Simulation of heterogeneous access networks (GPRS, UMTS-TDD/FDD, WLAN, WiMAX)

SHINE (Simulation platform for Heterogeneous Interworking Networks)

SHINE: Simulator Structure (GPRS, UMTS-TDD/FDD, WLAN, WiMAX)

Research manager: Ing. Giancarlo Rosina (Siemens)

Local Coordinator: Prof. Ing. Oreste Andrisano (IEIIT-CNR Bologna Office)

Project duration: 1999-2003

Partners: Siemens Mobile

Project
The general objective of the research in the activity of Study and Analysis of Operational Flexibility is that of the study of UMTS access systems with radio interface FDD (WCDMA) and TDD (in the UTRA and TD-SCDMA version) and the evaluation of the performance of voice and data services at different speeds as traffic and the main system parameters change.

For this purpose, software simulators have been developed capable of producing the numerical results necessary for the study and analysis of the different implementation modalities of the voice and data services.

Simulators:

• UTRA FDD radio interface connection simulator
  The UTRA FDD link simulator is used to investigate aspects related to a single connection between the base station and the mobile terminal.
   
• UTRA TDD radio interface connection simulator
  The UTRA TDD link simulator is used to investigate aspects related to a single connection between the base station and the mobile terminal.
   
• UTRA FDD access network simulator
  The simulator studies the performance of a radio-mobile network characterized by the UTRA FDD radio interface
   
• UTRA TDD access network simulator
  The simulator will study the performance of a radio-mobile network characterized by the UTRA TDD radio interface

Coordinator: Prof. G. Mazzini
WP2 Coordinator: Ing. Cesare Fontana
WP5 Coordinator: Eng. Alberto Roversi

Project duration: 2004-2006

Partners: CNIT (National Consortium Interuniversity for Telecommunications), Digicittà, Eurocom, eWings, Tecnotel, Tekmar

Project
The InSeBaLa project "Integration and Services for the Broadband: distributed desk for public administration" has both technology and services purposes.

The technological goals are oriented to create an advanced regional network, integrated in the technologies, integrated in the media, integrated and interoperable in the available resources, optimized as a whole or in some sub-bases according to merit figures to be defined and able to homogenize new technologies.

The service-related aims include the creation of some pilot services, oriented to show the advantages offered by the integration and optimization of resources in terms of accessibility, coverage and technical / economic compromise.

The application scenario is initially oriented to the public administration and aims to standardize the services usable from the workstation, allowing a high freedom of movement, making available everywhere high-tech, ubiquitous and pervasive services.

Achieved results:

• Call from Desk (PC) to TETRA radio.
• TETRA radio call to Desk (PC).
• Call from TETRA radio to GSM cell phone.
• Call from TETRA radio to landline phone.

Coordinator: Ing. Kussai Shahin
WP5 Coordinator: Ing. Andrea Conti

Project duration: 2004-2006

Partners: Aster, Cineca, CNIT - National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications, CNR - National Research Council, Digicittà, University of Bologna, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute

Project
The SUMMIT project involves the realization of research activities in the multimedia field and pursues the objective of developing a platform of "enabling technologies" (including hardware, networks and software), capable of allowing the implementation of multimedia applications in very different fields. (such as health, commerce, research and public administration) in times and at competitive costs. Furthermore, to demonstrate the potential of these technologies, three significant applications with significant value have been developed at the level of pre-competitive prototypes.
 

Among these, the CNIT UdR of Bologna coordinates the activities of design and implementation of the demonstrator related to the work-package 5 "Integrated platform and cooperative for the highly interactive intervention of laboratories distributed in the territoro, for the development, design and testing of products "in which CNIT (UdR BO, FE, PR), CNR, CINECA, Digicittà and ASTER participate.
 

The purpose of this activity is the cooperation between resources distributed in a network of RER laboratories, meaning the most general meaning possible for the term resource (instruments, devices, archives and multimedia material) to provide the user, in a transparent way and thanks to appropriate communication technologies, experiences increased compared to those possible with the resources available locally.

Thanks to the experience gained in previous projects (Multimediality, Teledoc2, VICOM) funded by CNR and MIUR,
and to the evolutions introduced with the SUMMIT project a platform was created for laboratories in the network able to:

• configuring tools distributed over a heterogeneous network (in SUMMIT, user-friendly graphical interfaces were developed using Java, which, compared to proprietary solutions on the market, increase the portability of both the operating system and the type of terminal: PC, notebook, PDA, mobile phone ...)
   
• configure connections (connection matrix) and programmable circuits based on DSP and FPGA (extension of the classic telemetry concept that was intended only as a configuration of instruments)
   
• book web resources (multi-user management scheduling system)
   
• to cooperate among distributed resources, in a transparent way for the user

3D laboratory user interface with remote instrument control

The project involves the implementation of 2 or more inter-network mesh networks characterized by different technologies, in order to test the performance of the entire network and the devices that compose it.

In particular, we plan to create a MacroMesh (MM) hiperlan2, connecting various sites located in the Bologna area, and one or more microMesh (μM) WiFi, connected to the MM, able to provide connectivity in an area surrounding some buildings of the College of Engineering. These networks will then be stressed in the test phase using the traffic generated by an appropriate user.

MacroMesh (MM)

The MM will be characterized by a series of links linking the following sites:

Pointing antennas Tower Engineering (historic building) - Lazzaretto Engineering

Link analysis (altimetric profile, Fresnel ellipsoid and tract attenuation)

MicroMesh (µM)

As for the microMesh, connected to the MM hiperlan, we tried to identify the most appropriate areas, near the Faculty of Engineering, in which to provide 802.11 connectivity.

This would allow enabled students to connect via WiFi to the WiLAB site and / or the faculty to download educational materials and documents, thus allowing to test the realized WiFi mesh network.

Multimedia telecommunication systems for interactive e-Learning services

Project Duration: 2002-2004

The project

Educational project that aims to provide a COMPLETE online distance training service for PhD students in the ICT area of all Italian Universities related to the CNIT.

• Heterogeneous support networks (terrestrial, satellite, wireless)
  
• Integration
  
• E-Learning software platform (providing advanced features not present in the Teledottorato1)
  
• Reaching users from all Italian universities (various networks ...)
  
• Provide a user-friendly service for the user, improving the quality of global service
  
• Distance education
  
• in synchronous mode: interactive multimedia lessons in real time
  
• in asynchronous mode: off-line use of recorded lessons

Network infrastructures
Research Centers belonging to the CNIT

• 42 connected nodes
• Guaranteed band
• Support for multicast
• Reliability: back-up network