RPL Protocol

RPL is a routing protocol for low power and lossy networks. It’s used not only for 6LoWPAN. This protocol supports Point to Point and Multipoint to point and it’s able to be used for large networks.

It constructs a Destination Oriented Acyclic Graph (DODAG) that could be different in the same network. It would provide different routing criteria to accommodate different types of traffic.

In RPL is easy to adopt network changes and it has a Loop Avoidance mechanism to fight against loop that could appear in node unreachability or link congestion.

RPL takes into account both link and node properties when choosing paths and it hasn`t security because is an optional extension.  It assumes other mechanisms can be used such as link layer.

ISA SP100.11a

In this lecture Juanjo, Bethzalie and I tried to explain what ISA SP100.11.a is and his characteristics.

This is a Standard created by ISA, that is an international nonprofit member association consisting of automation professional engaged in the design, development, productions, and application of device and systems that sense measure and control industrial processes and manufacturing operation.

This standard assure multi-vendor device interoperability, provide simple, flexible, and scalable security addressing major industrial threats and also a wireless connectivity standard for applications in classes 1 – 5, and possibly class 0.

The principal characteristics of this standard are: robust, scalable and flexible architecture, provides a low-bitrate and very low power consumption ,communication with a transparent network management to the user, allows adaptive routing, multiple network topologies, addressing systems and redundancy levels, use some mechanism for granting a sustainable amount of devices in the network, a good spectrum management, coexistence with other networks and reliability in the communications and use security techniques like authentication methods, encryption or time-stamping.  

SMART CITIES

In this lecture Pegah and Marcos explain what a Smart City is. It’s a city that uses data and information technologies to provide better services to citizens, track progress toward policy goals, optimize the existing infrastructure, enable new business model for public and private sector service provision and collaborate within government and citizens.

There are three core components of a smart city: the technological factors, the people factors and the institutional factors. The advantages of a smart city are the smarter healthcare, public safety, transportation (smart mobility), energy, education and government services.

About the smart city technologies, there are four different types implemented:

• ·         Data Collecting technologies to form a sensor and actuator network
• ·         Data Transmission technologies to provide a high speed Internet Infrastructure to allow for a city wide access to the information
• ·         Data Storage and Processing Technologies
• ·         Service Delivery Platform

GPON

GPON is a standard about PON. PON are a passive optical network and it has the next steps: Fiber-optic access network, Point to Multipoint, FTTx architecture network, Unpowered Optical Splitter (single optical fiber), Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and the Optical Network Units (ONUs). The way to allocate BW between ONUs is using the Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) that is more effective method is required, allocate BW only if needed and uses statistical Multiplexing.

Fiber to the x (FTTx) is a generic term for any broadband network architecture using optical fiber. It was initially a generalization for several configurations of fiber deployment (FTTN, FTTC, FTTB, FTTH...)

An optical network unit (ONU) is a device that transforms incoming optical signals into electronics at a customer's premises in order to provide telecommunications services over an optical fiber network.

An optical line termination (OLT), also called an optical line terminal, is a device which serves as the service provider endpoint of a passive optical network.

Very important is the problem of optimal network planning. Build a PON infrastructure is difficult because it implies installation of many ODN's and there are architecture constraints that have to be respected with cost minimization.

In conclusion, SR algorithms are more promising than NSR. SLA should also consist packet delay requirement and GPON architecture does not immediately support LLU.

EPS: LTE + SAE

In this lecture Henar talks about LTE (Long Term Evolution) ,the natural evolution of UMTS. The most important reason to look for LTE has been the need to have more capacity of users simultaneously. Moreover, it allows higher speeds, as we have said 200 Mbps for downlink. Another important aspect is that with LTE all is based on IP.

About SAE (System Architecture Evolution), she explains that provides lower latency, costs (CAPEX and OPEX) and complexity and higher compatibility with other technologies. This architecture is considered functional, scalable, relatively cheap, flexible with other technologies and secure.

LTE/SAE together provides spectrum flexibility, reduced TCO and high performance for Mobile Broadband networks and smooth migration to a flat and optimized 2-node architecture. It also provides cost efficiency, high performance and network migration being targeted and a scalable and robust architecture. In addition, it’s all IP based and it’s compatible with 2G / 3G and other technologies.

HSPA and HSPA+

HSPA was the key technology that made 3G systems popular, because it really marks the difference in terms of bitrate with the 2G systems.

 HSPA implements MIMO and a 16/64 QUAM modulation in the last release.

With HSDPA/HSUPA the first step towards a flattened network was done. In HSPA+ the intention is going even further. The improvements of HSPA are a lower latency, high data rates, increased capacity, better support to VoIP and improved support for multicast services.

The Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) is designed to provide efficient delivery of broadcast and multicast services, like TVIP or videoconferences. This service was already included in previous releases, but until HSPA+ its real implementation was not feasible at all.

MIMO is a technology which uses multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver. It offers increases in data throughput and link range without additional bandwidth or increased transmit power.

Femto-cell technology

In this exposition Bruna and Martin talks about Femto-cell technology. It is a Small cellular base station (low-power access point) that provides indoor coverage and network via broadband network.  It is connected to service providers and supports 4-8 simultaneous voice conversations & data services. His best characteristic is that it is applicable to all standards (3GPP & 3GPP2).

The Deplopment of femtocells will increase because femtocell offers better coverage and capacity in both home and office environments. Operators face challenges in providing a low-cost solution while mitigating RF interference, providing QoS over the IP backhaul, and maintaining scalability.

 3GPP has undertaken a large effort to define industry standards for all of the essential aspects of UMTS-based femtocells. Femtocells are going to change the landscape of mobile technology and networking business in the coming years. 

3GGP2 Standardization enables a better implementation of femtocells with the combination of WiMAX and femtocells the usage of mobile devices will be improved, but there are still some challenges to handle.