Objective
The primary objective of SAMBA is to promote the development of a broadband cellular radio extension to the IBC, thus allowing the use of broadband fully interactive multimedia services by mobile users. The work focuses on a Trial Platform to test its performance in a trial, which will demonstrate the applicability of the Mobile Broadband System (MBS) to user applications. The key objectives for SAMBA are to:
Demonstrate mobile applications of bit rates up to 34 Mbit/s.
Design and realise transparent ATM connections via radio transmission for mobiles.
Specify and implement medium access, handover and radio resource management for a cellular system.
Develop a portable millimetrewave transceiver including the antennas for the 40 GHz band.
Advance the MBS evolution and promote its standardisation.
Contribute to the ACTS concertation process and establish liaisons with other projects.
The main SAMBA project result will be the proof of the cellular mobile broadband concept. For that, an air interface providing reliable transmission of ATM cells and capable of handover, location management, medium access control and radio resource management will be validated by the Trial Platform. In addition the work will include the development of a portable mobile station. So far the user requirements are defined and the target quality of service parameters set.
The Trial Platform is specified. This includes the air interface, the cell shapes and the antennas, the millimetrewave transceiver, baseband processing unit, control unit as well as the ATM switch and ATM mobility server.
The development of ASICs, MMICs and modules as well as protocol software has started.
Expected Impact
The transmission of ATM high bit rates (34 Mbit/s) over radio in a mobile broadband network will permit very bandwidth demanding applications while users are in motion. This fact will bring various benefits either in terms of database information access, leisure or health aspects. For instance, the transmission of medical images in remote emergency situations can save many lives. Moreover, wireless TV cameras will permit the action to be followed closely adding new interesting aspects namely to sport TV programmes.
Relationship to Previous Work
In RACE Project 2067 MBS, the foundations of broadband mobile networks were created. System studies were carried out and a demonstrator implemented. SAMBA has started taking the RACE MBS results into account and proceeds with the implementation of a more complex demonstrator to validate the MBS system studies and, more generally, the cellular mobile broadband concept.
Main contributions to the programme objectives:
Main deliverables
A "Mobile Broadband" trial platform operating at 40 GHz and demonstrating wireless-studio for TV broadcast and medical rescue applications
Contribution to the programme
Insight on the technology challenges of future mobile broadband systems and on the types of serviced and applications that will drive the developments of a 4th Generation Mobile networks
Technical Approach
A Trial Platform is under development. Although it is a necessary compromise between what is desired and what is possible within the given limitations, the Trial Platform will show many of the MBS features.
It will be connected to the fixed broadband network of the RIA Portuguese National Host via a standard ATM interface. A set of trials comprising multimedia user applications with bearer service bit rates up to 34 Mbit/s and a maximum mobile speed of 50 km/h will take place at the EXPO '98 in Lisbon. They will demonstrate the cellular mobile broadband communications concept of MBS at 40 GHz. In addition, system evolution studies towards a future system without the present limitations will be carried out. Also suitable knowledge and know-how offered by other projects will be exploited.
Summary of Trial
The SAMBA Trial Platform will consist of a digital cellular radio network of two base stations and two mobiles, one being man-portable and one mounted in a vehicle.
This trial configuration allows the basic system aspects to be verified: reliable transmission of ATM cells in a mobile radio environment suffering from noise and multipath interference; also seamless handover, which is essential for a cellular system.
The Trial Platform will be connected to the fixed broadband network via a standard 155 Mbit/s ATM interface. User applications intended are a wireless TV camera for news gathering and a medical application.
The former was chosen because high quality video is the key element in a whole range of different user applications, and the latter due to the importance of health aspects namely in emergency situations.
A combination of system and user trials will be carried out to obtain the information required for supporting the standardisation work and increasing market awareness of the potential of MBS.
Moreover, the SAMBA Trial Platform may be used by other projects to experiment their applications in a mobile environment.
Key Issues
Various key issues can be considered for SAMBA in relation to network, radio and technology aspects. They are:
Transmission of ATM cells over radio at 34 Mbit/s user bit rate.
Development of a portable millimetre-wave transceiver at 40 GHz including antennas.
Design of state-of-the-art baseband processing ASICs.
Implementation of dynamic channel allocation in ATM mobile broadband systems.
Implementation of radio handover and mobility management functions.
Implementation of suitable medium access techniques.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securityaccess control
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabases
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologymobile radio
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
3810 Aveiro
Portugal