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Appendix IINEWCOM WORKPACKAGES

This document contains the forms for all workpackages that have been defined for the integration activities, departments, projects, spreading of excellence and management activities of the NEWCOM Network of Excellence.

The labelling convention is the following:

WPI.x refers to workpackage defined for the activity x of integration activities

WP[1...7].x[.y] refers to a workpackage defined for activity x of department [1..7]. If the additional y index is present, it refers to a specific workpackage defined for that activity. Otherwise, the name of activity and workpackage coincide.

WP[A...E].x[.y] refers to a workpackage defined for activity x of project [A..E]. If the additional y index is present, it refers to a specific workpackage defined for that activity. Otherwise, the name of activity and workpackage coincide.

WPS.x refers to workpackage defined for activity x of spreading of excellence activities

WPM.x refers to workpackage defined for activity x of management activities.

1

NEWCOM Integration Activities

Activities/Workpackages

WPI.1: Set-up of the NEWCOM videoconference network and computing grid

WPI.2: Creation and Maintenance of the NEWCOM Website

Activity I.3 Development of the NEWCOM shared SW/HW platform- WPI.3.1 Methodologies and libraries generation for a shared SW environment- WPI.3.2: SW test-bed: Channel models/channel simulator - WPI.3.3: SW test-bed: Mobility models/mobility simulator - WPI.3.4: Fast hardware prototyping of critical communication subsystems

WPI.4:Coordination and management of researchers and PhD mobility

WPI.5: Internal workshop/meeting organization

WPI.6: Best Paper Award

Activity I.7: Integration of teaching and learning

- WPI.7.1: Permanent program for lectures and seminar broadcasting

- WPI.7.2: Summer/Winter school organization

- WPI.7.3: NEWCOMDoctoral School in Wireless Communications

2

Christoph Mecklenbräuker,

3

Mérouane Debbah

4

WPI.1: Set-up of the NEWCOM videoconference network and computing grid

Workpackage number WPI.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participants id ALL

Objectives

The NEWCOM Departments and metalaboratories will grow out of common resources for communications and computing. High-speed communications facilities are needed to initiate and operate cooperative research with the goal of sharing data and equipment. In addition, high-speed videoconferencing will enable remote education and remote meetings without the need to physically move people across the network. Also, many of the research initiatives encompassed by the NoE will be based onto simulation tools, very often quite demanding in terms of computing power. Therefore, a further enabling factor to come to a real integration of research will be the sharing of the (distributed) computing resources available in the network. Setting up a computing grid onto the high-speed communication networks will be a vehicle to obtain this goal.

Description of work

Setup and maintenance of the NEWCOM high-speed net and computing grid requires as a first action the appointment of a reference person within the NoE, and of reference persons at each node to interface with her/him. After this is done, the different nodes will have to assess their own communications and computing resources, and their interconnection capability with GEANT. Possible specific needs of isolated nodes (satellite stations) will be also assessed. This will end in an architectural document describing the topology and performance of the high-speed net. Next, the workgroup will evaluate the price/performance ratio of different solutions (HW vs SW, desktop vs. set-top etc.) to provide videoconferencing services to the nodes. The relevant equipment will be purchased and operated, and remote meetings will start. This will also ease the subsequent step of evaluating the different solutions for grid and cluster computing. A feasibility document will be prepared to assess the opportunity of creating a computing grid, or a number of cluster computers within the NoE with contributions from all of the nodes. Finally, the identified computing solutions will be deployed and operated.

Deliverables

DI.1.1. Architectural document of the NEWCOM high-speed net (T0+6)

DI.1.2. Technical document on the applicable techniques for videoconferencing (HW vs. SW) (T0+9)

DI.1.3. Technical report: Feasibility assessment of a NEWCOM grid computer (T0+12)

DI.1.4. Delivery of High-speed NEWCOM network (T0+15)

DI.1.5. NEWCOM grid/cluster computer(s) operational (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+6: Delivery of DI.1.1

T0+9: High-speed net operational >50% of the nodes; Delivery of DI.1.2

T0+12: NEWCOM high-speed net equipment in place; Delivery of DI.1.3

T0+15: NEWCOM high-speed net operational 100% of the nodes ; Delivery of DI.1.4

T0+18: NEWCOM grid/cluster computers operational; Delivery of DI.1.5

5

6

WPI.2: Creation and Maintenance of the NEWCOM Website

Workpackage number

WPI.2 Start date or starting event: T0

Participants id GET UoSu KU CERCOM NTNU GU ISMB UPC

Objectives The NEWCOM website will act as the main tool for exchanging restricted documents within the network: common databases, papers, reports, posting of event scheduling, and so on. Moreover, it will also be used as an interface towards the scientific community, which, by means of proper public web pages, will be kept updated with NEWCOM activities, open visiting positions, public domain papers and conference presentation, etc. It will host all the major public initiatitives such as on line journal, advertising of events, teaching material, etc., as detailed in the specific workpackages. Last but not least, the Web site will serve as an interface towards the European Commission, for the delivery of due reports and documentation.

Description of work Setup and maintenance of the NEWCOM website requires as a first action the appointment of a reference person within the NoE, and of reference persons at each node to interface with her/him to contribute material. Once this is done, an assessment of the different node needs via a suited inquiry will be carried out by the managing institution. After this, the style of the site will be studied and finalized. Once the NoE activities are settled down (estimated T0+6) the various Web-based services will be realized and started. To this end, it can be foreseen that updated versions of the Web site will be issed every 6 months.

Deliverables DI.2.1. Website html code (T0+3)

DI.2.2. Downloadable reports and documents (including software libraries) produced within the NoE (T0+6)

DI.2.3. First web based services into operation (T0+6)

Milestones

T0+3: Creation of the website; distribution of user accounts for restricted access. Delivery of DI.2.1

T0+6: Opening of the “open positions” list and first revision meeting for restyling of the site and assessment of possible new services

T0+12: Second revision meeting

7

Activity I.3 Development of the NEWCOM shared SW/HW platform

WPI.3.1 Methodologies and libraries generation for a shared SW environment

Workpackage number WPI.3.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id BILKENT UoSu KU UCL NCUA/IASA UoP Chalmers

CTTC GU UoC TUA ERICSSON

ObjectivesThe objective of this workpackage is to set up and manage a general and shared environment for the design, simulation and validation of integrated software blocks of a communication system. Such blocks, developed within the various Departmens, will encompass an harmonization and conformance test prior to be included in the library. Therefore, the common environment will include a multi-language simulation tool, a shared database of software modules uniformly structured according to specific rules of programming style and variable/parameter handling, a globally approved procedure for the insertion of new blocks in the database and the related actions for IP protection, prescriptions for the environment maintenance and updating.This environment will make participants able to simulate and compare in an homogeneous way different algorithmic solutions developed for specific subparts of a global communication system and it will maximize the reuse of results obtained by the involved researchers. The library will be based on C++ modules. Part of these modules can be extracted from the library IT++, which is a modular and platform-independent C++ library focusing on signal processing and communication systems. Furthermore, IT++ is released under an open source licence which enables free distribution of the library to others, also outside of NEWCOM. Since the source code is publicly available IT++ could provide reference implementations of complex algorithms for benchmarking

Description of work

The first phase of this work will consist in the choice of the multi-language simulation tool to be used as an integration and testing. Moreover, the general structure of the module database will be defined together with the guidelines for the development of the communications modules.

The second phase will consist in the collection and harmonization of software blocks developed under the various Departments to form a complete communications block library. A conformance test will be performed before inclusion of each block in the database.

The final phase will consist in the simulation of significant communications systems by integrating blocks from the database.

Deliverables DI.3.1.1 Technical report: choice of the multi-language simulation tool; definition of the database structure; definition of rules and guidelines for the development of communications blocks. (T0+6)DI.3.1.2. Technical report: collection of communications blocks and conformance testing. (T0+12)DI.3.1.3. Technical report: results on the simulation of communications systems. (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+6: Technical report (DI.3.1.1)



8

WPI.3.2: SW test-bed: Channel models/channel simulator

Work package number WPI.3.2 Start date or starting event: T0

Participant id BILKENT GET Chalmers

Objectives

Developing the knowledge base for a simulation based performance evaluation platform for the assessment of future communication schemes in NEWCOM Departments. Problems associated with convergence of modelling and simulation of the propagation environment at different scales will be studied. Similar activities are aimed at in various departments and WP’s. The activities in these WP’s will be monitored and the produced knowledge will be integrated towards a comprehensive and unified simulator for a common test-bed. Propagation model scale varies from in-house conditions to large area coverage at the rural areas, with detailed surface cover data like urban building models. A general simulation environment for fading channels to test the level system controls as required by the novel communication schemes will be developed and integrated into a common test-bed.

Description of work A literature survey will be conducted initially and the existing knowledge on available techniques for simulating the propagation environment will be scrutinised. Concurrently, links to related work packages will be established for close collaboration. Direct co-operation with related WP’s in other Departments will be conducted through regular meetings (possibly by attending the meeting of these WP’s). SW platforms for efficient (and particularly fast) implementation of the algorithms will be identified. The models and algorithms for fast implementation will be evaluated and implemented for a common SW test-bed.

Deliverables

DI.3.2.1. Technical report: “Survey of propagation environment” (T0+8).

DI.3.2.2. Technical report: “Channel simulation platform design: components, data sets and propagation models” (T0+14)

DI.3.2.3. Technical report: “Channel simulation platform for a common test-bed” (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+12: Channel simulation platform design

T0+16: Channel simulator for SW test-bed

9

WPI.3.3: SW test-bed: Mobility models/mobility simulator

Work package number WPI3.3 Start date or starting event: T0

Participant id BILKENT GET

Objectives Developing the knowledge base for the simulation of user behaviour and mobility modelling in wireless communication systems and produce SW implementation of mobility models to form a common SW test-bed. The mobility of the users must also be modelled, stochastically and geometrically, at different scales: in-cell, inter-cell, handoff and possibly inter-network handoff. Mobility modelling and measurement are aimed at in various departments of NEWCOM. The activities in the related WP’s will be followed and the produced knowledge will be integrated towards a comprehensive and unified simulator for a common test-bed.

Description of work A literature survey will be conducted initially and the existing knowledge on available techniques for the user behaviour and mobility will be surveyed. Concurrently, links to related work packages will be established for close collaboration. Direct co-operation with related WP’s in other Departments will be conducted through regular meetings (possibly by attending the meeting of these WPs). SW platforms for efficient (and particularly fast) implementation of the algorithms will be identified. The models and algorithms for fast implementation will be evaluated and implemented for a common SW test-bed. Possibility of adopting some of the existing open-architecture, open-source software tools as part of development environment will be assessed.

Deliverables

DI.3.3.1. Technical report: “Survey of user mobility models and algorithms” (T0+8).

DI.3.3.2. Technical report: “Channel simulation platform design ” (T0+14)

DI.3.3.3. Technical report: “Mobility simulation platform for a common test-bed” (T0+18)

Milestones

T0 +12: Mobility simulation platform design

T0 +16: Mobility simulator for SW test-bed

10

WPI.3.4: Fast hardware prototyping of critical communication subsystems

Workpackage number WPI.3.4 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id IMEC CERCOM BILKENT GET

Objectives

Fast prototyping of communications systems allows for an in-depth investigation of the properties of new communications techniques. However, the implementation of fast simulators often requires long development times.

This work package aims at investigating fast prototyping techniques of subparts of simulated communications system that are critical in terms of processing speed. The main idea is to map these parts to FPGA devices, working as simulation accelerators and allowing for faster simulations.

Examples of critical subparts are high performance iterative channel decoders, W-CDMA receivers and accurate channel models.

Description of work

This work will start with the review of the known methods for hardware-software co-design and techniques for fast prototyping of signal processing systems; commercially available tools and reconfigurable platforms will also be studied and compared.

In a second phase, a common framework of methodologies and tools will be set up; this framework will make use of a multi-language simulation environment and tools for algorithm profiling, hardware/software partitioning, high level synthesis, processor and DSP compilation, post synthesis validation. A critical point will be the development of a high level description of the communication architecture supporting the designed prototypes, as the adopted solution has to be a good trade-off between flexibility (with respect to different hardware platforms) and efficiency (in terms of offered interconnect bandwidth).

As a final phase, a number of critical communications subsystems will be identified in cooperation with Activities in involved Departments; such subsystems will be integrated for the construction of a complex communication systems by adopting the developed methodology of fast prototyping.

Deliverables

DI.3.4.1. Technical report: survey on existing design techniques and tools. (T0+6)

DI.3.4.2. Technical report: choice of the global methodology and supported platforms. (T0+12)

DI.3.4.3. Technical report on significant case studies (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+6: Technical report DI.3.4.1

T0+12: Technical report DI.3.4.2

T0+18: Tests on significant case studies

11

WPI.4:Coordination and management of researchers and PhD mobility

Workpackage number WPI.4 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ALL

Objectives

The integration of research will be carried out by fostering the mobility of researchers within the network, and it is the intent of NEWCOM is to make it systematic and possibly permanent. The main objective of this activity is the coordination and management of the researchers and PhD students mobility amongst the various Departments of the network.

Description of work

In order to make simple and effective the mobility of researchers and PhD students within the network, some initiative will be undertaken:

A list of temporary open positions will be maintained an a dedicated Web site

The same Web site will also include an area for applications of graduate students from one node of the network, willing to spend a research/study period on a specific theme in another node

As several Universities already participate in European programs for the exchange of students (Erasmus/Socrates programs), the local offices for student mobility will be strengthened in order to support also the Newcom researchers/PhD student exchange

The NEWCOM Training Pilgrimages programs will be defined, aiming at establishing strict connections among scientifically homogeneous areas

Deliverables

DI.4.1: Dedicated Web site (T0 + 3)

DI.4.2: Permanent office for researchers/PhD exchange (T0 + 6)

DI.4.3: NEWCOM Training Pilgrimages programs (T0 + 10)

Milestones


T0+6: Permanent office operative

T0+10: NEWCOM Training Pilgrimages programs defined

12

WPI.5: Internal workshop/meeting organization


Objectives

The achievement of a high level of scientific coordination implies the organization of periodic (not necessarily plenary) internal workshops and meetings. Such events will serve as tools to increase internal communications and periodically verify and evaluate integration; they will represent a unique opportunity to directly exchange ideas and to set up collaborations within scientifically homogeneous areas, as well as to put the basis for cross-fertilization amongst complementary research groups.

Description of work

A yearly schedule of internal meetings and workshops will be defined , involving either single Departments/Projects, or groups of them. In order to keep travel expenses limited, and also to encourage participation to major worldwide events such as IEEE Conferences, efforts will be spent to organize meetings jointly with such events.

Deliverables

DI.5.1: Yearly internal meeting schedule (T0 + 3)

Milestones


13

WPI.6: Best Paper Award


Objectives

The objective of this workpackage is to foster a healthy and friendly competition amongst NEWCOM researchers, and to encourage paper publicatons in the most relevant journals and conferences, so as to enhance scientific excellence. This is done by formally recognizing the best paper published by NEWCOM researches

Description of work

The Scientific Committee and the Advisory Board of NEWCOM will identify a set of major journals and international conferences, to be recommended to the NEWCOM staff for publication of research results. The papers published on such journals and conference proceedings will be exhamined by a commission of elected members from the Scientific Committee and the Advisory Board, and the best paper will be formally recognized. An event involving plenary NEWCOM meeting will be identified yearly, and a Best Paper Award ceremony will be organized so as to maximise participation.

Deliverables

DI.6.1: Appointment of the Best Paper Award Advisory Board (T0)

DI.6.2: Publication of Call for Best Paper and list of relevant journals/conferences (T0+3)

DI.6.3: Identification of first Best Paper Award ceremony (T0+6)

DI.6.4: Best Paper recognition and ceremony (T0+18)

Milestones

T0: Appointment of the Best Paper Award Advisory Board

T0+3: Publication of Call for Best Paper and list of relevant journals/conferences

T0+18: Best Paper Ceremony

14

Activity I.7: Integration of teaching and learning

WPI.7.1: Permanent program for lectures and seminar broadcasting

Workpackage number

WPI.7.1 Start date or starting event: T0

Participants id BILKENT UoSu KU UCL NCUA/IASA Chalmers UoC NTNU TeSA/CNRS FTW GET CERCOM GU UPC LNT/TUM UoP PUT

Objectives

NEWCOM views as a fundamental integration action the coordination of the different national post-graduate education programs within the NoE. To this end, a permanent program will be set up for the organization and broadcasting of lectures and seminars held by distinguished speakers in one NEWCOM node, to all other members of the network. This will give the opportunity to attend high-level seminars by a relatively large group of people without incurring into excessive travel expenses.

Description of work A permanent program will be set up for the systematic delivery of distinguished lectures and seminars held by speakers hosted in one of the NEWCOM nodes. This will encompass a Web-based seminar advertisement system, and the use of the NEWCOM communications facilities, as specified in WP I.1. In the long run, a systematic use of such facilities can be also envisaged to broadcast interesting presentations at any level - down to PhD students- to other interested nodes.

Deliverables

DI.7.1.1 Web-based seminar advertisement system (T0+3)

DI.7.1.2. Seminar broadcasting system (T0+6)

DI.7.1.3: Permanent support for lectures and seminar broadcasting (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+3: Delivery of DI.7.1.1

T0+6: Seminar broadcastig system operative

15

WPI.7.2: Summer/Winter school organization

Workpackage number



Objectives

This activity is devoted to the organization of summer/winter doctoral schools by setting up a program of courses and tutoring activities for NEWCOM PhD students. This will foster trans-national cooperation among PhD students from several European countries, with the side-effect of promoting the reinforcement of a cultural European identity.

Description of work

The activity will be organized as follows:

A Call for Proposals will be launched to all NEWCOM teachers and experts willing to participate in the organization of summer/winter schools. The proposals should include indications on the school scientific topics, potential speakers, as well as logistic information such as proposed site where to organize the school, possible sponsorship and so on. The NEWCOM Steering Committee will then select a proper number of proposals, based on criteria such as the scientific relevance of the proposed subjects, the teaching and scientific excellence of the potential speakers, budgetary conditions. The responsible persons for the selected schools are then in charge of the school roganization, and can ask for support (both financial and logistic) by other members of the network, as well as from external organizations.The list of summer/winter schools will be advertised on the NEWCOM web site.

Deliverables

DI.7.2.1 Call for Summer/winter School Proposals (T0+3)

DI.7.2.2. Selection of Summer/winter Schools to be activated for the first 18 months (T0+6)

DI.7.2.3. Permanent support for summer/winter school organization (T0+18)

Milestones


T0+6: List of Summer Schools

16

WPI.7.3: NEWCOM Doctoral School in Wireless Communications

Workpackage number



Objectives NEWCOM views as a fundamental integration action the coordination of the different national post-graduate education programs within the NoE, to possibly develop a “NEWCOM Doctoral schools in wireless communications”. This can be done in two potential ways: i) offering a number of post-graduate NEWCOM-specific courses that will be accredited by the national Universities in the NOE, and ii) in the long run, founding a NEWCOM school with its own location and organization of studies. Attending such schools by European students will have the effect of automatically setting an early spirit for cooperative research that may be currently missing in some national educational programs. The NoE will be thus the natural means of implementing (at least for some of the students graduating through NEWCOM schools) the cooperative, trans-national research that they will have learned to view as indispensable in their formative years. NEWCOM schools can be organized through a mixture of periodic, physical get-togethers in some nodes of teachers and students, as well as via distance learning delivered through the videoconference facilities.

Description of work i) audience: all nodes of the NoE will be inquired regarding their intention to contribute actively (teachers) and passively (students) to the NEWCOM Doctoral School (NEWDS); ii) Organization of courses: according to the output of the inquiry above, a tentative outline of the courses to be given will be prepared. iii) mode of delivery: the cost/benefit ratio of delivering the courses by videoconference or by collecting teachers and students into a NEWCOM node will be assessed; iv) recognition by national Universities: a special task force will be created to organize recognition of the NEWDS courses by the National Universities participating into the NoE. The possibility to release joint National/NEWCOM graduations wil be assessed.

Deliverables

DI.7.3.1. Architectural Document: organization of the NEWDS – Courses contents (T0+6)

DI.7.3.2. Cost/benefit assessment document of Remote vs. Local modes (T0+6)

DI.7.3.3. National Recognition and Equivalence Document (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+6: Delivery of DI.7.3.1 and DI.7.3.2

T0+12: Official start of NEWDS


17

NEWCOM Scientific Activities

Department 1.- Analysis and design of algorithms for signal processing at large in wireless networks

Activity 1.1: Coding and Signal Design for Future Wireless Broadband Systems Workpackages WP1.1.1: Coding and Decoding for Short Block LengthsWP1.1.2: Coding and Signal Design for OFDMWP1.1.3: Coding and Modulation for MIMO SystemsWP1.1.4: Signalling Schemes for the Wideband RegimeWP1.1.5: Adaptive Coding and Modulation

Activity 1.2. : Synchronisation, Channel Estimation, and Equalisation for Wireless Systems Workpackages WP1.2.1: Synchronisation, Channel Estimation, and Equalisation Algorithms in Low Signal-to-Noise RatiosWP1.2.2: Receiver Design for Multicarrier SystemsWP1.2.3: Receiver Design for MIMO SystemsWP1.2.4: Blind ReceiversWP1.1.6: Bandwidth-Efficient Coding

Activity 1.3: Iterative Receivers Workpackages WP1.3.1: Information theoretic description of iterative receivers

WP1.3.2: Tools for convergence analysisWP1.3.3: Parameter estimation in iterative receivers

Activity 1.4 Multiple Access Schemes WorkpackagesWP1.4.1: Multiple Access Schemes for Future Wireless Networks WP1.4.2: Simulation Models of Potential Multiple Access Schemes

Activity1.5 Multiuser Receivers Workpackages WP 1.5.1: Convergence analysis of iterative multiuser decoding

WP 1.5.2:Non-linear soft output multiuser detectors WP 1.5.3:Power control for iterative multiuser decoding

WP 1.5.4:Channel estimation and synchronisation in the iterative loop WP 1.5.5:Efficient multiuser detectors for asynchronous and fading channels

WP 1.5.6:Multistage detectors for iterative receivers WP 1.5.7:Performance evaluation of large systems

Activity 1.6: MIMO Systems Workpackages WP1.6.1: MIMO Broadband Channel ModelsWP1.6.2: Capacity of MIMO Multiple-Access and Broadcast ChannelsWP1.6.3: Signalling in Multi-User MIMO Systems

Activity 1.7: Mobility management, handoff algorithms, network information theory Workpackages WP1.7.1: User mobility trackingWP1.7.2: Handoff algorithmsWP1.7.3: Network signaling and coding strategies

18

WP1.1.1: Coding and Decoding for Short Block Lengths

Workpackage number WP1.1.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ETH UEN GET BILKENT FTW UoB NERA CTTC

TeSA/CNRS THALES CERCOM LNT/TUM TURBOCPT

Objectives Turbo codes, low-density parity check codes, and similar codes work extremely well for large block lengths. For short block lenghts (say, 50…5000 bits), however, there appears to be room for significant improvements. Since many communication systems work with fairly short packets and/or tight delay constraints, better short codes and decoding methods for such codes would have substantial impact on practical systems.

The best known codes both for very short block lenghts (trellis codes) and for large block lenghts (turbo codes, low-density codes, etc.) are naturally described by graphs (factor graphs) and are decoded by the message passing algorithms (usually the sum-product or the max-product algorithm). Therefore, the proposed research is primarily targeted towards codes that are suitable for decoding by message passing. It seems likely that the graphical descriptions of such codes will lie somehow “in-between” trellises (which are cycle-free, but have many states) and the graphs of low-density codes (which have lots of cycles and no state variables). An example of such “in-between” graphs are tail-biting trellises (with a single cycle), which are well-know to provide excellent performance for a limited range of block lengths.

This research is not tailored towards some specific communication system; however, if successful, the results of this research would affect the design of many such systems.

Description of work This work is theoretical in nature. It can be broken down into the following sub-blocks, some of which will be carried out in parallel: 1) Literature survey 2) Quantitative assessment of the information theoretic limits (in particular, the sphere packing bound) 3) Find candidate structures of codes and graphs 4) Study the performance of such codes.

Deliverables

D1.1.1.1. Technical report: Literature survey on short codes, the information theoretic limits, and some ideas for new codes. (T0+6)

D1.1.1.2. Technical report: Preliminary results on new codes. (T0+12)

D1.1.1.3. Joint research publication(s): New short codes and their performance. (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+6: Meeting for dissemination of work

T0+6: Technical report (D1.1.1.1)



T0+18: Publication ready for submission (D1.1.1.3)

19

WP1.1.2: Coding and Signal Design for OFDM

Workpackage number WP 1.1.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ETH GET BILKENT FTW PUT UoB NTNU DLR

LNT/TUM CERCOM THALES

Objectives OFDM has become extremely popular. Nevertheless, a number of important technical problems have not yet been satisfactorily solved. One such problem is the ratio of the peak power to the average power of the transmitted signal, which is still hard to control without sacrificing data rate. Another, more general, problem arises from the fact that the signal-to-noise ratio in adjacent frequency slots is correlated; this is a small problem for time-invariant channels (especially when coding across many OFDM frames is allowed), but for fading channels, it is not clear how to construct good codes and good decoding algorithms. Finally, codes for OFDM are often required to cover only one OFDM frame, which is typically too short for turbo codes or low-density codes to show their full power. The goal of this research is to make progress on these problems and thus make OFDM systems more effective.

Description of work This work is theoretical in nature. It can be broken down into the following sub-blocks, some of which will be carried out in parallel: 1) Literature survey. 2) Specifications for future applications of OFDM in terms of bit-rate and channel model. 3) Find codes and channel models suitable for decoding by message passing. 4) Identify and pursue novel approaches to the problem of peak-to-average power ratio. 5) Joint optimization of subcarrier power distribution, modulation alphabet, and coding.

It is likely that this research effort will interact with the research in WP1.1.1 (“Coding and decoding for short block lengths”).

Deliverables

D1.1.2.1. Technical report: Literature survey on coding and signalling for OFDM. (T0+6)

D1.1.2.2. Technical report: Technical requirements and channel modelling for future systems. (T0+6)

D1.1.2.3. Technical report: Preliminary results on coding and decoding. (T0+12)

D1.1.2.4. Joint research publication(s): Advances in coding for OFDM. (T0+18)

Milestones


T0+6: Technical report (D1.1.2.1, D1.1.2.2)




20

WP1.1.3: Coding and Modulation for MIMO Systems

Workpackage number WP1.1.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ETH UEN GET BILKENT FTW NCUA/IASA NTNU

DLR CTTC TECHNION ISIK CERCOM UoB LNT/TUMTHALES

Objectives Exploiting the large theoretical capacity of multi-antenna systems has become a main goal of research in wireless communications. As for “coding”, there are presently two different approaches: “space-time” coding, which is actually modulation, and “real” coding (trellis codes, turbo codes, etc.). Obviously, combinations of these approaches (coding and modulation) are also of interest. The proposed research effort aims at 1) clarifying the roles of “real” codes and “space-time codes” (modulation) in MIMO systems, 2) understanding the requirements on “real” codes (also with respect to channel models/estimation), and 3) construction of codes (both “ad-hoc” and pragmatic) and decoding methods suitable for joint decoding and channel estimation. Progress in these problems is necessary to exploit the full potential of wireless MIMO systems.

Description of work This work is theoretical in nature. It can be broken down into the following sub-blocks, some of which will be carried out in parallel: 1) Literature survey 2) Study the roles of “real” codes and “space-time codes” 3) study the requirements on coding and decoding 3) Identify and pursue the structure of suitable codes and decoding methods, with an emphasis on message-passing decoders (and channel estimators) 4) Asses the performance of such schemes.

Deliverables

D1.1.3.1. Technical report: Literature survey on space-time codes and “real” codes for MIMO systems. (T0+6)

D1.1.3.2. Technical report: Technical requirements and channel modelling for future MIMO systems. (T0+6)

D1.1.3.3. Technical report: Preliminary findings on various coding schemes and their interaction with channel estimation. (T0+12)

D1.1.3.4. Joint research publication(s): Advances in coding for MIMO systems. (T0+18)

Milestones






21

WP1.1.4: Signalling Schemes for the Wideband Regime

Workpackage number WP1.1.4 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id BILKENT ETH GET UoB FTW TeSA/CNRS

TECHNION

Objectives Recent work [1],[2] shows that large bandwidths of fading multipath channels cannot be used effectively by systems that spread the transmitted signal power uniformly over both time and frequency. In contrast, peaky signalling schemes that concentrate the signal power in both time and frequency achieve the channel capacity. What lies behind this phenomenon is that each signalling scheme requires a specific set of channel parameters to be estimated before successful detection can be carried out. Spread-spectrum systems, in particular CDMA, do not scale well when the bandwidth is increased because reliable estimation of the required set of channel parameters becomes impossible. This is particularly relevant for the design of wireless systems beyond 3G because it casts a doubt on the feasibility of wideband CDMA, which is the design choice for 3G, in meeting future system requirements. The objective of this research activity will be to investigate the scalability of various signalling schemes, in particular W-CDMA, under tractable models representative of future wireless systems. The success of this work will be measured by the insight we gain into (i) how to design scalable signal sets and (ii) reaching a better understanding of the trade-off in using pilot signals vs. combined channel estimation and detection. A subtopic of this research effort will be the study of the same type of problems when multiple antennas are used at the transmitter and/or receiver.

[1] M. Medard and R.G. Gallager, ``Bandwidth scaling for fading multipath channels,’’ IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, pp. 840-852, vol. 48, no. 4, April 2002.

[2] I.E. Telatar and D.N.C. Tse, ``Capacity and mutual information of wideband multipath fading channels,’’ IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, pp. 1384-1400, vol. 46, no. 4, July 2000.

Description of work This work is theoretical in nature and will be carried out on an open web platform. The work may be broken down into the following sub-blocks some of which will be carried out in parallel: 1) Literature survey. 2) Hypothetical specifications for 3G+ systems in terms of bit-rate, signal bandwidth, peak-power, average power, etc. 3) Channel modelling: Identification of a set of analytically tractable channel models for future systems. 4) Scalability study of various wideband signalling schemes, including CDMA, OFDM, UWB. 5) Design and performance analysis of scalable signal sets and practical detection algorithms.

Deliverables

D1.1.4.1. Technical report: Literature survey on scalability of signalling schemes on wideband multi-path channels. (T0+6)

D1.1.4.2. Technical report: Technical requirements and channel modelling for future systems. (T0+6)

D1.1.4.3. Technical report: Preliminary findings on scalability of various signalling schemes. (T0+12)

D1.1.4.4. Joint research publication(s). Novel signalling schemes and detection algorithms for future wireless systems. (T0+18)

Milestones






22

WP1.1.5: Adaptive Coding and Modulation

Workpackage number WP 1.1.5 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id NTNU GET PUT UPC UoB NERA DLR

CERCOM LU TeSA/CNRS THALES LNT/TUMChalmers TURBOCPT

Objectives Adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) is foreseen to become one of the key technologies for enabling large spectral efficiencies – and thus advanced, bandwidth-intensive multimedia services - on temporally and/or spatially varying wireless and mobile communication channels. The objective of this workpackage is to come up with a deeper understanding of the performance limits of and necessary trade-offs in ACM and from this to come up with a set of design recommendations and rules-of-thumb for ACM systems.

Description of work We will evaluate various state-of-the-art error control codes and modulation schemes for use in ACM systems, and compare these to information-theoretic limits of performance. Candidates presented so far includes MQAM modulation in conjunction with TCM, LDPC codes, and Turbo codes. Novel codes resulting from the work in WP1.1.7 Bandwidth-Efficient Coding will also be considered. The influence of interleaving in adaptive systems will also be studied. Furthermore, we will evaluate the pros and cons of two competing principles for ACM, namely FEC-based ACM based on predicted channels, and ARQ-based ACM based on the principle of incremental redundancy. Hybrids of these two principles will also be of interest. Finally, we will study in some detail the necessary trade-offs that must be made between achievable spectral efficiency, codeword lengths, mobility requirements, adaptation rate, code rate granularity, accuracy of channel state information, overhead information requirements, buffering requirements, power efficiency, and system complexity.

Deliverables

D1.1.5.1. Technical report: "State-of-art in adaptive coding and modulation" (T0+6)

D1.1.5.2. Technical report: "Comparison of ARQ and FEC based rate-adaptive transmission schemes" (T0+12)

D1.1.5.3. Technical report: "Important performance trade-offs in adaptive coding and modulation" (T0+14)

D1.1.5.4. 2 joint research publications based on D.1.1.5.2 and D1.1.5.3. (T0+18)

Milestones







T0+18: 2 research publications ready for submission (D1.1.5.4)

23

WP1.1.6: Bandwidth Efficient Coding

Workpackage number WP1.1.6 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id LU UEN GET UoB NTNU NERA DLR ISIK

CERCOM TURBOCPT

Objectives

Although Shannon theory shows the existence of codes at all combinations of energy and bandwidth that are in keeping with capacity, there is still a lack of knowledge in the design of highly bandwidth and energy efficient coding/modulation schemes. On the other hand, in the future wireless (and especially cellular) systems, bandwidth will be the most scarce resource. The aim of this WP will then be the investigation of new coding/modulation schemes in the 2-8 data bits per Hz range.

Description of workToday, the only fully developed methods for signaling at rates above 1 data bit per baseband channel Hz are those in the TCM set-partition code family. We investigate new methods based on discrete-timereal-number convolution, on linear congruential trellis label generation, and on severe filtering followed by a near-optimal reduced-search decoder. These areas are funded in part at Lund by the Swedish Foundation TFR. In addition to new methods of coding, it is also necessary that the coding scheme adapt often to changing channel conditions. This requires that the coding method be set up in such a way that it can change rate easily and in particular, change to very high rates. These issues are pursued within the Flexible Coding Project within the Node (part of the Competence Center in Circuit Design). Little theoretical structure exists for coding at these high rates, and so investigation of distance, bandwidth, capacity and complexity properties are another priority.

Deliverables Cooperation research results on the following issues:D1.1.6.1 Technical report: Development of new code classes.D1.1.6.2 Technical report: Investigations of bit error rate, decoding complexity, energy and bandwidth properties.D1.1.6.3 Technical report: Comparison of proposed schemes to existing ones.D1.1.6.4 Technical report : Strategies for adaptive coding.

D1.1.6.5 Technical report: Algorithms suitable for ASIC implementation.

Milestones


T0+6: Technical report





T0+18: 2 Research publications ready for submission

24

25

WP1.2.1: Synchronisation, Channel Estimation, and Detection Algorithms in Low Signal-to Noise Ratios

Workpackage number

WP1.2.1 Start date or starting event: T0

Participant id GU UCL FTW ETH GET CNRSDLR UEN BILKENT UoP ISIK NERAUoB PUT CHALMERS THALES TURBOCPT

Objectives : The objectives of this WP are to design estimation algorithms (for channel and synchronization) able to work at low SNRs, analyze their performance and investigate their effect on the BER. It will also be investigated how an iterative ("turbo") receiver can make use of the soft information delivered by a decoder to enhance channel estimation/synchronization/equalization. This problem will not only be tackled for single user systems, but will also be studied for multiuser receivers, in which case the parameters of all users have to be estimated. All these iterative schemes will be analyzed at the light of the belief propagation (message passing) algorithm. In particular it will be investigated how the independence assumption valid when all synchronization/channel parameters are perfectly know, needs to be revisited when the estimation of these parameters is embedded in the iterative loop. Finally issues of implementation complexity will be addressed.Description of work : Blind and joint estimation of space-time coded signals and of the channel parameters Carrier phase synchronization techniques for turbo codes and turbo-coded modulations at low SNRsInvestigation of scalability of synchronisation algorithms in the wideband (low SNR) regime for various signalling schemes (CDMA, UWB, OFDM, etc.)Design of decoder soft-output driven channel estimation/synchronization (turbo channel estimation/synchronization). Joint iterative decoding/channel estimation/equalization and synchronization. Impact of estimation errors on BER performance. Impact of accuracy of initial estimates.Derivation of iterative channel estimation, synchronisation and multiuser decoding from the belief propagation algorithm; appropriate approximations where necessary and performance analysis of the overall iterative system.Application of soft-decision directed algorithms to signal detection issues such as non-linear channel compensation, channel equalization and interference mitigation.Channel parameters estimation for multicode systems using soft-decision directed algorithmsPerformance of parameter estimation (carrier offset frequency, DOA, delay,fading,… ) : non asymptotic performance (MSE, SNR threshold and tight lower bound), taking into account the array calibration errors, conditional to a detection criterion : mean, standard deviation and conditional CRB Realization of a turbo equalizer for high order modulation over a frequency selective channel in a single carrier context, DSP implementation of this equalizer to prove the feasibility of a low-complexity iterative receiver

Deliverables D1.2.1.1. Report: Survey of synchronisation and channel estimation algorithms for wireless communications (T0+6)D1.2.1.2. Report "State of the art in joint iterative decoding channel estimation and synchronisation for multiuser systems" (T0+6)D1.2.1.3. Report: Performance analysis of synchronisation algorithms for selected signalling schemes in the wideband regime (T0+12)D1.2.1.4. Simulation source codes for SDD algorithms applied to detection (T0+12)D1.2.1.5. Technical report : Survey of performance for “non standart” parameter estimation (T0+12)D1.2.1.6. Report "Low complexity implementation of linear equalizers with a priori information" (T0+12)D1.2.1.7. Final report on “non standart” parameter estimation (T0+18)D1.2.1.8. Report “Channel estimation and synchronisation based on belief propagation” (T0+12)D1.2.1.9. Report “Combined iterative channel estimation, synchronisation, data detection, and multiuser decoding” (T0+18)D1.2.1.10. Report and simulation source code on “Joint detection and parameter estimation for space-time coded signals (T0+18)D1.2.1.11. Report : "Implementation of a turbo equalizer on DSP" (T0+18)D1.2.1.12. Report: “Channel parameters estimation for multicode systems using soft-decision directed algorithms” (T0+18)D1.2.1.13. Report: “Performance analysis of selected synchronization techniques applied to turbo-coded signals “ (T0+18)Milestones

See deliverables

26

WP1.2.2: Receiver Design for Multicarrier Systems

Workpackage number WP1.2.2 Start date or starting event: TParticipant id GU ISIK UCL UoP NTNU PUT

GET CNRS UU DLR ETH FTW CTTCTECHNION NCUA/IASA THALES

Objectives: Multicarrier systems are more sensitive to some synchronization imperfections than their single carrier counterpart. Therefore efficient parameter estimation methods need to be designed and investigated. This workpackage will focus on parameter estimation, detection and decoding for multicarrier systems. Some emphasis will be put on multicarrier transmission over frequency dispersive channels or interference limited environments, and on multicarrier combined with CDMA. It will also be investigated how an iterative ("turbo") receiver can make use of the soft information delivered by a decoder to enhance channel estimation/synchronization.

Description of work: Investigation of possible modes for multicarrier transmission (OFDM-OFDM/CDMA-MC-CDMA) Study of

the channel and receiver impairments. Investigation and comparison of (sub)optimal receivers for signals using spreading over OFDM subcarriers Extension to “challenging environments”, such as high-speed broadband or interference-limited environments

(e.g., communication over unlicensed bands). Exploitation of “flexible SCEE algorithmic designs”. (Algorithms which can adapt to very different environments (i.e., high-speed and low-speed environments) .

Study and evaluation of receiver algorithms for (adaptive) OFDM systems for moderately fast fading channels (performance close to that of optimal (Kalman) yet of much lower computational complexity). Investigation for multiuser OFDM systems (both DL and UL)

Application of soft-decision directed algorithms to signal detection issues such as non-linear channel compensation, equalization and interference mitigation

Channel parameters and DOAs estimation for multicarrier systems exploiting multiple receiving antennas Investigation of multidimensional adaptive pilot symbol aided channel estimation algorithms for multi-carrier

systems and multi-carrier receivers that iteratively exploit soft information obtained from the channel decoder output for improved channel estimation and detection

Joint channel tracking and symbol detection for OFDM systems with Kalman filtering in multipath fading EM Based Channel Estimation for Space-time -Frequency OFDM Systems Investigaton of fast acquisition carrier synchronization and equalization algorithms for OFDM signals Implementation losses in OFDM receivers Design of new punctured turbo codes Design and performance study of blind and semi-blind channel estimation algorithms for Multicarrier CDMA

transmissions. Joint performance study of channel estimation and synchronization algorithms.

Deliverables: D1.2.2.1 Report: Survey of synchronisation and channel estimation algorithms for multicarrier systems (T0+9)D1.2.2.2. Report: “High-level algorithmic solutions for Synchronization/Channel Estimation/Equalization (SCEE) techniques for Multi-Carrier systems” (T0+12)D1.2.2.3 Report on “Flexible Algorithmic Designs for varying environment characteristics” (T0+16)D1.2.2.4. Simulation source code on SDD driven detection (T0+12) and report (T0+18)D1.2.2.5. Simulation source code for “Channel parameters and DOAs estimation for multicarrier systems exploiting multiple receiving antennas” (T0+12) and report (T0+18)D1.2.2.6. Report: Performance analysis of adaptive pilot symbol aided channel estimation algorithms for multi-carrier systems and multi-carrier receivers that iteratively exploit soft information obtained from the channel decoder output for improved channel estimation and detection (T0+15)D1.2.2.7. Simulation results on suboptimal and optimal receivers for OFDM signals with spreading along frequency axis (T0+15)D1.2.2.8: Reporting of the simulation and analytical results on suboptimal and optimal receivers for OFDM signals with spreading along frequency axis (T0+18)D1.2.2.9. Report on design, evaluation and comparison with alternative approaches, of receiver algorithms for moderately FF channels (T0+18)D1.2.2.10. Report on “Joint channel tracking and symbol detection for OFDM systems with Kalman filtering in the presence of multipath fading” (T0+18)D1.2.2.11. Report on EM channel estimation for space-time-frequency OFDM systems (T0+18)

27

D1.2.2.12. Report on fast carrier synchronization and equalization of OFDM signals (T0+18)D1.2.2.13. Report on “New punctured turbo codes” (T0+18)D1.2.2.14. Report on “Implementation losses in OFDM receivers” (T0+18)D1.2.2.15. Report on performance analysis of channel estimation and synchronization algorithms for multicarrier systems. (T0+18)

Milestone See deliverables

28

WP1.2.3: Receiver Design for MIMO Systems

Workpackage number WP1.2.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id GU UCL NTNU ETH GET CTTC UEN

DLR FTW CNRS NCUA/IASA

Objectives : When several transmit and several receive antennas are used simultaneously, one benefits from a higher immunity against channel impairments and/or from a higher bit rate. The global performance can be further increased if some channel knowledge is available at the transmitter side. The signals received at the different antennas are basically corrupted by co-antenna interference. With appropriate codes and flat channels, orthogonality can be restored at the receiver side. When the channels are frequency selective, the scenario has similarities with a multiuser configuration. The objective of this WP is to design receivers for such MIMO systems. Synchronization parameters and channel estimation methods will be designed. The design of receivers will also be investigated for MIMO combined with OFDM. Also iterative ("turbo") receivers will be considered, that exploit the soft information delivered by a decoder to enhance channel estimation/synchronization/equalization

Description of work :

Analysis of the impact of channel estimation errors/synchronization imperfect on the performance of MIMO systems

Design of turbo space-time receivers (equalization, decoding, synchronization) for MIMO frequency selective channels

Design of MIMO-OFDM receivers (possibly turbo)

Interference limited MIMO based communication systems

Derivation and analysis of reduced-complexity algorithms for near MLSE in MIMO systems including reduced-state sequence estimation (RSSE) and decision-feedback equalization (DFE) (Emphasis on the development of prefilter computation algorithms with low complexity to calculate a front-end filter for reduced-state equalizers via channel estimates which transforms the channel into its minimum-phase equivalent)

Derivation and analysis of reduced-complexity algorithms for MIMO multi-carrier channel estimation

Deliverables

D1.2.3.1 Report on “Receiver design for MIMO over frequency selective channels” (T0+12)

D1.2.3.2 Report on “Receiver design for MIMO-OFDM” (T0+18)

D1.2.3.3 Report on “Impact of imperfect parameter knowledge on MIMO system performance” (T0+18)

D1.2.3.4 Report: "Reduced-State Equalisation for MIMO Systems" (T0+18)

D1.2.3.5 Report: Reduced complexity MIMO multicarrier channel estimation (T0+18)

Milestones

See deliverables

29

WP1.2.4: Blind receivers

Workpackage number WP1.2.4 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CNRS GET THALES

Objectives : In most communications systems, the estimation of parameters like channel impulse responses or synchronization parameters is aided by means of training symbols. The use of training symbols however means loss of useful bit rate (spectral efficiency). Therefore the parameter estimation can also be implemented in a blind mode, which means by using the received signal(s) only and structural information about the transmitted symbols. The objectives of this workpackage is to design and investigate the performance of blind estimators and the associated receivers, for channel impulse responses and synchronization parameters.

Description of work Blind receivers for continuous-phase modulated signals in frequency selective channels: study of new blind

equalizers based on two new cost functions: firstly the Constant Norm cost function and secondly a cost function derived from the auto-correlation of the received signal.

Characterization of the behavior of the constant modulus algorithm in the context of CPM signals. Characterization of the statistical performance of various blind estimators of the frequency offset and of the

symbol period By blind pre-filtering in front of a RAKE receiver, try and reach the performance of the LMMSE receiver for

the DS-CDMA downlink. Blind estimation of the parameters to be used by a RAKE receiver.

Deliverables D1.2.4.1. Report on blind channel equalization and blind estimation of technical parameters of CPM signals.( T0+18)D1.2.4.2. Report : "Improvement of the RAKE performance by blind pre-filtering" (T0+12)D1.2.4.3. Report: "Blind algorithms to estimate the RAKE parameters" (T0+18)

Milestones

See deliverables

30

WP1.3.1: Information theoretic description of iterative receivers

Workpackage number WP1.3.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id GET FTW UEN TECHNION UoB LNT/TUM

Objectives The exchange of soft information between distinct receiver components results in iterative algorithms which, if convergent, result in a state of "consensus" concerning the information components of a signal. These method are known to yield only approximate maximum likelihood solutions, owing to the presence of loops in their equivalent belief propagation graphs. Present understanding thus only partially explains the success of "turbo" methods, and the adaptation of information theory tools to describe such iterative algorithms is thus fundamental to the successful design of interconnected receiver components.Study of the impact of Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) Codes when used as the the primary coding mechanism within an iterative belief propagation procedure of large systems. The setting will be modeled as either a multiple user LDPC coded Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and or an equivalent multiple antenna model, with channel state available to the receiver only.

Description of work This work will refine information theoretic tools underlying iterative soft information algorithms, including extrinsic information transfer, density evolution, projections over product distributions, as well as the description of "consensus points" in mutual information terms. The role of these notions in identifying convergence criteria will be developed, and disseminated to the other work packages to assist in design methodologies.Theoretical analysis of the LDPC based scheme will be conducted based on density evolution procedures as well as variants of the Extrinsic Information Transfer (EXIT) technique.

Deliverables

D1.3.1.1 Technical report, "Information theoretic description of iterative detection" (T0+18)

Milestones

Coincides with the deliverables.

31

WP1.3.2: Tools for convergence analysis

Workpackage number WP1.3.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id GET FTW UEN UoB LNT/TUM CERCOM

Objectives The success of the turbo decoding algorithm introduced a decade ago has inspired similar iterative information-exchanging algorithms to jointly optimize receiver subsystems. Although the performance improvements are quite manifest in certain circumstances, misconvergence behavior such as limit cycles, chaos, or numerical singularities are also observed in harsher communication environments. This work package shall develop a better understanding of convergence mechanisms in iterative receiver design, thereby offering invaluable design guidelines for future generation receivers.

Description of work Available analysis techniques for iterative schemes, such as EXIT charts, density evolution, and belief propagation, give decent descriptions for point-to-point communications over addtivie white noise channels, using very long block lengths. Their refinements to handle short block lengths and non-Gaussian interference will be explored, and the connections with nonlinear feedback systems will be developed. The role of these techniques in predicting performance and in developing improved designs will be emphasized.

Deliverables

D1.3.2.1 Technical report: "Convergence tools for iterative receiver design" (T0+18)

Milestones


32

WP1.3.3: Parameter estimation in iterative receivers

Workpackage number

WP1.3.3 Start date or starting event: T0

Participant id GET FTW DLR CNRS UoP UoB LNT/TUM

Objectives In many iterative algorithms, such as turbo-equalization, turbo-detection, turbo-synchronization..., some parameters that need to be estimated (the channel, a phase,...) are usually assumed known for the algorithm design. It is important to reconsider the parameters estimation in the iterative receivers in order to design appropriate algorithms. Also implementation complexity issues will be addressed.

Description of work Iterative algorithms derive from approximation of the maximum a posteriori and use soft-input soft-output processing in the different blocs. Using the same idea, the parameters necessary for each bloc can be estimated. Indeed, a good first estimation (or a priori information) is needed at the initialisation. The impact of the accuracy of the initial estimate will be emphasized. Application to turbo-equalization, turbo-detection, turbo-synchronization will be considered. Also, the realization of a turbo equalizer for high order modulation over a frequency selective channel in a single carrier context will be considered, and a DSP implementation of this equalizer is envisaged to prove the feasibility of a low-complexity iterative receiver

Deliverables D1.3.3.1 Technical report : "Low complexity implementation of linear equalizers with a priori information" (T0+12)D1.3.3.2 Technical report : "Implementation of a turbo equalizer on DSP" (T0+18)D1.3.3.3 Technical report: "Parameters estimation in iterative receivers" (T0+18)

Milestones


33

WP1.4.1: Multiple Access Schemes for Future Wireless Networks

Workpackage number WP1.4.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id UoO Chalmers DLR BILKENT TeSA/CNRS NERA

CERCOM

Objectives The aim of WP1.4.1 is to screen the literature to identify all relevant state-of-the-art research results related to the multiple access schemes. Based on the findings, novel access techniques for future wireless networks will be developed. The main emphasis is on the multiple access schemes that are adaptive and flexible to variable data rates, services and techniques (e.g., multiuser detection, diversity, duplexing). High spectral efficiency and support for heterogeneous air interfaces are also essential properties for future wireless systems.

Description of work The work will start with an extensive literature survey finding the serious candidates for future access schemes. The work will be distributed among the partners to assure that all prominent state-of-the-art techniques will be found. The findings need to be classified into different areas like: novel multiple access candidates, existing air interfaces that should be supported, classification of suitable multiple access schemes for different applications and networks (cellular, hot spot, short range, satellite). The results will be reported in deliverable D1.4.1.1. Thereafter, the most promising multiple access schemes should be chosen and studied closer based on efficiency, robustness, capacity, complexity, adaptivity, and user synchronization demands. The assessment will be based on the common reference models and simulation tools developed in WP1.4.2 (D1.4.2.1). The possible deficiencies and lack of features in D1.4.1.2 will be reported and influence the refined simulation model (D1.4.2.3 of WP1.4.2).

Deliverables

D1.4.1.1 Technical report. “Survey of the potential multiple access schemes for future wireless networks”. (T0+12)

D1.4.1.2. Technical report. “Performance evaluation of the promising multiple access schemes for future wireless networks”. (T0+18)

Milestones

Mid-term meeting 1 (T0 +6)

Mid-term meeting 2, dissemination of D1.4.1.1 (T0+12)

Kick-out meeting, dissemination of D1.4.1.2 (T0+18)

34

WP1.4.2: Simulation Models of Potential Multiple Access Schemes

Workpackage number WP1.4.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id UoO Chalmers DLR BILKENT TeSA/CNRS NERA

Objectives

Developing the knowledge base for a simulation based performance evaluation platform for the assessment of future multiple access schemes is aimed in WP1.4.2. Problems associated with convergence of modelling and simulation of the propagation environment and mobility at different scales will be studied. The multiple access schemes for future systems will address a range of functional problems. These multiple access schemes will be evaluated by simulating them in realistically modelled propagation environment and under realistic user behaviour. Propagation model scale varies from in-house conditions to large area coverage at the rural areas, with detailed surface cover data like urban building models. The mobility of the users must also be modelled, stochastically and geometrically, at different scales: in-cell, inter-cell, handoff and possibly inter-network handoff. Similarly, all air interface level system controls as required by the novel multiple access schemes (e.g., interference modelling, power control, etc.) will be simulated in dynamic environment.

Description of work

A literature survey will be conducted initially and the existing knowledge on available techniques for simulating the propagation environment and the user behaviour will be scrutinised. Possibility of adopting some of the existing open-architecture, open-source software tools as part of development environment will be assessed. Data sets to model the environment for performance testing scenarios and the evaluation criteria and metrics for novel multiple access schemes will be identified. More representative mobility simulation components will be developed and integrated into a common simulation platform. The initial design (D1.4.2.2) will be used in WP1.4.1 for assessment of potential multiple access schemes. The WP1.4.1 work will result in requests for new feature and corrections, and these will be addressed in the refined design (D1.4.2.3).

Deliverables

D1.4.2.1. Technical report: “Survey of propagation environment and mobility simulation techniques and assessment of exiting open architecture simulation tools” (T0+5).

D1.4.2.2. Technical report: “Initial simulation platform design: components, data sets, propagation, mobility models” (T0+12)

D1.4.2.3. Technical report: “Refined simulation platform design: components, data sets, propagation, mobility models” (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+5: Literature survey finished

T0+12: Initial simulation platform design completed

T0 + 18: Refined simulation platform design completed

35

1.5.1: Convergence analysis of iterative multiuser decoding

Workpackage number WP1.5.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id FTW TECHNION GET UEN UCL AU BILKENT

LNT/TUM CERCOM

Objectives The convergence of iterative algorithms in information processing can be explained by means of extrinsic information transfer (EXIT) charts and related tools. These are information-theoretic tools providing predictions about the macroscopic behavior of the iterative multiuser decoder seen as a multi-dimensional dynamical system.This workpackage shall study the convergence issues of iterative multiuser decoders under various system assumptions which are provided by workpackages WP1.5.2, WP1.5.3, WP1.5.4 and WP1.5.6.

Description of work The work will study information theoretic tools to describe iterative multiuser systems, in general, and the most appropriate ones of them will be identified for further use. Iterative multiuser systems proposed in other workpackages will attract particular attention. The workpackages will also provide direct and indirect feedback for workpackages WP1.5.3 and WP1.5.4, respectively, on the suitability of their proposed detectors for iterative algorithms. The starting point will be to understand the variety of iterative algorithms as different approximations to message passing by belief propagation.

Deliverables

D1.5.1.1 Technical report. "Convergence analysis of iterative multiuser decoding". (T0+18)

Milestones


36

WP1.5.2: Non-linear soft-output multiuser detectors

Workpackage number WP1.5.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id FTW GET UEN LNT/TUM CERCOM

Objectives Multiuser detector based on non-linear interference cancellation can achieve much more reliable detection results than linear multiuser detectors at similar complexity. However, these algorithms could not be used in conjunction with forward error-correction coding, as they do not provide reliability information for subsequent channel decoding. It is the task of this workpackage to overcome this shortcoming of these in other respects so promising algorithms

Description of work Methods shall be found to characterise the reliability of decisions of iterative algorithms for multiuser detection (not decoding!). For this purpose, the theory of stochastic Hopfield neural networks will be studied, and applied. Multiuser detector will be proposed and their performance will be evaluated.

Deliverables

D1.5.2.1 Technical report: "Design of non-linear soft-output multiuser detectors". (T0+12).

D1.5.2.2. Technical report: "Performance of non-linear soft-output multiuser detectors". (T0+18).

Milestones


37

WP1.5.3: Power control for iterative multiuser decoding

Workpackage number WP1.5.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id FTW GET TECHNION DLR TeSA/CNRS

Objectives The convergence properties of iterative multiuser decoding can be greatly improved by imposing appropriate unequal power control constraints onto the system. This effect was highlighted and studied for the very simple additive-white Gaussian noise channel and the optimum power control policy was found in the large system limit. This WP shall extend the earlier work in this area to more realistic real-world wireless channels, users with varying rate and quality of service requirements.

Description of work Optimum power control policies for iterative multiuser decoding in fading environments will be sought for.Feasible solutions to the (in general very hard) optimisation problem will be investigated. If solutions turn out to be not feasible, suboptimum approaches to power control will be investigated.

Deliverables

D1.5.3.1. Technical report: "Optimum power control policies" (T0+6) D1.5.3.2. Technical report: "Implementation of power control" (T0+18)

Milestones

T0 + 6: Decision whether optimum power control policies are feasible

38

WP1.5.4: Channel estimation and synchronisation in the iterative loop

Workpackage number WP1.5.4 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id FTW CNRS GU Chalmers UoP

GET UEN UCL AU BILKENTTeSA/CNRS LNT/TUM CERCOM

Objectives

Including channel estimation and synchronisation in the iterative loop of multiuser decoding, reduces the amount of redundancy to be spent for training data. However, present proposals are heuristic approaches for the following reasons:Iterative multiuser decoding can be put onto a profound theoretical basis deriving it from the belief propagation (message passing) algorithm. This implies that only extrinsic information is propagated during iterations and interleaving ensures statistical independence among messages. Including channel estimation and/or synchronisation in the iterative loop, this independence assumption looses justification and it is no longer clear how to combine messages optimally.

Description of work This workpackage shall provide a profound derivation of iterative channel estimation, synchronisation and multiuser decoding from the belief propagation algorithm, propose appropriate approximations where necessary and analyse the performance of the overall iterative system.It shall also be investigated which approximations are needed to apply to the belief propagation algorithm to end up with present heuristic proposals such as expectation maximisation and generalisations thereof. The work shall start with an intense study of previous approaches in literature.

Deliverables D1.5.4.1. Report "State of the art in joint iterative decoding channel estimation and synchronisation for multiuser systems" (T0+6)D1.5.4.2. Report “Channel estimation and synchronisation based on belief propagation” (T0+12)

D1.5.4.3. Report “Combined iterative channel estimation, synchronisation, data detection, and multiuser decoding” (T0+18)

Milestones

T0 + 6: Dissemination meeting to discuss D1.5.4.1

T0 + 12: Propose a method for combining soft data and channel estimates to estimate the interfering signal

39

WP1.5.5: Efficient multiuser detectors for asynchronous and fading channels

Workpackage number WP1.5.5 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id FTW GET DLR CNRS TeSA/CNRS AU ETH

NERA

Objectives Multistage detectors have been found to provide an outstanding trade-off between complexity and performance in systems with many users. However, their concrete design which manifests in the design of tap-weights is still an open problem for many practical scenarios, such as asynchronous transmission, frequency-selective fading channels, and multiple-input multiple output channels. Deliverable D1.5.5.1 of this workpackage will serve as input for WP1.5.6.

Description of work Efficient low-complexity multiuser detectors will be designed on the basis of the multistage Wiener filter.A variety of possible applications will be considered:

Frequency-selective fading channels Asynchronous CDMA Multi-beam sattelite communications

CDMA includes the two options of spreading in time (direct sequence CDMA) and frequency (multi-carrier CDMA).

Deliverables

D1.5.5.1. Technical report: "Multistage detectors for users with arbitrary power distribution" (T0+6)

D1.5.5.2. Technical report: "Multistage detectors for frequency-selctive fading channels" (T0+12)

D1.5.5.3. Technical report: “Multistage detectors for asynchronous transmission” (T0+12)

D1.5.5.4. Technical report: ”Multiuser detectors for multi-beam sattelite communications” (T0+18)

Milestones

Coincide with deliverables.

40

WP1.5.6: Multistage detectors for iterative receivers

(12 months)

Workpackage number WP1.5.6 Start date or starting event: T0+6Participant id FTW GET DLR UCL CNRS AU

LNT/TUM CERCOM

Objectives Multistage detectors studied in WP1.5.5 can also be used in iterative multiuser decoding loops. For this purpose they must be adapted to cope with interference profiles changing during iterations. This adaptation shall be performed in WP1.5.6.

Description of work Multistage detectors for iterative multiuser decoding of direct sequence and/or multi-carrier CDMA will be designed and their performance will be evaluated in iterative systems.

Deliverables

D1.5.6.1. Report “Design of multistage detectors for iterative loops” (T0+12)

D1.5.6.2. Report “Performance evaluation of multistage detectors in iterative loops” (T0+18)

Milestones

Coincide with deliverables.

41

WP1.5.7: Performance evaluation of large systems

Workpackage number WP1.5.7 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id FTW CNRS TECHNION GET UEN

Objectives The performance of multiuser detectors inherently depends on many system parameters (at least on all the users). In order to compare several multiuser detectors in more than one specific scenario, large system analysis has been established as a helpful and accurate tool over the past few year. Multiuser detectors, among them those designed in other WPs, shall be evaluated in the large system limit and optimised with respect to their power bandwidth trade-off.

Description of work For the analysis of large multiuser systems, the following tools are reviewed and applied:

Random matrix theory (developed in applied mathematics and physics) Free probability theory (developed in operator algebras) Replica analysis (developed in statistical mechanics)

With the help of this tools, the performance of a large class of multiuser systems will be evaluated in the large system limit by analytical means and the influence of system parameter onto spectral efficiency will be studied.

Deliverables

D1.5.7.1. Report ”Review of analytic tools for analysis of large communication systems” (T0+6)

D1.5.7.2. Report ”Large system analysis and power bandwidth trade-off of several multiuser systems” (T0+18)

Milestones

T0 + 12: Decide for which multiuser systems large-system analysis can be feasible

42

WP1.6.1: MIMO Broadband Channel Models

Workpackage number WP1.6.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ETH TECHNION LU UEN BILKENT FTW

UCL GET

Objectives The performance gains achievable by MIMO techniques depend critically on the properties of the propagation environment which are captured through the MIMO channel parameters (such as transmit and receive correlation, cross-polarization discrimination, power/gain imbalance, and Ricean K-factor). Most of the previous work on MIMO channel characterization has been restricted to the narrowband case and to point-to-point links. In a multi-user setting the propagation conditions can vary significantly from user to user, which is reflected by wide variations of the propagation parameters.

Description of work Cellular MIMO system design requires an accurate characterization of the propagation environment across the cell in order to optimally leverage the spatial degrees of freedom for capacity maximization. Our general goals are (i) to devise a MIMO channel model where the channel parameters are assumed random accounting for the variation of propagation conditions across the cell and (ii) to characterize the impact of the geographic variation of channel parameters on the achievable MIMO gains. The MIMO channel model parameters we intend to describe by specifying their distribution are transmit and receive correlation between antennas, cross-polarization discrimination, power/gain imbalance, and Ricean K-factor. Clearly, in order to devise reliable models large numbers of data points will be required. This goal shall be achieved through extensive indoor and outdoor measurement campaigns in the 5.2GHz (indoor) and the 2.4GHz bands (outdoor). The measurement campaign will be conducted using ETH’s MIMO channel sounder.

Deliverables

D1.6.1.1. Technical report: Literature survey on multi-user MIMO channel models.

D1.6.1.2. Measurement results.

D1.6.1.3. New multi-user MIMO channel models.

Milestones


T0+6: Technical report (D11)

T0+12: Meeting to discuss measurement results


T0+18: Technical report on new channel models.

43

WP1.6.2: Capacity of MIMO Multi-Access and Broadcast Channels

Workpackage number WP 1.6.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ETH TECHNION DLR LU TUA FTW

GET

Objectives Only recently the capacity region of the single-antenna (i.e. all users and the base station are equipped with a single antenna) frequency-flat fading multi-access channel was computed assuming that both transmitter and receiver have perfect channel state information. In the case where the transmitter has no channel state information, it was shown that for multipath fading channels collision among users in frequency is actually desired in order to maximize the system capacity. The performance loss incurred by using non-collision based multiple-access strategies such as frequency division multiple access (FDMA) has been quantified as well. Moreover, the optimum multiple access strategy assuming perfect channel state information both in the transmitter and the receiver and frequency-selective fading has been found.

First results on the capacity region of the MIMO-MAC for the narrowband flat-fading case have been reported recently. MIMO-BCs are even less explored than MIMO-MACs. Assuming an idealized narrowband flat-fading channel model and perfect channel knowledge at both the transmitter and the receiver several properties of the capacity region have been reported recently.

Description of work In the course of this activity, we plan to

--- derive the capacity region of the MIMO-BC in the general case.

--- investigate whether the recently established duality theory for MACs and BCs can be used to infer properties of the broadband MIMO-BC from insights into broadband MIMO-MACs.

--- study the impact of propagation conditions on the capacity regions of MIMO-MACs and MIMO-BCs.

--- study (suboptimum) encoding and decoding strategies for MIMO-MACs and BCs and the associated performance behavior.

--- study the impact of propagation conditions on the capacity regions of MIMO-MACs and BCs.

Deliverables

D1.6.2.1. Technical report: Capacity region of MIMO-BCs.

D1.6.2.2. Technical report: Duality theory for MIMO-MACs and MIMO-BCs (broadband case).

D1.6.2.3. Technical report: Impact of propagation conditions on capacity region of MIMO-MACs and BCs.

D1.6.2.4: Technical report: Impact of (suboptimum) encoding and decoding strategies on capacity regions of MIMO-MACs and BCs.

Milestones


T0+6: Technical reports (D1.6.2.1, D1.6.2.2)


T0+12: Technical reports (D1.6.2.3, D1.6.2.4)

T0+18: Publications ready for submission (D1.6.2.5)

44

WP1.6.3: Signaling in Multi-User MIMO Systems

Workpackage number WP 1.6.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ETH FTW TUA BILKENT TECHNION UPC

GET UCL LNT/TUM

Objectives The choice of preferred spatial transmission mode in a MIMO system, i.e., spatial multiplexing or space-time coding depends crucially on the propagation conditions. MIMO channels with high rank are typically more amenable to spatial multiplexing whereas channels with large Frobenius norm are typically better suited for space-time coding. Experimental studies have shown that adapting the MIMO transmission mode to the spatial channel statistics can result in an order of magnitude improvement in performance in terms of bit error rate. Moreover, in a multi-user MIMO system besides spatial multiplexing and space-time coding the spatial degrees of freedom can also be used to induce fast channel variations (opportunistic beamforming). The goal of this activity is to study questions revolving around the optimal allocation of spatial degrees of freedom in multi-user MIMO systems taking into account the channel properties. Moreover, we will rely on the channel models obtained from activity 1.6.1.

Description of work This work is theoretical in nature. We plan to address the following issues:

--- optimal allocation of spatial degrees of freedom via characterization of the resulting capacity regions

--- scheduling for MIMO systems

--- impact of propagation conditions and channel knowledge on optimal allocation of spatial degrees of freedom

Deliverables

D1.6.3.1. Technical report: Literature survey on optimal allocation of spatial degrees of freedom in multi-user MIMO systems.

D1.6.3.2. Technical report: Scheduling for MIMO systems.

D1.6.3.3. Technical report: Impact of channel knowledge and propagation characteristics on optimal allocation of spatial degrees of freedom.

D1.6.3.4. Joint research publication(s): Signaling in multi-user MIMO systems.

Milestones


T0+6: Technical reports (D31, D32)



T0+18: Publications ready for submission (D34)

45

WP1.7.1: User Mobility Tracking

Workpackage number WP1.7.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id GET CNRS

Objectives The subject of this WP is mobility tracking, which we define as the process by which the network keeps track of a user’s location. Mobility tracking, which not only enables efficient network control but also offers very useful additional services, is an important issue in mobility management for cellular networks. Two quantities can be used to obtain the location and velocity information of a mobile: pilot signal strengths from different base stations measured at a mobile and the corresponding propagation times. Both parameters are subject to strong irregular variations caused by short-term fading, shadowing and reflection. Mobility tracking is essentially a problem of on-line estimation in a nonlinear dynamic system, for which the extended Kalman filter (EKF) is so far the main solution. However, EKF is not optimal and may lead to divergence due to the nonlinear nature of the system. Recently, Sequential Monte Carlo (SMC) filters have been proposed has a promising alternative to EKF, allowing to deal with the non-linear dynamic in a more reliable and efficient way. SMC to deal with more realistic models for the user dynamic and to incorporate more complex informations on the signal attenuation/ We propose in this WP to further examine the following issues: design an efficient nonparametric tracker relaxing the assumptions on the prior model for user movement, specify more efficient methods for handling nonlinearity by coupling SMC and EKF strategy, use of more realistic signal model taking into account the spatial and temporal dependence of the shadowing process

Description of work The work will start wit an extensive litterature survey trying to identify the most promising approaches. This work will be distributed among the partners to assure that all proemnient state-of-the-art techniques will be found. The findings need to be classified in terms of complexity, robustness to errors in the signal / mobility models, prior information available on the propagation system, etc. These results will be reported in deliverable D1.7.1.1. Based on this, novel tracking algorithms will be developed and assessed. Algorithms specifications and preliminary results will be reported in D1.7.1.2.

Deliverables

D1.7.1.1 Technical report. "User mobility tracking: state of the art”. (T0+12)

D1.7.1.2. Technical report. “User mobility tracking: algorithms specifications” (T0+18)

Milestones

Mid-term meeting 1 (T0+ 6)

Mid-term meeting 2, dissemintaion of F11 (T0+12)

Kick out meeting, dissemination of F12 (T0+18)

46

WP1.7.2: Handoff Algorithms

Workpackage number WP1.7.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id GET CNRS ETH

Objectives Third generation (3G) wireless systems promise hierarchical coverage, seamless roaming, increased data rates, and support for multimedia connections. One of the most important problems for 3G wireless service is handoff management. In classical networks, handoff. is the process whereby a mobile communicating with one set of base stations is switched to another set of base stations during a call. In heterogeneous networks, handoff should be extended to swith users from one system to another (inter-system handoff). Conventional ad hoc approaches compare the absolute and/or relative signal strength measurements with some predetermined threshold. Recently, new class of handoff algorithms have been developed based on various optimization criteria, with very simple underlying signal models which does not take into account the user mobility. In this WP, we propose to consider novel strategies to couple (both soft and hard) handoff and mobility tracking, in order to optimize a handoff cost, which make a compromise between the number of handoff and the a criterion assessing the link quality. A natural and challenging extensions of this work is to consider handoff in heterogenous systems to support universal connectivity for mobile users, and quality of service (QoS) constraints for mobile connections

Description of work The work will start with an extensive literature survey finding the serious candidatesfor handoff. The work will be distributed among the partners to assure that all prominent state-of-the-art techniques will be found. The results will be reported in deliverable D1.7.2.1. Thereafter, the most promising handoff schemes should be chosen and studied closer based on efficiency, robustness, capacity, complexity.. The assessment will be based on common reference models and simulation tools . The results will be reported in D1.7.2.2.

Deliverables

D1.7.2.1. Technical report: "Handoff algorithms : state of the art". (T0+12).

D1.7.2.2. Technical report: "Handoff algorithms : novel optimization algorithms". (T0+18).

Milestones


47

WP1.7.3: Network Signaling and Coding Strategies

Workpackage number WP1.7.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id GET CNRS ETH FTW

Objectives Assess the performance of various signaling schemes under realistic propagation conditions. Taking into

account the ad hoc network specific MIMO channel model to be developed in the course of the proposed research project

Extend the theory of network coding to fading networks. In the fading context new notions such as network diversity will arise, which will result in the need for new performance characterizations and coding strategies.

Design of network codes in combination with suboptimum, but computationally more attractive transmit/receive algorithms such as amplify-and-forward instead of decode-and-forward and on the receive side successive interference cancellation or simple linear receivers instead of maximum-likelihood decoding.

Take into account the relevant node imperfections and derive the design criteria for network codes for the resulting effective channel conditions.

Derive optimum allocations of the available spatial degrees of freedom to the different transmission modes such as transmitter-induced channel variations, spatial multiplexing, and space-time coding

Description of work A literature survey will be conducted and the existing knowledge on available results to analyze and design network codes will be scrutinized. Ad-hoc network specific channel model will be developped. The state of the art will be reported in deliverable D1.7.3.1. Based on this state-of-the art, novel coding and signalling strategies will be designed and their performance will be analyzed. These results will be reported in D1.7.3.2.

Deliverables

D1.7.3.1. Technical report. "Network signalling and coding: state of the art”. (T0+12)

D1.7.3.2. Technical report. “Network signalling and coding: algorithms specifications and simulations” (T0+18)

Milestones

Mid-term meeting 1 (T0+6)

Mid-term meeting 2, dissemintaion of D1.7.3.1 (T0+12)

Kick out meeting, dissemination of D1.7.3.2 (T0+18)


48

Department 2.- MIMO radio channel modelling for design optimisation and performance assessment of next generation communication systems

Activities/WorkpackagesWP2.1 Realistic characterization of MIMO response matrices Activity 2.2: Stochastic channel models for MIMO applications

WP2.2.1 Stochastic channel models for MIMO applications WP2.2.2 Computer implementation of channel models for MIMO application

WP2.3 Model-based channel estimation techniques

49

WP2.1 Realistic characterization of MIMO response matrices

Workpackage number WP2.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id FTW AU GET UCL LU CERCOM

Objectives

The general purpose of this work package is to develop realistic random models for MIMO response matrices and to investigate in detail the properties of these matrices that are critical for communication systems using space-time coding techniques, like the probability distributions of their eigenvalues, number of effective eigenchannels, and capacity.

Description of work1. Bi-directional spread function model

Investigations will be conducted to extend the representation for time-variant frequency-selective MIMO systems. Since the current version of the virtual representation of the channel shows some oversimplifications (e.g., considering only the support (and not the weighted average) of the energy within a beam), we propose to investigate possible refinements of this model. Moreover, beam based physical modelling will be used to assess the physical meaning of proposed solutions, or to help making "physically meaningful" choices.

2. Random response matrix of MIMO system:In this model, the asymptotic eigenvalue distribution is derived using tools from the random matrix and free probability theory. Refinement of this approach has already been proposed by taking into account the Rx (and Tx) antenna correlation. The next objective is to integrate with the partners the directions of arrival and departure in the random matrix model and to derive the non-ergodic behaviour of the mutual information when considering Doppler, DOD and DOA. Connections between this random matrix approach and other models such as the virtual representation and the bi-directional spread function model (see Item 1) will also be made to validate the temporal, spectral and spatial representation of these models.

3. Keyhole and pinhole scenario, low-rank MIMO systems:It has been shown that the key-hole-like channels have a bi-directional spread-function that can be factored into the product of the directional spread functions at the Tx and Rx sites. Further investigations will be performed to get a clear understanding of the impact of the bi-directional spread function on the number of eigenchannels of MIMO systems and to identify the features of the bidirectional spread function leading to response matrices with low rank.

4. Array optimisation:The relationships between the MIMO response matrix and the bidirectional-spread function and between the MIMO covariance matrix and the bidirectional power spectrum enable detailed investigations of the joint effects of the array characteristics and the propagation conditions on the properties of MIMO systems. These relationships will be exploited to perform array optimisation (i.e. layout and element field patterns) for specific propagation conditions.

Deliverables

D2.1.1: Literature survey on MIMO channel models

D2.1.2 Convergence and extension of the different channel modelling approaches for the wideband case

D2.1.3 Assessment of the models using measurements provided by partners and other organizations (NoEs, COST 273, etc.)

Milestones

T0+6: Meeting for the dissemination of work

T0+6: Technical report D2.1.1

T0+12:Technical report D2.1.2

T0+18:Technical report D2.1.3, joint publications

50

WP2.2.1 Stochastic channel models for MIMO applications

Workpackage number WP2.2.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id LU AU CNRS GET UCL

Objectives

The objective of this work-package is to extend and refine recently proposed generic models for geometry-based stochastic models. Special attention is going to be placed on the actual implementation methods of the models, and on their impact on the performance of MIMO systems tested in those model environments.

The WP puts the emphasis on parametric description methods, especially the geometry-based stochastic channel model and the tapped delay-line model. In a geometry-based stochastic channel model (GSCM), the directionally resolved impulse response is related to the location of scatterers. These locations are chosen stochastically. The actual impulse response is then found by a simplified ray-tracing procedure. An alternative, but equivalent approach, is the use of a discretized version of the joint angular delay power spectrum (ADPS), i.e., a generalized “tapped delay line” model.

Description of work 1. Extension of the GSCM approach to indoor environments:

It has recently been recognized that the GSCM approach can in principle also be used for MIMO simulations, but requires several modifications to accurately model effects like interdependence of directions-of-arrival and directions-of-departure. A generic modeling framework for macro- and microcells was developed by Lund University in [Molisch 2002ab]. In the current WP, its extension to indoor environment will be investigated.

2. Micro-characterization of the propagation constellation: A prerequisite for channel models to accurately reproduce the number of degrees of freedom typically encountered in real channels is that they incorporate an accurate description of the behaviour of the contribution to the channel system responses of each scatterer individually. One objective of the research activity will be to derive simple parametric models accurately describing (1) the scattering features, i.e. in direction and delay, of objects in the propagation environments that contribute to the channel system responses, like buildings, trees, mountains, etc. and (2) the large-scale fluctuations of these contributions, e.g. by means of birth-death processes.

Deliverables

D2.2.1.1 Technical report on generic GSCM structure for indoor environments

D2.2.1.2 Technical report on relationship between GSCM structure and correlation-based or TDL measurements and models

D2.2.1.3 Data files and evaluation results from exemplary indoor measurements for parameterization of indoor model

D2.2.1.4 Technical report on birth-death processes and large-scale channel fluctuations

51

MilestonesT0+8: Planning of exemplary indoor measurement campaigns finalized

T0+9: Literature review of modelling methods and measurement results of large-scale fluctuations finished.

T0+10: Preliminary investigation of relationship GSCM – tapped delay line finished

T0+12: GSCM indoor structure finalized; Basic approach for large-scale fluctuation modelling chosen

T0+12: Measurements performed

T0+16: MATLAB code for GSCM indoor simulations finished

T0+16: Measurement evaluation finished

T0+18: Parameterization of model based on measurements finished

T0+18: Implementation and parameterization of large-scale fluctuations finished

52

WP2.2.2 Computer implementation of channel models for MIMO applications

Workpackage number WP2.2.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id LU AU CNRS

Objectives

The main purpose of the work package is to develop a MATLAB implementation of the stochastic models derived within work package WP2.2.1. As models are including increasing amounts of information (especially more directional information), they are becoming progressively more complicated. One of the biggest obstacles for realistic simulations nowadays is the effort for writing simulation programs and the uncertainty created by the impact of different implementation of (the same physical) channel model. Providing MATLAB routines to all NoE partners will significantly alleviate those problems.

Description of work 1. Computer implementation in MATLAB:

Simulation packages implementing the derived stochastic models will be developed and made available to the other partners of the NoE.

2. Complexity of simulation programmes One of the key aspects of all channel models is the implementation efficiency. The models that we will develop within the project are mainly intended for the testing of smart antennae and MIMO algorithms and networks. It is thus required that the generation of the channel response should not take significantly longer than the runtime of the algorithms to be tested.

3. One-bounce versus two-bounce scattering:In the geometry-based model for MIMO systems, a vital question is (1) if there are multiple-scattering processes, (2) the first scatterer acts as source for multiple second scatterers simultaneously, or whether the second scatterer is selected stochastically from the ensemble at hand (which requires much less computer time). We will investigate whether these two approaches give the same results.

Deliverables

D2.2.2.1 MATLAB software for comparison of different two-bounce implementations

D2.2.2.2 Report on implementation efficiency of GSCM versus tapped delay line for software and hardware implementation

D2.2.2.3 Technical report on impact of implementation method on MIMO information-theoretical capacity and BLAST performance

D2.2.2.4 Software implementation (MATLAB) of the chosen implementation approach

D2.2.2.5 Report on testing and verification of MATLAB program

Milestones

T0+6: Specification of approaches to be investigated for complexity

T0+8: Theoretical investigation of complexity finalized

T0+10: Program specs for chosen approach finalized

T0+14: Simulation program MATLAB finalized

T0+18: Verification of program finalized

T0+16: Impact of implementation on algorithm evaluation tested

T0+14: Two-bounce simulation program finished

T0+18: Report on impact of different two-bounce strategies finished

53

WP2.3 Model-based channel estimation techniques

Workpackage number WP2.3 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id UU FTW AU CNRS

Objectives The general objective of this work package is to assess how the knowledge and results earned within WP2.2.1 and WP2.2.2 can be exploited to (1) identify efficient, i.e. accurate, robust and feasible, channel estimation algorithms and (2) to optimise strategy for channel acquisition and estimation in wireless communication systems.

More specifically, estimation techniques relying on an accurate model of the effect to be captured will be investigated, like for instance direction estimation for slightly scattering sources. Another focus will be on optimisation of data-aided channel estimation techniques.

Description of work

Two concrete sub-projects will be conducted :

1. Optimal amount of trainingThe optimal amount of training versus data communications is of crucial importance as it penalizes the bit rate in fast fading environment. Usual design methods and non-coherent (channel unknown at the transmitter and the receiver) MIMO capacity assessments are based on an unrealistic block fading assumption (the channel is constant during a block duration). The goal is to exploit the new models derived (incorporating the Doppler effect) to predict the channel and reduce the amount of training.

2. Estimation of directionPreliminary works have shown that the estimation of direction of arrival and direction of departure of waves can drastically be improved when the diffuse nature of scatterers are taken into account in the estimator. The work will be extended in order to derive low complex, yet efficient parametric estimation methods based on diffuse scattering models.

Some additional sub-projects fitting the general goal might by identified and addressed within the course of the project as a result of interactions with and/or request from other departments (especially Department 1).

DeliverableD2.3.1: Literature survey of model-based channel estimation techniques.D2.3.2 Technical report D42: Preliminary results

Milestones



T0+12:Workshop

T0+18: Preparation of joint publications

54

Department 3.- Design, modeling and experimental characterisation of RF and microwave devices and subsystems

Activities/Workpackages: WP3.1 Power amplifier linearization WP3.2 Oscillator phase noise modeling and estimationWP3.3 Micromechanical systems as filters in wireless applicationsWP3.4 On the integration of microwave front-ends

55

WP3.1: Power amplifier linearization

Workpackage number WP3.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id UU Chalmers CERCOM Bilkent UoP ISIK

Objectives

Nonlinear behavior of power amplifiers have a negative impact on the operation of most wireless systems. Reducing the third-order intermodulation distortion in these amplifiers is a direct benefit for the whole system performance. We plan to find new ways of linearizing amplifers made from solid state devices like HEMTs, HBTs, LDMOSs, pHEMTs, MESFETs and HFETs.

Description of work

Experimental characterisation and modelling of solid-state devices used in amplifers will be tackled. Large signal characterization of transistors must involve load-pull measurements. Load-pull measurements in the presence of modulated signals like WCDMA or OFDM signals will be of particular importance. Once the linearity requirements of power amplifiers for such signals are well defined, we plan to find system models of amplifiers, and try to reduce the intermodulation distortion by techniques like predistortion or nonlinear equalization. We plan to work on new methods of amplifier linearization. We propose to develop numerical tools based on Harmonic Balance method to predict the nonlinear performance of RF devices. SiGe HBT transistors are highly linear devices with very promising characteristics. Power amplifer design techniques will be investigated with a focus on these devices.

Deliverables

D3.1.1. Technical report: "State-of-art in amplifier linearization"

D3.1.2. Technical report: "Nonlinear device characterization and modeling by load-pull measurements in the presence of modulated signals"

D3.1.3. Technical report: "Simulation of nonlinearities of amplifiers using harmonic balance method in the presence of modulated signals"

Milestones

T0+6: Meeting for dissemination of work, Technical Report (D3.1.1)

T0+12: Meeting for dissemination of work, technical report (D3.1.2)

T0+14: Technical report (D3.1.3)


56

WP3.2: Oscillator phase noise modeling and estimation

Workpackage number WP3.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CERCOM Chalmers BILKENT UoP

Objectives

Phase noise in oscillators used in wireless systems can be a severe limitation to overall system performance, especially in OFDM systems where carriers may be closely spaced.

Description of work We develop system models of oscillators, and study methods to reduce the effects of phase noise. The undesirable results of transmitter phase noise can be reduced if the receiver can estimate the phase by using pilot symbols. We will also develop device-level models suited for oscillator design, in particular models for the noise behaviour able to provide a correct estimate of the oscillator noise in the presence of conversion.

Deliverables

D3.2.1. Technical report: "State-of-art in low phase-noise oscillator and PLL design"

D3.2.2. Technical report: "Phase noise estimation for the purpose of reducing bit errors in wireless systems"

Milestones




57

WP3.3: Micromechanical systems as filters in wireless applications

Workpackage number WP3.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CTTC UU CERCOM

Objectives

Full integration of receivers is not possible if one uses SAW filters in a superheterodyne receiver. Microelectromechanical structures in silicon devices provide a way of obtaining resonant structures on the same substrate.

Description of work

Simulation of MEMS filters using CAD tools. Estimation of their performance in terms of loss, quality factor, size. Electromagnetic simulation of the RF performances of MEMS.

Deliverables

D3.3.1. Technical report: "State-of-art in MEMS RF filters"

Milestones

T: Kickoff meeting



58

WP3.4: On the integration of microwave front-ends

Workpackage number WP3.4 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id UU CERCOM UoP CTTC Bilkent Chalmers ISIK

Objectives

Around Europe there are a number of different but related activities towards building blocks for monolithic or hybrid integration of RF front-end. The instruments we need in Europe for the advancement of integration techniques will involve both evolutionary and revolutionary concepts on both the antenna side and on the integration technique. The objective is to structure the work towards the design of RX/TX system integrated with the antenna forming either an RF SoC or SiP. The work will be done in close collaboration with WP3.1 – WP3.3 since the components in these WP's are expected to be integrated together with the antenna structure to form the RX/TX system. The type of configuration depends on the application and could include reconfigurable RX/TX front-ends for adaptivity to the signal environment.

Description of work

The different participants will contribute with their knowledge in three tasks on the integration technique. In the last task collaborations with other RWC's are expected.

Selection of a suitable integration technique. Analysys of techniques incorporating electronically controlled devices or micro-electro-mechanical systems

(MEMS), which can create frequency and scan dependent impedance matching circuits for an integrated RX/TX front-end antenna array.

Intelligent surfaces and means for adaptation involving also the use of antenna array parameter estimation algorithms.

Deliverables D3.4.1. Work distribution and organization for collaborationD3.4.2. Agreement between institutes and universities on sharing Ph.D.-students.D3.4.3. Report on present work in Europe on RX/TX systems integrated with the antenna.D3.4.4. Report on how to integrate the knowledge in order to reach the objectives and initial design specification of RF SoC or SiP.D3.4.5. Meeting for dissemination of the work every 6 months, with smaller collaborative meetings in-between.D3.4.6. Progress report for the continuation after 18 months.D3.4.7. Number of joint publications and Ph.D.-students examined within the JPA.D3.4.8. Formation of other collaborative effort, e.g. STREPS

MilestonesT0 + 4 months: Report (D3.4.3) on Report on present work in Europe on RX/TX systems integrated with the antenna.T0 + 6 months: Draft document (D3.4.4) on suggestions on how to collaborate.T0 + 12months: Meeting on how to structure the research and how to share the knowledge based on the draft document. Brainstorming on evolutionary and revolutionary concepts on integration technique. Discussion on how to merge the ideas within present context.T0+18 months: Progress meeting, evaluation of the objectives, and the work done by the Ph.D.-students, and planning for the intermediate report (D3.4.6). Planning for future STREPS proposals in the area. Dissemination of the results in a workshop on RX/TX and integration techniques.

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Department 4 – Analysis, design and implementation of digital architectures and cirsuits

Activity 4. 1: IP design framework for SoC Work Packages

WP4.1: IP design framework for SoC

Activity 4.2 : Architectures & Circuits for high performance channel decoders Work Packages

WP4.2.1: Analogue turbo decoderWP4.2.2: High-level modelling of iterative decoders and implementation on programmable SoCWP4.2.3: Parallel implementation of Low-Density Parity-Check decoders

Activity 4.3 Reconfigurable Hardware/Software Platforms Work Packages

WP4.3.1: Hardware ArchitectureWP4.3.2: Digital Front End (DFE)WP4.3.3: Software ArchitectureWP4.3.4: Definition of the platform Reconfiguration ManagerWP4.3.5: Integrated Development EnvironmentWP4.3.6: Common Layers RATsWP4.3.7: Coordination & Integration

Activity 4.4 : Architectures & Circuits for Multimedia Application Work Packages

WP4.4.1: VLIW architecture for multimediaWP4.4.2: IP for joint source/channel coding

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WP4.1.1: IP design framework for SOC

Workpackage number WP4.1.1 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id CERCOM UPC GET UoP TUA

Objectives The objectives of this topic are to put in place a design framework for SOC and to build shared IP libraries to be used for the cooperative simulation and development of wireless systems.

Description of work The objectives of this topic are to put in place a design framework for SOC and to build shared IP libraries to be used for the cooperative simulation and development of wireless systems.

Three main activities are identified as:1. Define of a common or compatible design flow, identify the most suitable tools, adoption of coherent

interfaces and interconnect structures. This include a study of state of the art design methods, languages and system design tools

2. Validate the design using existing circuit architectures. 3. Design the first set of IP's using the design flow. A first block to be design will be a turbo coder/decoder for

block codes. The design flow will be also used for other IP's developed in the frame of sub-topics 2, 3 and 4.

Deliverables

D4.1.1.1: Report on the common design flow for SOC

D4.1.1.2: Report on joint libraries of IP's within NEWCOM

D4.1.1.3: Report on the validation of the developed design flow for the case of a block turbo coder/decoder.

MilestonesT0+1 to T0+4: define needs and state of the art system design methods and tools and put the design flow in place. T0+5 to T0+12: validate the design flow T0+13 to T0+18: Development of a first IP using the design flow

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WP4.2.1: Analog turbo decoder

Workpackage number WP4.2.1 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id GET ETH LNT/TUM

Objectives The objective of this topic is to design a complete fully integrateble analogue decoder .

Description of work Two main activities are identified as:

1. Define the analogue decoder’s structure. This implies identifying the proper topology for fabrication process and temperature variations robustness. Other elements to study are:

- analogue data memorisation- interleavers- analogue demodulation

2. Design of each single block and the overall decoder.

Deliverables D4.2.1.1 Report on the high performance analogue decoder and a set of IP's for analogue decoders.

MilestonesT0+1 to T0+4: define the analog decoder’s structure.T0+5 to T0+18: design of basic analog decoder

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WP4.2.2: High-level modelling of iterative decoders and implementation on programmable SoC

Workpackage number WP4.2.2 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id CERCOM UPC GET UoP TUA LU TURBOCPT

Objectives The objective of this topic is to design a flexible and reconfigurable architecture for turbo decoders; reconfigurability will be referred to the most important system-level parameters (such as data rate, block size, ...), but also alternative architectural structures will be supported for different power, latency and throughput requirements.

Description of work The work will be structured in the following activities

1. Analysis of system level requirements for turbo codes and study of proposed architectural solutions.2. Development of a high level versatile models of turbo decoders to perform architectural comparisons among

already known and novel solutions, in terms of power dissipation, throughput, latency, ...3. Definition of the overall decoder architecture with the required flexibility characteristics4. Design at the RT level and verification of the turbo decoder architecture.

Deliverables D4.2.2.1 Report on the developed high level models of turbo decoders.D4.2.2.2 Report on the designed flexible architecture for digital turbo decoders

MilestonesT0+4: Analysis of known architecturesT0+12: High level models and comparisonsT0+12: Architecture definitionT0+18: RTL design

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WP4.2.3: Parallel implementation of Low-Density Parity-Check decoders

Workpackage number

WPS.5 Start date or starting event: T0

End date or end event: T0+18Participants id GET CERCOM TUA UoP UPC LU

Objectives While the traditional approach to perform iterative decoding in turbo and block turbo codes exploits the inherent sequential nature of the decoding algorithms, a very promising alternative solution is to accomplish iterative processing in a block parallel method. An important class of powerful codes that can be decoded following this approach includes Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes. The objective of this WP is to investigate on the properties of the LDPC decoding algorithms and to develop optimised dedicated architectures supporting different power, latency and throughput trade-offs.

Description of work The work will be structured in the following activities

5. Analysis of the decoding algorithms for LDPC codes 6. Development of high level models of LDPC decoders to perform architectural comparisons among already

known and novel solutions, in terms of power dissipation, throughput, and latency.7. Definition of the overall decoder architecture.8. Design at the RT level and verification of the LDPC decoder architecture.

Deliverables D4.2.3.1 Report on the developed high level models and related comparisonsD4.2.3.2 Report on the designed architecture.

Time planT0 to T0+4: Analysis of decoding algorithms and known architecturesT0+5 to T0+12: High level models and comparisonsT0+10 to T0+12: Architecture definitionT0+13 to T0+18: RTL design

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WP4.3.1: Hardware Architecture(12 months)

Workpackage number WP4.3.1 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id CERCOM UPC GET UoP LU CNRS

Objectives The main purpose of this work-package is to identify the proper devices to use for each task and the suitable architecture of the digital part of a reconfigurable wireless system. This includes the AD/DA issues, the processing devices (FPGA, DSPs, microprocessors, ASICs) and its connectivity requirements. The main objective will be to identify the topology and architecture of such heterogeneous digital platform.

Description of work A1. State of the art. This activity will be focused on searching information about the available devices, connectivity technologies, development tools facilities, etc. for reconfigurable hardware platforms. A2. Wireless digital hardware Requirements

It is clear that wireless systems imposes its own constraints to the hardware platforms to be used. In that activity we will identify the relevant issues related with reconfiguration when this implies strong support to Software Radio concepts for wireless systems. Issues related with pass-band sampling, IF and Base-Band computing requirements of several representative RATs should be taken into account.

A3. Platform architecture definition

This activity should identify clearly the main rules to design a reconfigurable hardware platform to support wireless systems. It is clear that at short term technology can push into a solution that should be not feasible for a long term solution. Then, it will necessary to define the dependant from technology topics differentiating from the architecture dependant topics and identify the most suitable architectures.

A4 Hardware Platform development

With previous related task our proposal contemplates on that activity the development, mixing manufacturer and ad-hoc developed subsystems, of a generic and scalable platform suitable to be used in most of the task to be done on the rest of work-packages that consider activity 3.

Deliverables

D4.3.1.1 Main issues of reconfigurable hardware platforms supporting wireless systems. ( T0+14)

MilestonesT0+5 State of the artT0+5: Wireless digital hardware RequirementsT0+6: Platform architecture definitionT0+13: Hardware Platform development

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WP4.3.2: Digital Front End (DFE)

Workpackage number WP4.3.2 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id CNRS

Objectives Digital Front End (DFE) including SP techniques to compensate the residual degradation due to the wide band multistandard Analog Front End (AFE).

A Software Radio Wideband Multistandard Front End architecture will be shared in two main blocks, separated by a very powerful Analog to Digital Converter. The first block called Analog Front End (AFE) will keep classical analog functions which couldn’t today be performed in the digital domain. A contrario, the second block, called Digital Front End (DFE) will perform in the digital domain some functions formerly done in the analog domain: such as I/Q conversion, standard and channel filtering and selection…Processing a wideband signal in the analog domain will result in some degradations (such as nonlinearities) .The objective of this WP is to deal with theses problems.

Description of work In a first phase, we will identify and evaluate the new DFE functions as well as the residual analog degradations. Then we will propose algorithms to perform all these DFE functions and also the needed digital functions to compensate for the residual degradations. These functions to compensate degradations are, partly, based on non-linear equalization and estimation techniques.Finally we will study the ways to perform jointly the DFE and the degradations correction functions.

Deliverables D4.3.2.1: Review and state of the art of all the functions to be performed in the DFE.D4.3.2.2: Definition and specification of the digital algorithms.

MilstonesT0+9 : Identification and Specification of all the functions to be performed in the DFE.T0+18: Study, definition and specification of the digital algorithms.

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WP4.3.3: Software Architecture(13 months)


Objectives The objective of this work-package is to address the Software requirements to manage, at a high level of abstraction and in a unified way, the different hardware platforms; the methodology should be scalable and reusable for different hardware platforms.

Description of work A1. State of art.

This activity will evaluate the current different approach for the Sofware Architecture of a wireless system.

A2. Wireless Software systems requirements.

On this activity we propose to evaluate the present and future requirements that can impose the wireless systems to from the Software point of view .

A3. Software Architecture Definition.

This activity should identify clearly the main rules to design a Software Architecture for wireless system that support the reconfiguration process. Such architecture should take into account the scalability of the proposed solution and its deployement in a quite different hardware platforms.

A4. Software Architecture Development and Integration on the WP4.3.1 framework

The activity should be focused on the deployment of the proposed Software Architecture solution for the platform developed in WP4.3.1.

Deliverables

T0+10: Base Software architecture for wireless systems

Time planT0+6 to T0+7: State of the artT0+8 to T0+9: Wireless Software RequirementsT0+10 to T0+12: Sofware Architecture definitionT0+13 to T0+18: Software Platform development

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WP4.3.4: Definition of the platform Reconfiguration Manager(16 months)


Objectives

The main goal is to develop a framework to manage and control the reconfiguration process taking into account he available reconfigurable resources provides by the HW/SW platform.

Description of work A1. Identify the Platform Reconfiguration Manager requirements.

Such activity should identify the most suitable requirements that the reconfiguration process impose over the HW/SW platform. From that requirements the Reconfiguration Manager architecture, functionalities and interfaces should be identified and defined.

A2.Define the Platform Reconfiguration Manager.

The definition of the Platform Reconfiguration Manager includes solutions for several functionalities such as providing information on resource availability, handling of the platform reconfiguration process, interaction with the overall network reconfiguration controller, translation of the generic code (Virtual Machine) to the current platform, the process execution manager, support to the download mechanism, etc.

A3. Development of a Reconfiguration Manager

Develop a solution for the Reconfiguration Manager to be incorporated to the HW/SW platform designed in WP4.3.1 and WP4.3.2.

Deliverables

D4.3.4.1 (T0+12) Platform Reconfiguration Manager to support wireless systems

MilestonesT0+7: Platform Reconfiguration Manager RequirementsT0+10: Define the Platform Reconfiguration ManagerT0+18: Development of the Platform Reconfiguration Manager

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WP4.3.5: Integrated Development Environment


Objectives The objective of such activity will be focused in identifying the requirements for the monitoring tools, necessaries to check the behavior of all the communication system, and the development tools in order to provide the basis for defining mechanisms to propose solutions to the observed misalignments in an automatic way.

Description of work A1. Monitoring requirements

Identify the most relevant parameters, and its periodicity, that should be checked during the running time of a wireless platform in order to evaluate the behavior of the communication system.

A2. Define Monitoring tools

Define the monitoring tools architecture taking into account its integration in the Software Architecture that should support the Software Radio concept.

A3: Develop a generic Monitoring Tool

Develop a generic monitoring tool that can be supported by quite different HW/SW platforms.

A4. Identify the Integration of the Monitoring tools and Development tools requirements

Define the functionalities to be achieved with the proposed integration and perform the analysis of the requirements and constraints that will introduce.

Deliverables

D4.3.5.1 (T0+16): Integration of Monitoring tools and Development tools.

MilstonesT0+1 to T0+3: Monitoring RequirementsT0+4 to T0+6: Define Monitoring toolsT0+7 to T0+14: Develop a generic Monitoring toolT0+1 to T0+18: Identify the Integration requirements of the Monitoring tools and the Development tools.

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WP4.3.6: Common Layers RATs


Objectives Introduce rationality in the development of the modules to produce the lower layers functionalities (Physical, MAC, RLC) when consider the Software Radio concepts specially the reconfiguration process. The main objectives should be identify the reusable and parameterizable parts of such layers trying to avoid the complete download of a new standard when moves from one RAT to another. At least two heterogeneous RATs should be designed together with the required procedures to support reconfiguration process.

Description of work A1. Common Physical Layer, MAC, RLC and RRM

A2. Signalling to support reconfiguration

On this activity we propose to consider the parameterization techniques for improving the software size, the run time, the sharing between components.

A3. Signalling to support reconfiguration

Deliverables

D4.3.6.1: (T0+11) Common Lower Layers

D4.3.6.2: (T0+18) Signaling to support Reconfiguration

MilestonesT0+1 to T0+10: Common PhysicalT0+1 to T0+10: Common MACT0+1 to T0+10: Common Link Layer T0+1 to T0+10: Common Radio Resource Management interactionT0+8 to T0+18: Signaling to support reconfiguration

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WP4.3.7: Coordination & Integration


Objectives The objective of this workpackage is to coordinate the work performed in the other WPs providing the necessary feedback mechanisms to provide a suitable and realistic solution for the issues assumed by each WPs

Description of work A1. Coordination task

This activity should coordinate the different work-packages activities to produce a coherent solution.

A2. Integration task

This activity work is related with integration of the activities performed in the different work-packages to produce a reconfigurable platform that supports the Software Radio concepts in a realistic way.

Deliverables

D4.3.7.1 Final report on the whole platform and related case of study.

MilestonesT0+1 to T0+10: Coordination tasksT0+11 to T0+18: Integration task

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WP4.4.1: VLIW architecture for multimedia

Workpackage number WP4.4.1 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id CERCOM UoP TUA

Objectives The objective is to design a flexible and parameterized VLIW architecture capable to support a wide set of multimedia applications, with given constraints of performance and power dissipation

Description of work The activity on multimedia technologies will start from the analysis of the architectures proposed both in the literature and in the DSP market. The second phase will be oriented to the definition of the architecture, with particular emphasis on VLIW architectures, SIMD and MIMD solutions, enhanced multiprocessing capabilities and advanced jump and loop management strategies such as ``zero overhead loop'' and ``branch prediction''; performance and power figures will be obtained for these solutions, the instruction set will be defined together with suitable power management strategies.The final phase of this activity will concentrate on the implementation and validation of the architectures and the compiler. This phase will give the first experimental results on performance and power consumption.

Deliverables

D4.4.1.1: Report on the general VLIW architecture.

D4.4.1.2: Report on VLIW architecture described at RT level and fully characterized.

D4.4.1.3: Report on cases of study and applications mapped to the processor.

MilestonesT0+1 to T0+4 : architecture analysis and comparisons (D4.4.1.1)T0+5 to T0+12: architecture and instruction set definition

T0+13 to T0+18: architecture implementation and compiler development (D4.4.1.2,D4.4.1.3)

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WP4.4.2: IP for joint source/channel coding

Workpackage number WP4.4.2 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id CERCOM UoP GET LU UPC

Objectives The objective of the activity will be the development of a set of HW and SW IP's in the field of joint source/channel coding.

Description of work The work will start with the analysis of the most promising proposed techniques for joint source/channel coding, algorithm characteristics and implementation requirements. Then a high-level model (as an example in C) will be written in order to perform both a profiling analysis to find the most demanding blocks and to understand the algorithm sensitivity to finite precision representation and quantization phenomena. The following step will deal with performance and power consumption estimations, that can be obtained compiling the high level model on DSP platforms. Depending on the specific algorithm this methodology can put in evidence which parts are most suited for hardware implementations and which ones should run as software modules. The final phase of the activity will give the complete library of optimized IP's; in particular it is important to investigate issues as parallelism (which usually increase performance, but tend to increase the power consumption), resources allocation, pipelining.

Deliverables

4.4.2.1 Reports on IP's libraries for the most important proposed algorithms of joint source/channel coding

MilestonesT0+1 to T0+2: analysis of algorithm characteristics and implementation requirementsT0+3 to T0+8: high level modelT0+9 to T0+11: performance and power estimationT0+12 to T0+18: final IP library

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Department 5.- Source coding and reliable delivery of multimedia contents

Activity 5. 1: General tools for robust source coding and transmission Work Packages

WP5.1.1: General tools for source coding of multimedia contentWP5.1.2: Unequal error protection for robust multimedia transmissionWP5.1.3: Index assignment for robustness against channel noiseWP5.1.4: FEC designed for packet erasure channels and the mobile Internet

Activity 5. 2: Joint source and channel decoding Workpackages

WP5.2.1: Concealment of packet loss and time-jitter WP5.2.2: Source decoding taking into account the structure of the VLC's (soft or hard)

WP5.2.3: Source decoding taking into account both the VLC structure and the source structureWP5.2.4 : Joint Source and Channel Decoding (Turbo Source-Channel Decoding etc.)

Activity 5.3 Joint source and channel coding Workpackages

WP5.3.1: Resilient Variable Length Codes and related decoding methodsWP5.3.2: Multiple description codingWP5.3.3: Source coders allowing error localization and correction WP5.3.4: Joint source and channel coding

Activity 5.4 Methods requiring transmission of quantities between various network layers Workpackages

WP5.4.1: Resilient multimedia transmission over QoS enabled packet networks

Activity 5.5 Common Software Platform Workpackages

WP5.5.1: Software library for source and channel coding and communication applicationsWP5.5.2: Platform for reliable speech and audio transmissionWP5.5.3: Platform for reliable still image transmissionWP5.5.4: Platform for reliable video transmissionWP5.5.5: High-level analysis and comparison of reliable techniques towards practical applications

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WP5.1.1 General tools for source coding of multimedia content

Workpackage number WP5.1.1 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id THALES LU

Objectives The aim of this workpackage is to provide other NEWCOM researchers with a number of tools for source coding of multimedia content, which can then be used in different research work. Two aspects will be specifically investigated: high dimensional structured vector quantisation and model-based coding.Work on model based coding of images and speech will focus on both improving modelling techniques, and optimising the transmission of the model parameters, by using better quantisation and channel coding techniques.

Description of work Firstly, new methods of low-rate trellis residual coding for model based coding will be investigated. The proposed methods improve on TCQ and so far appear to outperform the existing techniques. Next, new fidelity criterions based a maximum a posteriori probability will be studied, and its practical effect on image quality evaluated.Finally tailbiting codes for short block length will be applied to the coding techniques developed, and their performance will be compared to that of classic block codes.

Deliverables D5.1.1.1: Evaluation of low-rate trellis residual coding techniques.D5.1.1.2: Evaluation of new fidelity criterionsD5.1.1.3: Evaluation of tailbiting codes for short block length

MilestonesT0+6: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+6: Deliverable (D5.1.1.1)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work (with WP 5.1.1 to 5.1.4)T0+12: Deliverable (D5.1.1.2)T0+18: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work T0+18: Deliverable (D5.1.1.3)

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WP5.1.2 Unequal error protection for robust multimedia transmission

Workpackage number WP5.1.2 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id IMEC AU UCL GET LNT/TUM THALES

Objectives

As Shannon’s separation theorem only holds under strong assumptions of infinite block length and complexity, several solutions have been tried to improve the system by combining source and channel coding. One way to do so is Unequal Error Protection (UEP), which is particularly suited to scalable and progressive multimedia streams, as it adapts the protection level of channel coding to the sensitivity of the data it protects. For complex time-varying wireless channels, matching the source and the channel coding becomes a challenging problem. We want to explore it in this WP, as a way to lead to high-quality and robust multimedia transmissions.

The main goal is to set up a generic methodology for UEP optimisation, and to be able to use it for different sources and wireless channels. It should lead not only to a better average quality, but also to reduced quality variations. Specific applications will also be investigated, aiming at performing UEP for wavelet encoded images and turbo codes, and also video over IP. In addition, UEP will be investigated for transmission of the internet Low Bit rate Codec (iLBC) with UDP-lite. Adequate protection levels for different classes of bits have yet to be found for this speech codec.

Description of work Many challenges have to be faced in order to deploy UEP optimally for robust multimedia transmission:

Reviewing existing multimedia compression schemes contatining hierarchical structures Finding a generic source-channel optimisation methodology, reusable for different applications Considering the specific problems linked to data dependencies in the source (embedded streams) Dealing with realistic wireless models (most studies consider only AWGN) Achieving statistical optimisation (broadcasting or unknown channel, instead of a well-defined channel state) Estimating the expected gain and robustness from a general system description, before optimisation

These techniques will also be investigated with regards to wavelet encoded images and various encoding schemes: Reed Solomon, RCPC, turbo codes. Hierarchical FEC schemes with ARQ/FEC of type II will also be investigated. This will involve robust image coding techniques, joint source and channel coding, UEP and joint source and channel decoding of arithmetic codes integrating error detection, for a variety of channel conditions and error protection codes. Further work will investigate UEP for the iLBC speech codec and UDP-lite. Finally, the specific case of UEP for packet erasure channels will be investigated, typically for the case of video over IP networks.

Deliverables D5.1.2.1: Description of a generic source-channel optimisation methodology, taking into account source dependenciesD5.1.2.2 Performance evaluation of the proposed techniques in realistic channel conditionsD5.1.2.3: Tools for evaluating system robustness from its general descriptionD5.1.2.4: Technical report on UEP for wavelet encoded images and various coding schemesD5.1.2.5: Technical report on UEP for packet erasure channelsD5.1.2 6: Technical report on UEP for iLBC

MilestonesT0+6: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+6: Deliverable (D5.1.2.1)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work (with WP 5.1.1 to 5.1.4)T0+12: Deliverable (D5.1.2.2)T0+18: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work T0+18: Deliverable (D5.1.2.3, D5.1.2.4)

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WP5.1.3 Index assignment for robustness against channel noise

Workpackage number WP5.1.3 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id UoSu

Objectives

Multimedia bitstreams are generally formed of a number of quantisation indexes, each representing the value of a given parameter. It is common practice to map these values to the binary indexes so that transmission errors on an index will result in minimal error on the decoded parameter, and therefore ensure minimum degradation on the output of the decoder. The indexes are rearranged so that the quantisation steps, which are close in value are also close in terms of quantisation indexes. This process is commonly called Index Assignment. (IA)

The aim of this work package is to extend the concept of IA to channel coding, i.e ensuring that the most important quantisation steps are better protected against channel error than those which are of lesser impact. It is similar in concept to Unequal Error Protection, but rather that optimising the protection between various parameters, it optimises the protection between the various possible values of each parameter.

Description of work

Firstly, classic IA techniques will be reviewed, and the best algorithms will be selected.

Next, channel coding performed by means of IA will be implemented for a specific parameter of a speech coder over a simulated erroneous channel, and the performance will be compared to that of classic IA followed by convolutional coding.Thirdly, it is proposed to replace the channel coding of a standard system (for example one rate of AMR) with the new technique, and evaluate the performance under various channel conditions. Finally the complexity aspects will be investigated, in order to determine the most effective channel decoding techniques for the proposed method. Comparisons will be made between the proposed system and classic systems of similar complexity, and general solutions will be proposed for different types of multimedia applications.

Deliverables D5.1.3.1: Performance results for proposed technique for one parameter in a bitstream.D5.1.3.2: Performance results for proposed technique for a complete communications systemD5.1.3.3: Technical report on complexity optimised IA based coding/decoding techniques and general solutions for various multimedia applications.


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WP5.1.4 FEC designed for packet erasure channels

Workpackage number WP5.1.4 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id TeSA/CNRS CNRS LNT/TUM

Objectives Forward Error Correcting (FEC) Codes are one of the main reliability mechanisms in packet networks for real-time and multicast transmissions. The design of codes for erasure channels must take into account very specific parameters such as the size of the symbols (i.e. the packets) or the properties of channel. These properties depend on the transmission media and on the protocols used. For example, for transmissions using TCP/IP over wireless links, packet losses are due either to network congestions or to errors on the wireless channel. Another important point in the design of the codes is the fact that packet processing is generally done by software which can be expensive in time and in energy for low-power machines. Classically, the two main classes of erasure codes are maximum distance separable (MDS) Reed-Solomon-based codes with an optimal correction capability and LDPC-based codes with fast encoding and decoding processing. The main goal of this workpackage is to evaluate these codes in packet erasure channels, and more specifically for wireless transmissions, and to propose solutions suited to different types of erasure channels.

Description of work The first step will consist in determining the parameters of the packet erasure channel which must be integrated in the design of FEC codes (performance of software processing, size of the symbols, erasure distributions, joint use with retransmissions, integration of unequal error protection,). The two classes of erasure codes (MDS codes, LDPC-based codes) will be evaluated in this context in terms of decoding capabilities, processing speed, energy consumption. New or adapted codes will then be proposed. The integration of these codes in hybrid FEC-ARQ mechanisms and their capability to integrate unequal error protection techniques will be carefully considered.

Deliverables D5.1.4.1: Description of the constraints of the packet erasure channels.D5.1.4.2: Evaluation of MDS and LDPC erasure codes.D5.1.4.3: Proposition of new or improved erasure codes.


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WP5.2.1 Concealment of Packet Loss and Time-Jitter

Workpackage number WP5.2.1 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id Chalmers AU CERCOM

Objectives

Error concealment tools have the purpose of providing a minimum degree of quality even in the case of packet losses or packet arrival delay jitter; they attempt to either correct the errors or to estimate the missing data from the received ones. We intend to address the design of video and speech concealment algorithms so as to optimize both PSNR/SD and the quality of the restored sequence. The devised algorithms for video may employ both temporal and spatial interpolation, as well as texture analysis/synthesis. All the realistic situations of sparse MB loss patterns, slice losses, and also whole frame losses are taken into account. The devised algorithms for speech may employ pitch tracking as well as evolution of voicing and spectral envelope in both loss and jitter concealments.

Description of work

- Spatial, temporal and mixed solutions for video concealment in case of sparse MB loss patterns.In case sparse MBs are lost (for example, due to the presence of a MB interleaver), information on the lost MB can be gathered also from neighboring ones belonging to the same frame. In this situation, besides merely temporal concealment methods, which employ previous reference frame(s) to conceal the lost information, also spatial algorithms exploiting intra-frame redundancy can be devised. In this activity we intend to explore state of the art spatial and temporal concealment methods, and to devise new ones, taking also the computational complexity into account. Mixed or multi-stage techniques will be addressed in order to identify the best trade off between recovered quality of the recovered signal and computational complexity. We will refer to the H.264video co-decoder as a reference, even though many solutions can possibly be extended to other co-decoders- Solutions for video concealment in case of whole frame loss

In case a whole frame is lost, which is a common situation when a frame is accommodated into a single packet, the trivial solution is to replace the missing frame with the reference one. However, in case side information is preserved, such as the motion vectors, better strategies can be implemented. In this activity, we will consider solutions to the problem of video concealment in case of whole frame losses. We will refer to the H.264 video encoder as a reference, even though many solutions can possibly be extended to other co-decoders.

Spatial, temporal and mixed concealment algorithms will be investigated and optimised for the situations of sparse macroblock loss patterns, and whole frame losses. For speech, algorithms that employ higher level parametric descriptions for the evolution of pitch, voicing, and spectral envelope, will be investigated.

Deliverables D5.2.1.1 Report on "Spatial, temporal and mixed solutions for video concealment in case of sparse MB loss patterns"D5.2.1.2 Report on "Solutions for video concealment in case of whole frame losses"D5.2.1.3 Software to be integrated in the common software libraryD5.2.1.4 Report on new concealment methods for speech

MilestonesT0+6 Report (D5.2.1.1)T0+6 Report (D5.2.1.4)T0+7 Coordination meeting and workshopT0+12 Report (D5.2.1.2)T0+13 Coordination meeting and workshopT0+18 Software integrated (D5.2.1.3)T0+18 Concluding meeting and workshop

79

WP5.2.2 Source Decoding Taking Into Account the Structure of the VLCs (soft or hard)

Workpackage number WP5.2.2 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id CERCOM FTW UCL CNRS

Objectives

Traditional source decoders are implemented as a simple one-to-one inversion of the source compression algorithm. This works well when a noiseless channel is assumed: the result of the inverted operation is a perfect reproduction of the source sequence. On the other hand, an inverse source encoder is inadequate when the output of the encoder is transmitted over channels that are not perfectly noiseless. Any error in the encoded sequence may result in an unpredictable stream of errors in the decoded sequence, an effect known as “error propagation”. To avoid this, decoders must be devised that take into account the structure of the variable-length codes and the probabilistic model of the source for which they were designed. The objective of this workpackage is to concentrate the efforts of its participants in searching for new methods to decode intelligently while taking into account the structure of the code. The resulting decoding algorithms could be used on their own, or as part of the iterative source and channel decoding algorithms considered in WP 5.2.4.

Description of work

A systematic investigation of decoders for VLCs will be conducted and new techniques will possibly be developed. The aim is to devise algorithms that can produce hard output values for stand-alone operation, or soft values for implementation within the framework of iterative source and channel decoding. Trellis-based, tree-based (sequential) and possibly other decoding approaches will be investigated for Huffman codes and for arithmetic coding with or without gaps (forbidden symbols). The algorithms will be considered for implementation within JPEG 2000, H.264 and H.26L.

Deliverables

D5.2.2.1 Review of existing decoding methods

D5.2.2.2 Implementation and performance of tree-based decoding methods

D5.2.2.3 Implementation and performance of trellis-based decoding methods

D5.2.2.4 Investigation of other potential approaches for decoding

D5.2.2.5 Implementation of decoding methods within the standards

Milestones

T0+3 Report (D5.2.2.1)

T0+4 Coordination meeting

T0+9 Reports on Decoding techniques (D5.2.2.2 and D5.2.2.3)


T0+18 Reports on other decoding techniques if applicable (D5.2.2.4)

T0+18 Report on implementation efforts (D5.2.2.5)

T0+18 Concluding meeting / workshop

80

WP5.2.3 Source Decoding Taking into Account Both the VLC Structure and the Source Structure

Workpackage number WP5.2.3 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id UoSu FTW UCL CNRS LNT/TUM

Objectives

Source decoding algorithms that take into account the structure of the Variable Length Codes and the probabilistic source model they were designed for are described in WP 5.2.2. In some situations, the decoder may know more about the source structure than was used for the design of the code. For instance, a standard may specify the use of an arithmetic code based on the marginal probabilities of the source when in fact, we know the source to be a first-order Markov source. This workpackage aims to investigate and develop decoding algorithms for situations where the decoder has a more accurate model of the source than was used to design the source encoder. The decoder then uses this model as well as its knowledge about the code structure to improve its performance. Again, the resulting decoding algorithms can be used on their own or within an iterative source-channel decoding framework considered in WP 2.4.

Description of work

Decoding techniques will be investigated with various degrees of source knowledge, from additional probabilistic knowledge of the source (side information / Markov model) to precise knowledge of the source characteristics (Wavelet or DCT coefficients.) Implementation of these decoding techniques within various standards will be investigated, as standalone decoding or as part of iterative decoding scenarios.

Deliverables

D5.2.3.1 Review of past work in the field

D5.2.3.2 Report on source decoding with side information

D5.2.3.3 Report on decoding of DCT and Wavelet coefficients

D5.2.3.4 Report on implementations

Milestones

T0+1 Coordination meeting (possibly combined with other workpackages)

T0+3 Report on past work (D5.2.3.1)


T0+12 Report on decoding with side information (D5.2.3.2)

T0+12 Report on decoding of DCT and Wavelet (D5.2.3.3)


T0+18 Report on implementations (D5.2.3.4)

T0+18 Concluding meeting and workshop

81

WP5.2.4 Joint Source and Channel Decoding (Turbo Source-Channel Decoding etc.)

Workpackage number WP5.2.4 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id UoSu IMEC LU CNRS FTW UCL

TUA

Objectives

The source-channel separation theorem compares the achievable performance of separate source and channel coding to that of a joint source and channel encoder. It concludes that joint coding is unnecessary, since separate encoding achieves the same asymptotical performance as joint encoding. However, the two approaches are compared under the assumption that optimal joint decoding is performed in both cases. Communication systems are designed with separate channel and source decoders. This design is not optimal in terms of the distortion between the source and the source decoder output. The design of joint source/channel decoders was deemed too complex for practical implementations. Since the advent of turbo coding and the iterative decoding methods, we have learned that the performance of joint decoders can sometimes be attained by iterating over two decoders. The aim of this package is to design joint source and channel decoders, possibly using iterative techniques, where the iterations are over the channel and source decoder.

Description of work

Iterative source and channel decoding algorithms will be investigated using various decoding techniques for the VLCs and various constellations to combine the source and the channel encoder (parallel and serial concatenations, etc.) Efforts will be investigated in matching the channel decoder to the various source decoders and in determining the usefulness of the source decoding algorithms in an iterative environment. In particular, EXIT chart analysis of source encoders/decoders will be used to determine the contribution of the source decoder and to match the channel and source codes. The possibility of realizing true joint source/channel decoders will also be investigated for various VLCs and channel codes. The application of joint and iterative source and channel decoding in conjunction with unequal error protection schemes will be investigated. The results will be implemented using various compression standards.

Deliverables D5.2.4.1 Synthesis of past work in the fieldD5.2.4.2 Report on implementation issues within various standardsD5.2.4.3 Report on EXIT chart analysis of source encoders/decodersD5.2.4.4 Report on joint turbo and wavelet decodingD5.2.4.5 Report on joint source and channel decoding in conjunction with unequal error protectionD5.2.4.6 Reports on implementation achievements within compression standards

MilestonesT0+3 Report on past work (D5.2.4.1)T0+4 Coordination meeting and workshopT0+5 Report on implementation issues (D5.2.4.2)T0+8 Coordination meeting and workshopT0+9 Report on EXIT chart analysis (D5.2.4.3)T0+11 Reports D5.2.4.4 and D5.2.4.5 T0+12 Coordination meeting and workshopT0+17 Report on implementations (D5.2.4.6)T0+18 Concluding meeting and workshop

82

WP5.3.1 Resilient Variable Length Codes and related decoding methodsWorkpackage number WP5.3.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CERCOM UoSu FTW CNRS GET

Objectives Residual redundancy in the source symbols can be useful to assist the channel decoding. In this workpackage, we define methods to introduce controlled redundancy in the source (“resilient variable length codes”), and identify the related hard and soft decoding strategies. Then, the topic of exploiting the residual source information in iterative source-channel decoding schemes is addressed.

Description of work Residual redundancy, either natural or artificially introduced, can ease the channel decoding. Variable length codes (VLC’s) may exhibit a residual redundancy which can be directly exploited in iterative source channel decoding. On the other hand, high compression efficiency, such as in the case of arithmetic codes (AC), prevents one from exploiting any residual redundancy. In this case, artificial redundancy can be introduced in the source encoder to enforce resiliency. For example, AC with error detection capability have been proposed, based on the insertion of a forbidden symbol in the input alphabet, which makes it possible to adjust the amount of coding redundancy to be embedded in the coded stream, allowing for continuous error detection. The MAP decoding approach can also be employed for error correction, leading to the design of novel joint source/channel coding schemes with attractive features in terms of error correction capability and rate flexibility.In this workpackage, we will analyze methods which achieve robustness acting directly on the source encoder and generating “resilient” VLC’s. The related decoding procedures will be identified, along with possible joint source-channel decoding strategies exploiting the source error detection/correction capability. Both the cases of memoryless and fading multipath channels will be considered, along with several error protection schemes (block turbo codes, rate compatible convolutional codes and convolutional turbo codes). Emphasis will be put on joint source channel strategies for embedded source coders, such as SPIHT, and on the generation of “resilient” versions of standards such as JPEG2000 and H.264. In more detail, the following topics will be considered:

- Methods to introduce redundancy in VLC's of various kinds (“resilient VLC”) - Hard/soft decoding of resilient VLC’s, - Adaptive, context based AC with applications to JPEG 2000 (“resilient MQ coder”) and H.264 (“resilient

CABAC”) - Soft decoding of 3-D video (e.g. MPEG-4 FAPS) taking into account source structure and soft decision

channel information - Joint source channel decoding of resilient VLC’s (e.g. resilient AC’s) - Iterative source/channel decoding making use of a priori information on the source (VLC’s or AC’s)

Deliverables

D5.3.1.1 Report on resilient VLC’s and related hard/soft decoding procedures (T0+6)

D5.3.1.2 Report on joint source/channel schemes making use of resilient VLC’s (T0+12)D5.3.1.3 Report on soft decoding of 3-D video taking into account source structure and soft decision channel information (T0+12)D5.3.1.4 Resilient MQ coder (software to be integrated with the common software library, documentation) (T0+12) D5.3.1.5 Resilient CABAC (software to be integrated with the common software library, documentation) (T0+18)

Milestones


83

WP5.3.2 Multiple description coding

Workpackage number WP5.3.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CERCOM ESA UCL FTW Chalmers CNRS UoSu

Objectives

Multiple description coding (MDC) is recognized as an effective method to protect multimedia information transmitted over networks subject to erasures. In fact, MDC makes the quality of the recovered signal dependent only on the number of received descriptions, and not on the position of possibly lost packets. In this workpackage, we intend to explore various methods to generate MD of image, video and speech/audio sources. Due to its practical relevance, MDC as post-processing of standard encoders will also be considered.

Description of work

Many methods have been proposed for the generation of multiple descriptions, among which scalar/vector MD quantization, use of correlating transforms, and so on. In this workpackage, we will explore all relevant techniques and define a set of suitable methods for MDC of image, video and speech/audio sources. The approach to generate MD as a post processing of standard image or video encoders, such as JPEG 2000 or H.264, will also be considered. In more detail, we will pursue the following tasks:

- Analysis of the state of the art of MDC for image, video and speech/audio sources- Connections between oversampled filter banks and MDC- Soft iterative decoding of MDs- MDC for model based encoders- MDC for speech/audio based on Gabor frames- MDC as a postprocessing of image and video standard encoding ( e.g. JPEG2000 and H.264)

Deliverables

D5.3.2.1 Report on state of the art MDC (T0+6)D5.3.2.2 Report on MDC based on oversampled filter banks (T0+12)D5.3.2.3 Report on soft iterative decoding of MD’s (T0+12)D5.3.2.4 Report on MDC for model based encoders (T0+12)D5.3.2.5 Report on MDC for speech/audio based on Gabor frames (T0+12)D5.3.2.6 Report on MDC as a postprocessing of standard encoders (T0+12)D5.3.2.7 Integration of software into the Common Platform (T0+18)

Milestones


84

WP5.3.3 Source coders allowing error localization and correction

Workpackage number WP5.3.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CNRS UCL

Objectives

Multiple description schemes were initially designed in such a way that the signal can still be understandable (with a slight loss in quality) when some source packets are lost, i.e. they are implicitly working with erasure channels : the network provides the knowledge of the loss location. However, in mixed internet/wireless channels, that are forecasted in a near future, it is likely that some random errors will arise in the wireless link. It would thus be useful to introduce the redundancy in the source (like in MD) in such a way that localisation and correction of these isolated errors is feasible. A first tool is known for obtaining this property : spectral codes in the reals. The properties of this toll will first be demonstrated and characterized, and a systematic search for other possible ways of obtaining this property will be undertaken, either in multiple description schemes, or in oversampled filterbanks.

Description of work

The applicability of BCH codes has already been demonstrated on still image coding. A first work will be undertaken in order to characterize the domain of validity of the study. Then, this tool will be applied to video coding, with a special emphasis on robustification of the motion vectors (ultimately, these motion vectors may not be transmitted, but recovered at the receiver side). In parallel, oversampled filterbanks will be used as another tool for performing error correction, in order to have a more general point of view of the possibilities. More generally, it will be searched whether multiple descriptions schemes are indeed able to perform accurate error correction (in addition to their robustness to erasure channels)

Deliverables

D5.3.3.1 (T0+6) : report on the state of the art ofr error correction based on redundant sourcecoders

D5.3.3.2 T0+6 : real BCH codes for still image coding

D5.3.3.3 T0+12 : H.263 like coder without transmission of motion vectors, and report on the applicability on H264

D5.3.3.4 T0+12 : report on the applicability of oversampled filterbanks as a redundant coder for error correction. Still image demo

D5.3.3.5 T0+18 : report on the links between multiple descriptions and channel codes, and their error correcting capacity

Milestones

Coincide with deliverables

85

WP5.3.4: Joint Source-Channel Coding

Workpackage number WP5.3.4 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id NTNU Chalmers CNRS GET

Objectives

In joint source channel coding the source and channels coders are co-optimised, thus enabling match between the two signal modalities, and possibly close to optimal channel bandwidth efficiency. Graceful degradation when the channel conditions deteriorate is a side-effect. The first objective of this work package is to make a software demonstrator for a state-of-the-art model. Furthermore, in-depth studies will be undertaken to establish new source-channel coding configurations including source coders, non-linear mappings and channel access methods. Finally, transcoding for interfacing the new modalities with the backbone network will be studied.

Description of work

The proposed source-channel coding is based on mapping source parameters directly to channel symbols through certain non-linear (Shannon) mappings. A multitude of systems can be devised based on different source decompositions, mappings, and channel access methods. The workpackage will concentrate on subband/wavelet/transform/differential decompositions and PAM, QAM, and OFDM transmission schemes. Both fundamental theoretical work as well as the development of software simulation systems will be undertaken. Special attention will be given to Shannon mappings for different dimension changes. A complete system will require different optimised mappings between different dimensions. Lowering the dimension is required for compression, while increasing the dimension is necessary for increased tolerance against channel noise (equivalent to channel coding). The importance of the different source parameters and channel conditions will decide which mappings to choose. Automatic and optimal allocation of mappings will be studied.

Because the proposed principle will lead to non-traditional systems applicable for especially wireless connections, transcoding into standard formats will be necessary for transmission over the wired network. The workpackage will study and suggest methods for transcoding, which may, in turn, influence the overall system philosophy.

Deliverables

D5.3.4.1. Software demonstrator for a subband source coder integrated with pulse amplitude modulation

D5.3.4.2. Technical report: “Optimality of multiple source transmission over multiple channels”

D5.3.4.3. Technical report: “Preliminary studies of transcoding”

D5.3.4.4: Technical report: “Differential coding using Shannon mappings”

Milestones







T0+18: 2 research publications ready for submission (D5.3.4.4)

86

WP5.4.1 Resilient multimedia transmission over QoS enabled packet networks

Workpackage number 5.4.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CERCOM AU IMEC CNRS FTW UoSu TeSA/CNRS

Objectives.

Robustness against transmission errors and packet erasures can be obtained by means of several techniques operating at physical layer – unequal error protection, multiple description coding, exploitation of residual source redundancy or a priori information. However, it is expected that highly adaptive and context-aware techniques will be necessary to guarantee high levels of perceptual quality of service in a context characterized by high mobility and strong network heterogeneity, from all levels ranging from PANs to cellular. To achieve such aims, a strong multidisciplinary approach involving both physical and upper layers will be almost certainly a requirement. This workpackage aims at identifying possible synergies among the various layers in order to achieve a global quality optimization.

Description of work. In wireless networks presumably oriented to the transport of IP based services, the unreliable physical layer makes it impossible to exclusively rely on QoS control mechanisms at the IP layer. On the other hand, resilience methods imposed at the physical layer needs to interact with higher level QoS control tools, so as to guarantee that all possible synergies are exploited. The research activity will be focused on the following topics:

- Interaction between physical layer resilience tools (UEP, MDC, exploitation of residual source redundancy and a priori source information) and tools for QoS provisioning at higher levels (MAC, link, network, transport)

- FEC vs. ARQ in beyond 3G wireless networks- Identification of soft information to be exchanged between physical and upper layers- rate-distortion-cost optimization strategies for multimedia transmission over QoS-enabled packet networks

As for the target applications, still image, video and speech/audio will be considered (Video and voice over IP).

Deliverables D5.4.1.1 Report on Interaction between physical layer resilience tools and tools for QoS provisioning (T0+6)D5.4.1.2 Report on Identification of soft information to be exchanged between physical and upper layers (T0+6)D5.4.1.3 Report on rate-distortion-cost optimization strategies for multimedia transmission over QoS-enabled packet networks (T0+18)

Milestones


87

WP5.5.1: Software library for source and channel coding and communication applications

Workpackage number WP5.5.1 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id Chalmers CNRS IMEC CERCOM UCL TéSA/CNRS

Objectives In order to prevent duplication of development efforts, we propose to build a common software library grouping the

tools we are developing for reliable transmission of multimedia contents.Standard freely available libraries for source and channel coding and communication will constitute the basis of this

library. It will be supplemented with more sophisticated tools in order to provide all NEWCOM researchers efficient, well-documented and easy-to-use building blocks that will be reusable for implementing the tools developed in the other WPs and more specifically in WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.4.

Description of work In a first time, existing libraries for source and channel coding and communication applications will be reviewed. A

common starting library has to be chosen in order to constitute the basis of the NEWCOM software platform. The work in this WP should be closely linked to the work in WP300 of “NEWCOM Integration Activities”, where a common SW platform for NEWCOM is suggested. A preliminary suggestion is IT0++ (offered by CHALMERS), a modular and platform-independent signal processing library written in C++. IT0++ has already a lot of the required functionality for simulation of the physical layer of wireless systems, but it will have to be supplemented in order to get an appropriate basis for joint source and channel coding.

In a second time, the chosen library has to be supplemented with the more sophisticated tools developed by the different WPs belonging to the other activities:

- efficient source coding tools (integrating the results of WP 5.1.1 and 5.1.3), - error correcting codes for packet erasure channels (WP 5.1.4).- robust VLC decoders (with the help of WP 5.2.2 and 5.2.3), - joint source and channel decoders (WP 5.2.4),- schemes to obtain multiple description coding (WP 5.3.2),- real BCH codes (WP 5.3.3),- tools such as Shannon mappings (WP 5.3.4).During the entire process of supplementing the library, a documentation of the block that are and will be developed

will be provided, with, if possible, examples illustrating how to use each developed tools.

Deliverables D5.5.1.1: Description of the starting libraryD5.5.1.2: Description of the library supplemented with lacking basic tools for source and channel codingD5.5.1.3: Description of the library supplemented with new tools developed in the other WPs (version 1)D5.5.1.4: Description of the library supplemented with new tools developed in the other WPs (version 2)

MilestonesT0+3: Choice of the starting library, definition of the tools that are to be supplemented in priority (D5.5.1.1)T0+7: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+8: Technical report (D5.5.1.2)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+13: Deliverable (D5.5.1.3)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+18: Deliverables (D5.5.1.4)

88

WP5.5.2: Platform for reliable speech and audio transmission

Workpackage number WP5.5.2 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id Chalmers AU

Objectives The first aim of this second workpackage is to provide other NEWCOM researchers with a platform for speech and

audio coding. This platform has to be easily configurable in order other researchers can test the methods they developed in the other WPs on speech and audio coding. This work will help NEWCOM researchers which are not specialists in speech and audio coding to implement the techniques they develop to such type of application.

The second aim is to collect the results of the various techniques proposed by the WPs for reliable delivery of speech and audio in order to help WP 5.5.5 identifying the strong and weaker points of each technique.

Description of work In a first time, existing coders for speech and audio will be reviewed. The basis of the platform for speech and audio

coding will be constituted by the coders forecasted to be the state of the art at the time of NEWCOM’s launch and by specific speech and audio applications shared by NEWCOM’s researchers.

In a second time, the way techniques for reliable transmission can be introduced in these coders has to be evidenced, in order to identify which techniques can be easily implemented and which require a redesign of the coders.

In a third time, a robust scheme for speech and audio delivery will be proposed, based on the state-of-art coders or built from scratch, using the basic building blocks provided in the library provided by WP 5.5.1.

Deliverables D5.5.2.1. Review on the state of art coders for speech and audioD5.5.2.2: First platform for speech and audio codingD5.5.2.3: Description of the tools for reliable transmission that may be integratedD5.5.2.4: First version of the robust coder for speech and audio and associated technical reportD5.5.2.5: Second version of the robust coder for speech and audio and associated technical reportD5.5.2.6: Strong and weaker points of techniques for reliable speech and audio transmission (with WP 5.5.5)

MilestonesT0+3: Technical report (D5.5.2.1)T0+3: Availability of the first platform (D5.5.2.2, D5.5.2.3)T0+6: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+9: Deliverable (D5.5.2.4)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work (with WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.5)T0+12: Deliverable (D5.5.2.5)T0+18: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work T0+18: Deliverable (D5.5.2.6)

89

WP5.5.3: Platform for reliable still image transmission

Workpackage number WP5.5.3 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id IMEC CNRS CERCOM

Objectives The first aim of this third workpackage is to provide other NEWCOM researchers with a platform for still image coding. This platform has to be easily configurable and in order other researchers can easily test the methods they developed in the other WPs on speech and audio coding.

The second aim is to collect the results of the various techniques proposed by the WPs for reliable delivery of image in order to help WP 5.5.5 identifying the strong and weaker points of each technique.

Description of work In a first time, existing coders for image will be reviewed. The basis of the platform for image coding will be

constituted by the coders forecasted to be the state of the art at the time of NEWCOM’s launch and by specific applications shared by NEWCOM’s researchers.

In a second time, the way techniques for reliable transmission can be introduced in these coders has to be evidenced, in order to identify which techniques can be easily implemented and which require a redesign of the coders.

In a third time, a robust scheme for image delivery will be proposed, based on the state-of-art coders or built from scratch, using the basic building blocks provided in the library provided by WP 5.5.1.

Deliverables D5.5.3.1. Review on the state of art image codersD5.5.3.2: First platform for image codingD5.5.3.3: Description of the tools for reliable transmission that may be integratedD5.5.3.4: First version of the robust image coder and associated technical reportD5.5.3.5: Second version of the robust image coder and associated technical reportD5.5.3.6: Strong and weaker points of techniques for reliable image transmission (with WP 5.5.5)

MilestonesT0+3: Technical report (D5.5.3.1)T0+3: Availability of the first platform (D5.5.3.2, D5.5.3.3)T0+6: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+9: Deliverable (D5.5.3.4)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work (with WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.5)T0+12: Deliverable (D5.5.3.5)T0+18: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work T0+18: Deliverable (D5.5.3.6)

90

WP5.5.4: Platform for reliable video transmission

Workpackage number WP5.5.4 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id UoSu CERCOM CNRS

Objectives The first aim of this fourth workpackage is to provide other NEWCOM researchers with a platform for video coding.

This platform has to be easily configurable in order other researchers can easily test the methods they developed in the other WPs on video coding.

The second aim is to collect the results of the various techniques proposed by the WPs for reliable delivery of video in order to help WP 5.5.5 identifying the strong and weak points of each technique.

This workpackage will also offer the opportunity to exchange experience with researchers dealing with hardware/software implementation (e.g. a joint activity at CERCOM for the implementation of JPEG 2000 and H264 on a mixed DSP/FPGA platform), in order to take into account some hardware implementation constraints in this software platform.

Description of work The work will be divided into three stages.During the review and planning stage, the target coder (MPEG-4 or H264), its source code and target development

platform will be chosen. Then the interface requirements with other NEWCOM activities will be defined. Standard baseline error detection and error concealment algorithms are to be identified for implementation within the target codec. Network adaptation requirements and schemes (e.g. RTP packetisation schemes) have also to be identified.

During the implementation stage, the target reference codec will be supplemented with the previously identified standard baseline algorithms. The network adaptation scheme will also be implemented.

Finally, production of reference results using a number of different channel models will be performed.The platform will then be provided to other NEWCOM researchers so they can test the techniques they develop to

identify the strong and weak points of their algorithms. During the whole development process, experience exchanges with researchers interested in hardware/software

implementation will be realised, in order to integrate some hardware implementation constraints.

Deliverables D5.5.4.1. Selection of target codec, source code and development platformD5.5.4.2: Interface requirementsD5.5.4.3: Standard baseline error detection and error concealment algorithms D5.5.4.4: Network adaptation requirements and schemesD5.5.4.5: Implementation advancement reportD5.5.4.6: First version of the supplemented video coder and associated technical reportD5.5.4.7: Second version of the supplemented video coder (network adaptation schemes) and associated technical reportD5.5.4.8: Strong and weaker points of techniques for reliable video transmission (with WP 5.5.5)

MilestonesT0+3: Technical reports (D5.5.4.1-D5.5.4.4)T0+3: Availability of the first platform (D5.5.4.2, D5.5.4.3)T0+6: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+9: Deliverable (D5.5.4.5)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work (with WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.5)T0+12: Deliverable (D5.5.4.6)T0+18: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work T0+18: Deliverable (D5.5.4.7-D5.5.4.8)

91

WP5.5.5: High-level analysis and comparison of reliable techniques towards practical applications

Workpackage number WP5.5.5 Start date or starting event: T0+1Participant id IMEC CNRS

Objectives Many techniques for reliable delivery of multimedia contents are addressed by NEWCOM’s researchers : joint

decoding, introduction of residual redundancy, UEP, source-channel coding etc.The aim of this WP is to identify the strong and weaker points of these various techniques covering the area of reliable

transmission. Recommendations will be made about which of them could give the best improvements on which systems, whether they would have an advantage in being combined or not, etc.

This WP is closely linked to WPs 5.5.2 to 5.5.4, as expected results of this WP depends on the results obtained by the other WPs. This WP will thus help to share information and experiences between WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.4.

Description of work In order to enable comparisons, criteria for high-level analysis of the reliability techniques developed by NEWCOM

researchers have to be reviewed and selected. In the frame of platforms designed in WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.4, benchmark sounds, images and video sequences have to be collected and selected in order to form a library of test problems in order to have the same reference material on which performances of algorithms will be fairly compared.

In a first phase, a summary of the performances obtained by the state-of-art coders and related tools collected by WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.4 has to be proposed. In a second phase, performance of the tools proposed by the different WPs for reliable transmission will be evaluated using library of criteria and test problems. This corresponds to a joint work with WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.5.

In parallel, some specific studies of the practical application of these various solutions will be achieved. This includes analysis of complexity, need to redesign the source/channel coders or not, sensitivity to channel state information knowledge, expected gain on typical sources, interactions between the various approaches, etc.

At last, all the previous results will be summarized in a report identifying the strong and weaker points of the various techniques for reliable transmission. Recommendations will be made about which of them could give the best improvements on which systems, whether they would have an advantage in being combined or not, etc.

Deliverables D5.5.5.1: Library of high-level performance evaluation criteria and benchmark problems in speech, audio, image and videoD5.5.5.2: Evaluation of the state-of-art coders provided by WP5.5.2 to WP 5.5.4D5.5.5.3: Evaluation of the first version of the schemes for reliable transmission of multimedia contentD5.5.5.4: Evaluation of the second version of the schemes for reliable transmission of multimedia contentD5.5.5.5: High-level analysis of the applicability conditions and expected gain of the various techniquesD5.5.5.6: White paper identifying the strong and weaker points of the various techniques for reliable transmission, and

recommendations.

MilestonesT0+3: Availability of library of benchmark problems and test criteria (D5.5.5.1)T0+3: Technical report (D5.5.5.2)T0+6: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the workT0+10: Technical report (D5.5.5.3)T0+12: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work (with WP 5.5.2 to 5.5.5)T0+13: Technical report (D5.5.5.4-5)T0+18: Meeting for synthesis and dissemination of the work T0+18: Deliverable (D5.5.5.6)

92

Department 6. - Protocols and architectures, and traffic modeling for (reconfigurable/adaptive) wireless networks

Activity 6.1 Protocols and architectures for reconfigurable/adaptive wireless networks WorkpackagesWP6.1.1 Study of the state-of-art and definition of system requirements and scenariosWP6.1.2 Design of protocols and architectures for reconfigurable/adaptive wireless networks

Activity 6.2 Traffic models for wireless networks o Workpackages

WP6.2.1 Development of traffic/channel models for wireless networksWP6.2.2 Performance Assessment of protocols and traffic models

93

WP6.1.1: Study of the state-of-art and definition of system requirements and scenarios (6 months)

Workpackage number WP6.1.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id UoSu BILKENT UPF UoC KU Chalmers Cercom

UoO TECHNION TeSA/CNRS

Objectives The objective in this WP is twofold: (i) To make a literature survey on relevant research on the state-of-art of protocols and architectures for wireless networks, in order to provide a common ground for further work. (ii) To find the set of requirements that a new protocol architecture tailored for reconfigurable and adaptive networks, including both wireless and wired segments, should fulfil. To aid the evaluation process, relevant network and application scenarios will be specified.

Description of work The research work will start with an extensive literature search to identify the most relevant existing contributions. The findings need to be classified into different areas like: cross-layer interactions, modifications to existing protocols (e.g. TCP/IP), and new protocol architecture proposals. The main deficiencies of the current proposals on protocols and architectures will be the starting point in defining the requirements of new solutions. It will be considered that a new architecture needs to take an integrated approach to topics like QoS, congestion control and mobility management. The new architecture will be composed of layers that are able to interact between each other and to dynamically adapt to the channel and traffic source conditions. Finally, it is important to define a set of scenarios of interest that will be subject of study. These scenarios will be used when evaluating the actual protocol design.

Deliverables

D6.1.1.1. Technical report. "Survey on protocol architectures for reconfigurable and adaptive wireless networks". (T0+3)

D6.1.1.2. Technical report: "Requirements for a protocol architecture in reconfigurable and adaptive wireless networks". (T0+6)

Milestones

Technical report. "Survey on protocol architectures for reconfigurable and adaptive wireless networks". (T0+3)

Technical report: "Requirements for a protocol architecture in reconfigurable and adaptive wireless networks". (T0+6)

94

WP6.1.2: Design of protocols and architectures for reconfigurable/adaptive wireless networks (9 months)

Workpackage number WP6.1.2 Start date or starting event: T0+3Participant id UoC KU Cercom Chalmers UPF Technion Bilkent

UoO TeSA/CNRS UoSu

Objectives A new protocol architecture will be developed, which satisfies the requirements set defined in WP6.1.1 Results of this WP will be the input of WP6.2.1. The proposed architecture will be adaptive to the application environment. Compatibility with current wireless systems architectures will be maintained.

Description of work The WP activities will start identifying the set of functionalities needed to satisfy the requirements defined by WP6.1.1 Then, the relationships between such functionalities will be analyzed. This will be the basis for effective design of the protocol architecture. The first goal of this phase is to understand whether it is possible to satisfy the requirements provided by WP6.1.1 applying the traditional layered approach. In the case the layered approach could not be used to fulfil the requirements, then a new approach will be searched for. The blocks forming the architecture will be identified along with their functionalities and interfaces. The new protocols required in each block will take the interactions with other protocols into account. Therefore, a joint effort is required by the researchers working on protocols which affect each others.

Deliverables

D6.1.2.1. Technical report: "Protocol Architecture Design for reconfigurable/adaptive wireless networks" (T0+9) D6.1.2.2. Technical report: "A suite of new protocols for reconfigurable/adaptive wireless networks" (T0+12)

Milestones

Definition of the protocol architecture. (T0+9) Detailed definition of the protocol blocks and their interfaces. (T0+12)

95

WP6.2.1: Development of Traffic/Channel Models for Wireless Networks

Workpackage number WP6.2.1 Start date or starting event: T0+3Participant id BILKENT TECHNION UoO Chalmers KU UPF

UoC CERCOM

Objectives Improved traffic models for multimedia scenarios in wireless networks will be developed. Models will refer to speech, audio, video and other multimedia data types. Also, new link models more capable than the existing ones to capture varying channel conditions will be introduced. All models will be integrated into ns-compatible libraries and used to produce simulation and/or emulation test suites. Results of this activity will be used to assess performance of the protocols defined in WP6.1.1.

Description of work

This WP will concentrate on developing prototypes of improved traffic models capable to capture statistical properties speech, audio, video and other multimedia data flows over wireless channels. In particular, video traffic models will take into account a variety of different potential configurations, including differences in service aspects, transmission aspects, codec types, and video content.

This activity will be complemented with an accurate study of suitable channel models capable to capture dynamics of wireless links better than traditional models (e.g. the Gilbert model).Traffic and channel models will be integrated into ns-compatible simulation packages.

Deliverables

D6.2.1.1. Technical Report: “Multimedia traffic/channel models for use in wireless network simulation” (T0+9)

D6.2.1.2. ns-compatible simulation package that uses the newly developed traffic/channel models (T0+12)

Milestones

Development of improved traffic/channel models (T0+9)

Integration of traffic/channel models into ns-compatible simulation tools (T0+12)

96

WP6.2.2: Performance assessment of protocols and traffic models (9 months)

Workpackage number WP6.2.2 Start date or starting event: T0+9 Participant id UoSu BILKENT TeSA/CNRS UoO Chalmers

Objectives Performance of the proposed protocol solutions will be assessed via analytical/simulation-based methods in a variety of scenarios over mobile networks, including non-real time data communications, stored video streaming, live video, and other multimedia applications. The activity will provide valuable feedback on the validity of traffic/channel models as well.

Description of work This WP will assess the protocol solutions proposed in WP6.1.2 via analytical and/or simulation-based methods in a variety of scenarios, by using the traffic and channel models developed in WP6.2.1. This WP will consist of the following activities:A41. Development/integration of protocol/traffic/channel models: This activity will address the development/integration of the protocol/channel/traffic models in an integrated simulation platform. A42. Performance Study: The integrated model will be used in the performance study of the proposed protocol suite in the variety of scenarios listed above.

Deliverables

D6.2.2.1. A simulation platform integrating protocol/traffic/channel models (T0+15)

D6.2.2.2. Technical report “Performance evaluation of the new protocol suite” (T0+18)

Milestones Integration of protocol/link/channel models developed in WP6.1.2 and WP6.2.1 (T0+15) Completion of performance assessment (T0+18)

97

Department 7.- QoS provision in wireless networks: mobility, security and radio resource management

Workpackages/ActivitiesWP7.1 Framework for QoS provision in heterogeneous wireless networksWP7.2 Development of radio resource allocation schemes to guarantee QoS in heterogeneous wireless networksWP7.3 Development of mobility management strategies to guarantee QoS in heterogeneous wireless networksWP7.4 Development of security algorithms in heterogeneous wireless networks

98

WP7.1: Framework for QoS provision in heterogeneous wireless networks

(6 months)

Workpackage number WP7.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CERCOM UPC GET UU UoO UoC BILKENT GU

KU TeSA/CNRS

Objectives This workpackage should be understood as the starting point for the activity in this NEWCOM Department. It should integrate the efforts of all the participants with an objective consisting in the definition of a proper framework to establish a common understanding of what does QoS provision mean in future wireless systems that combine different radio access technologies. So the technical activity should deal with the following questions:- What is QoS in future wireless systems and what the relevant metrics?- Which are the required tools to achieve QoS provision in future wireless systems?

Description of work A1.- State of the art. This activity should focus on literature survey to provide the state-of-the-art for QoS provision in heterogeneous networks.A2.- QoS definition. This activity will be devoted to specify which are the relevant parameters to define QoS in a multistandard wireless system scenario as well as the specific problems that should be faced when aiming at ensuring it. A3.- Identification of strategies to ensure QoS provision. This activity should aim at developing a list of the strategies to be adopted in order to obtain QoS in future wireless networks. To this end, possibilities to be explored are based on the impact that QoS has over the different OSI layers, including study of efficient MAC protocols for QoS support, QoS routing in wireless IP networks, development of QoS-aware transport protocols, efficient RRM techniques,...A4.- Analysis tools to evaluate QoS performance. This activity aims at developing modelling and analysis tools needed to derive credible results about the performance that can be achieved by means of the studied algorithms.

Deliverables

D7.1.1- Technical Report “QoS provision in heterogeneous wireless networks” (T0+6)

Milestones

Identification of the state-of-the-art in QoS provision for heterogeneous wireless networks (T0+2)

Definition of QoS requirements in heterogeneous wireless networks (T0+4)

Definition of the framework for the development of mechanisms to ensure QoS provision (T0+6)

Identification of requirements for performance analysis tools (T0+6)

99

WP7.2: Development of radio resource allocation schemes to guarantee QoS in heterogeneous wireless networks

(15 months)

Workpackage number WP7.2 Start date or starting event: T0+3Participant id CERCOM UPC GET UU UoO UoC BILKENT GU

KU TeSA/CNRS

Objectives

According to the framework defined in WP7.1, the objective of this WP is to investigate, propose and analyse radio resource allocation schemes that enable the provision of multimedia services under QoS guarantees in a multistandard wireless network. To this end, the scenarios where such investigation has to be carried out will be defined and specific schemes will be proposed and evaluated in suitable platforms.

Description of work At the very beginning, this activity will specify the characteristics of the scenarios that are of interest to be analysed, in terms of coexistence of radio access technologies such as WPAN (Bluetooth), WLAN (802.11, HIPERLAN), WWAN (GPRS, UMTS), TETRA..., services that are expected, deployment scenarios (e.g. cellular, non-infrastructured, fast moving environments,...).Then, this activity will be subdivided in the following sub-activities:- MAC/RRM algorithms for UMTS: It will deal with the development of admission control, congestion control, traffic classification, scheduling algorithms for UMTS in both FDD and TDD modes. - MAC/RRM algorithms for WLAN: The purpose of this sub-activity is to introduce the QoS concept in the traditionally best effort based WLAN in order to enable the provision of high bit rate services.- Dynamic resource allocation in 4G heterogeneous wireless networks: The purpose of this sub-activity is the development, modelling, and analysis of adaptive elements in wireless networks at the various layers (physical, link access, network, and transport layers) of fourth generation systems. Solutions with minimum radiation and maximum capacity should be devised. Analysis of performance of the proposed solutions will be carried out.At the end, performance of the strategies proposed in each of the above sub-activities will be assessed by means of the proper analysis tools including simulators and/or testbeds.

Deliverables

D7.2.1: Technical Report: “Novel MAC/RRM algorithms in UMTS and WLAN scenarios: definition and performance assessment” (T0+18)

D7.2.2: Technical Report: “Novel resource allocation schemes in 4G heterogeneous wireless networks: definition and performance assessment” (T0+18)

Milestones

Scenarios definition (T0+6)

Definition of RRM and MAC algorithms in UMTS and WLAN scenarios (T0+9)

Definition of joint strategies to ensure QoS in heterogeneous 4G networks (T0+12)

Evaluation of the proposed MAC/RRM algorithms in UMTS and WLAN scenarios (T0+18)

Evaluation of the proposed strategies to ensure QoS in heterogeneous 4G networks (T0+18)

100

WP7.3: Development of mobility management strategies to guarantee QoS in heterogeneous wireless networks

(15 months)

Workpackage number WP7.3 Start date or starting event: T0+3Participant id CERCOM UPC GET UU UoO UoC BILKENT GU

TeSA/CNRS

Objectives

According to the framework defined in WP7.1, the objective of this workpackage is to investigate, propose and analyse mobility management strategies that enable the provision of multimedia services under QoS guarantees in a multistandard wireless network. To this end, the scenarios where such investigation will be carried out will be defined and specific strategies will be proposed and evaluated in suitable platforms.

Description of work This activity will focus on a selected set of topics which are related to mobility management and, in the same time, specifically affect QoS. Significant examples of such topics are the following:- Vertical handover: The different radio access technologies will coexist in heterogeneous communication systems. In such a scenario, appropriate terminals can access the infrastructure through the best access technology. Such terminals should be able to change the access technology runtime, which is referred to as vertical handover. This poses new research issues as far as mobility management, and QoS support is concerned. In fact, vertical handovers should occur maintaining session continuity and guaranteeing that the negotiated QoS is satisfied. Deploying a priority-based algorithm and using location-aware adaptive applications can reduce both handoff delay and QoS variability. - Multi-hop mode: Nowadays, there are some scenarios where mobile terminals can not access to fixed network. However, it could be possible that these terminals could use other terminals as mobile relays. In this case, it could be necessary to use new routing protocols and QoS mechanisms that allow to transmit and receive reliable information. - Broadband wireless access by fast moving vehicles: To provide fast-moving mobile users with wireless access to multimedia applications and high-bit rate interactive Internet services, proper routing protocols have to be developed and adopted. In particular, this requires fast (minimal delay) and smooth (minimal packet loss) intelligent mobility management protocols, supporting frequent handovers in a cellular network with very small cell dimensions. To this end, the mobility management protocol has to take advantage of the availability of location information (e.g. position and speed), which can be provided by location positioning systems (e.g. GPS).At the end of the activity, performance of the proposed mechanisms will be assessed by means of the proper simulation tools.

Deliverables

D7.3.1: Technical Report: “Novel mobility management strategies in heterogeneous wireless networks: definition and performance assessment” (T0+18)

Milestones

Identification of relevant QoS-related mobility management problems in heterogeneous wireless networks (T0+6)

Definition of the strategies introduced as solutions to the problems being selected (T0+12)

Evaluation of the proposed mobility management strategies (T0+18)

101

WP7.4: Development of security algorithms in heterogeneous wireless networks

(15 months)

Workpackage number WP7.4 Start date or starting event: T0+3Participant id CERCOM UPC GET UU UoO BILKENT GU KU

TeSA/CNRS UoC

Objectives According to the framework defined in WP7.1, the objective of this workpackage is to investigate, propose and analyse security algorithms that enable the provision of multimedia services under QoS guarantees in a multistandard wireless network. To this end, the scenarios where such investigation will be carried out will be defined and specific algorithms will be proposed and evaluated in suitable platforms.

Description of work In this activity security will be regarded as a QoS-dimension. Specifically, methods should be defined to arrive at quantitative values for the different security and privacy aspects to be included in the considered wireless communication environments. As well as defining different security requirements for different environments, it is necessary to address issues where the desired level of security may be difficult to provide in a particular environment. For example some environments are notoriously insecure, e.g. a networked PC. Users in such an environment may need to prove their identity using some combination of hardware (such as a smart card) and a secret. However a fixed PIN is not suitable as a secret because it can be tapped electronically; the user inputs used to identify the secret need to change from one session to the next.It is proposed to develop graphics-based methods of user authentication. One possibility is to present the user with a screen on which several distinct objects move around different squares. The secret could be the appearance of a particular object in a particular square. The sequence generated should include several instances of the chosen object / square combination and the user indicates (by a mouse click) whenever the chosen combination occurs. Since at any time there will be several objects in several squares it is difficult for an onlooker to determine the user's secret. Also if the sequence generated is different every time, the timing of the mouse clicks will not be useful to an attacker on future occasions. Research will be needed to quantify the levels of security, develop protocols, investigate how easy the approach is to use and possibly generate alternative approaches for comparison.

Deliverables

D7.4.1: Technical Report “Authentication protocol for heterogeneous wireless networks” (T0+18)

Milestones

Generation of displays incorporating secret (T0+6)

Results for usability of the authentication method (T0+12)

Definition of protocols for authentication (T0+18)

102

Project A - Ad Hoc and Sensor networks

WorkpackagesWPA.1 Energy Efficiency Optimization in Ad Hoc and Sensor NetworksWPA.2 QoS Provisioning in Ad Hoc and Sensor NetworksWPA.3 Reliability and Scalability Support in Ad Hoc and Sensor NetworksWPA.4 Simulation Software Library for Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks

103

WP A.1: Energy Efficiency Optimization in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks

Workpackage number WPA.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id UoC BILKENT UoP CERCOM UoT LNT/TUM

Objectives The objective of WPA.1 is to study and develop effective cross-layer solutions to optimise performance of ad hoc and sensor networks with respect to energy efficiency. Solutions will be based on integrated treatment of power control, topology management, routing, transport protocol algorithms, medium access control schemes, scheduling, error control strategies, physical-layer techniques, and smart antenna beamforming to improve energy saving. A Special Interest Group will also be established with the task of providing concrete proposals for future multidisciplinary projects (IPs, STREPs) in this specific area.

Description of work The work will start with a critical review of the mechanisms that are currently introduced to improve energy efficiency in ad hoc and sensor networks by separately acting at different layers (transport, network, link control, medium access control, and physical layer). Next, the established Special Interest Group will address the cross-layer approach required to face with efficient design of this type of networks. To do it, the Special Interest Group will follow a consolidated work methodology through which the research priorities are defined according to the step-wise identification of major system and functional requirements over components of Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks (devices, algorithms, protocols). Next, the SIG will investigate the existing trade-offs between antagonistic requirements and, accordingly, will define and evaluate a proper set of energy-saving techniques. In this work, the WP will tightly interact with the relevant WPs in NEWCOM Departments and other NEWCOM Projects (especially, the one on Cross-Layer Optimization). The WP will also produce concrete proposals for future possible cooperative projects.

Deliverables

DA.1.1. Technical report. "Energy Efficiency Optimization in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: State-of-the-art and available technologies". (T0+3)

DA.1.2. Technical report. "Energy Efficiency Optimization in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Realistic scenarios and mapping of system requirements onto functional cross-layer requirements over energy-saving protocols and algorithms". (T0+9)

DA.1.3. Technical report. "Energy Efficiency Optimization in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Definition and performance evaluation of relevant energy-saving protocols and algorithms". (T0+15)

DA.1.4. Technical report. "A White Paper: Challenging pan-European cooperative research proposals for IPs and STREPs in the area of Energy Efficiency Optimization in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks". (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+3. Release of Technical Report DA.1.1.




104

WP A.2: QoS Provisioning in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks


Objectives The objective of WPA.2 is to study and develop effective cross-layer solutions to optimise performance of ad hoc and sensor networks with respect to Quality of Service requirements. Solutions will be based on integrated treatment of power control, topology management, routing, transport protocol algorithms, medium access control schemes, scheduling, error control strategies, physical-layer techniques, and smart antenna beamforming to maintain a certain level of QoS. A Special Interest Group will also be established with the task of providing concrete proposals for future multidisciplinary projects (IPs, STREPs) in this specific area.

Description of work

The work will start with a critical review of the mechanisms that are currently introduced to improve QoS provisioning in ad hoc and sensor networks by separately acting at different layers (transport, network, link control, medium access control, and physical layer). Next, the established Special Interest Group will address the cross-layer approach required to face with efficient design of this type of networks. To do it, the Special Interest Group will follow a consolidated work methodology through which the research priorities are defined according to the step-wise identification of major system and functional requirements over components of Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks (devices, algorithms, protocols). Next, the SIG will investigate the existing trade-offs between antagonistic requirements and, accordingly, will define and evaluate a proper set of QoS-oriented techniques. In this work, the WP will tightly interact with the relevant WPs in NEWCOM Departments and other NEWCOM Projects (especially, the one on Cross-Layer Optimization). The WP will also produce concrete proposals for future possible cooperative projects.

Deliverables

DA.2.1. Technical report. "QoS Provisioning in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: State-of-the-art and available technologies". (T0+3)

DA.2.2. Technical report. "QoS Provisioning in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Realistic scenarios and mapping of system requirements onto functional cross-layer requirements over QoS-oriented techniques". (T0+9)

DA.2.3. Technical report. "QoS Provisioning in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Definition and performance evaluation of relevant cross-layer QoS-oriented techniques". (T0+15)

DA.2.4. Technical report. "A White Paper: Challenging pan-European cooperative research proposals for IPs and STREPs in the area of QoS Provisioning in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks". (T0+18)

Milestones





105

WP A.3: Reliability and Scalability Support in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks


Objectives The objective of WPA.3 is to study and develop effective cross-layer solutions to optimise performance of ad hoc and sensor networks with respect to reliability and scalability requirements. Solutions will be based on integrated treatment of power control, topology management, routing, transport protocol algorithms, medium access control schemes, scheduling, error control strategies, physical-layer techniques, and smart antenna beamforming to improve reliability and scalability of the network. A Special Interest Group will also be established with the task of providing concrete proposals for future multidisciplinary projects (IPs, STREPs) in this specific area.

Description of work The work will start with a critical review of the mechanisms that are currently introduced to improve reliability and scalability in ad hoc and sensor networks. Next, the established Special Interest Group will address the integrated approach required to face with efficient design of this type of networks. To do it, the Special Interest Group will follow a consolidated work methodology through which the research priorities are defined according to the step-wise identification of major system and functional requirements over components of Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks (devices, algorithms, protocols). Next, the SIG will investigate the existing trade-offs between antagonistic requirements and, accordingly, will define and evaluate a proper set of robust and scalable protocols and algorithms. In this work, the WP will tightly interact with the relevant WPs in NEWCOM Departments and other NEWCOM Projects (especially, the one on Cross-Layer Optimization). The WP will also produce concrete proposals for future possible cooperative projects.

Deliverables

DA.3.1. Technical report. "Reliability and Scalability Support in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: State-of-the-art and available technologies". (T0+3)

DA.3.2. Technical report. "Reliability and Scalability Support in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Realistic scenarios and mapping of system requirements onto functional cross-layer requirements over protocols and algorithms". (T0+9)

DA.3.3. Technical report. "Reliability and Scalability Support in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Definition and performance evaluation of relevant robust and scalable protocols and algorithms". (T0+15)

DA.3.4. Technical report. "A White Paper: Challenging pan-European cooperative research proposals for IPs and STREPs in the area of Reliability and Scalability Support in Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks". (T0+18)

Milestones





106

WP A.4: Simulation Software Library for Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks

Workpackage number WP A.4 Start date or starting event: T0+3Participant id UoC BILKENT UoP CERCOM UoT LNT/TUM

Objectives The objective of this WP is to create and maintain a software library for the simulation of Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks. Appropriate interfaces will be developed to allow interaction between the different software modules. At the very end, the outcome will consitute a legacy to all the members of the NoE as well as all other European researchers showing interest in it.

Description of work The work will start with the definition of the standard interfaces and relationships between software modules. The possibility of being compatible to widespread tools (e.g., ns) will be studied. Furthermore, appropriate mobility models will be developed. Such mobility models will be implemented within a software simulation framework specialized for ad hoc and sensor networks. Each software module will be a C++ object. Detailed description of the methods will be produced. The software simulation modules will be collected in a library and published in the web along with the web page. Special mailing lists will be also created and maintained.

Deliverables

DA.4.1. Technical report. "Standard interfaces for NEWCOM simulation software modules". (T0+6)

DA.4.2. Software "Linkage framework for the simulation of ad hoc and sensor networks". (T0+12)

DA.4.3. Web Site: "Simulation of ad hoc and sensor networks". (T0+12)

DA.4.4. Software “User interface for the definition of simulation scenario and parameters”. (T0+18)DA.4.5. Publication of the library in the web site. (T0+18)

Milestones


T0+9. First release of the linkage framework for the simulation of ad hoc and sensor networks.

T0+12. Release of Software DA.4.2 and release of the draft version of the web site containing the simulation software library.

T0+16. First release of the software implementing the user interface for the definition of simulation scenario and parameters.

T0+18. Release of software DA.4.4 and web site DA.4.5.

107

Project B - Ultra-wide band communications systems Workpackages

WPB.1 Channel modelingWPB.2 Common UWB physical layer test platformsWPB.3 Ad-hoc networks with UWB physical layers

108

WPB.1: Channel modeling

Work package number WPB.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id Chalmers LU UoP CRLL FTW IMST ISMB

Objectives

The objective of this WP is to define and implement a number of appropriate channel models for performance evaluations.

Description of work The UWB area is still characterized by lack of proper channel models. Available channel models for other systems can in most cases not be used since the UWB signal bandwidth is much larger. IEEE 802.15 has recently developed some channel models for UWB, but they are at least limited by the fact that they are so called block fading model, with no time varying within each block.In this WP we intent to develop suitable channel models for some UWB scenarios. The first step will be to define the scenarios for which models must be developed. The second step is to find as much information on channel modelling and channel measurement as possible from the open literature, since we do not have the possibilities to make measurements on our own. The third step is to define the models that fit nicely to known results. The final step is to implement them in a suitable form such that the models can be made available to others.

Deliverables

DB.1.1. Technical report: “Scenarios for UWB communications”

DB.1.2. Technical report: “Channel models for UWB”

DB.1.3. Software: “Channel models for UWB”

Milestones

T0+4: Definition of scenarios T0+10: Compilation of available channel modeling results and measurement T0+14: Develop channel models

T0+18: Implementation of the models

109

WPB.2: Common UWB physical layer test platforms

Work package number WPB.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id Chalmers LU UoP IMST FTW ISMB

Objectives

The objective of this WP is to define and implement a common test environment and platform for performance evaluation of UWB physical layers.

Description of work One problem with current research results in UWB (and many other areas), is that they can not be easily compared, because system assumptions are too different. In this WP, we intent to develop a common methodology for UWB physical layer performance evaluation, such that results from different research groups following this methodology can easily be compared.Step one is to define the type of systems that should be included in the method. Step two is to develop the methods to be used and step three is to implement them in such a way that they can be used in different simulators. If possible, the method should be general enough to allow it to be used with many different simulators and also with analytical performance evaluation methods.

Deliverables

DB.2.1. Technical report: “Common methods for performance evaluation in UWB physical layers”

DB.2.2. Software: “Performance evaluation tool for physical layer simulations in UWB”

Milestones

T0+6: Definition of the systems to be includedT0+10: Development of the performance evaluation methodsT0+18: Implementation of the models

110

WPB.3: Ad-hoc networks with UWB physical layers

Work package number WPB.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id IMST CRLL ISMB

Objectives

The objective of this WP is to perform research on ad-hoc networks where the physical layer employs the UWB transmission technique..

Description of work UWB physical layers have typically very short range due to the limited transmit power and large data rates. In order to increase coverage, the devices have to be connected in some way. To this purpose, one interesting solutions is an ad-hoc network, where the devices form a network in an uncoordinated fashion.In this WP, we will study the implications that an UWB physical layer may have on an ad-hoc network.

Deliverables

DB.3.1. Technical report: “Performance of an ad-hoc network for UWB devices”

MilestonesT0+18: Performance evaluation

111

Project C - Functional Design Aspects of Future Generation Wireless Systems Workpackages

WPC.1 Access MethodsWPC.2 Channel AdaptivityWPC.3 Advanced Antenna ConfigurationsWPC.4 Radio-network StructuresWPC.5 CompatibilityWPC.6 Reference Scenarios

112

WPC.1: Access Methods

Work package number WPC.1 Start date or starting event: T0

Participant id UU ERICSSON GET MOTOROLA Chalmers NTNU NCUA/IASA

CERCOM TELEFONICA VODAFONE

Objectives

Investigation of suitable access methods for future generation wireless systems.

Description of work The initial activities start with a thorough investigation of different access methods and formulation of tentative user and service scenarios. Based on these investigations, the issues of asymmetry and adaptivity are considered as well as possible. Sharing of bandwidth among operators is another issue, which will be considered in this context. This work will be performed in parallel with all other work packages, that is WPC.2-WPC.6. We anticipate the process of selecting the best access method(s) to be an iterative process where input from the other WP’s together with input from the disciplinary research areas 1-6 will continuously refine the proposal.

Deliverables

DC.1.1. Technical report: "Access methods for future wireless networks: Functional design aspects"

Milestones

T0+6: Ranking of access methods

T0+12: Identification crucial components

T0+16 Detailed specification the selected method and its components

113

WPC.2:Channel Adaptivity


Participant id UU ERICSSON GET MOTOROLA Chalmers NTNU

NCUA/IASA

CERCOM VODAFONE TELEFONICA

Objectives

Definition of adaptive transmission parameters and adaptation laws.

Description of work

A thorough investigation will be conducted for the following issues: The time-frequency granularity of the system has to selected and matched to the expected channel time-

frequency selectivity. The properties of different duplex schemes have to be ascertained and ranked. Functionality for feedback of channel state information and prediction of channel conditions to allow for

accurate adaptation of transmission parameters and scheduling schemes must be investigated Schemes and criteria for scheduling among interfering sectors will be investigated

Deliverables

DC.2.1. Technical report: “Specification of adaptivity in future wireless systems: Time-frequency aspects and scheduling issues”

DC.2.2. Technical report: “Specification of adaptivity in future wireless systems: “Channel state information, channel predictability, and duplex schemes”

Milestones

T0+6: Specification of time-frequency granularity

T0+12: Specification of channel state information and predictability

T0+16: Specification of scheduling algorithms

114

WPC.3: Advanced Antenna Configurations




Objectives Investigation of how advanced antenna configurations can be utilized to optimise system performance.

Description of work In this work package we will conduct a thorough investigation of how various advanced antenna configurations can be best used to improve the system capacity. The following issues will be studied in detail:

Pros and cons of multiple transmit and receive antennas in the mobile terminals. Pros and cons of multiple transmit and receive antennas at the cell site. Pros and cons of simultaneous transmission and reception of signals at separately located antennas, e.g. at

multiple cell sites.

Deliverables

DC.3.1. Technical report: “Efficient utilization of multiple antennas in mobile terminals: Capacity increase and interference suppression”

DC.3.2. Technical report: “Benefits of using multiple antennas at the cell cite: Trade-offs between complexity and capacity and interference suppression”

Milestones

T0+6: Specification and usage of appropriate antenna configurations in mobile terminals

T0+12: Specification and usage of appropriate antenna configurations at cell sitesT0+16: Specifications of macro diversity schemes

115

WPC.4: Radio-network Structures




Objectives Investigation of the structure and organisation of future radio networks to obtain high system efficiency.

Description of work

In this work package we will investigate different concepts, like organisation of cells and sectors, and relaying, to improve coverage and performance. Both capacity and quality aspects will be studied.

Deliverables

DC.4.1. Technical report: “Analysis and performance of cell and sector organization and its impact on coverage and performance.”

DC.4.2. Technical report: “Analysis and performance of relaying schemes for future wireless systems: Capacity and quality aspects”

Milestones

T0+6: Recommendation of cell and sector organisation for future wireless systems

T0+12 Performance analysis of relaying schemes

T0+16: Analysis of the implications of relaying schemes for system performance

116

WPC.5: Compatibility


Participant id UU ERICSSON GET MOTOROLA Chalmers NCUA/IASA


Objectives Investigation of multi-mode, multi-standard, multi-frequency, multi-function transceiver terminals for operating over several frequency bands, and with the highest flexibility and scalability, based on a common hardware platform.

Description of work This WP will focus on the investigation of the feasibility of having terminals with reconfiguration features.

One issue will be to investigate to what extent transmitter and receiver features can be reused or reconfigured to support different standards and what architectures are most suitable in this regard.

Another issue is to investigate novel solutions such as canonical description languages for open architecture transceivers.

Deliverables

DC.5.1, “Definition of a backward compatible & future proof flexible baseline transceiver architecture”

DC.5.2. “Canonical description language for the reconfigurable flexible baseline transceiver”

Milestones

T0+6: Classification of current standards, identification of transceiver commonalities and compatibilities

T0+12: Definition of the flexible baseline receiver architecture

T0+16: Study and development of a canonical description language for the re-configuration of the flexible baseline transceiver

117

WPC.6: Reference Scenarios




Objectives Definition of reference scenarios that address user perspectives, service perspectives, and terminal perspectives.

Description of work First, a thorough investigation of possible service and user perspectives is conducted. Second, we investigate what implications this will have on a terminal perspective and on the system design as a whole.

Deliverables

DC.6.1. Definition of service and user perspectives.

DC.6.2. Technical report: “Implications of services and users behaviour on system and terminal design”

Milestones

T0+6: Analysis of services

T0+12: Analysis of user scenarios

T0+16: Analysis of the implications for system design

118

Project D – Reconfigurable radio for interoperable transceivers

WorkpackagesWPD.1 Flexibility in Baseband Digital Signal ProcessingWPD.2 Flexibility in RF front-end

119

WPD.1: Flexibility in Baseband Digital Signal Processing

Workpackage number WPD.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id IMEC CERCOM GET

Objectives

Instead of just duplicating existing communication modes, the terminal should integrate them within one common framework to limit the terminal size and production cost, while, at the same time, maximize the adaptivity to the communication conditions. This holds especially for the major components of an air interface like the modulation and multiple access scheme. On the one hand, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) rely on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulation to achieve high data rates over frequency-selective fading channels, employing a low-complexity receiver. On the other hand, 3G cellular systems rely on Wideband Direct-Sequence (DS) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to increase capacity and facilitate network planning. Recently, OFDM and CDMA have been combined to exploit the advantages of both. Our objective is to design a common transceiver that captures the essential elements of existing and future air interfaces with respect to modulation and multiple access schemes.

Description of work

Identification of commonalities between exisiting standards and enhanced air interfaces

We will carry out a detailed study of the functional components of the existing WLAN and 3G cellular standards. Based on this study, we will identify commonalities and differences between the two baseband architectures and study how they can be integrated together in order to support also advanced air interfaces.

Design of a flexible transceiver model

First, we will design a flexible transmission scheme that captures all important communication modes, such that both existing and future modes can be instantiated as special cases of the general scheme. Second, we will develop a common receiver structure that copes with the performance-degrading effects caused by multi-path propagation and multiple access interference.

Performance comparison of the different modes in varying propagation environments

Starting from realistic design constraints, we will identify the important modes and submodes, and assess their performance and complexity requirements in different operational scenarios.

Development of CQI estimation/prediction algorithms and transceiver reconfiguration algorithms

To select the optimal mode with respect to the channel conditions, we will define measures that capture Channel Quality Information (CQI) in an accurate and concise way. Algorithms to estimate and predict CQI over longer periods of time will be developed to steer the intra- and inter-mode switching. In addition, reconfiguration algorithms that translate the CQI parameters into the inherent transceiver parameters will be studied.

Deliverables

DD.1.1 Report on the flexible baseband transceiver architecture (T0+6)

DD.1.3 Report on performance comparison and complexity assessment (T0+12)

DD.1.4 Report on CQI prediction algorithms and reconfiguration algorithms (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+18: Flexible baseband transceiver

120

WPD.2: Flexibility in RF front-end

Workpackage number WPD.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id IMEC CRLL

Objectives

The ultimate aim is to achieve user-centric services in which the users do not need to be aware of which networks or standards their telecommunications equipments utilise. In this case, the move from legacy, mono-channel, mono-band radios to standardised, open-architecture, multi-channel, multi-band radios is a formidable challenge for the world scientific and engineering industry. Faced with this aim, the industry and the customer have to focus on the technology needed to develop viable reconfigurable or software radios and, perhaps more importantly, on an innovative approach to acquire the technologies and develop them. True reconfigurable or software radios encompass numerous hardware and software technologies that are either state-of-the-art or still under development. An overview of the key RF front-end objectives and technologies required for software radios are wideband antennas,·RF conversion and IF processing. Significant regularity and standardisation issues also require to be addressed from a research perspective.

Description of work

As a starting point, it is valuable to analyse existing and possible future air-interface standards. It is then valuable to consider the ideal architecture and, in considering this, it is valuable to examine the specifications required for each element, and the possible technological innovation and advancement making them a realistic proposition. From this point of view, it is then possible to derive, model and simulate antennas and RF/IF architectures, which are realistic in terms of component performance, rather than continuing to pursue the ‘ideal’. To derive the specifications, it may be necessary to make assumptions about the types of modulation and multiple access schemes, which the radio hardware is likely to need to accommodate.

Deliverables

DD.2.1 Report on the antennas and RF/IF architectures for reconfigurable or software radios (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+17: Derivation of models for antennas and RF/IF architectures

121

Project E – Cross Layer Optimisation

Activity E.1: Multiuser Diversity Enhancement Workpackages

WPE.1.1: Channel aware scheduling concepts for a multiantenna downlink with imperfect channel knowledge

WPE.1.2: Joint Optimization of Random Beamforming and Scheduling AlgorithmsWPE.1.3: Joint Access Point Selection and Beamforming for efficient wireless access

Activity E.2: Cross-layer Information Exchange for Achieving Optimised Performance and Routing Workpackages

WPE.2.1: Scheduling for maximum throughput with smart antennas in multi-cell environmentsWPE.2.2: Protocol optimisation via cross-layer dialogueWPE.2.3: Channel assignment and power control for PAPR reduction in OFDM systems

Activity E.3: Subsystem Design Integration Workpackages

WPE.3.1: Receiver performance trade-off analysis

122

WPE.1.1: Channel aware scheduling concepts for a multiantenna downlink with imperfect channel knowledge

Workpackage number WPE.1.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id TUA UoT UoSo

Objectives

We are interested in developing scheduling concepts for a multiantenna downlink in a cellular multiuser scenario, in which the scheduler has some knowledge about the quality of the channels to the users (e.g. SNIR), but does not know the quality of the channel between each antenna element and each user.

Description of work

We consider a packet-data multiantenna downlink in a frequency-selective cellular system. An OFDM scheme is employed, where subcarriers are grouped together to form subbands. A scheduler in the base station uses channel state information fed back from the mobile terminals to allocate subbands to one or several users. We employ random beamforming to increase the channel dynamics and thus throughput under QoS constraints. We want to compare different wireless scheduling concepts as to whether they are suited for this scenario (especially the random beamforming aspect), i.e. whether they can exploit multiuser diversity. If necessary, we shall examine possibilities to adapt them to our needs.

Deliverables:

DE.1.1.1: Technical report: Channel aware scheduling concepts for systems employing random beamforming (T0+18)

Milestones:

T0+18: Delivery of DE.1.1.1

123

WPE.1.2: Joint Optimization of Random Beamforming and Scheduling Algorithms

Workpackage number WPE.1.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id TUA UoT UoSo

Objectives:

We are interested in jointly optimizing random beamforming and scheduling concepts for a multiantenna downlink in a cellular multiuser scenario.

Description of work:

We consider a time-slotted packet-data multiantenna downlink in a cellular system. A scheduler in the base station uses channel state information to allocate the channel to one or several users. We employ random beamforming to increase the channel dynamics and thus throughput under QoS constraints. In this context, random means that we do not form explicitly a beam to one user, because we assume that we do not know the channel between each antenna element and the users. However, it does not mean that the weights are drawn in a random fashion, either. Rather, they are calculated by a certain algorithm. One example for a scenario with correlated antenna elements is a phased array with a beam rotating around the cell (or sector).Our objective is to jointly optimize the generation of the antenna weights used for the beamforming and the scheduling algorithm with regard to different measures, e.g. overall throughput, variance of throughput among users, throughput under QoS constraints, etc.

Deliverables:DE.1.2.1: Technical report: Joint Optimization of Random Beamforming and Scheduling Algorithms (T0+18)

Milestones:T0+18: Delivery of DE.1.2.1

124

WPE.1.3: Joint Access Point Selection and Beamforming for efficient wireless access

Workpackage number WPE.1.3 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id UoT UoSo

Objectives: We study the joint problem of AP assignment and beam-forming in a multi-cell system. We intend to investigate the impact of smart antennas on the access layer and the incurred performance benefits of this joint approach for cases where a user can select among several APs from which it can receive useful signals. The study will include access schemes with orthogonal or non-orthogonal channels.

Description of work.

Within a single cell, the deployment of smart antennas opens up the spatial dimension through space division multiple access (SDMA). The problem of beam-forming and power control with or without channel assignment has been studied in literature within a single cell. The next natural step is to extend the treatment for multi-cell systems. We consider a system that consists of a set of APs and a set of mobile users in the area. Each AP is equipped with a smart antenna with beam-forming capabilities. This system could be an indoor wireless LAN system with several APs and users moving around. We will consider a centralized approach, with a central agent that has knowledge of channel states for all users and APs. Appropriate AP assignment can balance traffic loads in different APs, alleviate interference and improve system performance when combined with beam-forming and power control. A first question concerns the feasibility of such a system. With a single channel, another meaningful objective is that of maximizing the number of users that can be “packed” in a single channel and receive service, if the answer to the feasibility question is negative. Furthermore, we will incorporate channel assignment to users as another dimension to improve performance in terms of total provided system rate to users. We also intend to answer related question for generic multiple access schemes with orthogonal channels (e.g., TDMA, OFDMA) or non-orthogonal channels (e.g., CDMA).

Deliverables

DE.1.3.1: Technical report: Joint access point selection and beamforming for efficient wireless access (T0+18)

Milestones: T0+18: Delivery of DE.1.3.1

125

WPE.2.1: Scheduling for maximum throughput with smart antennas in multi-cell environments


Objectives: We wish to answer some of the issues that arise in the central controller that coordinates AP selection and transmission in a multi-cell multi-user system. We will investigate issues pertaining to the impact of smart antennas, packet arrival patterns or channel variations on buffer dynamics at the controller.


We consider a multi-cell multi-user network and concentrate on the central controller that coordinates AP selection and down-link transmission to users. Packets that are destined to each user arrive to the scheduler according to some arrival pattern and are stored to corresponding buffers. These packets need to be routed to the appropriate AP and transmitted to the user, subject to the constraint that an acceptable SINR is satisfied at the receiver of the user. We consider a TDMA scheme and we assume that the scheduler has channel state information for each user and each AP. At each slot, the scheduling algorithm takes as input the channel condition and the queue lengths and needs to determine the subset of users to receive packets, the AP assignment for each user, the beam-forming vector of the smart antenna of the assigned AP to the user and potentially the transmission rate to each user. Eligible subsets of users are the ones for which there exist an AP assignment and beam-forming vectors such that the SINR constraints are satisfied. For single-rate transmission, the SINR requirements are the same for all users, while for multi-rate transmission, the SINR requirement depends on the assigned rate. The objective is to maximize the long-term achievable system rate while maintaining bounded buffer lengths. That is, we would like to find the policy that stabilizes the system, whenever it is stabilizable. The solution to this problem will capture the impact of the existence of smart antennas on higher layer queue dynamics and access control.

Deliverables

DE.2.1.1: Scheduling for maximum throughput with smart antennas in multi-cell environments (T0+18)

Milestones: T0+18: Delivery of DE.2.1.1

126

WPE.2.2: Protocol optimisation via cross-layer dialogue

Workpackage number WPE.2.2 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id CTTC GET FTW CERCOM UoSo

ObjectivesProviding the network with efficient resource management while guaranteeing QoS requirements may be achieved by means of interaction between the physical layer and medium access control sub-layer. In the particular context of ad-hoc networks the routing protocols must also be considered. Many of the underlying assumptions of traditional MAC protocols become obsolete under the new signal processing advances made available at the PHY layer. For instance, traditional MAC protocols and routing strategies were inspired by MAC layers and routing in fixed networks (e.g. CSMA). They were designed without taking into consideration multiuser detection and multiple antenna capabilities. An assessment of the impact of such advanced physical layer techniques will aid to the design of wireless-oriented MAC protocols. The goal is to analyse and design optimal MAC algorithms with multi-packet reception capabilities under the scope of PHY-MAC dialogue. Routing strategies in ad-hoc networks will also be studied in this context. We will further study possible application layer information (e.g. speech frame information) that can be used in the MAC-PHY layers to improve user perceived QoS.


Protocols must be evaluated taking into consideration PHY layer constraints and QoS requirements. Two identification processes play a key role in optimisation:

1. Identification of useful cross layer information to pass between layers.

2. Identifying degrees of freedom (what can be changed) and optimisation criteria.

Based on the above issues, the design optimum of algorithms for the medium access control sub-layer and for routing will be considered.

The study shall evaluate a trade-off among the increase in signalling load associated to obtaining and transmitting the cross layer information between layers, its robustness to channel errors and the benefits and performance improvements associated to such exchange of information.

Deliverables

DE.2.2.1: State of the art technical report (T0+6)

DE.2.2.2: Technical report, Protocol optimisation via PHY-MAC dialogue (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+6: Deliverable DE.2.2.1

T0+18 : Deliverable DE.2.2.2

127

WPE.2.3: Channel assignment and power control for PAPR reduction in OFDM systems


Objectives

We want to investigate the problem of reducing peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR) in OFDM transmission by means of MAC layer channel assignment and physical layer power control. By joint consideration of these adaptation actions, we intend to design algorithms to provide quality of service (QoS) to users in terms of acceptable PAPR during transmission.


The main implementation disadvantage of OFDM is the high PAPR at the transmitter. This problem arises because each time sample of the transmitted signal is a superposition of many complex-valued sub-symbols of different sub-carriers. We will investigate the issue of PAPR reduction through adaptive sub-carrier and power allocation. We consider a single-cell multi-user OFDM system, where each sub-carrier can be assigned to at most one user. Each user has a rate requirement that needs to satisfy and the access point has multi-rate transmission capabilities. Clearly, the PAPR value for a user depends on the assigned sub-carriers and rates to the user. Note that a user can be assigned a rate different than the maximum one in a sub-carrier, if this helps in alleviating the PAPR problem. Since the assigned power in each sub-carrier and user is also a controllable parameter, the set of achievable rates per sub-carrier for a user is also a function of the power assigned to that sub-carrier. Furthermore, the different amounts of power per sub-carrier also affect the PAPR for each user. We wish to study the problem of providing acceptable PAPR ratios to users and satisfying their rate requirements with appropriate sub-carrier selection and power control. After we answer the feasibility question, we will formulate and solve optimisation problems with meaningful objective functions, such as the sum of PAPR of users.

Deliverables

DE.2.3.1: Technical report: Channel assignment and power control for PAPR reduction in OFDM systems (T0+18)

Milestones


128

WPE.3.1: Receiver performance trade-off analysis

Workpackage number WPE.3.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id NTNU UoSo

Objectives

Two important performance metrics for physical layer in a portable or handheld terminal are data throughput rate at a given required BER level, and power consumption. In an application with time-varying traffic pattern, the data rate requirement will be variable. With a fading channel, the requirements to modulation method, algorithm complexity and SNR will vary also. Given a reconfigurable terminal, where consumed power can be controlled by changes in wordlengths, clock rates and algorithm complexity, the variations above opens for the possibility of tuning the power consumption to just the right level at a given time. The goal is to search for trade-offs between design parameters that result in a minimization of power consumption for a given QoS level under fading channel conditions.


Two kinds of mappings are necessary to perform the analysis.

1. A mapping between a design parameter to an equivalent additive noise power at a common reference point. (A simple example of this is the ADC wordlength.)

2. A mapping between design parameter and required power consumption in the relevant terminal subsystem.

With such mappings in place, one can perform trade-off anlyses to find out how power should be distributed between different parts in an optimal way. Search for effiicient algorithms to make this distribution adaptive should also be done.

Deliverables

DE.3.1.1: Technical report: Receiver performance trade-off analysis (T0+18)

Milestones


129

NEWCOM Activities to spread excellence

Workpackages

WPS.1: Workshops and Conferences WPS.2: NEWCOM Dissemination Days WPS.3: Creating and running an Electronic Newsletter for NEWCOMWPS.4: NEWCOM on-line Journal WPS.5: Feasibility Assessment of a European Society of Wireless CommunicationsWPS.6: Continuing and training education

130

WPS.1: Workshops and Conferences

Workpackage number


End date or end event: T0+18Participants id ALL

Objectives The main objectives of this work-package are as follows:

Promote the organization of major, already existing international conferences and workshops to be held in the participating countries

Set up and organize new international conferences or workshops in Europe on the subject of wireless communications and related issues

Description of work

Support to the scientific preparation and to the organization of special sessions inside international conferences and workshops

Organization and financial support for important conferences hosted by one of the NEWCOM member

Foundation of new international conferences or workshops to be held in Europe and focusing on novel important research themes related to wireless communications

Establishment of high level technical boards for the founded conferences

Set ut a sponsorship and the full organization of the founded conferences

Deliverables

Milestones

131

WPS.2: NEWCOM Dissemination Days

Workpackage number


End date or end event: T0+18Participants id ALL

Objectives

The objective of this work-package is to create an Annual three Days event where NEWCOM presents its research activities and the obtained results. These NEWCOM Dissemination Days will be open to and specifically devoted to industries and institutions external to the network, that will be invited to listen to the technical presentations and participate to discussion sessions. Beside the spreading of knowledge, these events will also provide opportunities for establishing new cooperation links between the Network participating and external industries.

Description of work

Determine a suitable but fixed annual date

Determine a suitable but fixed place

Find Sponsors

Determine Program

Advertise the event within the NEWCOM Community ( in the Newsletter, during meeting)

Ask for feedback from the attendees

Deliverables

Milestones

132

WPS.3: Creating and running an Electronic Newsletter for NEWCOM

Workpackage number


End date or end event: T0+18Participants id UCL GET CERCOM ISMB


Establish an Electronic Newsletter for NEWCOM partners

Make NEWCOM Newsletter worldwide known within the Scientific Community

The Newsletter will make publicly available the Network life, also in terms of offered opportunities, such as for example summer schools, conferences and seminars schedule, Post Doc positions, available Master and PhD theses, new launched projects.

Description of work

Select a suitable server site to host the newsletter

Appoint the Newsletter Editor and the Editorial Committee

Make a suitable layout

Acquire adds for the newsletter especially job opportunities

Deliverables

Milestones

133

WPS.4: NEWCOM on-line Journal

Workpackage number


End date or end event: T0+18Participants id GET UoSu KU PUT NCUA/IASA FTW

TeSA/CNRS Chalmers GU UPC UoP NTNU

Objectives Currently, there is no truly European scientific publication in the field of wireless communications with a large circulation, and the time may actually be right to found a traditional paper journal (with traditional subscription) with that aim. The on-line journal, with possibly short and fast scientific communications might turn out to be a fundamental tool to disseminate information, and the organization and management of it will surely foster integration within the network. Initially, the bulletin will simply have the function of hosting “free” contributions by the nodes, but a special section subject to review will be soon organized, and will act as the initial “seed” of a European Journal on Wireless Communications (EJWC). Many participants into the network have a long-standing experience of editorial management of scientific journals at the highest level, so the competence to carry out successfully such an initiative already exists.

Description of work After the website of the NoE is developed under WP700, the NEWCOM Bulletin will be created, and a first call for papers will be issued. Once the bulletin has gained momentum, a procedure for peer review will be organized, and a second wave of calls will be launched. At the end of this phase, an evaluation of the opportunity to change the bulletin into a formal on-line Journal will be performed. The possibility to ask for a voluntary/mandatory small subscription fee will also be considered.

Deliverables

DS.4.1. Document: assessment of the opportunity of the creation of the on-line EJWC (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+3: First Call for Papers of the NEWCOM on-line bulletin

T0+6: First issue of the bulletin with external contributions

T0+12:Organization of the peer review procedure

T0+15: First issue of the NEWCOM Journal with review

T0+18: Delivery of DI5.1

134

WPS.5: Feasibility Assessment of a European Society of Wireless Communications

Workpackage number

WPS.5 Start date or starting event: T0+6

End date or end event: T0+18Participants id GET UoSu KU GU NCUA/IASA FTW

TeSA/CNRS UoP NTNU

Objectives Currently, no European Scientific Society for wireless communications is active. The goal of this WP is the assessment of the opportunity to create an European Society for Wireless Communications (ESWC) using the NoE as a launch pad but aiming to a permanent initiaitve.

Description of work Every European country hosting one of the NEWCOM nodes has got its own National Society for Telecommunications, often with a “wireless communications” branch. No general coordination, apart from local initiatives, is active at the moment. Once the activities of the NoE has settled down and a logistic structure is in place, the institutions participating into this WP will interface with their “own” National societies to i) identify contact persons; ii) assess their interest in pursuing this goal; iii) formulate a scenario for the European Societiy with activities, competence, and a tentative financial budget in the short- (NoE active) and long-term (NoE deactivated).

Deliverables

DS.5.1. ESWC Scenario Document (T0+12)

DS.5.2. Financial Plan for the creation of the ESWC (T0+18)

DS.5.3. Final Feasibilty Assessment document of the ESWC (T0+18)

Milestones

T0+12: Delivery of Scenario Document DI.6.1

T0+18: Delivery of DI.6.2 and DI.6.3

135

WPS.6: Continuing and training education

Workpackage number


End date or end event: T0+18Participants id GET UEN FTW UoSu NCUA/IASA GU

CTTC BILKENT ISIK I3P NTNU


Transfer of knowledge to teams external to the network, by offering internationally renowned experts and/or research leaders

Offer to industries and institutions advanced short courses on specific themes related to the wireless communications

Offer more extensive and structured training courses to Industry

This kind of education will be offered on demand and under conditions that have to be specified case by case to researchers that are not members of the Network.

Description of work

Contact a course provider

Set up a plan for courses

Contact lecturers and internationally renowned experts and/or research leaders

Make a timetable

Advertise courses within and outside the NEWCOM Community: NEWCOM Newsletter, on-line journal and web site will be also used to this purpose

Monitor and evaluated the success of courses

Deliverables

Milestones

136

NEWCOM Management Activities

Activities/WorkpackagesWPM.1: Establishment of Network OfficeWPM.2 Management of the Scientific ActivitiesWPM.3 Management of the Administrative ActivitiesWPM.4 Activities of the Advisory BoardWPM.5 Knowledge managementWPM.6 IPR management and exploitation

137

WPM.1 Establishment of Network Office

Workpackage number WPM.1 Start date or starting event: T0Participant id ALL

Objectives

Establishment of the Network Office within the Istituto Superiore Mario Boella to support the activities of the entire network as outlined in section B.7 Organisation and Management.

Identification of partner Administrative Officers to form the administrative network which will support the scientific operation of the network and underpin the integration, spreading of excellence and management activities.

Election of the Executive Board as subgroup of the Scientific Committee to have responsibility for integration and other network-wide activity.

Description of work

Establishment of communications infrastructure (dedicated telephone, email, personal computers) within ISMB to form NEWCOM Network Office.

Identification of the ISMB personnel involved in NO.

Deliverables

DM.1.1 Network Office Established (T0+1)

Milestones

MM.1.1: Establishment of NEWCOM NO office environment (T0+1)

MM.1.2: Identification of partner Administrative Officers (T0+2)

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WPM.2 Management of the Scientific Activities


Objectives

Coordination of the scientific direction of the NEWCOM network by the NEWCOM Director, the Scientific Committee and the Executive Board.

Description of work

Organisation of regular meetings of the Executive Board and the Scientific Committee. These meetings will be physical on a regular but infrequent basis, and more frequently will be virtual in nature.

Monitoring of the progress of the Joint Programme of Activities of the network.

Monitoring of the expenditure of the Network’s budget.

Monitoring of the development of the “critical mass” of activities and partners crucial to the long-term sustainability of the network.

Supporting knowledge and IPR management and exploitation within NEWCOM.

Organisation of meetings, conferences and seminars will be supported by the Network Office.

Deliverables

DM.2.1: Minutes of Scientific Committee meetings

DM.2.2: First Year Joint Programme of Activity (T0+3)

DM.2.3: First Year Annual Report (T0+13)

DM.2.4: Second Year Joint Programme of Activity (T0+14)

Milestones

MM2.1: First Scientific Committee meeting “kick-off” (T0+1)

MM2.3: Second Executive Committee meeting (T0+11)

MM2.3: Third Scientific Committee meeting (T0+13)

139

WPM.3 Management of the Administrative Activities


Objectives

Coordination of the administrative operations of the network and reporting within the network to maintain momentum and integration of activities.

Production of NEWCOM handbook which ensures that all partners follow the same administrative, financial and project management rules, in order that there is coherence in procedures and in financial, technical and administrative reporting.

Reporting to the European Commission to fulfill the Network’s reporting obligations under the contract with the Commission.

Description of work

Collecting material from Department/Project Heads to prepare “NEWCOM progress reports” every six months to be circulated to all partners and inserted into NEWCOM web site.

Production of NEWCOM handbook for local administrative officers to assist in the production of timely and accurate financial and activity reports.

Dissemination of meeting minutes and discussion documents throughout the network, giving evidence to the main decisions.

Reporting regularly to the European Commission.

Deliverables

DM.3.1: Minutes of the initial Scientific Committee “kick off” (T0+1)

DM.3.2: Project Management handbook (T0+3)

DM.3.3: First biannual Technical Progress Report (T0+7)

DM.3.4: Minutes of the second Scientific Committee meeting (T0+11)

DM.3.5: First NEWCOM Annual Report (T0+13)

DM.3.4: Minutes of the third Scientific Committee meeting (T0+11)

DM.3.7: Second biannual Technical Progress Report (T0+18)

Milestones

140

WPM.4 Activities of the Advisory Board


Objectives

Assurance of the ongoing quality of the scientific research undertaken within the NEWCOM network through the establishment of an external Advisory Board, and their involvement in the Joint Programme of Activities of the Network.

Description of work

Joint work with NEWCOM Scientific Committee for approval of the Joint Programme of Activities and annual scientifc reports.

Selection of the candidates and winner of NEWCOM Best Paper Award.

Deliverables

DM.4.1: Comments of the Advisory Board on the first JPA (T0+2.5)

DM.4.2: Comments of the Advisory Board on the first annual report (T0+14)

DM.4.3: Comments of the Advisory Board on the second JPA (T0+14)

Milestones

MM.4.1 First Meeting of the Advisory Board with the Executive Committee (T0+2.5)

MM.4.2 Second Meeting of the Advisory Board with the Executive Committee (T0+14)

141

WPM.5 Knowledge management


Objectives

Knowledge management within the NEWCOM network involves the gathering, organisation, analysis, refining and sharing of the knowledge of the partners in terms of resources, documents, and the key competencies of staff. The NEWCOM project will support knowledge management through the use of collaborative tools for knowledge sharing, and analysis of the relationships between content, people and activities into a knowledge map for the network.

A member of the Executive Board will be responsible for knowledge management within NEWCOM.

Description of work

Identification of electronic tool to support knowledge management within the NEWCOM network.

Deliverables

DM.5.1: First release of NEWCOM data base for KM (T0+15)

Milestones

MM.5.1: Identification of electronic Knowledge Management tool (T0+6)

MM5.2: First release of NEWCOM data base for KM (T0+15)

142

143

WPM.6 IPR management and exploitation

Workpackage number WPM.5 Start date or starting event: T0+6Participant id ALL

Objectives To offer to all partners the option of having their most promising results evaluated toward the possibility of being transformed into new entrepreneurial initiatives. This action will take the form of support and consultancy on matters like idea evaluation, patent screening, business plan preparation, seed fund raising, etc. In doing this, specific competences of some NEWCOM partners possessing a significant experience will be exploited.

A member of the Executive Board will be responsible for IPR management and exploitation within NEWCOM.

Description of work

Diffusion to NEWCOM partners of the IPR culture.

Collection of promising IPR proposals from partners.

Provision of support and consultancy to partners in terms of patent screening, business plan preparation, fund raising opportunities, national and European laws supporting new companies creation.

Launch of the NEWCOM Best Spin-off Idea Award.

Deliverables

DM.6.1: Patents, business plans, start-up creation (impossible to position in precise time frames).

DM.6.2: First NEWCOM Best Spin-off Idea Award competition.

Milestones

MM.6.1: Identification of electronic Knowledge Management tool (T0+16)

144

145

Documents

NEWCOM - Network of Excellence in Wireless … · Web viewThe actual impulse response is then found by a simplified ray-tracing procedure. An alternative, but equivalent approach,