public safety communications summit

National Public Safety Telecommunications Council

Public Safety Communications Summit

John Powell, ChairNational Public Safety Telecommunications Council

Interoperability Committee

and

SDR Forum Board of Directors

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership.

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Presentation Overview

• Develop and promote statewide plans.• Solutions that deliver network and

application broadband interoperability. • Interoperability between different data

systems of various speeds, broadband and wideband.

• The importance of standards.• Where does SDR and CR fit in?


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What is Interoperability?

• The ability to talk to who you need to talk to when you need to talk to them (data and voice, realtime).

As authorized

• NOT the ability to talk with everyone all of the time!


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Statewide Planning

• Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans (SCIPs)– Required by DHS per 2006 SHSGP

Grant Guidance.– Required by DOC for PSIC Grants.– Filing deadline 3 Dec 2007

• All 57 States & Territories met deadline.

– Plans were reviewed by peers from all levels of government.

– All SCIPS have now been approved.– About 2/3rds of states and territories

have to complete work on PSIC IJs.


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Statewide Planning

• “Statewide” means that there must be practitioner input and buy-in from all levels of government in each state.

• SCIPS are strategic in nature.• Promotion of advanced, but

stable, technologies encouraged for PSIC grants.

• Identified Points of Contact within states/territories.– State Interoperability Coordinator


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New SAFECOM Continuum

• Updated SAFECOM Continuum is in final review by DHS

• Adds data elements to technology lane

• Makes minor changes to other lanes– Recognizes importance of SCIPs– Encourages multiple exercises

• Removes concept of “best” always being to the far right.


Updated Continuum


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Broadband Interoperability

• Critical to interoperability is the selection of a single nationwide standard– Technology trends point to LTE.

• Devices must be able to operate in absence of a network– Ad hoc networks?– Multimode?

• Important security issues– Authentication– Certificates (validated with/without network

availability.


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Broadband Interoperability

• The network, in whatever form it eventually takes, is just the pipe.– True for all IP-based systems– Critical for public safety is “hardening”

• Priority, Restorability, Survivability

– Quality of service must be provided• Dynamic and instantaneous• Depends on incident and application(s).

• Applications must also be interoperable if there is a desire to share information.


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Application Interoperability

• Compatible data structures– XML-based

• Appropriate authorizations and certificates– Federated identity system– Who establishes and maintains?– What happens where there is no

network?

• Compatible security methodologies– Encryption


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Broadband and Wideband Interoperability

• Requirement for application compatibility, authorizations and certificates, and compatible security methodology remains unchanged.

• Interconnection of networks will require an IP-based hub (gateway) to interconnect different types of networks.

• “Direct mode” off-network will require a common waveform– May be a separate/distinct mode.


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The Importance of Standards

• A common standard ensures interoperability– Essential for digital platforms– Requires conformance testing of

critical features and functions.

• Standard must be supported both on the device and network sides– With over 60,000 individual agencies,

don’t expect help to come to your area and work with “your standard” if it is not “the standard.”


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The Importance of Standards

• For FCC acceptance as a requirement, standards must be ANSI certified– Example: 700 MHz voice

interoperability channels.

• Many different standards exist, but that doesn’t mean they are compatible– Example: voice codecs

• “IP” doesn’t ensure interoperability!


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Where Does SDR and CR Fit Into This Equation?

• Software Defined Radio (SDR) is an enabler for Cognitive Radio (CR), but not a requirement for it.

• SDR allows a device to be built to support multiple “waveforms”– A waveform includes the modulation

and air protocols that support a technology platform.

– Generally less expensive if mass produced.

– Upgradability to future features and functions, and new waveforms.


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Where Does SDR and CR Fit Into This Equation?

• SDR platforms are entering the public safety voice market– Harris 30/132 – 800 MHz product

based on AN/PRC-152– Thales 132 – 800 MHz Liberty

• Critical need is for manufacturers to agree to cross-license legacy waveforms to other manufacturers.

• Ideal interoperability device is an all-mode, all-band SDR radio carried on the responders hip!


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Presentation Overview

• Develop and promote state plans • Investigate, report on, and propose

solutions that deliver network and application broadband interoperability

• Interoperability between different data systems of various speeds, broadband and wideband

• The importance of standards• Where does SDR fit in?


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Questions?

• http://www.npstc.org• http://www.sdrforum.org

• Email: [email protected]

• Contact information

John Powell

[email protected]

public safety communications summit

Documents