Centre for Wireless Communications

Current Projects

CWC's major current projects are listed below by funding source:

Academy of Finland

Beamforming and Radio Resource Management in Co-Operative Wireless Networks (BeCON)

January 2009 - December 2012

The project considers opportunistic co-operative wireless networks. Particular emphasis is on linear beamforming and radio resource management theory, analysis and solutions. Both base station or infrastructure and user co-operation are considered. The objectives of the project include achieving deep theoretical understanding on the capacity of the co-operative wireless cellular networks, linear transmit/receive beamforming design and optimization, estimates of transceiver complexity, and design guidelines of heterogeneous wireless networks based on the co-operation paradigm.

Collaborative Multiuser MIMO Networks (CoMuNet)

January 2010 - December 2012

This project is a joint project with Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) funded by Academy of Finland and National Science Foundation of China (NSFC). It considers opportunistic cooperative wireless networks. Particular emphasis is on interference mitigation and control as well as joint precoding and equalization optimization. The equalizers are not assumed to be linear which makes the optimization challenging and requires usage of advanced tools. Suboptimal solutions for practical computation architectures are also studied to enable practical implementation of the techniques.

On Cooperative and Opportunistic Wireless Networks (Co-Op)

January 2010 - December 2013

Wireless is a multi-billion dollar industry and still growing at a healthy pace. While there have been talks about ubiquitous mobile broadband for over a decade now, it has been waiting for a killer app for some time now. It appears that new disruptive devices (aka Nokia’s E-90 and Mac’s iPhone) have finally delivered the killer app. The challenge has now been shifted to delivery of high-speed data to a large number of mobile users-- as our current networks will not scale to high customer densities, due to their fundamental design limitations. In this three-year project, we will develop foundations for scalable broadband wireless networks. The key paradigm shift is a top-down approach, which establishes opportunistic cooperation among different mobile devices and services. As a result, mobile and infrastructure nodes pool their bandwidth and power resources at all time-scales, and convert the network into an all cooperative network at every layer of operation. Leveraging CWC's strong research program in wireless, we will address both foundational analyses and architectural challenges of the proposed top-down opportunistic paradigm.

Opportunistic Wireless Communication Systems (UNICS)

January 2009 - December 2011

The goal of this project is to explore different alternatives for opportunistic spectrum usage policies and techniques for future wireless networks and to develop sufficient theoretical tools for analyzing them. One fundament question in the analysis is related to the modeling principles of e.g. radio channel models, mobility models and traffic models for flexible heterogeneous wireless networks. The project has three closely related themes: 1) spectrum sensing methodology for cognitive radios, 2) radio resource management in flexible wireless networks and 3) channel and traffic modeling for broadband heterogeneous wireless networks.

OPTimal cross-layer control for WIreless NETworks (OPTWINE)

January 2010 - December 2012

The project focuses on cross-layer optimization and control techniques for future wireless networks. Specifically, stochastic networks with wireless and/or wireline components, randomly arriving traffic, time varying channels and user mobility are considered. The concrete goal is to integrate various network protocol layers into a unified optimization framework, by regarding them as components of a general utility maximization problem which are distributed over the network. Cross-layer control techniques for the flow control, routing, node scheduling and radio resource allocation will be derived in order to achieve joint optimal performance.

European Commission

Broadband evolved FEMTO networks (BeFemto)

January 2010 - June 2012

BeFemto is a EU project addressing broadband communications, which is an important stimulus to the European economy. It aims to research and develop evolved femtocell technologies that accelerate cost-effective provision of ubiquitous broadband services by smoother convergence between fixed and wireless broadband.

The key objectives of BeFemto are optimization of radio access, self optimization techniques, new indoor positioning technique, network synchronization and intelligent interference management, cooperative networked femtocells enabling highly flexible and resource efficient coverage extension, mobile femtocells and validation of developed technologies using testbeds and simulation tools.

CoExisting Short Range Radio by Advanced Ultra-WideBand Radio Technology (EUWB)

April 2008 - March 2011

The key objective of EUWB is to

explore the enormous economic potential of the innovative and disruptive radio technology embodied in Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
combine the innovative UWB concept with advanced methods of wireless technology such as cognitive signalling, intelligent multiple antenna and multiband/multimode UWB system concepts
enable the introduction of advanced services and competitive applications using the radio spectrum in a highly sophisticated manner by applying devices based on next generation UWB.

CWC is leader of WP4, focused on "Advanced Location Tracking (LT)". The main objectives for the WP are: to investigate novel and advanced LT solution for wireless networks characterized by both static and dynamic scenarios, providing algorithms/strategies to support mobility and location awareness in heterogeneous networks.

Energy Aware Radio and Network Technologies (EARTH)

January 2010 - December 2012

EARTH is a highly ambitious project that aims to provide a unified framework for improving the energy efficiency of mobile communication systems. In particular, the main goal of the project is to develop a holistic methodology and define suitable performance metrics that characterize jointly the energy consumption of wireless networks and the perceived user satisfaction. In this way, EARTH envisions to measure effectively network performance by capturing the energy expenditure through the aforementioned “energy efficiency” metrics. Subsequently, the project targets to 1) Assess the potential of state-of-the-art radio network architectures with respect to the newly defined energy efficiency metrics, as opposed to coverage or throughput that are currently considered, 2) Introduce network management algorithms and protocols to optimize network performance, 3) Deploy enhancements of the existing network architectures and investigate techniques of cooperation in order maximize performance, and 4) Contribute to the standardization both of methodologies and metrics, in order to establish a framework for measuring the energy efficiency of cellular networks, as well as of broadband cellular systems, primarily in LTE, LTE –advanced, and UMTS/HSPA networks.

European SDR for wireless security applications (EULER)

October 2008 - September 2011

This project proposal aims to leverage software defined radio (i.e., a fully programmable radio conforming to some embedded software standard allowing radio applications to be ported from platform to platform) to bring novel efficient interoperability capabilities to wireless systems used by European P&GS forces when confronted to joint operations in crisis situations. The ingredients considered to tackle this challenge lie in the proposal for a waveform answering Homeland Security requirements (including high data rate capability), its implementation for Software Defined Radio, following the ESRA (European SDR Architecture – ongoing European level efforts for SDR standardisation) recommendations, supported by SDR platforms fitting performance and security requirements relevant to the P&G services, and some open system-architecture definition to support properly the maximum benefits of using the SDR as part of a wireless system.

Integrating the Physical with the Digital World of the Network of the Future (SENSEI)

January 2008 - December 2010

The SENSEI project is investigating a new paradigm for bringing the flexibility of sensor technology to bear in every aspect of daily life. It foresees that physical phenomena will be captured, characterised and controlled by trillions of sensors and actuators deployed by anyone using many different technologies. That our environment and processes will be adapted based on these capabilities without necessarily involving human intervention.

Essentially, SENSEI addresses the technological challenges of efficient wireless sensor networking, efficient distributed processing, energy efficiency, novel sensor fusion algorithms and opportunistic context for intelligent and profitable context based on sensor data for novel sensor services, a pluggable sensor and actuator networking framework, efficient interaction with a future fixed and cellular beyond 3G global network infrastructure, as well as integration into the application enabler space of these future communication systems.

Quality of Service and MObility driven cognitive radio Systems (QoSMOS)

January 2010 - December 2012

QoSMOS is a three-year FP7 integration project (IP) about the study of architecture, protocols, algorithms and transceivers to increase awareness and intelligence in the communication network, in order to extend the availability of radio spectrum to wireless applications, by overlying additional users in spectrum regions, without harming existing services, whilst ensuring global user experience in a mobile environment. Project web-site: http://www.ict-qosmos.eu

The future development partner (TUISKE-Tulevaisuuden kehityskumppani)

January 2009 - December 2010

The goal of this project is to build a national and international partner network for the Vehicle Information Systems (VIS) - program in Kainuu. This project prepares project funding applications and finds funding instruments for the VIS program. It also promotes the VIS-program through seminars, trade shows and scientific publishing. The project is carried out in CWC Kainuu, Vuokatti.

European Defence Agency (EDA)

Enabling Technology for Advanced Radio in Europe (ETARE)

December 2008 - May 2011

The main objective of the ETARE project is to develop advanced waveform technologies in Europe that could be included in the future for operational waveform definition, at national or coalition level. The resulting technologies will enable, e.g., higher data rates and better security of the waveforms. The technology study and development project will be carried out by a multinational consortium under the EDA (European Defence Agency) technology program.

WOLF

December 2008 - November 2010

The WOLF project is the response formulated by a consortium of European organisations having a valuable background in military tactical communications.

The WOLF project will provide innovative solutions in order to increase the "Wireless & robust communication" and "Information processing & situation awareness" capabilities, in order to increase survivability of force protections in case of urban operations.

The WOLF project presents a clear roadmap and objectives for a new system gap-filling the lacks of existing networks or products.

The project will have a duration of 24 MM providing deliverables at identified milestones, and integrates a requirements definition, a global architecture specification, the capabilities solutions definition and evaluation, and demonstrations.

Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes)

Cognitive and Opportunistic Wireless Communication Networks (COGNAC)

January 2008 - December 2010

The scope of the COGNAC project covers selected fundamental issues enabling utilization of opportunistic communication systems. Namely, the project investigates 1) fundamental methods related spectrum opportunity estimation and opportunistic spectrum usage 2) radio resource management and system adaptation schemes suitable for opportunistic systems and 3) applies some selected features of opportunistic systems to some existing and/or emerging communication systems to improve their performance and to extend their applicability to new application scenarios. Besides contribution to European projects and possibly other national projects, this project shall output a number of international conference and journal publications as well as few PhD theses.

Cooperative MIMO Techniques for Cellular System Evolution (CoMIT)

January 2010 - December 2010

CoMIT is a wireless cellular communication system research project covering the future development and evolution of cellular communication systems including 3GPP Long Tern Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) and other 4G systems like IMT-Advanced (IMT-A) as well as hybrid satellite-terrestrial systems. The main emphasis is on cooperative MIMO transmission schemes and the transceiver algorithms and architectures needed by them in multiuser systems. Both downlink and uplink communication problems are addressed. However, the key driver is the evolution of the cellular network topology from the legacy downlink-uplink paradigm to more heterogeneous mesh network topologies. The ultimate goal is to create practical transceiver and system technology to enable cost, power and energy efficient implementation of network nodes of future wireless networks.

Distributed Decision Making for Future Wireless Communication Systems (DIDES)

January 2008 - December 2012

The major focus points of the DIDES project are on wireless communications, and the outcomes are expected to be most useful for wireless communication industry, especially with a strong emphasis towards the creation of 4th generation wireless communications systems. However, the DIDES outcomes shall bring a lot of benefits to also those research fields that rely on large scale distributed decision making mechanism.

Flexible Wireless Communication Systems (FLECOS)

January 2007 - December 2011

The goal of FLECOS is to develop technology in the areas of decentralised and self-organising network topologies and operatorless radio access network concepts, opportunistic communication systems utilising different spatio-temporal approaches in a multi-user environment, cross-layer optimisation and inter-cell interference reduction, novel multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmission schemes, new methods of frequency usage and sharing for available and newly identified frequency spectrum, flexibility and reconfigurability of software-defined multi-antenna, multi-standard radio systems, cognitive and spectrum-agile radios and networks supporting opportunistic communication systems.

Two part-time professors receive research funding through FLECOS: Behnaam Aazhang; Ph.D.; Professor and Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA and Ryuji Kohno; Ph.D.; Professor and Director, Center of Medical Information & Communication Technology, Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan.

IMT-Advanced Evaluations (IMT-A)

August 2009 - July 2010

Through this project, CWC participates on the evaluation work in Winner+ of IMT-Advanced technology proposals that are submitted to ITU-R development of radio interface recommendations.

Local Connectivity and Cross-Layer Design for Future Broadband Mobile Systems (LOCON)

January 2010 - December 2010

LOCON is the successor of multi-year PANU project. It explores innovative ways to utilize local connectivity through, e.g., self-organization and cognitive techniques in indoor stand-alone & networked and outdoor fixed relay & mobile femtocells enhanced network architectures. Flexible resource management, sharing, and use as well as interference and mobility management are important research themes in these concepts. Fundamental theoretical cross-layer network design is also integral part of the project content. The main targeted system standards are IMT-A and systems beyond that.

Measuring whole Body Vibrations with Expertise (MEWEX)

May 2008 - October 2010

Health and safety requirements concerning whole body vibration (WBV) exposure of employees has been enacted in EU Directive 2002/44/EC. According to the regulation, an employer is responsible for verifying vibration exposure of an employee on the basis of the information provided by the device manufacturer or measured values. The vision of this project is to create Finland’s leading WBV research consortium in Kajaani. The objective of the applied project is to generate a laboratory and related know-how for WBV research and product development.

Establishing technology for continuous vibration exposure measurements in machinery/vehicles in the field is also an important target. Potential users of the vibration laboratory are for example employers, research institutes, institutes of occupational health, machine manufacturers and other companies that carry out R&D business.

Mewex project is funded through European Regional Development Fund.

The project is carried out in CWC Kainuu, Vuokatti.

NETS2020

September 2009 - August 2012

The project is a strategic wireless communication system research project covering the future development and evolution of cellular communication systems including IMT-Advanced (IMT-A), its further evolution and its integration with other communication and data networks. The main emphasis is on evolving wireless network topologies, such as relay based and device-to-device connections, and on distributed algorithms performing automated network management tasks on networks with such novel topologies. The research is carried out in close cooperation with the best Chinese universities and research institutes in the field to enable smooth application of the technology in evolving standards.

Wireless Body Area Networks for Health and Medical-care (WIBANHAM)

January 2010 - December 2014

The subject of this research work is the design and development of novel applications and services targeting wireless body area networks for health and medical-care applications to be used in the healthcare facility and home. The project focuses on realizing a number of areas including a channel model for tissue implanted device and onbody sensors for wireless body area networks. A central component of wireless body area networks is an antenna and there are several issues to consider when designing an antenna for WBAN’s applications, including power consumption, size, frequency, biocompatibility and the unique RF transmission challenges posed by the human body.

Wireless World Initiative New Radio + (WINNER+)

January 2008 - June 2010

The WINNER+ project focuses on innovative concepts and technologies for systems beyond 3G, building on the research results in the FP6 WINNER and WINNER II projects and the actual status of the decision made in ITU-R and WRC-07. These innovations are optimised and evaluated by simulations within the overall WINNER+ concept. Beyond that, parts of this concept are targeted to contribute to a potential candidate proposal from Europe towards IMT-Advanced. A demonstrator will be developed to illustrate key new functionalities.

Internal Projects

CWC Experimental Cognitive Radio Network (CECRAN)

Janauary 2008 -

CECRAN is a project which implements CR & CRN research results on the CWC's Linux Enriched WARP platform. As a strategic project funded by CWC, the idea is to promote CWC research, test & validate the CR & CRN ideas in practice and also act as a marketing tool. Implementing cognitive radio network methods on real-time platform gives also valuable feedback to CWC's staff doing theoretical research on subject.

WiMeC

February 2008 -

The use of wireless technologies can be seen as a fast and practical way for finding new means, e.g., in home-care related issues. Technologies that don’t require installing cables at home as well as the possibility of monitoring physiological parameters not only in a closed environment but also in outdoor spaces (mobility) must be exploited in order to create cutting-edge solutions for the mid-term market. Self care, self-management and cost effectiveness will be the key factors towards the development of these new technological solutions. The objective of the research is to contribute on fundamentals related to wireless system solutions in planning and developing both wireless hospital and a so called ‘distributed hospital’. In the former one, the target is to get rid of wires which connect different body area network (WBAN) sensors to access point and further to data bases. The latter one is based on the collaboration between hospitals, patients and health care services, and is benefiting from advantages of modern ICT technologies. The complete system information chain contains different sensors providing medical data, signal processing modifying data, wireless communications transferring data, connection to electrical medical records and doctors utilizing data. Project concentrates wireless communication part (layers 1-3) and uses other chains’ results as an input and assumptions.

Other National Funding

MUSA 2

January 2010 - December 2010

The project is a 3G Long Term Evolution (LTE) system research project. The main emphasis is on system level performance evaluation (scheduling, throughput, resource allocation) when multiple antenna reception techniques are utilized in the base station receiver. The first goal is to develop a more realistic simulation model, where 3D channel and 2D array processing techniques are used. The second goal is to evaluate the performance of this system.

Radio Resource Management for D2D Communications in Cellular Network

December 2009 - June 2010

The focus of the research is on performance study and further development of radio resource management (RRM) methods enabling direct device-to-device (D2D) communications in cellular network.

Independent limit switch (ITKU)

The independent limit switch (ITKU) is a consortium project formed by two research institutes, VTT and CWC, and one company, Sensinode Oy. The vehicular industry as well as other industries has a need for an easy to install limit switch for several kinds of applications. This module should harvest energy it collects from its environment, as a power supply is often difficult or expensive to supply to these switches. It should connect to its host’s control system wirelessly, reliably and with minimum energy consumption. Its functional status should be easy to monitor at all times, so that all possible malfunctions could be noticed immediately, in practice within a few tens of milliseconds. ITKU can be divided into two main objectives. The first one is energy management, where energy harvesting, energy storage and the control of energy usage are covered. The second one is a wireless link to the host computer or controller, where a reliable and extremely low power solution is required. The project is carried out in CWC Kainuu, Vuokatti.