“Approaches to Interoperability Standardization”

by

Timothy Schoechle, PhDCyberLYNX Technology Corporation

Boulder, Colorado, USA

for National Conference on Emergency

Communications Systems

Washington DC

December 12-13, 2005

hosted by George Washington University

Situation

• Technological advances in wireless networking

• Many new technologies and standards• Targeted to specific applications and services• Not interoperable

Some examples

• Local area networks– Bluetooth– Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4)– WiFi (IEEE 802.11)– UWB

• Wide area networks– WiMAX (IEEE 802.16)– LMDS, MMDS– GSM/GPRS– CDMA– 3G

• CDMA 2000• WCDMS• TS-SCDMA

Some examples

• Satellite services• SDR (Software Defined Radio)

– JTSR (Joint Tactical Radio System)– US military system

• Specialized fixed and mobile services• NGN (Next Generation Networks)

– ITU-T SG 13—NGN– ITU-T SG 16—Multimedia Trmls, Sys. & Apps– Focus on ”ubiquitous applications”– e-everything (e.g., e-health, e-business, etc.)

The problem

• Compatibility– Not interfering with each other

• Connectivity– Talking to each other

• Interoperability– Understanding each other– “Interworking”

The problem

• Interoperability– Between wired and wireless networks– Between new and legacy networks

Issues and problems

• The “stovepipe” problem• New systems need “legacy bridge”• Future-proofing

– “technology insertion”—Avoid re-engineering– “sustainability”

• Compatibility with civil & national systems

OSI 7-layer model(open system interconnect)

ApplicationLayer 7

PresentationLayer 6

SessionLayer 5

TransportLayer 4

NetworkLayer 3

Data LinkLayer 2

PhysicalLayer 1

USER

Network 1

Application

Presentation

Session

Transport

Network

Data Link

Physical

USER

Network 2

“Gateway”

“Router”

“Bridge”

Internet

• A “network of networks”• At the network layer (OSI layer 3)

– Layer 3 interconnection• Connectivity vs. interoperability

– Connectivity: message packet exchange– Interoperability: application language translation

• Syntax• Lexicon• Semantics

• Now: take the Internet logic to the next stage– Gateway: application layer (OSI layer 7)

Solution

• ISO/IEC 15045 Gateway– Defines generalized gateway architecture– Modular and distributed structure– Integrates with voice, video, and data services

• ISO/IEC 18012 Guidelines for Interoperability– Translates between dissimilar networks– At the OSI Application layer (layer 7)– All protocols and languages accommodated

Gateways!

Public SafetyNetwork (FM, P25,SDR)

Public SafetyNetwork (FM, P25,SDR)

Commercial Wireless Networks (2G, 3G, SDR)

Commercial Wireless Networks (2G, 3G, SDR)

JTRS MilitaryNetwork (over 30 air interfaces)

JTRS MilitaryNetwork (over 30 air interfaces)

Gateway

Gateway

Gateway

Gateway

GatewayGateway

Federal

Local

StateTribal

Same MILDEP

Different MILDEP

Allies

U.S. Rest of World

Common Interoperability Framework(ISO/IEC 18012)

GIWF #1#1 <> AIL

System #1

Abstract Intermediate Language(AIL)

GIWF #2#1 <> AIL

System #2

GIWF #3#1 <> AIL

System #3

GIWF #4#1 <> AIL

System #4

GIWF = Generic Interworking Function

Gateway Architecture(generalized)

Gateway Intermediate Busand Protocol

Core Framework

Minimal Network Services

Domain ofGateway Standard

WAN 1 Interface

WAN 2 Interface

WAN 3 Interface

Wide Area Networks

WAN 1

WAN 2

WAN 3

LAN 1 Interface

LAN 2 Interface

LAN 3 Interface

Local Area Networks

LAN 1

LAN 2

LAN 3

Enhanced Network Services

Encryption Services

Authentication Services

Other ServicesOther Security Services

Gateway Architecture(Home Networking Example)

Gateway Intermediate Busand Protocol

Core Framework

Health/Medical Monitoring

Domain ofGateway Standard

DOCSIS Interface

DSL Interface

Receive Interface

Wide Area Access Networks

Cable TV

Telephone

WiMAX

MPEG-Video

VoIP Interface

Data Router

Local Area Networks

IEEE 1394

WiFi

Ethernet

Energy Management

Automatic Meter Reading

Personal Vidoe Recorder

Network ManagementSecurity/Firewall Services

The JTSR example

• Sound architectural concept– SCA—Software Communications Architecture– Software-based—re-usable hardware– Modular “waveforms” for expandability

• But…– Radio only– Few waveforms—need to add new technology faster– No connection to other new & legacy networks– Need WNW—Wideband Network Waveform– Costs out of control– Delays in implementation

JTRS Set Architecture (Software Radio Networking Example)

Programmable Radio Hardware

Waveforms

Core Framework

WNW Minimal Network Services

JTRS Gateway Architecture(Software Radio Networking Example)

Gateway Intermediate Busand Protocol

Core Framework

Minimal Network Services

Domain ofGateway Standard

Waveform 1

Waveform 2

Waveform 3

Radio Set Waveforms

SINCGARS

EPLRS

HAVEQUICK

WNW Interface 1

WNW Interface 2

WNW Interface 3

WNW Waveforms

GIG

Internet

C2

Enhanced Network Services

Encryption Services

Authentication Services

Other ServicesOther Security Services

Thank you, Questions

?

Timothy Schoechle, PhDCyberLYNX Technology Corporation

Boulder, Colorado, USA

www.cyberlynx.com+1 303-443-5490