Information Technology And Softwares: Networking

Center For Wireless Information Network Studies

INTRODUCTION

The Center for Wireless Information Network Studies (CWINS) is a renowned compact wireless research laboratory with a successful history of research alliances with other industrial and academic groups. The center has performed research for government agencies and has close ties with the world-leading organizations in the wireless industry. The core competence of the center is in indoor radio channel propagation measurement modeling and in the development of testbeds and tools for design and performance monitoring of wireless indoor networks. For over two decades, by publishing an international periodical journal, organizing several workshops and participating in organizing a yearly international conference, the center has contributed significantly to information exchange among important sectors of the wireless industry. The research program in wireless information networks at WPI was established by Professor Kaveh Pahlavan in 1985 as the first research program of this sort in the United States. In 1986, the program was awarded the first NSF grant in modern wireless communications to start pioneering work on channel modeling, transmission and multiple access methods for wireless indoor networks. In 1989 and 1990, the center participated in founding the IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC) and the IEEE International Symposium on Spread Spectrum Techniques and Applications (ISSSTA) in the UK. In 1991, the center organized the first IEEE Workshop on Wireless LANs, which was held at WPI. In 1992, the center organized the Third IEEE PIMRC in Boston. In 1994, the center initiated the International Journal on Wireless Information Networks, the first journal in this field. In 1995, Prof. Pahlavan and Dr. Levesque published "Wireless Information Networks", John Wiley and Sons, the first graduate level textbook in wireless networks. During 1996-98, the Wireless LAN Research Laboratory was formed under CWINS to serve as an industrial research alliance in answer to the growing interest in wireless LAN technology. In 1996, Prof. Pahlavan was elected Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions in wireless office information networks. In 1997, the center expanded the scope of research to perform pioneering research for indoor and short-range geolocation applications for the Small Unit Operation Situation Awareness System program under DARPA. Also in 1997, the center initiated a long-term active collaboration with the University of Oulu, Nokia, and several other leading wireless companies in Finland. In 1999, Prof. Pahlavan was the first non native of Finland to receive the Nokia fellowship. In 2000, he was the first scholar to receive the Fulbright Nokia fellowship. In 2002 Prof. Pahlavan and Prof. Krishnamurthy of the University of Pittsburgh (a former PhD graduate of the Center) published, "Principles of Wireless Networks - A Unified Approach", Prentice Hall which is considered by reviewers as the most comprehensive textbook in this field. In 2003 Prof. Pahlavan was co-chair of the International Workshop on Ultra Wideband Systems, Oulu , Finland and in 2004 he served as co-chair of the International Workshop on Wireless Adhoc Networks, Oulu , Finland . In 2005, he is serving as General Chairman of the IEEE International Conference on Mobile Adhoc Sensor Systems, Washington , D.C. Numerous organizations have cooperated with CWINS in sponsoring research and development projects, educating their staff, and corporate consulting. These organizations include National Science Foundation, DARPA, DEC, NYNEX, Apple Computer, Alta Group of Cadence (formerly COMDISCO software), WINDATA, Motorola, GTE Laboratories, Raytheon Company, BBN, Honeywell, Hewlett-Packard, Nokia Mobile Phone, Aironet, Telxon, Cushcraft, Harris Semiconductors, Persoft, Mercury Computers, Texas Instruments, Sierra Communication, Azimuth Systems, Brix Networks, Draper Laboratory, Innovative Wireless Technologies, Skyhook Wireless.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objectives of the Center include:
Performing basic research in technical aspects of wireless information networks.
Participate in the development of experimental test beds and performance monitoring tools.
Developing experimental sites and performance evaluation facilities for comparative studies of alternative wireless systems.
Developing a mechanism by which engineers in industry can participate in a state-of-the-art training program in wireless information networks.
Developing the expertise needed to complete short-term proprietary research programs for individual corporate members.
Organizing workshops, symposia and short courses to educate engineers about wireless networks and create an atmosphere conducive to information exchange among the participating corporations.
Coordinating basic research and work on regulatory issues in the wireless information network industry and the portable mobile industry.
Provide on-sight training to engineers in the industry.
Provide corporate and technical consulting to wireless programs in the industry.
Serve as a center for information exchange among different sectors of the wireless data industry by participating in the publication of articles and journals and in the organization of conferences.

Projects

Innovative Indoor Geolocation Using RF Multipath Diversity (DARPA)
Innovative Methods for Geolocation and Communication with UWB Mobile Radio Networks (DoD SBIR)
Indoor Geolocation Science for 4G Wireless Networks (NSF) (Phase I)
Real-Time Channel Simulation for Telecommunication and Geolocation Applications (DoD DURIP)
Urban Geolocation System Analysis and Demonstrator (DARPA SUO/SAS) (Docs)
Wireless Indoor Geolocation and Voice Over IPV6 (WINGIP)
An Integrated Multi-Layer Wireless LAN Testbed (NSF)
Publications in Indoor Geolocation
The CWINS Wireless LAN Research Laboratory (Industrial Alliance)
Academic OPNET Research Projects

Radio Channel Measurement and Modeling
Channel Measurement Systems
Ray Tracing
Deployment Tool Software
Real-Time Channel Simulation
RF Predictions of a 4-Block Area in New York City
RF Propagation in Supermarket Environment

Wireless Networking
NSF Experimental Wireless LAN Testbed
Traffic Engineering
WINGIP
Multimedia Wireless
Wireless LAN for UMTS
CDPD Performance Monitoring Tools
Benchmark Tool for Wireless LANs
Wireless IR
NSF An Integrated Multi-Layer Wireless LAN Testbed

Signal Processing and Radio Design
Bluetooth - 802.11 Interference/Co-Existence
All Digital Channel Sounder
Antennas for Ultra-Wideband
PRISM WLAN Chipset Evaluation
Transmission Techniques for Wireless LANs

Publications

Books
Recent Journal Article List
Ph.D. & M.Sc. Theses
Conference Presentation List
Sponsored and Invited Talks
Professional Courses
Publications in Indoor Geolocation

News Letter

Jan 23 2008 Kaveh Pahlavan acknowledged by an article at Wi-Fi Planet in helping develop the algorithms for Skyhook's new application for Apple's iPhone as introduced by Steve Jobs at Macworld Conference and Expo on Jan 15th, 2008
Feb 5-7 2007Kaveh Pahlavan, delivered one of three Keynote Lectures at the International Symposium on Wireless Pervasive Computing 2007 held in February of 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nov 7-10 2005 Kaveh Pahlavan, served as the general chair of the MASS05
September 2005 Wireless Information Networks - Second Edition was published by John Wiley and Sons Interscience
May 2005 Kaveh Pahlavan, appointed to the Chief Technical Advisor of the Skyhook
March 2005 Kaveh Pahlavan presented a keynote speech at Soren Buus Memorial Research Workshop held at Northeastern University
April 2005 Azimuth Systems selects CWINS as advisory board member
Feb 2004WPI research focus - Solving the challanges of indoor wireless networks
May 2002 Kaveh Pahlavan, appointed to the Technical Advisory Board of the GCD
January 2002 Principles of Wireless Networks - A Unified Approach, published by Prentice Hall
Fall 2001
Kaveh invited by the Minister of Telecommunication of Ecuador to present the latest trends in wireless networks

September 27,28, 2001 The ThirdIEEE Workshop on Wireless LANS - Emergence of LAN-PAN-HAN Industry IEEE Workshop 2001 Web Page
January 2001 Kaveh Pahlavan, PhD appointed to the Technical Advisory Board of the National Scientific Corporation, Silicon Valley Research and Development Center in San Jose, California. NSC - Investor Relations: Financial News
May 2000 An old interview: "A vision then - a reality now"
Spring 2000 Finnish press interview of Prof. Kaveh Pahlavan, the first non native of Finland to receive the Nokia fellowship, and the first to receive the Fulbright Nokia fellowship .

October 1998 SPIE Web OE Reports: Wireless local area networks looking for market applications
February 27, 1997 Telegram & Gazette: WPI Lab Pursues the Wireless Classroom

February 26, 1997 WLRL Meeting Minutes - Atwater Kent Labs, WPI
February 18, 1997 Focus on Technology: Cellular Breakthroughs

October 24,25 1996 The Second IEEE Workshop on Wireless LANS - WPI workshop96 Prof. Kaveh Pahlavan (center) speaks with Dr. Thomas Stanley, Chief Engineer of FCC, at the recent WPI Workshop on Wireless LANs.
Summer 1996 Left: Report on Kaveh Pahlavan's visit to Oulu Finland (in Finish) Right: Kaveh Pahlavan's interview in Helsinki, Finland (in Finish)
January 21, 1996 Craig Mathias' interview with Mass High Tech