Embedded Wireless TechChannel

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. Raytheon engineers demonstrated the Soldier Radio Waveform (S…

2012-10-31T19:31:40Z

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. Raytheon engineers demonstrated the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) on ground and airborne radio terminals, enabling warfighters to communicate over disparate networks.

Raytheon demos Army’s SRW airborne and ground radios
mil-embedded.com

New GORE(r) Cable-Based Antennas Improve Passenger In-flight Access to Wireless Networks

2012-07-10T20:46:58Z

DUNDEE, UK, 9 JULY 2012 – - W. L. Gore & Associates has developed new cable-based antennas (often referred to as leaky lines or leaky feeders) that improve signal propagation without increasing the amount of hardware required on an airplane. Ideal for both wide-body and single-aisle passenger aircraft, GORE® Cable-Based Antennas provide reliable access to different wireless protocols so passengers can easily connect to in-flight entertainment, Internet servers, and email accounts.

GORE® Cable-Based Antennas are easily installed along the length of the cabin ceiling, and with signal propagation occurring every meter along the antenna, passengers are assured reliable access, regardless of their location in the plane. Passengers’ signals are transmitted via a signal network computer and outside antenna to satellites that connect to the worldwide network.

Unlike typical broadband technology that requires separate hardware for each type of wireless access, the versatile GORE® Cable-Based Antenna reduces airline costs because the antenna requires only one set of hardware to service the entire aircraft, regardless of its size. This lightweight antenna offers a single solution for providing connectivity for a variety of electronic devices. This antenna sends and receives signals in frequencies ranging from 400 megahertz to 6 gigahertz, which makes it compatible with numerous communication standards, including Bluetooth, DECT, DECT2, Global Star, GSM, IRIDIUM Sat, MMS, PDC, TETRA, UMTS, WLAN 802.11 a/b/g, and WiMAX.

Constructed with unique, engineered fluoropolymers in a lightweight coaxial cable, the GORE® Cable-Based Antenna meets all shock, vibration and fire specifications, including AirBus ABD0031 and FAR Part 25.1359(d). Available in lengths of more than 65 meters, they require no maintenance for the lifetime of the aircraft.

According to Helmut Seigerschmidt, Gore’s European product leader for aerospace applications, the GORE® Cable-Based Antenna is the premier choice for wide-body aircraft. “Several years ago, a current customer approached Gore to work with them to develop a cost-effective technology that would provide reliable wireless connections for their passengers. From our years of experience with the aerospace industry, we knew that our solution needed to take into account the weight constraints and limited space available on the aircraft. Therefore, we began our design with the concept of a single device that would handle all protocols and provide reliable access anywhere in the cabin. As a result of this approach, our leaky-line antennas have been selected for retrofit as well as new production of both single-aisle and long-range aircraft.”

For more information about Gore’s full line of products for the aerospace industry, contact Gail Smith-Berry on +44 1382 569245 or visit www.gore.com/aerospace.

About W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics. Headquartered in the United States, Gore posts annual sales of more than $3.2 billion and employs approximately 10,000 associates in 30 countries worldwide. In Europe, Gore started its first business operations only a few years after the Enterprise’s founding in 1958. Gore now has locations — sales offices as well as production facilities — in the key European countries with around 2,000 associates dedicated to serving the markets of all of Gore’s product divisions. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. For several years now, Gore has also been voted one of the best workplaces in Europe and has been ranked on top workplace lists in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Sweden. Learn more at gore.com.

Interlab Test Solution LTE-USIM/USAT Covers Test Requirements of Almost All LTE Carriers Worldwide.

2012-07-10T20:47:49Z

After successful installation at various leading US-carriers and mobile phone manufacturers, the InterLab® Test Solution LTE-USIM/USAT has recently been set-up at the China Mobile Laboratories, showing once more its wide area of test requirements coverage.

“Supporting mobile phone and Smartphone manufacturers in getting their products to market has always been one of 7Layers main purposes. So it is only natural that we have made our InterLab Test Solution LTE-USIM/USAT fit to test according to the requirements of nearly all LTE carriers world-wide”, states Magdy Ahmed, product manager at 7Layers. “When installing the test system at China Mobile Laboratories for example, the engineers there were really happy with its ease-of-use and reliability.”

Contrary to other wireless technologies, LTE supports a large variety of frequency bands which has led to LTE carriers using a range of bands for their LTE networks. 7Layers therefore made sure that its InterLab Test Solution LTE-USIM/USAT corresponds to the varied requirements of carriers and technology institutes worldwide:

P.R. China

- China Mobile Band 38, 40, 39

Korea

- LG U+ Band 5

- SK telecom Band 5

Japan

- NTT Do Co Mo Band 1

- KDDI Band 11, 18

Usa

- MetroPCS Band 4

- US.Cellular Band 12

- Verizon Wireless Band 13

- NIST Band 14

- at&t Band 17

- LightSquared Band 24

- Sprint Band 25

- clearwire Band 41

Finland

- elisa Band 7

Nordic Countries

- Telia Sonera Band 7

Europe

- Vodafone Band 20

The InterLab® Test Solution LTE-USIM/USAT is a validated one-box test system. It verifies the conformity of an LTE-capable terminal with 3GPP LTE test specifications. CSIM and CCAT test case packages for multi mode LTE/CDMA devices are under development. The test solution investigates the interworking of an LTE device with the LTE (E-UTRA/ EPC) network and the USIM/ USAT/ ISIM applications on the UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card). IRAT tests (Inter Radio Access Technology) are covered as well.

Manufacturers and wireless test laboratories that are looking for an easy to handle, attractively priced solution, that covers a host of market access requirements, should look into the InterLab Test Solution LTE-USIM/USAT from 7Layers, the market experts when it comes to bringing wireless products to market efficiently.

For further information please contact: Frank.Spiller@7Layers.de

About 7Layers

7Layers, an international group of engineering & test centers, supports industries employing wireless technologies such as LTE, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, WiFi, GPS, TETRA, W-CDMA, Bluetooth®…. End product manufacturers, component manufacturers, network operators and technology associations benefit from working with 7Layers. 7Layers runs accredited Test Houses in the USA, Germany, China, Korea and Japan offering conformance and interoperability testing, certification and global type approval. The 7Layers’ Systems House offers product development and integration support, development of test specifications and test cases, as well as InterLab test solutions and test management systems. The 7Layers’ Software House provides the InterLab Software System, for the systematic verification & validation of complex high-tech products. More information at www.7Layers.com and www.interlab-live.com.PR contact for 7Layers: Brigitte.Lewis@7layers.com

GreenPeak GP510: the first dedicated ZigBee RF4CE chip for set-top boxes and gateways

2012-07-10T20:48:22Z

GP510: the first dedicated ZigBee RF4CE chip for set-top boxes and gateways

GreenPeak’s GP510 communication controller with integrated MAC and network layer for efficient in-house data communication management

Utrecht, The Netherlands, GreenPeak Technologies, a leading ultra-low power RF communications semiconductor company for the smart home, announces the general availability of its GP510 communication controller chip, supporting all communication between ZigBee RF4CE enabled devices and the set-top box or gateway. The GP510 is GreenPeak’s answer to the increasing market demand for making the set-top box the ZigBee RF4CE hub for the home.

Facilitating the transition from traditional IR for the set-top box to ZigBee RF4CE communication technology, the GP510 system-on-chip has been developed as a low cost RF4CE solution designed for the new generation ZigBee set-top boxes. The GP510 combines GreenPeak’s unique competitive advantages and is optimized for low cost BOM while providing superior range and reliability.

Superior Wi-Fi interference robustness in combination with patented antenna diversity technology results in approximately twice the reliable range (compared to similar systems with only one antenna) in a crowded wireless 2.4 GHz environment, enabling full home coverage. The integrated RF filtering simplifies the RF design complexity which enables low cost single layer applications using simple PCB antennas requiring no shielding and a minimum number of external components.

The MAC and network layer are integrated for efficient data communication management and the embedded ZigBee RF4CE network layer enables fast and simple integration. The chip is fully compliant with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, providing robust spread spectrum data communication with a highly secure encrypted data flow.

A complete suite of interfaces to the main processor is available (SPI, TWI or UART-based).

“The market for ZigBee RF4CE is ramping quickly and we see the remote control/set-top box market now growing into the millions per month. The GP510 is GreenPeak’s answer to this increasing demand and delivers an optimized architecture for the new generation set-top box. The set-top box is increasingly becoming the internet gateway into the home, combining the distribution of entertainment content as well as management data from sense and control applications for the smart home.” says Cees Links, Founder and CEO of GreenPeak Technologies.

GP510 development kits are available to assist OEMs to evaluate the GP510, to facilitate their integration and to allow a simple implementation of ZigBee RF4CE technology in the set-top box for a quick time to market.

ZigBee and ZigBee RF4CE are trademarks of the ZigBee Alliance. GreenPeak is committed to ZigBee standard offerings as the superior solution for the rapidly evolving “Internet of Things” market. ZigBee is the open communication standard for sensor and control networks driven and adopted by major operators in the market and is complementary to both Wi-Fi (because of its ultra-low power and long battery life) as well as to Bluetooth (because of its better range and networking capabilities).

About GreenPeak Technologies

GreenPeak Technologies is a fabless semiconductor company and is a leader in ZigBee silicon solutions for the smart home.

GreenPeak is headquartered in Utrecht, The Netherlands and has offices in Belgium, Japan and Korea.

GreenPeak is backed by venture capitalists: Gimv (Belgium), DFJ Esprit (UK), Robert Bosch Venture Capital (Germany) and Allegro Investment Fund (Belgium).

GreenPeak has won the prestigious 2012 Red Herring Top 100 Europe award and is recognized as a leader in developing new wireless technologies for consumer electronics and smart home applications, demonstrating rapid growth and adoption by major customers.

For more information, please visit www.greenpeak.com

Wireless technologies accelerate the next wave of in-vehicle innovation

2012-06-07T16:58:02Z

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Near Field Communication are shaping today’s in-vehicle infotainment designs and promising to provide the next generation of vehicle-to-vehicle communications such as traffic management, incident avoidance, and social networking. By implementing a single chip that combines all of these radio technologies, designers can help solve many of the complex design challenges facing systems engineers using multiple wireless communication protocols in their designs.

From climate control touch-screen dashboards to smartphones that read text messages aloud in the car, the buzz surrounding In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems has reached a fever pitch. As car manufacturers scramble to build advanced infotainment systems that bring all elements of the entertainment experience on the road, they require new, advanced wireless technologies. But which specific wireless technologies do manufacturers need to transform cars into sophisticated mobile entertainment systems?

Technologies enable true IVI experiences

Although major automotive manufacturers have already begun introducing various IVI technologies, enabling true in-vehicle wireless entertainment requires standards-based technologies built on a single System-on-Chip (SoC). The next wave of IVI applications will rely heavily on three wireless technologies – Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Near Field Communication (NFC) – built on one combination radio chip. And as the market continues to evolve, OEMs will need to leverage traditional Wi-Fi rolling hot spots to offer vehicle-to-vehicle communications such as traffic management, incident avoidance, and social networking.

Bluetooth

Some use cases for in-vehicle Bluetooth technology are relatively well-known and others will become more apparent as the popularity of in-vehicle wireless infotainment grows.

The most popular application for Bluetooth technology today is hands-free driving. In many states, Bluetooth not only solves safety issues associated with using mobile technology while in the car, it also fulfills government mandates calling for hands-free driving. Another popular use case for the technology is audio streaming. By leveraging Bluetooth, consumers can stream songs from their smartphones and play music on their speakers, allowing them to transform their smartphone into a car stereo.

The Bluetooth SIG has specified a standard mechanism for streaming high-quality mono or stereo audio from a Bluetooth master such as a smartphone to a slave device like an IVI system. The Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) encodes 2-channel audio in a Bluetooth-friendly format, which is sent wirelessly and decoded at the Bluetooth receiver. The SBC audio codec is a mandatory component of the A2DP profile, but other industry standards and proprietary codecs can also be accommodated.

Today, several proprietary radios enable keyless entry and proximity sensor capabilities to unlock car doors or start the ignition. But because these links are not based on standards, each accessory must be compatible with the specific proprietary technology or it will not work.

Wireless SoCs that include Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) capabilities, however, enable interoperability with all in-vehicle wireless systems, allowing consumers to use any of their mobile accessories to open car doors or start the ignition.

The advent of the Bluetooth LE specification represents a paradigm shift in efficiency, enabling dramatically increased battery life for Bluetooth products. The LE specification enables use cases and products that consume very little power, allowing the development of small sensor-based products that can survive on a small cell (such as a watch) battery for several years. This innovation will help drive Bluetooth technology into keyless entry fobs and other new applications that previously were out of reach from an efficiency standpoint.

Given the broad proliferation of Bluetooth in mobile products, a wide variety of devices can be used in automotive applications to remotely control a vehicle for security, climate control, ignition control, and other functions. Bluetooth LE profiles are used to define a specific behavior when two Bluetooth LE-enabled devices come close or move farther away from one another. By monitoring the absolute RF path loss between the two devices, the relative distance between objects can be ascertained. Furthermore, actions such as locking or unlocking the doors, starting the ignition, and choosing preferences such as climate, seating adjustments, multimedia selections, and other user-specific profiles can be set when the driver approaches or leaves the vehicle.

Standards-based HD Video over Wi-Fi

Today, consumers rely more on their mobile devices than ever before. In turn, this reliance has created heightened demands for technology that allows consumers to access and display all of their personalized smartphone data directly in their car. To ensure this seamless transfer of information between the mobile and automotive ecosystems, car manufacturers must leverage standards-based technology that enables consumers to carry any phone into any car and transfer data wirelessly.

An upcoming industry-standard specification that defines an interoperable mechanism for reliable, point-to-point HD video transmission between two Wi-Fi-enabled devices is expected from the Wi-Fi Alliance in the second half of 2012. Although video over Wi-Fi applications have been available for quite some time, this is the industry’s first attempt to develop an interoperability specification for video distribution. It specifies provisioning and management for negotiating video capabilities between a source and sync device, standard video transcoding schemes built on H.264, transport and control schemes, packetization, and content protection based on High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) 2.0. Many of the device and service discovery components of the protocol are built around the previously released Wi-Fi Direct specification.

The Wireless Display specification enables car manufacturers to wirelessly mirror smartphone screens to in-dash LCDs, creating an immediately personalized interface in the dashboard. Additionally, this standards-based technology allows consumers to safely control smartphones through the dashboard so they can answer calls and check text messages.

Wireless Display can support a variety of frame rates and video resolutions depending on the capabilities of the source and sync device. The specification will support up to full 1080p HD video at 60 frames per second, with extensions for 3D video. Provisions are available for low-latency transmission to enable display mirroring and real-time gaming over the link. A user interface back channel is available to allow remote control of video (play, pause, rewind, and so on) and other functions such as mouse and keyboard.

NFC

Although NFC is often associated with cashless payments, its ability to deliver security features to IVI systems is instrumental in providing an optimal end-user experience.

NFC operates in the unlicensed 13.56 MHz band and can be used as an out-of-band communication link for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Setting up a link via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is a complicated process that the average consumer is unable to accomplish, but by implementing NFC, consumers can simply touch their phone to the NFC receiver in a car and secure a wireless connection, rather than having to search for networks or set up a W2A pass phrase.

One primary advantage of using NFC to provision a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection is that NFC is easier to set up than more complex radios, and the setup time is generally shorter (on the order of milliseconds). NFC leverages the principle of magnetic induction to establish a communication link between two devices employing loop antennas. The effective range of link is no more than a few centimeters, so the user experience for setting up the connection is built around close proximity or touch.

Moving beyond in-vehicle communications

While automotive manufacturers must focus on Bluetooth, Wireless Display, and NFC to optimize in-vehicle wireless infotainment, the next wave of innovation will be outside the car.

To suit the needs of the 2012 consumer, automotive manufacturers have begun leveraging Wi-Fi rolling hot spots to enable streaming music and videos in vehicles. Several upcoming use cases will drive even further adoption:

Vehicle-to-home: This will allow a vehicle to automatically sync with a home media server so consumers can download music, videos, and more multimedia content.
Vehicle-to-Internet: This will allow a vehicle to sync content with various public hot spots. For example, a car can remotely deliver diagnostic information to a manufacturer or dealer to keep it adequately serviced and running longer.
Vehicle-to-vehicle: This technology will provide incident-avoidance features and allow various social networking functions including location-based services, offering capabilities such as alerting a consumer when they have a friend around the corner.

Multiple connectivity features on one chip

To integrate next-generation in-vehicle wireless technologies, the car of the future must leverage combination radios. Therefore, it is essential to implement a single wireless chip that can enable all of these connectivity functions in the vehicle.

By building multiple complementary radio technologies into a single piece of silicon, designers can solve some of the most difficult design challenges facing systems engineers using multiple wireless communications protocols in their products. One example of such a product is Marvell’s Avastar 88W8787 (Figure 1), an IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n 1×1 + Bluetooth 3.0 + FM wireless SoC that is widely adopted in smartphones, tablets, mobile routers, portable gaming, cameras, and other consumer electronic products. The device is also qualified to meet the stringent quality and reliability requirements for automotive applications, and is thus well-suited for today’s IVI systems.

Figure 1: The Marvell Avastar 88W8787 integrates 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN, Bluetooth 3.0, and FM Tx/Rx on a single chip to support high-throughput data rates in next-generation wireless applications.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

IVI systems in particular offer multiple use cases for concurrent radio operation, and great care must be taken to preserve the user experience in those situations. Technologies such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth operate in the same or adjacent frequency bands, and special techniques must be employed to enable concurrent operation while minimizing the impact of interference among the radios. Antenna-sharing techniques and complex Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) algorithms are effective strategies for assigning priority and arbitrating airtime between the radios to ensure a robust user experience. The implementation of these techniques is dramatically simplified when all the technologies come from the same vendor and reside on the same chip.

Bart Giordano is director of wireless marketing at Marvell Semiconductor.

Marvell Semiconductor info@marvell.com www.marvell.com

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Cost and Time Saving Features for In-Vehicle Computers

2012-05-07T16:23:18Z

Acrosser Technology, the leading industrial computer manufacturer, has successfully integrated significant features into their In-Vehicle Computer series products. These features include i-Button 1- wire interface, combo connector and remote power control switch. System integrators for telematics, fleet management, M2M and Intelligent Transportation System can be cost-benefit and time efficiently for their work due to the use of extra external devices which are not integrated in the In-Vehicle Computers.

i-Button 1-Wire Interface for Driver ID and Sensors

Driver identification, temperature sensors, NVRAM, digital I/O and analog input are quite often used on vehicle and M2M applications. 1-Wire is a device communications bus system designed by Dallas Semiconductor Corp. that provides low-speed data, signaling, and power over a single signal.

At this time, there are approximately 40 1-wire devices available from Dallas Semiconductor Corp.

1-Wire devices can be grouped by their functions into several categories:

‧Identification only

‧Identification plus temperature

‧Identification plus temperature logger

‧Identification plus temperature and humidity logger

‧Identification plus real time clock

‧Identification plus NV SRAM or OTP EPROM or EEPROM

‧Identification plus SHA-1 secure EEPROM

Thanks to the integration of 1-wire interface into Acrosser In-Vehicle Computers, so system integrators now can use one simple interface to connect variety devices which are often utilized in telematics applications. Beside the hardware interface, Acrosser also provide software API to write and read data to and from any kind of 1-wire devices.

Combo Connector Simplifies Many Cables Down to a Single Cable

Signals between a vehicle computer and a touch monitors include VGA, USB, audio and power supply of touch monitor. With a normal design, 4 cables are required. The all-in-one combo connector integrates all of these signals into one single cable. This significantly simplified the routing of the harness. Acrosser’s new in-vehicle computers and in-vehicle touch monitors are all featured with this advanced design.

Remote Power Control Switch, ON/OFF Control become More Flexible

All Acrosser’s In-Vehicle Computers are featured with a remote power control switch beside the power control by ignition switch. When this switch is installed and enabled by software, the switch works together with the ignition switch to control the power on/off of the computer. This has enabled the driver be able to turn off the computer without turning off the ignition. This feature is very useful in some application scenarios.

Visit Acrosser in Vehicle Computer solution and product web pages to know more information.

One Shop Wireless to Distribute First Completely Wireless Security System

2012-04-30T15:53:17Z

TAMPA, Fla., April 25, 2012 — One Shop Wireless, Inc., an exclusive national Business Partner Sales (BPS) Master Agent for T-Mobile USA, is introducing a unique wireless security solution for real estate and property management. The product lineup from CellSign Technologies provides protection for residential and commercial properties without phone lines or Wi-Fi.

“We know that realtors and property managers have concerns about the security of both residential and commercial property. Vacant properties have become a crime hotbed, with millions of dollars lost from the theft of appliances, wiring, aluminum and air conditioners. And, vacant and foreclosed homes are being targeted by criminals for adverse possession,” says Gillian Foley, One Shop Wireless’ Vice President.

“Whether the issue is theft or vandalism, we can offer 24/7 wireless protection without monitoring fees or installation. All you need is a smart phone or tablet and you can receive texts, pictures or emails from the security device whenever motion is detected. A mobile app for Android phones provides an added level of convenience.”

The anywhere, anytime protection is available in four systems to ensure the right fit for the property. All system cameras contain backup lithium batteries and a live audio “listen in” feature:

Portable Security: Perfect for residential realtors, this device combines motion and infrared sensors for advanced protection. Just plug it in and point it at the area you want surveillance for and you’re set. If the motion or body heat sensors are tripped, you instantly receive a text message, picture or email on your mobile device – whether you’re using one or more sensors. It’s an easy way to keep track of buyers at an open house and allows realty teams to receive shared notification with its ability to program up to 10 numbers and 9 emergency numbers.

Mounted Security: If coverage over a greater area is needed, the larger sensor range of the Mounted Security device is the right choice. Your mobile device becomes your remote for accessing real-time audio and images. Receive texts and emails if the security sensors are tripped and control the device via standard text messages.

Fixed Security: When more than one area needs to be protected, such as a real estate office or a commercial site, the Fixed Security system with connections for up to eight cameras provides the solution. With numerous coverage angles in addition to the body heat and motion sensors, a high level of security is achieved with the same mobile communication. The option of adding up to four sensors such as door, gas and smoke sensors or panic buttons add to the system’s flexibility.

Zoned Security: With multiple cameras enabling coverage at every angle, the Zoned system can control up to four cameras, making it perfect for property management. Each camera can be angled to survey the key entry point in the home. Not only will you be notified should someone access your property, but up to eight other people can be notified to receive alerts if a sensor is tripped. All device features can be controlled using standard messaging to schedule system arming when leaving the home or office.

“All of the CellSign products utilize T-Mobile networks but work on all phones that are SMS and MMS enabled,” adds Foley. “Real estate brokers and property managers have enough challenges today. Security should add stress-free peace of mind and for the first time we can offer just that.”

All systems are available through One Shop Wireless at http://www.1shopsecurity.com.

About One Shop Wireless

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, One Shop Wireless, Inc. is an exclusive, national Business Partner Sales (BPS) Master Agent for T-Mobile USA. One Shop Wireless’ focus is to select the best partners to deliver the best mobility solutions to its clients. http://www.1shopwireless.com

About CellSign Technologies

CellSign Technologies, LLC was founded on the belief that security should go everywhere our customers go. This led to the creation of the first completely wireless security technology available. CellSign devices are portable, wirelessly accessible and easy to use for the home, travel, business and realty. www.cellsigntechnologies.com

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Technology Preventing HIV Infection in Thousands of African Children

2012-04-16T16:05:52Z

MAPUTO, Mozambique – April 10, 2012 – Machine-to-machine (M2M) communications technology is saving tens of thousands of infants from mother-to-child HIV infection in Africa.

Based in the UK, Sequoia Technology, an M2M company, along with its longtime technology partner Telit Wireless Solutions, developed a way for rural medical clinics in Africa to wirelessly receive HIV test results of expectant mothers within days of testing, a first for many rural villages. This has allowed mothers with HIV-positive results to begin anti-retroviral drugs much earlier in their pregnancies, reducing the chances of transferring the virus to their newborns from 40 percent to less than 1 percent. Nearly half of babies born in Mozambique with HIV die in the first two years of life.

Funded by the Clinton Foundation and Mozambique’s Ministry of Health, the HIV Early Infant Diagnosis Project saved an estimated 20,000 babies from infection in just the first six months of its launch. The successful and unique program is now being expanded to nine other African nations including Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda and others.

Sequoia Technology developed a small, inexpensive printer incorporating SMS (short message service) wireless protocol used for mobile phone text messaging. Utilizing the GC864-Quad V2 wireless modules from Telit Wireless Solutions, the SMS printers are connected to a complex GSM cellular gateway that allows lab results to be wirelessly and securely sent to printers installed at the rural clinics. The GC864 modules are one of the smallest GSM/GPRS quad-band modules with industrial connectors in the market.

“There’s very little infrastructure in Africa – most of these clinics cannot be reached by car, have no mail service and no landlines,” said Nick Lidington, managing director, Sequoia Technology. “The challenge was to use the only mode of communication you can reliably say is everywhere in Africa – the cellular network.”

“The printer kit and gateway software we developed has received interest from health ministers throughout the continent,” Lidington said. “It can be applied to obtaining lab results for other diseases as well, such as malaria and tuberculosis, so life-saving treatments can begin much sooner.”

Lidington added that the advanced monitoring software included with the system can be a powerful tool for health ministers to track where illnesses are appearing and apply medical resources accordingly.

Nearly 400 clinics in Mozambique are now outfitted with the 12-volt printers for their low cost, simple operation and security.

“Telit was the obvious choice to partner with in this life-saving project because they have such robust, high-quality modules and M2M design expertise. This proved invaluable in building the highly complex and critical gateway module software,” said Tim Clayton, wireless business manager for Sequoia. “During the pilot phase, we had to prove to the Clinton Foundation we could do 100,000 tests without losing a bit of data. We passed with flying colors.”

“Telit is proud to be working with our partner Sequoia on a project of such obvious value and significance,” said Dominikus Hierl, chief marketing officer at Telit Wireless Solutions. “We look forward to creating additional M2M applications with our technology partners that enhance and save lives around the world.”

About Sequoia Technology

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Sequoia Technology Group Ltd is an independently-owned technology solutions specialist in the field of telemetry and wireless M2M modules, terminals and antennas. With first-class technical and logistics support, Sequoia offers leading-edge technology for a diverse customer base. The company also includes divisions in silicon, HD video and sensor products. Learn more about the company at www.sequoia.co.uk/.

About Telit

Telit Wireless Solutions is a brand of Telit Communications PLC (AIM: TCM), an enabler of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications worldwide providing wireless module technology, services and connectivity. Exclusively dedicated to M2M with more than 12 years of experience in the market, the company constantly enhances its technology leadership with six R&D centers across the globe. Telit offers an extensive portfolio of the highest quality cellular, short-range RF, and GNSS modules, available in over 80 countries. By supplying scalable products that are interchangeable across families, technologies and generations, Telit is able to keep development costs low and protect customers’ design investments. In addition, Telit is the only module provider in the market today to offer a value-added services bundle including connectivity dedicated to simplifying the deployment of M2M applications.

Telit provides unmatched customer support and premier design-in expertise through its 25 sales and support offices, a global distributor network of wireless experts with more than 30 Telit-designated Competence Centers, and its online Telit Technical Support Forum.

Telit technology enables organizations to wirelessly collect, process and respond to real-time data from vending machines, utility meters, cars, remote health monitors and any other connected devices, creating new efficiencies and revenue opportunities as well as societal and personal benefits. Further information about Telit and its products can be found at www.telit.com. Join the conversation and learn more about Telit and its customers’ innovative applications on Facebook and Twitter.

Instead of devoting precious R&D resources to the integration of fragmented, ad…

2012-02-20T22:19:40Z

Instead of devoting precious R&D resources to the integration of fragmented, ad hoc technologies, today’s developers can take advantage of increasingly sophisticated Embedded Application Frameworks (Linux, Android, and others), some of which are highly optimized for M2M application development.

Embedded Application Frameworks: Simplifying the development of M2M devices
embedded-computing.com
A helping hand from Embedded Application Frameworks eases design pressures for M2M developers.

High-definition sensors drive video compression

2012-02-20T15:00:00Z

Multispectral electro-optical sensing plays a pivotal role in the detection of threats and movements of insurgents, terrorists, and other destabilizing forces operating with limited technology capability. Video is gathered from surveillance platforms, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, or ground vehicles, which must then be analyzed and disseminated throughout the battlefield command structure as quickly as possible. Ethernet is the medium of choice for streaming video, but with its potentially limited bandwidth, real-time video compression is essential for the new breed of high-definition sensors or where many channels of video are to be carried.

Communications

Surveillance platforms carry diverse types of sensor such as HDTV, regular TV, infrared, low light, and custom. Payloads also vary as each sensor platform does not have the space, endurance, electrical power, or cooling to support all sensors concurrently. Whichever kind of platform is deployed, wireless data links convey images to where they are needed for each specific mission. Typically, mobile sensor platforms will use either SATCOMs or digital data links to stream video. SATCOM is most often supported by large air and ground vehicles, whereas smaller platforms rely on air-to-ground digital radio channels with limited bandwidth.

Compression standards

The most commonly used compression standards are JPEG 2000 and H.264/MPEG-4. JPEG 2000 was developed for the compression of still images, but is also used for streaming video by transmitting consecutive images at video frame rates. As a result, JPEG 2000 recovers any potential transmission data losses on the next frame, whereas some H.264 image integrity can be lost in the same circumstances. But this is recovered over a small number of subsequent frames, plus complete images are transmitted periodically. H.264 has become the standard for Internet applications and HDTV, offering low latency and twice the compression rates of MPEG-2. Typically H.264 can achieve up to 100 times compression, whereas JPEG 2000 achieves 30.

Video distribution

In addition to surveillance vehicles, streaming video over Ethernet using H.264 can replace many cumbersome and inflexible video distribution systems, wherever multiple video sources are to be distributed, switched, and shared between many display positions. Typical applications can be found in naval combat systems, ground forces’ surveillance vehicles, helicopters, and security installations plus many areas of training, simulation, and recording.

Implementation choices

H.264 compression is very processor intensive, specifically for HDTV or where low latency is needed, whereas decompression is much less rigorous. As H.264 is now such a common standard, there are many technology choices for its implementation. Software, IP cores, ASICs, and Digital Media Systems-on-Chip (DMSoCs) are all available. However, these alone do not offer the flexibility needed to deal with multiple channels of differing formats and evolving requirements of multispectral, multisensor platforms. Typically, a flexible and efficient design solution would be to use an FPGA for video capture and reformatting and DMSoCs for the intensive Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) processing required by H.264. This architecture is used by the rugged DAQ8580 multichannel video compression subsystem from GE Intelligent Platforms supporting two HDTV channels or four regular channels with Ethernet output (Figure 1).

Figure 1: DAQ8580 multichannel video compression subsystem from GE Intelligent Platforms

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Military applications for video over Ethernet are necessarily more demanding than the many devices, appliances, and terminals in everyday use. As well as extremes of environment, sensor platforms will continue to mix state-of-the-art sensors with legacy equipment, highlighting the need for more flexibility and performance. Users will demand better and faster threat detection capability, perhaps achieved by combining image preprocessing, target detection, tracking, and compression functions into future video processing subsystems.

Final farewell – or farewell finally

This is my final column for Military Embedded Systems, as I have reluctantly decided to bid farewell to paper, pencil, laptop, and cell phone in exchange for a new life of self-indulgent leisure. I have been privileged to have played my part in the development and rapid growth of the rugged embedded computing industry during the past 45 years. I wish all my ex-colleagues and many friends the very best for a long and bright future. Editor’s note: Though we’re sad to see Duncan move on, the Field Intelligence column will continue in this magazine. Find out who the new author is in our next edition.

To learn more, e-mail Duncan at duncan_young1@sky.com.

eBook: Get Ready for 40G ATCA

2012-02-15T15:00:00Z

Consumer demand for bandwidth continues to grow unabated, and the resulting growth in IP traffic is creating extraordinary demands on the communications infrastructure.

In particular, the overwhelming popularity of 3G smart phones, and the subsequent delivery of high bandwidth applications, is putting extreme pressure on wireless carriers to deliver more bandwidth in their networks. On wireline connections there has been growing use of media-rich content such as video chat, YouTube and web cams. Added to this demand now are longer-duration connections such as movie streaming and IPTV. This in turn increases the demand for high bandwidth network infrastructure equipment coupled with mechanisms to police and charge intelligently for what is provided.

As a well established technology for communications infrastructure implementations, the open standard bladed AdvancedTCA® (ATCA®) architecture must evolve too, increasing the data processing performance per blade and the bandwidth of the blade’s data path into the system backbone. The technology for creating blades and systems that interact at 40Gbps instead of 10Gbps is just on the edge of entering the market, but there are steps that developers can take now to pave the way for quick and painless system upgrades once that technology arrives.

Microcontroller market and design dynamics – Q&A with Gaute Myklebust, VP of MCU Product Planning, Atmel

2012-02-15T15:00:00Z

The microcontroller market is continuing to expand year after year, boosted by demands for embedded control in popular applications such as smartphones and smart energy systems. Taking a big picture perspective, Gaute highlights important factors influencing microcontroller development today and in the future.

ECD: In which market segment do you foresee the fastest growth for microcontroller-based products?

MYKLEBUST: Capacitive touch-screen controllers with cellular phones are the largest application driver right now. Capacitive touch screens have become the technology of choice for smartphones and are also working their way into feature phones, replacing resistive touch screens and increasing the penetration rate of touch-enabled phones.

ECD: What new microcontroller technologies are available to meet the growing customer demand for extremely small, low-power embedded devices?

MYKLEBUST: Migration to more advanced technology nodes drives both lower active power consumption and smaller form factor. However, this migration also poses a challenge for static power consumption. Many applications are battery-powered, and some require several years of battery lifetime. For these applications, static power consumption is the most important factor for overall power use. To address this, numerous sophisticated techniques have been developed, including back-biased memories and a magnitude of power domains with an associated power management system.

ECD: Software development is a huge portion of each new embedded development project. What software tools, libraries, and educational materials does Atmel offer developers?

MYKLEBUST: This has always been a focus area for Atmel. Our development environment includes full-chip cycle-correct simulation models and on-chip debug modules, which serve as the base platform for software development. In addition, we offer the Atmel Software Framework (Figure 1), which is a comprehensive set of software modules our customers can use in their development.

Figure 1: The Atmel Software Framework offers hardware abstraction layers that help ease migration between microcontrollers.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

The software framework consists of low-level device drivers, software stacks, and drivers for external devices. Hardware abstraction layers simplify migration between microcontrollers, and a carefully designed API makes it easy to integrate software components with a third-party Real-Time Operating System (RTOS). We provide a number of different ways to educate those who use our microcontrollers, including data sheets, application notes, discussion forums, direct customer support, webinars, road shows, videos, and e-learning courses, as well as the Atmel Technology Live developer conference coming up this fall.

ECD: With cloud computing and connectivity dominating embedded designs, what security precautions are available to prevent unauthorized access?

MYKLEBUST: Companies are usually very protective about their software. We’re seeing that customers who have software as their main asset are currently reluctant to use cloud storage for their projects and rely on closed network repositories and version control. It is important that the development environment itself is safe and protected so that code projects cannot be downloaded by any backdoor through online Integrated Development Environments (IDEs).

ECD: What radio frequency elements are available with Atmel microcontrollers, and what are the most popular applications?

MYKLEBUST: We are engaged in multiple areas with respect to RF. For example, Atmel has a wide offering of stand-alone transceivers and System-on-Chip (SoC) devices based on the IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee standard. Application areas include smart energy, lighting, and remote keyless entry/access control. With Atmel’s wide microcontroller portfolio, our devices are often used alongside radio transmitters, even in areas where we do not provide a radio offering.

Gaute Myklebust serves as VP for MCU product planning at Atmel Corporation, where he is responsible for defining microcontroller products and technology platforms. He has been working with microcontroller architectures and products at Atmel for 16 years. Gaute holds an MSc in Computer Science and a PhD in Computer Architecture from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Atmel
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www.atmel.com

No batteries or line power, no problem: Energy harvesting technology empowers innovative wireless designs

2012-02-07T15:00:00Z

Using batteries or line power to run energy management systems in buildings entails several
disadvantages regarding difficult and costly installation. Energy harvesting systems based on the
EnOcean wireless standard offer the “install and forget” reliability of wired technology with the
flexibility of wireless technology. Devices can now power themselves without batteries or line
power, therefore providing more flexibility than wires and less maintenance cost than batteries.

Building control systems have traditionally employed miles of wires connecting the sensors and switches needed to monitor the environment within buildings. Battery-powered devices were sometimes added for hard-to-wire locations, especially in retrofit situations. However, the costs associated with battery replacement and disposal prohibited widespread market acceptance.

The EnOcean wireless standard overcomes many of the installation barriers that have stood in the way of making buildings more energy efficient. Building automation products such as sensors, switches, and controllers based on the EnOcean wireless protocol are not only interoperable with each other regardless of the manufacturer, they are also interoperable with other communication protocols such as TCP/IP. The maturation and convergence of the EnOcean and TCP/IP communication protocols have led to a dramatic increase in the number of energy management options available to integrators.

Limitless supplies of energy

Self-powered wireless sensors and switches implement energy harvesting technologies. The concept of harvesting energy from the environment is not new; wind and water have been sources of energy for hundreds of years. However, the concept of making a wireless and battery-less system has only recently been achievable.

The EnOcean energy harvesting model stems from a simple observation: Where building sensor data resides, sufficient ambient energy exists to power sensors and radio communications. Harvestable energy sources include motion, indoor light, and temperature differentials. These rudimentary sources provide enough energy to transmit and receive radio signals between controls and sustain vital communications within an energy management system. Instead of batteries, EnOcean-based controls use miniaturized energy converters to supply power to building energy management devices.

Harvesting motion, indoor light, and temperature differences

Three types of energy harvesting techniques are optimized for use in today’s buildings (see Figure 1):

Kinetic: Harvesting energy from motion
Solar: Harvesting energy from indoor light
Thermoelectric: Harvesting energy from differences in temperature

Figure 1: Energy harvesting modules draw energy from sources including motion, indoor light, and temperature differentials to transmit and receive radio signals between controls.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Implementing a wireless energy harvesting system

Building Automation Systems (BAS) reduce energy consumption in buildings on average 40 percent when smart sensors and controls are in place. However, most buildings still do not contain the controls necessary for managing energy, nor do they contain the cabling infrastructure needed to connect the essential sensors and controls. While widespread BAS integration has been hindered by several factors, self-powered wireless controls have overcome major hurdles, including:

Expenses required for retrofitting existing buildings (installation costs, slow payback, complicated installations)
Limited interoperability among devices
Limited interoperability among communication protocols

These classic barriers have been overcome by wireless controls that power themselves using energy infinitely available in office building spaces.

Faster installations = faster paybacks

Wired devices are generally less expensive to purchase than wireless devices. However, installing wired systems, particularly in retrofit scenarios, entails considerably more labor and materials than it does for installing wireless systems. In a conventional wired installation, the process involves pulling miles of wire for sensors, switches, and controllers. Obstacles such as asbestos and impassable materials are frequently encountered when fishing wires through walls and ceilings. Additionally, wired retrofit installations can disrupt business operations and force building closures. Wired installations often require patching and repainting, which increase the amount of time and labor costs required for the installation.

Interoperability among devices

The EnOcean Alliance has created an ecosystem around energy harvesting wireless technology to develop an industry standard, continue product interoperability, and promote the technology among members. Interoperability of different end products based on EnOcean technology is an important success factor for establishing the technology in the market. For this reason, the EnOcean Alliance standardizes communication profiles, ensuring that sensors from one manufacturer can communicate with receiver gateways of another, for example.

Integrators and end users thus have the entire product portfolio at their disposal to meet their unique needs. Product manufacturers can focus on their own special field while contributing their particular niche to the market. Profiles of existing and upcoming types of equipment are defined in EnOcean Equipment Profiles. Visit the EnOcean Alliance website at www.enocean-alliance.com for more information on application-specific profiles.

EnOcean wireless technology is already established in building systems through standardized sensor profiles. A portfolio of more than 800 products creates interoperability among the different operating facets of a building. Worldwide implementation of EnOcean technology in hundreds of thousands of buildings has made it an industry standard.

Interoperability among communication protocols

Internet Protocol (IP) has now become a worldwide standard for over-the-Internet data communication among devices. One idea currently being discussed involves assigning every outlet and every filament lamp its own IP address and then connecting them over the Internet. What many do not know is that all electric loads today already can be addressed over an IP network enabled by battery-less wireless technology and matching access points.

Leveraging the strengths of both technologies will create long-term value by allowing the existing wired or wireless TCP/IP infrastructures to seamlessly add wireless devices for additional functionality and greater energy savings. As a practical, wireless extension of TCP/IP systems, EnOcean technology can lower cost of ownership in retrofits and new buildings. Many facilities have successfully deployed wireless systems in which EnOcean and TCP/IP technologies are interoperating to reduce installation and maintenance costs, along with providing energy savings beyond 30 percent.

EnOcean technology in action

Hotels are notoriously difficult to wire, and thus provide an ideal habitat for implementing energy harvesting wireless controls. For example, in lieu of ceiling lights, floor and table lamps are most commonly used for lighting since ceiling access is extremely limited. However, most hotel rooms are now fitted with TCP/IP and Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections.

This is an example where energy harvesting wireless controls truly shine. The self-powered controls can be installed without access to line power. The sensors can feed sensor data such as occupancy status into a TCP/IP backbone and allow the hotel’s lighting and HVAC control system to make smart decisions regarding energy usage and management. Furthermore, the energy management controls can be installed in hotel rooms in between guest stays, which is unheard of when strictly using wired controls.

Because hotel rooms are so often left unoccupied, they represent great potential for conserving energy. As illustrated in Figure 2, a hotel room energy system can use occupancy status data provided by the wireless controls to turn off lights and TVs, as well as change temperature set points to stop heating or cooling unoccupied rooms.

Figure 2: Energy harvesting wireless controls can enable a hotel’s lighting and HVAC control system to make smart energy management decisions.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

These simple forms of lighting and HVAC control are low-hanging fruit in terms of energy conservation. As technology has made BAS easy to install, hotel owners can begin recouping dollars lost to energy mismanagement. An access point can receive data from wireless controls, then feed the system the information it needs to make smart decisions regarding energy management. When a guest enters a hotel room and inserts the key card into its dock, a radio signal is sent alerting the system that the room is occupied. When the guest leaves the room unoccupied, the removed key card automatically shuts off controlled lights and/or electronics and sets the in-room HVAC system back to its unoccupied/energy conservation mode. Hotels can cut energy consumption by 40 percent overnight by integrating wireless building automation controls.

Greater flexibility, lower costs

Together, the EnOcean and TCP/IP communication protocols provide buildings with unparalleled performance and flexibility. Wireless system providers such as Magnum Energy Solutions help bridge the communication protocols for the benefit of integrators and building owners.

EnOcean-enabled devices do not require line power or batteries and are therefore highly flexible in their positioning. Each wireless device has a unique ID address, so it can be integrated seamlessly in an IP network through an access point or gateway. This eliminates any elaborate or extra Web server systems for each sensor and actuator. A legacy network can be easily merged with energy harvesting technology to benefit from all its native advantages. The user is rewarded with more flexibility, comfort, and convenience, accompanied by low installation costs and reduced power needs.

More than 800 EnOcean-enabled energy harvesting products are now available worldwide. Building automation sensors and controls enabled by EnOcean include wireless switches, sensors, actuators, controllers, gateways, and building management systems. These products are available in both 315 MHz (for North America) and 868 MHz (for Europe).

ECD in 2D: EnOcean’s intelligent energy harvesting sensors and switches transmit sensor data within a building to control lighting and HVAC systems without the need for cabling. Use your smartphone, scan this code, watch a video: http://opsy.st/ycZU6e.

(click graphic to zoom)

Jim O’Callaghan is president of EnOcean Inc.

Mike Giorgi is president of Magnum Energy Solutions.

EnOcean Alliance 801-943-3215 jim.ocallaghan@enocean.com www.fb.com/pages/EnOcean-Alliance/109269292485427 www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=3578554 @EnOceanAlliance www.enocean-alliance.com

Magnum Energy Solutions 866-271-3961 mike.giorgi@MagnumES.com www.linkedin.com/company/magnum-energy-solutions-llc www.magnumenergysolutions.com

Tracking Trends in Embedded Technology: Managing embedded standards

2012-02-07T15:00:00Z

As embedded designs continue to combine highly integrated silicon and smaller platforms with soaring data rates, standards organizations are scrambling to provide designers the best combination of cost, size, reliability, and performance. Standards must be periodically updated to match the latest technology breakthroughs so that designers will have an ample supply of pre-engineered, off-the-shelf products for new embedded devices.

I recently spent a couple of days at the 2012 VITA Technologies Embedded Tech Trends Forum observing this standards management process in action. Experts from industry research organizations and major embedded manufacturers discussed technology trends projected for the next few years and proposed updates to the VITA standards portfolio. Most of the presentations emphasized higher data rates, smaller form factors, lower power, and even optical technology in future generations of embedded systems. You can follow the update process for existing open standards such as VPX, VXS, XMC, FMC, and VME plus new proposed standards at the VITA website, as well as by reading our sister publication, VME and Critical Systems.

In this issue of Embedded Computing Design, we take a look at some of the advanced technology that comprises key components in next-generation embedded systems. For example, in the Silicon section, Craig Greenberg from Texas Instruments describes how an optimized internal clock system is critical to advanced microcontroller performance, including power dissipation, application timing, and internal system accuracy requirements. Craig shows how the clock system must be reconfigured to meet the demands of a wide range of applications, including ultra-low-power energy conservation modes. Targeting high data rate systems, Nabil Damouny of Netronome continues his discussion on coprocessor requirements for x86-based systems supporting next-generation 100G communications architectures. This in-depth, two-part article series covers intelligent Layer 2/3 switching, flow classification, inline security processing, virtualization, and load balancing between multiple cores.

Software is another critical and costly element in the move to higher-performance embedded applications, as systems must interact in real time to user inputs, external signals, and the communications channel. A deterministic response is vital in many medical, avionic, and military applications where a missed deadline can result in catastrophic loss of life, injury, or property damage. A commercial Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) is usually at the heart of these complex embedded systems; however, in a surprising number of device designs, developers choose to write their own software.

In my article entitled “Real-time performance: Build or buy,” I cover the reasons designers cite for deciding to write in-house deterministic code, including the high initial and recurring cost of RTOS products, legacy integration, simplified timing requirements, and minimum hardware resources. Supporting the argument for choosing an RTOS, I explore the value of using an off-the-shelf platform, such as the Wind River VxWorks OS and the open-source FreeRTOS project.

In the Strategies section of this issue, experts examine smart energy techniques that designers can employ to minimize operational costs. For example, Echelon’s Varun Nagaraj asserts that we must embed energy control networking into every device to achieve the highest level of efficiency in our buildings and factories. Echelon supports the open LonWorks standard for energy control networks, allowing systems in several key energy markets to respond to real-time conditions on the local grid. Mark Buckley and Greg Dixson of Phoenix Contact show how to reduce energy costs in industrial motor control applications with embedded intelligent monitoring and management devices that start motors sequentially and balance the utility power factor. Jim O’Callaghan and Mike Giorgi of the EnOcean Alliance continue the smart energy theme with an interesting article on energy harvesting technology that can enable innovative wireless designs.

Regardless of whether your embedded designs are based on open standards or proprietary technology, your objective is to take advantage of the latest embedded trends to extract maximum performance and outdo your competition. Our objective here at Embedded Computing Design is to uncover and present these embedded trends as they unfold. If you have ideas for future articles and coverage that we could provide to help in your next project, please let us know. Also, if you would like to propose a contributed technical article that would be of interest to fellow designers, please send me an e-mail with a short abstract.

Embedded Application Frameworks: Simplifying the development of M2M devices

2012-01-19T15:00:00Z

With advances in wireless technologies, defining a strategy for building wireless M2M-enabled devices is not the dauntingly complex task it was once thought to be. Instead of devoting precious R&D resources to the integration of fragmented, ad hoc technologies, today’s developers can take advantage of increasingly sophisticated Embedded Application Frameworks (Linux, Android, and others), some of which are highly optimized for M2M application development.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, or the ability to connect and manage remote devices over the air, offers enormous potential. With the ability to centrally control remote industrial equipment, track vehicle fleets, manage electric vehicle charging stations, expand the capabilities of consumer devices, and much more, M2M has profound implications for virtually every industry.

Given the novelty of M2M technology, however, developing connected devices has traditionally been an expensive and time-consuming process, largely due to the fact that system designers had to build the entire M2M architecture from scratch. Today, designers have a powerful new option in their M2M toolkit: Embedded Application Frameworks (EAFs). By deploying connected services on mature, prepackaged Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOSs) and libraries embedded directly into the communications module, M2M designers can substantially reduce the time and costs involved in developing new M2M hardware and focus their efforts on creating innovative connected applications.

Challenges of developing M2M systems

At its core, M2M technology involves augmenting a device or piece of equipment with intelligent services and connecting that device to a back-end infrastructure that can monitor or control it. To accomplish this, an M2M device employs two basic elements: a mechanism to communicate with the back-end infrastructure (a wireless modem or module) and software to run the services.

Mature wireless communication modules have been available for many years, and designers of connected devices have often used off-the-shelf components to provide connectivity. Most of them relied on a traditional multichip architecture. In practice, this required assembling the hardware and software – usually based on a full-blown OS along with its associated software libraries, running on a stand-alone microprocessor supported by external memory – before designers could even begin addressing the services running on top of the device.

Early developers of connected devices had few choices available because there simply wasn’t a mature market of prepackaged software available for supporting M2M connectivity. But this reliance on bespoke device architectures introduced a number of inefficiencies that today’s developers can no longer afford.

Developing systems in this manner takes a long time. Assembling and integrating the entire architecture from scratch typically requires a minimum of one year in development before the system can be brought to market. While this might have been an acceptable timeframe in the early days of M2M, system providers today cannot afford to wait that long. They need to stake their position in the marketplace as quickly as possible.

Building the entire architecture from scratch is also inherently expensive. Apart from the operational costs associated with integrating and testing all components of the architecture in-house, relying on this model also typically involves using a full-blown RTOS and having to equip the device with full-scale processing power to run it. Some complex M2M applications require this much horsepower, but for the vast majority (which often simply monitor a device and send out data to a back-end server), a full-blown RTOS is overkill. Why invest in a full-scale OS and microprocessor, when what the device is actually doing requires just a fraction of that computational capability?

The biggest drawback of this approach, however, is that it requires connected device developers – often at a start-up company – to devote significant time and resources to things that have nothing to do with their core areas of expertise. For example, if a developer is building an M2M system for health care, the value of that system lies in the intelligence created for a specific health care application. A developer of industrial systems possesses expertise in developing services that effectively monitor and control that equipment using the most appropriate protocols. Whatever the industry or expertise, a connected device developer’s core value proposition is most likely not assembling multichip computing architectures.

Embedding intelligence in the communication module

EAFs address these issues by providing a means to embed M2M services directly into the communication module, alongside blocks of prepackaged software, connectivity capabilities, and processing resources (see Figure 1). In this way, an EAF makes it easier, faster, and less expensive to deploy an M2M system. It allows developers to use mature, proven, widely deployed technology instead of having to reinvent it. EAFs improve:

· Time to market: By using prepackaged components and embedding software code directly in the communication module, M2M system providers can substantially reduce development timelines. Instead of taking a year to develop all aspects of the system, many M2M applications can be developed and brought the market in less than six months.

· Development costs: Deploying software in an EAF on the communication module eliminates the need to buy and assemble a separate RTOS, microprocessor, and external memory for a device. Because an EAF provides a lightweight OS specifically optimized to run common M2M services, it can share processing resources and memory with the communication module. This also reduces operational expenses by eliminating the need to staff engineers with expertise in OSs and communications, and instead focus engineering resources on the application and its unique services.

· Efficiency: Relying on a multichip architecture with a separate communication module and microprocessor limits the RTOS to a relatively simple command interface with the modem. When the application is embedded on an EAF in the communications module, however, it can directly access all the different layers of the communications stack. That means the developer has more control over how the application monitors and accesses the communications stack at different levels using different APIs. It also delivers capabilities beyond those available to a stand-alone RTOS.

Figure 1: An Embedded Application Framework embeds M2M services directly into the communications module, along with blocks of prepackaged software, connectivity capabilities, and processing resources.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.5x)

Most importantly, EAFs address the “core-versus-context” question, allowing connected device manufacturers to focus on the unique value they bring to the system.

Key elements of an EAF

So what should connected device manufacturers look for when considering the EAF model? Any EAF should include the following core components:

· Lightweight OS optimized for M2M: While a few M2M applications require a more powerful RTOS, most do not. The keys for the EAF OS are a small footprint and ruggedization for M2M deployments. The OS should be natively designed to provide APIs that control voice call, data call, SMS, and TCP/IP connectivity. It should be optimized to take full advantage of its direct access to the communications stack. To provide full support for a connected application, the OS should also provide a core feature set that includes:

- Real time, including guaranteed response time to external or internal interruptions, regardless of its state.

- Flexibility to prioritize tasks.

- Multitask capabilities to define and synchronize as many tasks as services require.

- Flexibility in processing speeds and power options to optimize battery life.

- Memory, firmware, and software protection features.

- Ability to use APIs to access the cellular modem’s audio and data path.

· Software libraries: To simplify the development process and speed time to market, the EAF should include a variety of software libraries and APIs that provide a variety of functions the device or services might need. This includes services such as location/GPS connectivity, comprehensive Internet connectivity protocols, and wireless and Internet security services. The EAF should also support third-party libraries that take advantage of software developed for the specific needs of the target market. Ideally, the EAF should be backed not just by the communication module vendor, but also by a community of partners and developers working to expand its capabilities.

· Development tools: The EAF should also include a package of development tools that make it easy to code, debug, and monitor M2M applications, and these tools should be open source and free to use. Ultimately, the EAF should provide everything needed to develop and embed the M2M application into the module.

· Cloud connectivity: Finally, the EAF should provide tools to streamline cloud-based management of connected devices, including a fully realized system to handle device monitoring and software/firmware upgrades over the air. The system should allow developers to monitor the health of the devices and identify potential problems. It should also include proven tools to remotely upgrade the OS stack, as well as the M2M application itself using a patch mechanism.

Taking advantage of prepackaged M2M components

The EAF discussion raises an age-old question for businesses: Should I make it or buy it? For most companies and most M2M systems, buying makes a good deal of sense. After all, if you were starting a car company, would you make your own tires and windshield wipers? Your own stereos and navigation systems? Clearly, there are some elements of the product developers will want to build themselves, as that’s where they can add the unique value that differentiates their system. But for most of the M2M architecture, the market now offers mature prepackaged components that are both proven and cost-effective.

Some companies have concerns about ceding control over the system when using prepackaged M2M components. However, the reality is that lack of control should not be an issue with any modern EAF. As long as the EAF supports open standards, developers should be able to write code in a common programming language such as C/C++, which means they retain the ability to port that code to any other platform used in the future.

Of course, there will always be exceptions to this rule of thumb. For some companies and projects, it makes sense to build everything in-house, as the product’s value lies in reinventing the entire system. There are also M2M systems that are simply not suitable to run on an EAF – more complex, heavier applications that require the horsepower of a more powerful processor and a full OS.

Even this distinction might not be relevant for long. Today’s EAFs rely on previous-generation processors that have been on the market for several years. As EAFs continue to evolve and take advantage of higher-powered processors and multicore architectures, even companies developing very complex M2M applications will likely be able to embed them into the communications module EAF and benefit from the same advantages.

As EAFs and the M2M market continue to evolve, there will be fewer and fewer reasons for connected device manufacturers to invest in building basic M2M capabilities, much less entire device architectures. Ultimately, this will make system design much easier for M2M developers. More importantly, as designers focus more on delivering unique value instead of on M2M hardware, we can expect to see M2M innovations that at present can only be imagined.

Pierre Teyssier is senior VP of engineering for the M2M Embedded Solutions Business Unit at Sierra Wireless.

Sierra Wireless
PTeyssier@sierrawireless.com
Twitter: @SierraWireless
www.sierrawireless.com

A view from the Summit

2012-01-04T15:00:00Z

The seventh annual Advanced/MicroTCA Summit was held in San Jose on November 1 and 2. As in previous years, the crew at Conference Concepts, headed by Dr. Lance Leventhal, did a great job organizing and running the event. Attendance was about the same as last year, and the conference program highlighted the ever-widening range of applications that use AdvancedTCA and MicroTCA. There were dozens of technical presentations and several keynote speeches by some influential movers and shakers in the embedded computer industry. I had the pleasure of introducing Dr. Roger Boss, who is currently Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), and responsible for bringing new technologies to the Navy and other DoD agencies. Their main push is to provide more information technology and make it easier to generate and access the entire chain of command, up and down. This is a driving force across the entire military establishment, and commercial technologies like ATCA are an important part of that. Dr. Boss is a very, very interesting guy and really thinks out of the box. The Q&A session after his talk was well attended, ran long, and peppered Roger with dozens of questions on a variety of topics. You can learn more about SPAWAR at www.spawar.navy.mil.

Bon Pipkin, an Associate Director at AT&T, is responsible for worldwide equipment practices for wireline and wireless networks. He spoke about AT&T’s ATCA activities and outlined what’s right about the technology and things he would like to see in the future. One item mentioned that struck a chord with me was his view of the need for liquid cooling, as power levels on blades grow beyond what can be cooled with simply air. I personally think cooling will be a major issue in the future as we develop blades that dissipate in excess of 1,000 W. Bon is busy developing guidelines for liquid cooling within AT&T, and I look forward to working with him and other PICMG members on this topic.

One of the favorite talks at every Summit is VDC Research Group’s analysis of the ATCA and MicroTCA market sizes and growth rates. Jonathan Hastings presented a lot of data that indicates that the adoption of these technologies continues to grow at a healthy rate. He predicts a 15 percent annual CAGR for ATCA over the next several years, with about $550 million worth of CPU boards shipped in 2013. His forecasts are for CPU boards only, so the total value of systems, including chassis, switches, and so on, are higher than that. He also believes that AMCs are growing at a 29 percent CAGR and will exceed $185 million by 2015. VDC follows all of the major embedded computing platforms, and Jonathan noted that ATCA and AMCs are experiencing the highest growth rates of the segments they look at. Very good news, indeed. His complete presentation, along with all of the others, are archived at www.advancedtcasummit.com.

PICMG technologies continue to evolve, and a new product based on a new standard, MTCA.4, was showcased at the Summit by PT. MTCA.4 was created by the physics community, who is currently adapting a number of PICMG technologies for use in experimental physics. PT believes that products compliant with MTCA.4 are ideal for a wide range of applications outside of science, including communications, military, and machine control, and that it has a useful place between high-end ATCA and small, low-end MicroTCA systems. Be sure to read Tony Romero’s article in this issue.

One last note: This summer, long-time editor of CompactPCI, AdvancedTCA, and MicroTCA Systems, Anne Fisher, moved on from the world of embedded communications to pursue a career teaching elementary math. The team will miss her editorial savvy and familiarity with the communications space, and we wish her the best of luck.

An editor with OpenSystems through 2011, Brandon Lewis, has assumed her role with the magazine. He is looking forward to contributing in the way Anne did for the better part of a decade, and excited at the prospect of growing with the xTCA and CompactPCI ecosystems into new and emerging markets. Brandon is open and encourages your interaction with the publication. He is available for questions, comments, and contributions at blewis@opensystemsmedia.com.

Fallback to the future: Circuit-switched networks as a voice/data solution

2012-01-04T15:00:00Z

Editor’s note: The LTE build out seems at a crossroads, as the technology and availability to transfer voice over an all-IP network while retaining QoS is still not in place. However, the dilemma of offering the exceptional data speeds of LTE with the quality voice services of legacy circuit-switched networks until a Voice over LTE (VoLTE) solution arrives may have found an answer. The Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) allows wireless devices to “fall back” to legacy domains to send/receive voice calls. A virtual panel – Drew Sproul, Adax; Venkataraman Prasannan, Radisys; and Niv Kagan and Avi Fisher, SURF – presents details on the CSFB and the partnership resulting in this recent solution. Edited excerpts follow.

CPCI: How close are we to a truly “all-IP” network? What is the status of LTE?

PRASANNAN: If you say, “There is nothing but all-IP network,” no one will agree because there are all kinds of networks in place and a huge amount of copper in the ground that is not all IP. But if you ask, “Are there people who are still deploying the old network? Who’s deploying LTE versus 2.5 G?” you would probably find a small tract of investment in 2.5 G from entities that have some foreseen function, but for the most part everyone else is deploying LTE.

KAGAN: We see our customers starting to deploy LTE networks, and requiring that equipment manufacturers support those different technologies and services. This is driven by the consumer using applications such as real-time video communications, all the way to the operator, who is subsequently required to increase investment in IP, driving an IP network.

ADAX, Radisys, and SURF collaborated on the CSFB for an APAC Tier 1 customer.

CPCI: What is going prevent LTE from arriving at a fate similar to IMS (IP Multimedia System)?

SPROUL: The IMS network standard came out before LTE standards were solidified and when there was not yet the driving demand for multimedia services there is today; Voice was fine and the data speeds weren’t in place to support new multimedia. But tablets and smartphones drove data, video, video streaming – the mantra of “mobile broadband access to the Internet” – and in a way pushed the industry to jump over IMS to LTE, so there are very few IMS subsystems in play today.

PRASANNAN: IMS is being implemented much more slowly on the wireless side, and that’s why it feels like it’s at such a standstill; IMS is getting traction in some of the broadband side infrastructure and getting used. It provides more of a framework and means of dealing with the control and management plane elements, and it has taken much longer to implement that and a service creation aspect in the wireless world.

The LTE promise is the need for speed, and that comes with upgrading the infrastructure to accommodate new network topology and architecture. LTE collapses certain network elements together and makes them more comprehensive or intelligent, if you will. The mobility management that had been very much a part of the Radio Network Controllers (RNCs) and some other base station controllers has been simplified, which translates not only to higher speed but also a cheaper network from an OPEX/CAPEX point of view, ensuring LTE’s viability for the future.

KAGAN: While IMS was driven to provide a next-generation solution for voice infrastructure, LTE is the next generation for both voice and data architecture. As we see subscribers pushing the limits on wireless data usage and willing to pay for wireless data access we believe LTE will continue to deploy for data usage, but constraints on voice are forcing the operators to find other solutions for their currently deployed voice networks, which is where the CSFB comes into play.

CPCI: Generally, what are the past, present, and future of the CSFB?

FISHER: Voice networks have been and are still built on circuit-switched networks, and the technology and network availability is still not in a place to transport voice over an all-IP network to the subscriber. At the same time, adoption of data services is increasing at an exponential rate, forcing operators to adopt technologies for IP networks. The challenge is to maintain all relevant voice services and QoS while providing great data service. This led to the adoption of CSFB, which maintains a circuit-switched network for voice while providing a high-speed data network.

SPROUL: The migration to packet processing requires a middle ground of interworking between the legacy service, switched services signaling, the user plane, and the emerging packet processing-based service. So where we’ve come from is a background of legacy PDM circuit-switched services to LTE, which today is principally focused on building out mobile broadband access to the Internet from smartphones, tablets, and so on, for non-voice services.

KAGAN: We believe that as LTE is adopted, the requirements on CSFB will grow. Initially it will serve as the primary infrastructure for voice communications while it provides the flexibility to migrate to a true all-IP network in the future.

CPCI: How does the CSFB help facilitate the transition from legacy to LTE, and how did the players implement this?

FISHER: The CSFB maintains a circuit-switched voice channel to the subscriber while the transport of media in the backhaul is achieved over IP. This guarantees QoS for voice in wireless networks by interworking with Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs) like wireline, and with circuit-switched networks such as 2G wireless networks that utilize Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) over circuit switch (Transcoder and Rate Adaptation Unit (TRAU) frames).

SPROUL: Specifically, in a Radisys ATCA server platform, we’re bringing in Transition-Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) zeros from the GERAN network through our T1E1 ports – voice over 64-kilobit DS zero slots; it doesn’t get any more legacy than that. Then our smartcard interworks that voice into Internal Time-Division Multiplexing (I-TDM) packets, which are Ethernet packets based off of an MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) framework. Then it is sent to the SURF DSP card.

When we set up the connection we exchange Media Access Control (MAC) addresses – no IP involved here. We’re setting up an IPDM channel between us and start sending these packets over the backplane. Then the SURF card gets the IPDM, does whatever magic it needs to do for voice encryption/decryption, and sends it out onto the IP network.

PRASANNAN: In this particular instance, the customer is building a network element which requires a particular functionality and incorporates a Line Interface Card, a DSP resource, and because a modular AMC form factor is being used as a host to incorporate the two, the customer is left with the task of putting these three pieces together, integrating them, and building an application on top of it.

Radisys, ADAX, and SURF brought our contributions together to make this integration as seamless as possible, accelerating time to market. At Radisys we have a framework and a mechanism to make this happen more naturally with our Alliance Partner Program, in which all of the players were already involved.

CPCI: How long will it take to complete the transition to LTE, and what is the CSFB’s longevity?

SPROUL: There is still a lot of legacy gear and service in the field that needs to be interconnected, and it’s not just a holding pattern while those are decommissioned and replaced. What’s actually happening is that LTE is an add-on to existing service networks to provide data services, and therefore you get upgraded legacy systems with the CSFB.

The transition depends on how TEMs (Telecom Equipment Manufacturers) address the VoLTE and circuit-switched connection. What the VoLTE initiative requires is an IMS services plane for LTE networks to send voice traffic for true VoIP. In an LTE network, this is gobbledygook, but in an LTE/IMS system, the network just picks it up like it always has. For now, all the arrangements that support voice and text messaging will remain in place.

FISHER: The complete transition will only occur once the LTE network provides the same level of quality for the voice channel over IP as over circuit-switched network. Then there will be a truly all-IP network from the subscriber to the network and beyond, but we haven’t seen a deployed technology that is able to achieve this yet, and therefore it will take at least a few years before the CSFB will not be required anymore.

CPCI: If there were no such thing as AdvancedTCA, would it have to be invented or is CSFB more agnostic?

SPROUL: ATCA is the perfect vehicle for CSFB because you can re-architect your existing concentrator networks by leaving the RAN in place and architecting access gateways and concentrators to legacy networks like GERAN and UTRAN.

So now you’ve got TDM and ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)-based services that you want to get onto your IP core; ATCA-based products facilitate that by on the one hand speaking legacy via zero or ATM, and on the other speaking IP, and the beauty of ATCA is that the Ethernet IP cores are built into the architecture.

That is a crucial component of the ATCA architecture, and the second main point as the CSFB gets to deployment is the need for High Availability (HA) and preventing loss of service. Because ATCA already has a redundancy built into it, it makes it easier for things like HA for the user plane to be implemented. That’s all an integral, fundamental part of the ATCA architecture; so yes, if ATCA didn’t exist it would have to be invented.

CPCI: How significant do you anticipate ATCA to be in your next win? What are the promising ATCA markets moving forward?

SPROUL: Our next two opportunities in this domain are in China, and ATCA is crucial because of, again, scalability, flexibility, and the challenge that we’re addressing now: interworking. Adax has always been an advocate of open system standards, both in terms of software and hardware development and platforms. We sell to the broad telecom market, and an open standards-based interoperability is one of our core business and technical principles.

KAGAN: LTE is built in a flat IMS architecture and therefore promotes independent nodes of different scale and functionality, as opposed to the legacy approach of a centralized large switching system. This approach promotes different TCA architectures based on the network requirements.

On a global scale, we feel that the promising ATCA markets are those with a high concentration of users that adopt technologies requiring high-performance, real-time computing and communication technologies, especially in video with its vast requirements for real-time processing and ultra-high bandwidth in the all-IP domain.

PRASANNAN: We are seeing it pretty well balanced, and our ATCA split is one-third, one-third, one-third (Europe, Asia, and North America). It tends to be driven by where the TEMs are, and if you look across those geographies, there are definitely equipment manufacturers present in all three.

The telecom market will continue to be present and grow at a fairly attractive rate, but ATCA is also spreading its wings to other market segments. I’ve seen some network monitoring, which is a segment that has a lot of ATCA presence, and I’m sure it will continue to grow in that space. Another opportunity I can cite is Aerospace and Defense, which is looking for more of the ruggedized alignment and performances dictating higher processing power and higher network performance; it’s just a combination of time and the artifact of the segment.

Telecom itself was a fairly long cycle compared to enterprise, and Aerospace and Defense is an even longer cycle: 15 to 20 years. You start seeing growth after the fourth or fifth year. That’s the nature of the segment and it also takes time for those things to come up for re-evaluation on that long of a cycle, so you have to wait it out.

MicroTCA.4: The next inflection point in open standards platforms

2012-01-04T15:00:00Z

Andy Grove spoke of Strategic Inflection Points more than 10 years ago as significant changes that affect how businesses make decisions. Some may not be paying much attention to the new MicroTCA.4 specification, but the groundbreaking standard, in conjunction with new technical advances, makes this event one that should have everyone taking note. This truly is disruptive technology.

The new MicroTCA.4 standard was spearheaded by the physics community, but is extremely important for telecommunications, military, commercial, and industrial applications. It introduces critical new features to the original MicroTCA.0 specification to make it truly five-nines available, serviceable, high performance, high bandwidth, and extremely flexible for numerous I/O configurations. Why is this important? There is a critical dilemma right now with standards-based platforms. There is a significant performance gap between AdvancedTCA and MicroTCA, and until now, there were few solutions.

ATCA has a large footprint and offers extreme computing power, making it ideal for core network applications, but is not very flexible or scalable. MicroTCA.0 is a small footprint, ideal for edge-based applications, but does not scale up well. This leaves many aggregation layer applications caught in the middle, demanding a mid-size compromise with plenty of performance, I/O flexibility, and high-speed bandwidth, in a cost-effective, smaller footprint with finer granularity and modularity that delivers five-nines availability and ruggedness.Concurrent with the ratification of the new MTCA.4 specification, extreme technical advancements have produced increased processing and networking throughput in much smaller packages. Think of Moore’s Law. Performance levels that were once only possible on ATCA cards just a few years ago are now possible on AdvancedMC cards. This includes powerful and high compute-density processing such as multicore, hyperthreaded general purpose processors, and multicore packet processors. In 2002 when ATCA was being ratified, a typical Pentium 4 processor was running with 42 million transistors. Today, a quad-core i7 Xeon processor with 750 million transistors can run on a single AMC module.

Additionally, high bandwidth, managed 10 GbE/40 GbE fabrics are now available to support current demands on network traffic and the forecasted explosion over the next several years. 40 GbE will become more prevalent in the aggregation layer for mobile infrastructure, aggregation routers for IP routing and switching, IMS services, and service delivery solutions.

These technical advancements and the MTCA.4 standard converge together to offer the ideal solution to bridge the gap between ATCA and MTCA (Figure 1). This is a boon to a multitude of wireless, telecommunications, and military applications. These systems bring the best of both worlds; in a small form factor they prove vastly more serviceable and scalable, with high levels of performance, network bandwidth, and availability.

Figure 1: MTCA.4 serves as a next-generation platform for bridging the “core/edge” dilemma.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

ATCA and MTCA.4 are very complementary. Because of ATCA’s high level of density and compute power, ATCA solutions are the best fit for core network solutions with high-density computing and very large pipes of bandwidth. MTCA.4-based applications can sit in front of ATCA systems, performing specialized tasks. It supports all the same AMC modules available in the ecosystem today, and the platform management architecture is compatible.

What is MTCA.4?

The MTCA.4 specification was officially adopted in October 2011. The initiative was launched in 2009 when companies realized the immense advantage of enhancing the MicroTCA.0 specification by adding such capabilities as hot-swappable Rear Transition Modules (RTMs) for AMCs and precision timing. The addition of RTMs for all AdvancedMC slots and MicroTCA Carrier Hub (MCH) slots increases a MicroTCA system’s serviceability and achieves five-nines availability. The RTM provides a new level of flexibility that adds more functionality in an AMC-RTM mated pair. It supports backwards compatibility so all AMCs currently in the ecosystem can be installed in MTCA.4 platforms. It has retention screws on its faceplate for higher levels of ruggedness. It also includes precision timing, which is critical for clocking, synchronization, and interlock signals. It is also important to note that the MTCA specification can support not only 10 GbE, but also 40 GbE on the backplane to all AMC slots.

Much more than physics

The physics community was instrumental in driving this new standard, and the majority of the enhancements they made will greatly benefit numerous industries. It can be used for evolving next-generation network applications in the telecom industry such as 4G, IMS, and SIP-based services, media gateways, security and packet inspection systems, and signaling gateways. The Aerospace and Defense industry can utilize it for sensor acquisition, lawful interception, communications, and control systems. The Enterprise market will benefit by using it for fault-tolerant and high-speed transaction systems. The Industrial Controls Industry will find it ideal for applications such as smart grid services.

Rethinking the RTM

The MTCA.4 specification defines the RTM to be roughly the same size as the master AMC card. As shown in Figure 2, the active and hot-swappable RTM plugs directly into the AMC above the connection to the midplane (also called Zone 3). Directly from the AMC’s RPIO connector, it draws power, IPMI-based management signals, hot-swap signals, and any I/O signals that are required. Since it is not connected to the midplane, the RPIO connector can be proprietary and send whatever signals are relevant to the RTM. Typical I/O signals can include PCI-Express, USB 2.0, Ethernet, and SATA for storage.

Figure 2: The MTCA.4 RTM connects directly to the AMC above the midplane, rendering the RPIO connector proprietary.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Extending the AMC front panel

The MTCA.4 specification adopted the extended flanges and retention screws for both the top and the bottom of an AMC and RTM faceplate that were incorporated in the “Rugged” MicroTCA.1 specification. This helps to ensure tight and secure retention to the chassis and greatly increases the shock and vibration specifications.

Shown in Figure 3 is an example of a MTCA.4 platform. It features redundant MCHs and MCH RTMs, 12 payload AMC slots and RTMs, redundant fan trays, redundant power supplies, and redundant AC or DC power inputs.

Figure 3: The MTCA.4 platform supports Multiple Controller Hubs, a dozen AMC slots and RTMs, AC or DC power inputs, and more.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

MicroTCA.4 on the job

Detailed below are two example applications where equipment manufacturers can take advantage of MTCA.4: 1) LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC); 2) Military sensor/data acquisition.

LTE EPC solutions

MTCA.4 systems are well suited for EPC functions such as the Mobile Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW), and PDN Gateway (PGW). ATCA has already found success in large EPC gateways for large metropolitan deployments where a million subscribers can be served. As service providers start to deploy in mid-size cities, towns, rural regions, and niche applications such as public safety communications, a more cost-effective approach is MTCA.4-based systems, where hundreds of thousands of subscribers can be served (Figure 4).

Figure 4: MTCA.4 systems provide a cost-effective method for translating LTE services to mid-size and smaller deployments.

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In Figure 5, an example system is configured to support all three functions of an EPC. The processors are arranged for both control plane and data plane processing. In addition, other services, such as a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), can be integrated in a redundant fashion.

Figure 5: As an LTE EPC solution, MicroTCA.4 maintains functionality for control and data plane processing, among other services.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Military sensor/data acquisition applications

As the military deploys more unmanned vehicles, the need for COTS systems that can perform sensor acquisition and data processing becomes more prevalent. These systems can use AMCs with DSP and FPGA functionality, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) with OpenGL for writing graphic-intensive computing applications, and General Purpose Processors (GPPs). Solid State Storage (SSS) can be located in multiple locations: 1) In the RTM behind the processors; 2) On adjacent AMC storage modules; 3) On Mini-SATA drives on the processors themselves.

Figure 6: MTCA.4 can employ AMCs, GPUs, and GPPs in sensor acquisition and data processing.

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As the world moves quickly to all IP-based solutions, and with network data traffic growing at explosive rates, there will be more and more need for high-performance aggregation layer applications. While ATCA’s size has made it an excellent solution for the core of the network, it is not ideal for the aggregation layer. But fear not, cost-effective open standards-based platforms are now available with the new MTCA.4 specification. Its introduction could not have come at a better time. With exponential advances in smaller package computing technologies thanks to Moore’s Law, the AMC cards that were originally designed to add functionality to ATCA cards are now powerful enough to handle applications themselves. Add to this the availability of 10 GbE and 40 GbE high-bandwidth networking available in the MTCA.4 specification, and the new standard is designed to support the explosion of network traffic and IP-based services for years to come. Chalk up one more inflection point, Andy!

Tony Romero is Senior Product Manager at PT. Tony has worked extensively in the system architecture and product development of both CompactPCI and MicroTCA platforms for over eleven years. Prior to working at PT, Tony worked for Intel Corporation, Ziatech Corporation, and Dell Computer Corporation.

tony.romero@pt.com

www.pt.com

JTRS update: Radio systems move closer to deployment, while GMR gets cut

2011-12-16T15:00:00Z

Variants of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program are on the verge of full deployment in 2012, yet the budget woes of 2011 have knocked out the JTRS Ground Mobile Radio system. Meanwhile, government and industry are evolving the technology behind JTRS – Software-Defined Radio (SDR) – with commercial smartphone technology to improve situational awareness for the warfighter.

Nearly 15 years after the initial concepts of the program were laid out, elements of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) are nearing their first deployment in 2012.

The JTRS program, designed to enable soldiers with different radios to communicate with each other by defining radio functionality in software, was created in 1997 as a group of replacements for various radio programs. After different evolutions and program reorganizations, the JTRS program is now under a Joint Program Executive Officer (JPEO) in San Diego with a specific goal to design a “family of interoperable modular, Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) that operate as nodes in a network that provides secure wireless communication and networking services for mobile and fixed forces, consisting of U.S. Allies, joint, and coalition partners, and in time, disaster response personnel,” according to the JPEO.

The main elements of the JTRS program are the Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit (HMS); Airborne, Maritime, and Fixed Station (AMF); the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS); and the Ground Mobile Radio (GMR).

Unfortunately, because of the current fiscal climate in Washington, U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) officials were forced to re-evaluate the GMR variant and subsequently cancel it. Boeing was the prime contractor for the GMR with Rockwell Collins and BAE Systems on its team.

DoD officials notified members of Congress on a decision to cancel the GMR in October, according to a spokesman for the JTRS JPEO in San Diego. The cancellation enables the Army to pursue “lower cost, effective, and secure alternatives within the available radio market.” Essentially, the Army wants to ensure that the NDI will have the capability to use certain waveforms – Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) and the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) specifically – at an affordable price, according the spokesman.

Army officials say that previous research and development investment in SDRs through the GMR and JTRS program created alternatives that may be more price competitive than the GMR was becoming.

Army leaders are planning to conduct a full and open competition in early 2012, aimed at leveraging mature technologies for a replacement to the GMR. The new program will manage “the evaluation, testing, and delivery of affordable Non-Developmental Item (NDI) products fielded to operational units.”

According to the JPEO JTRS spokesman, Brig. Gen. Michael E. Williamson, JPEO JTRS told a media roundtable the NDI radios are likely to meet revised requirements at a lower cost, with key improvements in radio Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). Competition and the Army’s Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) will be used to evaluate and test the radios.

And then there were three

The HMS, AMF, and MIDS are all in various stages of production with deployment on track for next year. None have been cancelled, but system integrators on those programs are acutely aware of the cost pressures coming out of the Pentagon.

“Of course there are concerns with DoD budget cuts. The whole industry is concerned and debates and discussions are ongoing in Congress,” says Joe Miller, Director of JTRS Military Radio Programs for General Dynamics C4 Systems in Phoenix. “I will say this much: As far as HMS is concerned, the Army is strongly behind it.”

“The Army really doesn’t have any choice but to buy these radios, as their current radios don’t support networking waveforms,” Miller says. The networking waveforms key to HMS include the SRW, the Sideband Networking Waveform (SNW), and the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) waveform, he says.

On HMS “we have progressed through Milestone C and are currently under Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for the two-channel Manpack and orders for the Rifleman radio,” Miller says (Figure 1). “We will start delivering Rifleman units at the end of this year with Manpacks following next year, with testing an ongoing process.”

Figure 1: The Manpack JTRS radio from General Dynamics Systems is part of the JTRS Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit (HMS) program.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Milestone C is the part of the acquisition process where entry into the production and development phase is approved.

Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is also on the HMS variant, producing Manpack radios and implementing software infrastructure in the Manpacks to host new waveforms as they are developed, says Robert Haag, Vice President and General Manager of Communication and Navigation Products for Rockwell Collins.

“JTRS will continue to evolve as we add capability features to it, and there will be additional international waveforms” adapted as they operate with allied troops, Haag says.

Lockheed Martin AMF

The Lockheed Martin AMF JTRS team has also been restructuring their services to be more cost effective and get through Milestone C by 2013, says James Quinn, Vice President, C4ISR Systems at Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions in Littleton, Colo.

The Army is currently putting the AMF and HMS radio systems and their designers through NIE demonstration – to get warfighters used to technology and to test out the capabilities as well.

During the NIE held in November, the AMF JTRS system’s range and capability were tested relaying voice, data, and imagery from a test bed AH-64 Block III Apache helicopter to ground forces over the SRW, according to Lockheed Martin officials.

During the exercise, an AMF JTRS Small Airborne radio in the Apache enabled pilots to communicate with six different ground elements using JTRS HMS Rifleman radios (Figure 2).

Figure 2: The AMF JTRS system was placed inside an AH-64 Block III Apache helicopter to test range and capability while relaying voice, data, and imagery from the Apache to ground forces over the Soldier Radio Waveform during an Army Network Integration Evaluation.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Using AMF JTRS, the Apache provided an automatic relay enabling warfighters using HMS Rifleman radios to communicate by voice and data with the Apache over long distances. Ground forces were able to mark-up imagery and redistribute to other users connected via the JTRS network through applications on the AMF JTRS radio, according to a Lockheed Martin release.

Lockheed Martin’s AMF JTRS team includes General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and BAE Systems.

MIDS

The MIDS JTRS terminals are already in production, Haag says. ViaSat in San Diego and Data Link Solutions – a joint venture between BAE Systems and Rockwell Collins – are supplying the MIDS JTRS terminals.

The MIDS Program Office most recently awarded MIDS JTRS terminal production contracts to both companies with Data Link Solutions getting about $9 million, and ViaSat receiving more than $13 million, according to a JTRS JPEO release. The contracted work will deliver the first series of annual block cycle software updates for MIDS JTRS terminals. Block Cycle 1 will provide information assurance modernization upgrades and other enhancements.

The four-channel MIDS JTRS features Link 16 capability and can also add other waveforms when needed such as the Rockwell Collins-developed Tactical Targeting Networking Technology (TTNT) waveform, Haag says. The MIDS JTRS Terminals will be used for the F/A-18E/F, the U RC-135, and the EC-130H Compass Call, according to Rockwell Collins.

TTNT – which is a tactical data link for airborne networking – was used this past summer for secure communications in the Unmanned Combat Air System Aircraft Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program, Haag adds.

SDR systems already deployed

While JTRS has yet to be fully deployed, SDRs are being used by warfighters every day in the field.

Some of the most widely fielded radios today are SDRs, says Manuel Uhm, a member of the Wireless Innovation Forum board of directors and Vice President of Marketing for Coherent Logix in Austin, Texas. They include the Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-117G radios and the Thales AN/PRC-148 JEM radio, which were funded as specific JTRS development programs. Both companies developed this on their own nickel, which gave them a huge advantage in getting to market sooner than other JTRS guys, he adds.

The Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radios from Harris RF Communications are software-defined and provide voice, video, and wideband data communications to warfighters, according to a Harris public release. It also uses applications such as collaborative chat, streaming video, and secure networking.

The AN/PRC-148 JEM – The Joint Tactical Radio System Enhanced Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio – is a small, lightweight, and multiband tactical, handheld radio covering the 30-512 MHz frequency range, according to the Thales website.

General Dynamics fielded the first SDR system close to two decades ago with the Digital Modular Radio (DMR) system for U.S. Navy ships. “We are in the sixth production run on the system, which was developed in the early 1990s,” Miller says.

Rockwell Collins engineers are bringing SDR capability to current systems by adding a software-defined architecture to existing radios, Haag says. “We are bringing more value to the warfighter by adding capability to existing ARC-210 radios without taking more space and changing the footprint,” Haag says. Essentially the ARC-210 Gen5 now has SDR capability without needing a new form factor.

“We are trying to demonstrate that you can get improvements in capability without buying new pieces of equipment, but by modifying existing radios,” he says.

The Gen5 uses a software-defined, multiwaveform architecture – a version of the Software Communications Architecture (SCA). It is a form-and-fit replacement for current ARC-210 radios and also complies with National Security Agency (NSA) cryptographic initiatives.

The new ARC-210 radio will have Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) UHF data link capability and will support insertion of Tactical Secure Voice (TSV), Integrated Waveform, Combat Net Radio, and SRW.

SDR beyond JTRS

JTRS and SDR technology essentially created a revolution – turning radios into powerful computers with an RF front end, Miller says.

In the future, the SDR system will continue to evolve along these lines and eventually adapt attributes and features of popular commercial devices such as tablets or iPads, where functionality and capability will be in the form of applications added through the software, he continues. Different applications will be uploaded, run on the SDR for specific missions and different needs using waveforms with different performance characteristics based on mission requirements, Miller adds.

Potential applications include video compression, target tracking, mosaic for video, sniper detection, combat identification, and monitoring warfighter health, Miller says.

The next evolution will be turning these radios/computers into a sensor system by adding sensors to the equipment. When each radio becomes a sensor, a diverse spatial network is created in a mobile environment, Miller says. Each warfighter with a radio becomes a node on the sensor network. These “sensors” provide greater situational awareness to the command and control elements that analyze the information, he continues.

The U.S. military is much closer to demonstrating some of these applications today, and General Dynamics is under contract to further develop some of them, Miller says. For example, Army planners are looking for more commercial solutions like Android so they can leverage the low cost of these devices while still protecting the data on the systems, he explains. A lot of companies are working on using the Android and running secure applications on its operating system, he adds.

“We have an Android-based device that integrates with the Rifleman Radio and is worn on wrist that pulls up and displays maps,” Miller says.

Smartphone-like devices are definitely the future, as they are very compact and, most importantly, can run for a significant length of time on battery power, Uhm says.

Technology at the component level is beginning to catch up with SDR, which is enabling this transformation, Miller says.

SDR technology continues to evolve as it takes advantage of commercial cellular and tablet technology, Haag says. There is a lot of opportunity to drive cost improvements through new processing elements, backplane configurations, and memory cores.

Measurement and analysis techniques for wireless systems

2011-12-16T15:00:00Z

Developing commercial and military wireless receivers is a challenging task, requiring engineers to understand the specification, design and implement an algorithm that can discriminate between signals of interest and spurious signals, and test the algorithms to verify they perform properly. Using MATLAB, the authors demonstrate how each of these steps can be completed using the Mode S aircraft communication standard.

Commercial and military communication standards require that waveforms adhere to rigid specifications to ensure that devices interoperate with equipment from other vendors. Wireless transmitter and receiver designs both need to adhere to standards, but transmitter design is typically a straightforward process. Wireless receiver design is a more challenging exercise, and the use of real-world test signals can significantly accelerate the design process and ensure interoperability. The tasks involved in the design of a wireless receiver include:

Develop receiver algorithms
Create test vectors and run tests on a PC
Conduct laboratory tests of the design in a controlled environment
Verify the design works with captured field data

Some of these tasks require technical computing software; others require test and measurement tools. The following discussion uses the Mode S secondary surveillance radar standard as an example to demonstrate how a unified technical computing and measurement environment enables engineers to develop more robust designs, use real-world data to verify they meet performance specifications, and confirm that they satisfy interoperability requirements.

Mode S signal details

Mode S is a transponder-based communication system used by commercial aircraft to report their aircraft identification, position, altitude, and velocity to air traffic controllers and collision avoidance systems. Transmitters on the ground send interrogations to commercial aircraft, and the aircraft respond with flight information to those queries. The Mode S standard is published by the International Civil Aircraft Organization. The standard has already been adopted in Europe and is being gradually introduced in the United States. The Mode S standard specifies details of the signal format:

Transmit frequency: 1,090 MHz
Modulation: Pulse position modulation
Data rate: 1 Mbps
Message length: 56 μsec or 112 μsec
24-bit CRC checksum

The message content depends on whether the specific message is short (56 μsec) or long (112 μsec). Short messages contain the message type, aircraft identification number, and a CRC checksum. Long messages also contain the altitude, position, velocity, and status. Each Mode S message begins with an 8-μsec synchronization and preamble. This information establishes that a valid message is being transmitted and enables receivers to determine when the message bits start.

Receiver algorithm design

Mode S communication is characterized by very short messages interspersed with long idle periods. In a crowded airspace, there can be several commercial aircraft transmitting multiple legacy signals in the same frequency band that Mode S uses. A Mode S receiver must reject these legacy signals as well as other spurious signals, recognize the presence of a Mode S message, and launch a demodulation and decoding process to extract the data.

Decoding a Mode S message starts with correlating the incoming signal to the Mode S synchronization pattern and comparing the result of the correlation to the noise floor of the receiver. When the synchronization pulse is present, the correlation should be well above the noise floor so that the peak correlation value can be used to calculate the start of the message bits (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Correlation of data to the Mode S synchronization pattern and comparison to the receiver noise floor.

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Each 1-μsec message bit has one of two possible bit patterns. A logical 1 is on for the first 0.5 μsec and off for the second 0.5 μsec; a logical 0 is off for the first 0.5 μsec and on for the second 0.5 μsec. If the receiver sample rate is set to 12.5 MHz, each bit will comprise either 12 or 13 samples. A simple strategy for bit decoding is to sum the magnitude of the first six samples and the last six samples for any individual bit and assign a 1 or a 0 based on the results.

The last 24 bits in the message are the CRC checksum. To ensure the message has been properly received, the receiver must compute the checksum for the message bits and compare it to the last 24 bits in the message. If the computed checksum matches the received checksum, the message is valid and the message type, aircraft ID, position, altitude, and velocity can be decoded.

To speed up the development and testing of the algorithm, engineers today use technical computing environments that enable them to seamlessly develop and test algorithms using both synthesized and captured data.

Algorithm testing with Mode S data

Engineers will typically verify receiver algorithms using test data from multiple sources, including:

Data generated synthetically and formatted using the Mode S standard
A test signal transmitted in the lab and captured by test equipment
Real-world RF data captured from aircraft flying overhead

For example, receiver designers might start by constructing baseband data signals that match the Mode S responses to test their algorithm. They could then add impairments such as random noise to test the algorithm’s robustness. This approach serves as an initial test to verify that the basic receiver processing works correctly and to determine performance boundaries, such as the minimum Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) needed for reliable reception. As a next step, the designer might generate an ideal signal using a waveform generator and verify the algorithm by capturing this signal with test equipment.

Once the algorithm has been tested against an ideal signal, the design is ready to be tested against multiple Mode S transponders. Verifying interoperability is important because multiple vendors design and sell Mode S equipment. Testing with real-world signals is vital because it is easy to misinterpret the standard, which is 213 pages long, and testing against multiple designs can reveal overlooked nuances in the standard. Also, the RF environment is unpredictable and introduces many impairments, including interferers within the specified frequency spectrum and distortions introduced by transmitters in addition to complex channels with problems caused by multipath reflections, weather, and foliage.

Using modern signal and spectrum analyzers engineers can capture live Mode S data by tuning to the response frequency, setting the sampling rate, and storing the received In-Phase/Quadrature data. The recorded data can then be used to validate that the receiver design works with real-world signals.

If the algorithm is designed in a technical computing environment, then much of this part of the testing process can be automated. First, the spectrum analyzer can be controlled using script commands sent via GPIB or USB interfaces. Most front-panel controls on the spectrum analyzer can be accessed and scripted using these interfaces. Second, data from the spectrum analyzer can be imported directly into the environment. This approach provides several advantages. First, scripting ensures tests are repeatable. Second, scripting enables testers to launch lengthy tests without having to manually conduct the test process. And third, scripting can be used to automate data retrieval and eliminate the need to manually run file transfers, burn DVDs, or set up network drives.

When using MathWorks Instrument Control Toolbox, controlling and analyzing data from a spectrum analyzer is a three-step process:

Connect: Establish a network connection between a PC and the test equipment.

Measure: Set measurement parameters and send capture commands to the test equipment.

Analyze: Retrieve captured data from the test equipment over the network connection and process the data.

The testing process is also accelerated when the measurement script is developed interactively and graphically. For example, as they develop scripts, engineers can execute Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI) instructions from the MATLAB command prompt and use the Test and Measurement Tool graphical user interface to communicate with the test instrument.

A sample test script is shown in Figure 2. The script sets up the instrument, issues the capture commands, and retrieves the data. Writing a test script does require a small additional time investment up front compared to performing the steps of a single manual test. However, as scripts are reused multiple times or employed to automate long, unattended tests, the investment is recouped many times over in time savings.

Figure 2: A sample Mode S test script

(click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Using a spectrum analyzer and the approach outlined here, engineers can receive and decode Mode S signals from aircraft flying nearby.

Automated testing

Unifying the measurement and computation segments of this example gives an engineer designing the receiver the ability to run automated tests on an algorithm design with real signal sources. A receiver design that works well on one test data set might fail with equipment from other vendors or in different wireless environments. An automated process helps engineers run tests efficiently against a wide range of test conditions and vendor equipment.

Stronger algorithms, more fully tested designs

Accessing data transmitted from real wireless sources is a key step in verifying a receiver design. A unified environment in which engineers develop algorithms and automate the collection and processing of data streamlines development. MATLAB and Instrument Control Toolbox were used to write a 300-line script to:

Control wireless test equipment, including spectrum analyzers
Retrieve stored data for off-line processing
Demodulate and decode the received data

Using this approach and a unified environment, wireless engineers can access more realistic data, try out more receiver algorithms, and run more performance tests. This ultimately produces stronger algorithms and more fully tested designs.

Mike Donovan has worked for MathWorks for seven years and is a manager in the Application Engineering Group. He has a BSEE from Bucknell University and an MSEE from University Of Connecticut. Mike has more than 10 years of experience working on military radar and satellite communication programs. He can be contacted at Mike.Donovan@mathworks.com.

Dr. Jon Friedman is the Aerospace & Defense and Automotive Industry Marketing Manager at MathWorks. Prior to joining MathWorks, he worked at Ford Motor Company and as an independent consultant on projects for Delphi, General Motors, Chrysler, and the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). He holds a B.S.E., M.S.E., and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration, all from the University of Michigan. Contact him at jon.friedman@mathworks.com.

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