SBIR-STTR Award

An intelligent access hub concept for wireless wide area networks isdescribed. This intelligent access hub network is a high capacity multimedia, rapidly deployable architecture which nominally supports 10 Mb/s data rates from the ATM backbone to each fixed or roaming information kiosd. The concept exploits smart directive antennas which emphasize signal reception form the desired ik and de-emphasize interference from other directions in process called spatial filtering. Spatial filtering may be used to resolve the signal from distinct Iks providing for spatial division multiple access. The fundamentallomitation to SDMA is Signal to Interference ratio. A unique solution to mitigate the SIR is proposed using a smart beamformer and adaptation of radio bridge protocols. Transmission in directive beams with minimum power provides inherent Anti-Jam and low probability of intercept properties.The design is cots richto reduce cost, Weight, and risk of the system. The architecture is realized itn the unlicensed national information infrastructure band for low cost, unlicensed implementation, but theconcept is applicable to other frequency bands. The architecture hasimmense commercial appeal as a cost effective alternative to paying wireline leases for provision of wide area networks.

Benefits:
Wirelesswans crate a new class of service for commercial data service providers. The wireless medium eliminate the dependence on the installed infrastructure and incumbent pricing. A wireless wan is rapidly deployable, scaleable and inexpensive relative to the public wireline infrastructure.

An Intelligent Access Hub system (IAHS) is proposed for a low cost, point to multi point Wireless Wide Area Network (W-WAN). Rapid advance in COTS, unlicensed 5.8 GHz band, Ethernet radio bridge technology is exploited to provide unprecedented bit rate/dollar ratios. The IAHS is a multimedia, rapidly deployable architecture, which nominally provides dedicated 10 MB/s throughput from the IAHS Tactical Operations Center (TOC) gateway location to fixed or roaming Information Kiosks (IKs). The IKs may then be ported to PCS base stations, wired or wireless LAN access points, legacy mobile communication gateways, or other TOCs. The IAHS uses a proprietary Multi beam Antenna Assembly and Status Controller to switch directive antennas to the IK requiring service, and adapts power as required. The use of directive antennas and adaptive power increases range, and enhances system capacity by providing spatial isolation between radio channels. The directive antennas and adaptive power reduce interference to and from adjacent radio paths, and improve LPI and AJ performance. The IAHS is to be demonstrated at a commercial Internet Service Provider facility as a private data W-WAN, initially at 10Mb/s per customer, then using COTS 100Mb/s, U-NII equipment.

Benefits:
The IAHS is a point to multi point W-WAN which is rapidly deployable, independent of installed infrastructure, scaleable to meet demand, and COTS based. Military application is a rapidly deployable tactical backbone network, commercial application is a private data network independent of wire line infrastructure and incumbent pricing