]. Special ubiquitous-computing zones (called “Special Ubiquitous Zones” by MIC) have been established on the basis of MIC’s “ICT Reform Development Program” and “ICT International Competitiveness Enhancement Program”. We have built a test environment at a Special Ubiquitous Zone in Tokyo and are conducting an experimental verification of inter-object communication in this environment using radio waves over NTT’s wide-area ubiquitous network (WAUN). The test, which will continue until March 2011, has three main aims.

(1) Check how well developed the individual technical elements, in particular wireless connection technology, are through experiments in the field

(2) Get technical feedback through experiments in an actual environment under operational conditions that meet user needs

(3) Implement applications and check how useful it is to create new services that are safe, secure, and eco-friendly

2. Test environment

Since 2008, we have been conducting a feasibility test in six wards in Tokyo using a frequency in the 280 MHz band. In a field test conducted in Kanazawa in 2005, we confirmed that the target radio transmission distance of 3.5 km is feasible for a wireless terminal with transmission power of 10 mW, when lines of sight from base stations are not overly obstructed by buildings [2]. In contrast, the present test zone is located in an urban area where lines of sight from base stations are severely obstructed. To cope with radio propagation loss (shadowing) caused by the shielding effect of high-rise buildings, the wireless system uses site diversity. The zone is outlined in Table 1 and the locations and test environments are shown in Fig. 1.

Table 1. Outline of the Special Ubiquitous Zone.

Fig. 1. Locations and test environments for the feasibility test.

The wireless system consists of three remote base stations and one master base station to achieve site diversity. The zone spans three wards (Edogawa-ku, Sumida-ku, and Katsushika-ku), while the test areas span six wards. Each remote base station is installed on top of a building located at a cell edge in a different ward. The cell radius is 3.5 km. The three remote base stations are connected to the master base station by an optical network using digitized radio on fiber. This large cell size means that a single cell could cover the entire area inside the Yamanote Train Line (circular route).

There are three network management servers: management database (MDB), radio access network server (RANS), and Internet protocol gateway (IP-GW).

MDB: stores wireless terminal profile information for authentication, authorization, and accounting and wireless terminal location information.
RANS: controls location registration and authorization when a wireless terminal requests a data upload transmission.
IP-GW: measures traffic for accounting purposes and controls authorization when an application server requests a data download transmission.

All three servers are installed in NTT Musashino R&D Center, which is connected to the master base station by an optical network (virtual path network built using FLET’S Group Access provided by NTT EAST).

We have developed several versions of wireless terminals in an attempt to reduce the terminal size while still satisfying the target transmission power and reducing terminal power consumption. The aim is to enable a wireless terminal powered by a single button battery to remain operational for more than five years. The prototypes developed so far are shown in Fig. 2. The latest version is as small as a business card case. In addition to supporting the wireless interface, the wireless terminal supports a serial interface so that user devices, such as a sensor device and an automatic meter, can be connected to it.

Fig. 2. Prototype wireless terminals developed so far.

3. Wireless connection verification experiments

Using the test environment, we checked the feasibility of site diversity and measured radio propagation properties. Specifically, we moved a wireless terminal at random inside a cell and examined the percentage of successful wireless connections and the quality of packet communication within the cell.

As an example, Fig. 3 shows the measured reception quality of radio signals of packets sent by an outdoor wireless terminal (transmission power: 10 mW) and received by a base station. Specifically, it shows the cumulative distribution of the packet error rate (PER) in the cell. The PER of one sample was measured within a 10,000-m² section (100 m × 100 m). The PER was smaller than 0.01 when the cumulative distribution was 99% or higher, meaning that a wireless connection can be set up almost anywhere within a 3.5-km-radius cell.

Fig. 3. Experimental results: PER distribution within a cell.

The above result verifies that site diversity makes it possible to meet the conflicting requirements of using a wireless terminal whose transmission power is as low as 10 mW in a cell whose radius is as large as 3.5 km.

4. Feasibility test of applications

Using this test environment, we are not only verifying wireless technology but also examining the feasibility of some applications. The configuration of the test system is shown in Fig. 4. In this system, some user devices, such as sensor devices, are connected to wireless terminals while other user devices, such as application servers, are connected to the WAUN gateway server. Besides the interface for connecting sensor devices to wireless terminals and the interface for connecting application servers to network management devices, a set of software libraries is provided to allow software programs to use the WAUN at the application programming interface (API) level. These libraries make it possible to develop applications for the feasibility test efficiently.

Fig. 4. Feasibility test configuration.

We have also built a WAUN emulator to check interoperability efficiently. This emulator allows interoperability tests to be conducted without actually using the wireless system. In other words, it is possible to proceed with a feasibility test step by step (first using a wired environment and then using a wireless environment).

Using this test system, we have conducted feasibility tests of several applications. For example, in a gas meter reading system, a gas meter reading center is connected to gas meters through the WAUN. We have confirmed the feasibility of providing services by data transfer over the network. For example, the gas meter reading center can obtain meter readings or send a command to an individual gas meter to close its shutoff valve to suspend the gas supply.

In addition to confirming the feasibility of data transfer over the wireless system, we are examining the quality of applications so that the measurement results can be reflected when determining protocol parameters suitable for use in an actual environment. Specifically, we are trying to specify and verify parameters of protocols used in the core network and parameters of applications, such as signal waiting times (timer values) and the maximum number of signal retransmissions.

We intend to continue with experiments of these types at the Special Ubiquitous Zone in Tokyo and check how useful individual applications can be in society.

5. Future experiments

To further strengthen WAUN testing capabilities, we are studying the possibility of increasing the test scale by increasing the number of wireless terminals. We are also considering the possibility of conducting experiments with various partners with a view to creating new safe, secure, and eco-friendly applications suitable for a ubiquitous-computing society. For this purpose, we are participating in the Wide-Area Sensor Network Interest Group in the Ubiquitous Networking Forum. This group is an open forum for studying and promoting the widespread use of wide-area sensor network technology. In this group, we plan to study a variety of applications together with new partners who join the feasibility test and study technical issues identified during feasibility tests and other experiments. Through these activities, we will conduct feasibility tests of applications with a variety of partners with the aim of having the WAUN actually implemented in the future.

References

[1]	http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/eng/Releases/NewsLetter/Vol18/ Vol18_10/Vol18_10.html
[2]	M. Umehira, H. Saito, O. Kagami, T. Fujita, and Y. Fujino, “Concept and Feasibility Study of Wide Area Ubiquitous Network for Sensors and Actuators,” IEEE VTC-Spring, 2007.

	Hideki Toshinaga Senior Research Engineer, Ubiquitous Network Systems Laboratory, NTT Network Innovation Laboratories. He received the B.E. and M.E. degrees from the Department of Electronics and Communications of Waseda University, Tokyo, in 1994 and 1996, respectively. He joined NTT Wireless System Laboratories in 1996. He is currently working on WAUN protocols and architecture. He is a member of the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) of Japan.
	Hideki Nishizawa Senior Research Engineer, Ubiquitous Network Systems Laboratory, NTT Network Innovation Laboratories. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from Chiba University in 1994 and 1996, respectively. In 1996, he joined NTT Network Service Systems Laboratories, where he engaged in research on photonic switching systems. In 2001, he moved to NTT Phoenix Communications Inc. (now NTT BizLink Inc.), where he worked on the development of visual communication services. He moved to NTT Research and Development Planning Department in 2007. He has been in NTT Network Innovation Laboratories since 2009. He is a member of IEICE.
	Akihiro Yamagishi Senior Research Engineer, NTT Microsystem Integration Laboratories. He received the B.E. and M.E. degrees in electrical engineering from Toyama University in 1986 and 1988, respectively. He joined NTT LSI Laboratories in 1988 and engaged in R&D of frequency synthesizers ICs. He is currently engaged in R&D of LSIs for communication systems.
	Koji Fujii Senior Research Engineer, NTT Microsystem Integration Laboratories. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in physical electronics from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1991 and 1993, respectively. In 1993, he joined NTT LSI Laboratories, where he engaged in research on a low-voltage digital circuit. He is currently working on the design of VLSI circuits and systems for wireless communications.
	Shigeru Teruhi Senior Research Engineer, Wireless Systems Innovation Laboratory, NTT Network Innovation Laboratories. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics from Waseda University, Tokyo, in 1996 and 1998, respectively. He joined NTT Wireless Systems Laboratories in 1998, where he engaged in research on wireless communication systems, particularly in relation to protocols, routing, and packet-scheduling algorithms for satellite and wireless Internet networks. The current focus of his research work is WAUN radio zone design. He is a member of IEICE.
	Hideyuki Tsuboi Research Engineer, Wireless Systems Innovation Laboratory, NTT Network Innovation Laboratories. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Nagoya Institute of Technology, Aichi, in 1989 and 1991, respectively. In 1992, he joined NTT, where he engaged in research on the reliability of FPGA-based communication systems. He took part in the development of a network router/bridge for ATM-based intranets, dynamically reconfigurable systems, and active RFID systems. He is currently working on the WAUN field trial. He is a member of IEICE.
	Hiroshi Shibata Research Engineer, Ubiquitous Network Systems Laboratory, NTT Network Innovation Laboratories. He received the B.E. degree in electronic engineering and M.E. degree in electrical engineering from Osaka University in 1994 and 1996, respectively. He joined NTT Network Service System Laboratories in 1996. He has mainly been working on distributed object-oriented systems, information providing systems, P2P networks, and sensor network systems. He is currently evaluating and improving the scalability and quality of WAUN products.
	Yosuke Fujino Wireless System Innovation Laboratory, NTT Network Innovation Laboratories. He received the B.E. and M.E. degrees in electrical and electronic engineering from Shizuoka University in 2002 and 2004, respectively. He joined NTT Network Innovation Laboratories in 2004 and engaged in research on multiuser detection for a multiantenna multiuser wireless system. He is currently working on the design of WAUN physical layer protocols and algorithms. He is a member of IEICE.

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