| Company News Items | ||||||||
|
Report Indicates UMTS Operators Can Realize Substantial Savings by Initially Deploying GBT's Common Packet Channel Technology West Long Branch, NJ (May 13, 2001) - Golden Bridge
Technology's (GBT) Common Packet Channel (CPCH) technology can save
service providers implementing 3G UMTS as much as 24% in capital expenditures,
according to results of an independent study conducted for GBT by Arthur
D. Little, Inc. (ADL). The findings are part of a study by ADL, one
of the world's premier management and technology firms, to determine
the financial benefits of GBT's CPCH technology in UMTS compared to
the Dedicated Channel (DCH) circuit switched method. Arthur
D. Little To Probe Financial Benefits Of CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Feb. 22, 2001 Golden Bridge Technology announced today that Arthur D. Little Inc., one of the world's premier management and technology consulting firms, has begun developing models to quantify the financial benefits of GBT's Common Packet Channel (CPCH) technology. Common Packet Channel (CPCH) handles 3G wireless packet data, providing substantial benefits to network operators as it improves spectrum efficiency and reduces infrastructure cost. Based on simulations performed by GBT, AT&T Labs and SBC Technology Resources, CPCH improves spectrum efficiencies up to 21 times in the uplink and up to 3.3 times in the downlink. In addition, CPCH will improve base station resource utilization between 2 to 16 times. The technical benefits of CPCH can be easily demonstrated, however, the economic and financial benefits are key drivers to the adoption of CPCH by network operators. ADL has begun analysis and modeling to translate these technical benefits into financial gains. ADL's models will include a number of baseline network traffic patterns and have the flexibility to simulate many requirements of different operators so that the benefits can be highly customized. ADL is just commencing the CPCH modeling effort, but is already able to draw upon its' pre-existing 3G network business models to estimate the value of CPCH. For example, given conservative assumptions for a mix of voice and data traffic, a CPCH downstream capacity increase of 3.3 times, the ADL model estimates a reduction in capital investment per subscriber in excess of 12% over a ten year life cycle. For those operators who target an aggressive excess of data over voice traffic, the capital savings are even greater. These preliminary financial benefits are compelling value propositions to any network operator seeking to maximize and accelerate its return on investment (ROI) in the capital intensive and costly rollout of 3G networks and services. In the next few weeks ADL will complete the model to allow network operators to perform their own custom 'what-if' analysis.
About GBT
About ADL For More Information Contact:
Dortmund/West Long Branch, N.J./Cannes, 21. February 2001. MATERNA Information & Communications and Golden Bridge Technology, Inc. (GBT) have announced a strategic alliance to market the 3rd Generation Packet Radio Service (3GPRS), the UMTS standard for packet data services. 3GPRS uses GBT's Common Packet Channel (CPCH) protocol to greatly enhance the downlink and uplink spectrum efficiency. CPCH was designed by GBT to handle bursty data packets such as video clips, photographs, file transfers, Web browsing, chatting etc. It also effectively accommodates data transmissions of M-Commerce and Unified Messaging. CPCH improves spectrum efficiency of up to 21 times uplink and 3.3 times downlink. In addition, CPCH reduces infrastructure cost and increases network operators' return on investment in UMTS. MATERNA will integrate CPCH into its Anny Way Products and Solutions in accordance with the UMTS standard. This will enable MATERNA to provide network operators with the most spectrum-efficient and cost-effective way to deliver MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and other data services in the UMTS environment. About GBT About Materna
Information & Communications MATERNA represented at the 3GSM World Congress Multimedia Solutions for Mobile Communications Dortmund, 20. February 2001. Mobile communications solutions form the core of MATERNA Information & Communications presence at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes this year. From 20 - 23 February market-leader in SMS-distributions will be exhibiting new applications and products at booth C25 in Hall 2. MATERNA will give a preview of some of the possibilities for GPRS and UMTS with the new enhanced- and multimedia messaging service (EMS and MMS) which allows users to combine and send image, text, sound, and film documents. Golden Bridge Technology (GBT), a new partner of the software house, will present 3GPRS the future standard for UMTS at MATERNA's stand. This new technology, which enables fast and efficient transmission of sizable data packets, will be integrated as standard into Anny Way products and solutions. With their mobile payment solution MATERNA addresses the subject of payment via mobile phones. Security for
virtual shopping Anny Way Add-On
Solutions for Mobile Information Servers EMS and MMS-The
electronic postcard via mobile phone 3GPRS in Future
for all Anny Way Products About Materna
Information & Communications US Patent office issues allowance notification to GBT for GBT's invention of the Common Packet Channel technology. GBT is proud to announce that the USPTO has issued a Notice of Allowance on July 14th, 2000 for GBT's first Common Packet Channel (CPCH) patent application, which is part of a series of patent applications relating to the CPCH, currently a packet-switched communication procedure of the ITU-approved 3G W-CDMA standard.Pioneered by GBT, CPCH is essentially the 3rd generation GPRS. CPCH optimizes the utilization of UMTS network capacity by allowing many users to share one channel for wireless packet data purposes. Simulations have shown that the CPCH increases spectrum efficiency by 26 times in the uplink and by 4 times in the downlink. It also reduces the packet data modem cost in the Base Node by 5 to 40 times. This compelling superior performance of CPCH cannot be overlooked by UMTS operators who need to maximize and accelerate their returns on investment in their roll out of UMTS services. Equipment manufacturers will also benefit from the incorporation of CPCH in their base station and terminals user equipment as they will be able to differentiate themselves from other manufacturers by providing equipment with superior performance.
An optimum wireless Internet mechanism in 3GPP W-CDMA Systems May 4, 2000 -- Dr. Kourosh Parsa, Golden Bridge Technology With rise of interest in Wireless Internet and Wireless Packet Data Communications on one hand and explosion of interest in IP and packet-switched based networks on the other, it is beneficial to bring the packet switching capability to the air interface which is the last hop in network. The Common Packet Channel (CPCH) has been included in the Third Generation wideband direct sequence code-division multiple access (3G W-CDMA) Technical Specifications to meet this growing demand and need in an efficient manner. This article will address the CPCH benefits, applications, CPCH access method and performance simulations. The Uplink Common Packet Channel (UL_CPCH) burst consists of four elements: 1.
the access preamble element, UL_CPCH Access and Collision Resolution portion of the overall burst can best be described as a Digital Sense Multiple Access with Collision Resolution Access Method. CPCH message transmission portion of the overall CPCH burst operates in CDMA. So, the overall UL_CPCH burst utilizes DSMA-CR/CDMA multiple access method. UL_CPCH operates at various rates up to the maximum possible rate, i.e., 960 ksps with single code transmission, if the 5 MHz bandwidth is allocated to this service. With multi-code transmission, even higher data rates, possibly up to 4.8 Msps, can be supported. CPCH can also easily operate within 5 MHz with the circuit switched data service. The maximum possible packet length over the CPCH channel is 64 frames (640 ms). Forward Access Channel (FACH), mapped into a Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (S-CCPCH) could be used as Downlink Common Packet Channel. FACH can operate in multiple data rates using Transport Format Combination Indicator [TFCI]. The frame length is variable [10, 20, 40, and 80 ms]. So, various message sizes can be transmitted over FACH. The ARQ messages for UL_CPCH is sent over FACH. The ARQ messages for DL-CPCH (FACH) is sent over UL_CPCH. Each UE can indicate the required open loop power level on FACH to UTRAN. It is also possible to employ Closed Loop Power Control over FACH, although this is not standardized. The Common Packet Channel is designed for transfer of packet data in applications such as: Non-real time services like SMTP: E-mail; HTTP: web browsing applications; FTP: File Transfer Protocol, and real time services (future applications) like H323: Video, VoIP. In this article, the CPCH mechanism in W-CDMA is briefly compared with the Dedicated Channel (DCH) and the Random Access Channel (RACH) mechanisms for bursty packet data transfer. The Dedicated Channel and the Random Access Channel are transport channels defined in the 3GPP air interface standards. DCH is intended for transfer of voice and data (both circuit switched and packet); RACH is intended for up-link rapid access as well as transfer of short and small packets. A packet communication model, which has been accepted by ITU is used in the CPCH studies and simulations, since it encompasses the bursty and clustered nature of the packet arrivals. In this model, the packet-switched equivalent of an active call is a session. Each session consists of several packet calls separated by inter-packet arrival time. Each packet call entails packet trains or cluster of packets. Golden Bridge Technology has used the UMTS packet model for web browsing, FTP and E-mail applications in our throughput delay simulations of CPCH. CPCH Access Protocol is a hybrid DSMA/CDMA with a novel collision resolution, pre-data power control, closed loop power control of the message, access preamble ramp-up identical to RACH, and a DSMA-like access protocol. The protocol level simulations of the CPCH indicate that an efficiency of 80% is achievable with acceptable delays less than 5 times the transmission length. The simulations are performed for various environments, applications and traffic model assumptions. Most of the simulations are performed in the uplink, which is the most technically challenging link for the wireless packet data transfer. We present some of the simulation results in this article. Features of the RACH and DCH have been incorporated into CPCH. This has resulted in an efficient approach to bursty packet transfers suited for Internet and multimedia services envisioned to be the main services for the 3G wireless systems.
Figure
1: CPCH Access Procedure 1.
the access preamble element, UL_CPCH access and collision resolution portion of the overall burst can best be described as a Digital Sense Multiple Access with Collision Resolution Access Method. CPCH message transmission portion of the overall CPCH burst operates in CDMA. So, the overall UL_CPCH burst utilizes DSMA-CR/CDMA multiple access method.
Figure 2: Packet Train Model UL_CPCH operates at various rates up to the maximum possible channel symbol rate of 960 ksps per code, if the 5 MHz bandwidth is allocated to this service. It can also easily operate within 5 MHz with the circuit switched data service. With multi-code transmission, up to 4.8 Msps symbol rate can be supported, assuming maximum number of five for the multi-code operation. The maximum possible packet length over the CPCH channel is 64 frames (640 ms). GBT has gathered results to summarize the possible data rates and payload sizes delivered to the physical layer. The TCP/IP maximum packet size is 1500 bytes, however, several packets could be concatenated to produce higher payload sizes and more efficient use of the CPCH channel. For our analysis, we assume that there are 16 CPCH channels operating at eight various data rates. Furthermore, there are 16 CPCH Access Preambles (AP) signatures, two signatures per data rate. Each signature is mapped to a specific CPCH physical channel, i.e., uplink channelization code, uplink scrambling code, downlink channelization code and a specific data rate.
Figure 3: Problems with DCH packet transmission Based on the transport block length given by the MAC, the UE (user equipment) determines the desired data rate and requests a channel which operates at that data rate. Note that this example applies to the "UE channel selection" mode of operation. When UTRAN selects the channel, the mapping between the signatures and physical resources would be different. "UTRAN channel selection" mode is linked with the usage of Channel Assignment (CA) message in the collision resolution phase. The UE randomly picks a signature associated with a free CPCH channel operating at the desired data rate. Then the UE goes through the signature ramp up process. Each signature is 1 ms long. Each access slot is 1.33 ms long. The UE transmits a signature in the appropriate access slot and waits for a response in the next three to four access slots.
Figure 4: Resource Requirement Ratio: CPCH versus DCH. If there is no response, it ramps up and transmits another preamble at a higher power level until it receives a positive acquisition indication response from the base node. The response is received on the Access Preamble Access Indicator Channel (AP-AICH). Once the access phase is completed, the UEs enter a collision resolution phase. It is possible that two or several UEs have picked the same signature in the access phase and have entered the collision resolution phase. In this phase, the UEs pick one of NCD available Collision Detection (CD) signatures. NCD is normally taken to be 16. Note that the AP scrambling code and CD scrambling code could be shared or could be completely different. In this example, we assume the CD scrambling code is different. The UEs randomly pick 1 of NCD CD signatures. The base node mirrors one of the CD signatures by transmitting the selected signature over the CD/CA Indication Channel (CD/CA-ICH).There is a 1/16 probability that two UEs having reached the CD phase will collide. The next phase is the pre-data power control phase which could be 0 or 5 ms. This phase is needed to help the inner loop power control converge and correct any error in open loop power control estimate. The last phase is the message transmission phase. Note that there is a downlink control channel associated with the uplink Common Packet Channel. This is a dedicated channel that is used to provide power control, and pilot information. CPCH throughput delay performance results In our CPCH studies and simulations, we have used a packet communication model that encompasses the bursty and clustered nature of the packet arrivals and has been accepted in ITU. In this model, the packet-switched equivalent of an active call is a session. Each session consists of several packet calls separated by inter-packet arrival time. Each packet call entails packet trains or clusters of packets. We have used the UMTS packet model for web browsing, FTP and E-mail applications in our throughput delay simulations of CPCH. The protocol level simulations of the CPCH indicate that an efficiency of 80% is achievable with acceptable delays less than 5D. The simulations were performed for various environments, applications and traffic model assumptions. Most of the simulations were performed for the uplink, which is the most technically challenging link for wireless packet data transfer. Simulations from various sources in RAN1 indicates a throughput of 76-86% with delays less than 2D, D being the transmission delay. The results shown in this article include the ARQ delay. The end to end delay, D (e-t-e), includes the queuing delay, access delay, transmission delay and the ARQ delay. The queue size is taken to be infinite, therefore the queuing delay is unrealistic and higher than normal operation with finite queue length. The contribution [3] investigates various optimization issues such as the impact of packet inter-arrival time on the performance. The aforementioned issue was the main driver to include the possibility of piggybacking the data in the midst of uplink CPCH transmission. Comparisons The Common Packet Channel is more spectrum efficient as compared to the DCH mode of operation in the uplink and downlink directions. In this section, we will show that CPCH offers 25% and 11.2% more capacity in the uplink and downlink direction, respectively. We specifically compare CPCH with the Stop and Resumption control of the DCH. Other proposed W-CDMA methods, such as the gating method for DCH, are even less efficient from a spectrum efficiency perspective than the Stop and Resumption control. In the gating method for DCH, the MS generates even more interference than the Stop and Resumption control. The use of the Common Packet Channel leads to a decrease of 24% in power consumption in the MS as compared to DCH. In consequence, this will increase the talk time by 24%. Given the 15% duty cycle and the assumption that DPDCH and DPCCH operate at 384 and 16 kbps respectively, we can draw the following conclusions [Figure 3]: Use of DCH and the associated DPCCH leads to 24% more uplink interference as compared to CPCH and therefore is 24% less spectrum efficient as shown in this example. DCH Control Channel wastes 24% of handset power consumption in talk mode as compared to CPCH operation. Note that DCH operates at 16 kbps when there is no data transmission. So the average user rate in Figure 3 can be computed as follows: Average DCH rate per user will be equal to 384 kbps x .15 + 16 kbps x .85 = 71.2 kbps/Average CPCH data rate per user = 384 kbps x .15 = 57.6 kbps Figure 4 illustrates the resource requirement ratio between CPCH and DCH [3]. In [3], the circuit switched and packet switched modes of operation are compared in detail. In Figure 3, we show the resource requirement ratio of CPCH versus DCH on the vertical axis and the packet length in kbyte on the horizontal axis. We have generated the results for various channel inactivity time. Note that the channel inactivity time is the sum of channel set up time, total inter-packet gap times and the channel release time. Let's assume the following: *
Channel set up time = 150 ms [RACH/FACH response time] Referring to Figure 4, we can see that (at 3 kbyte, 1 s) the resource requirement ratio is a factor 8. These results are for the rate of 384 kbps. The Common Packet Channel [3] requires 5-10 times less channel cards in the Base Node, which leads to a significant reduction in Base Node complexity. This has been shown in a comparative study of Circuit Mode versus Packet Mode of operation [3]. Example 1: CPCH versus DCH Cell Data capacity per Unit Resource Unit Resource = Base-band Modem. Let's assume a single cell with full capacity is dedicated to packet data service only, How many Base-band Modems are required if the capacity of the cell is 2.15 Mbps? What would be the data capacity of the Base in each case? CPCH Example: 7 CPCH @ 384 kbps = 2.668 Mbps CPCH operates at 80% throughput, so the Cell throughput = 2.668 Mbps x .8 = 2.15 Mbps DCH Example: 30 DCH @ 384 kbps x .15 + 30 DCH @ 16 kbps x .85 = 2.15 Mbps. Cell throughput (DCH) = 2.15 Mbps - 408 kbps (Control Channel interference) = 1.742 Mbps. Example 2: DCH costs minimum 11.2% of Downlink Capacity to support Uplink Packet Transfer CPCH costs 2.6% of the Downlink Capacity Let's assume 30 parallel packet calls for DCH operation at all times. This means that 30 downlink DPCCH channels are required to support the 30 active uplink DCH channels. 30 x 8 kbps = 240 kbps control channels required in downlink to support the uplink transfer. [11.2% of the packet capacity]. This number could be doubled if 16 kbps channels are available. With CPCH, 7 x 8 kbps = 56 kbps is required to support the uplink transfer in the downlink direction: 2.6% of packet capacity. The Common Packet Channel operates in Closed Loop Power Control as compared to the Random Access Channel, which operates in Open Loop Power Control in medium and high-speed environments. This leads to a two-fold capacity improvement of CPCH over RACH from the spectrum efficiency perspective in fast fading environment [2]. In [4], the performance of Open Loop Power Control and Closed Loop Power control is compared in various environments. The performance of RACH resembles a slow closed loop power control condition. So, the results shown in [4] are valid for medium and high-speed environments, since slow power control [33-50 bps] is practically not useful in medium and high speed environments. Assuming a 10 ms access time and 10-20 ms transmission, the initial ramp up process and open loop power control in the RACH process could be modeled as 33-50 bps closed loop power control. Incorporation of collision resolution into CPCH provides a more intelligent access protocol and a two-fold throughput advantage over RACH. Assuming a capacity ratio advantage of 2 [fast fading environment] and throughput advantage of two, we can conclude that CPCH offers an overall four-fold efficiency as compared to RACH [throughput factor of 2 x 2 spectrum efficiency factor = 4]. Example 3: CPCH versus RACH Let's assume that RNC has allocated 384 kbps for packet data, how many RACH/CPCH Base-band Modems are required to support this capacity? What would be the throughput in each case? Let's assume, we are deploying 128 kbps channel cards for both cases. CPCH channels @ 128 kbps = 384 kbps x .8 = 307.2 kbps throughput • 3 RACH channel@ 128 kbps = 384 kbps x .4 x (1/2) = 76.8 kbps throughput This means that 1 CPCH Base-band Modem operating at 384 kbps will provide throughput of 307.2 kbps whereas 3 RACH Base-band Modems operating at 128 kbps will only provide throughput of 76.8 kbps. The RACH interference will be equal to 384 kbps. Example 4: Downlink Packet transfer via DSCH/DCH versus CPCH/FACH Downlink Shared Channel approach is devised to help with the code shortage problem in the downlink. It is also closed loop power controlled leading to lower downlink power requirement. However, it is coupled with DCH in the uplink which leads to generation of unnecessary interference in the uplink. For example, if there were 11 parallel DSCH/DCH sessions at any instant to share a single DSCH operation at 384 kbps, then 11x16 kbps = 176 kbps uplink overhead is required to maintain the DSCH/DCH operation (if the set-up time and release time is assumed to be 200 ms and DSCH transmission is assumed to be 20 ms). This also means that 50 RACH/FACH transactions per second are required to support this downlink packet transfer operation. CPCH/FACH sub-state can also be used to transfer downlink packets as well as uplink packets. However, FACH operates in slow power control mode. However, it does not require any unnecessary uplink interference as compared to the previous case. It is also possible to introduce CPCH/DSCH sub-state for the later release to have a strong mechanism for the interactive type applications. FACH can also be optimized with introduction of fast power control. In a broader scope, CPCH should be compared with EDGE, HDR, and Packet Data mechanisms in CDMA 2000 (1x and 3x). The comparison of EDGE/HDR and CPCH boils down to a CDMA versus TDMA comparison. Assuming a reuse factor of N=4/12 is achieved in the TDMA system EDGE or EGPRS and reuse factor of 1x3 for CDMA with sectorization, then there is a potential capacity advantage of 4 with the W-CDMA system over the EDGE TDMA system. The uplink cdma2000 mechanism that resembles CPCH is called Reservation Multiple Access (RsMA) which is claimed to have a throughput efficiency of 50-60% and operates up to 38.4 kbps (maximum packet length of 500 ms). The comparison of these systems should be the subject of another article which takes coverage, spectrum efficiency, throughput, delay, maximum peak rate, Base Node and UE complexity into account. However, a preliminary look into this subject indicates a possible significant advantage in the W-CDMA system. CPCH Access Protocol is a hybrid DSMA/CDMA with a novel collision resolution, pre-data power control, closed loop power control of the message, access preamble ramp-up identical to RACH, and a DSMA-like access protocol. We have incorporated some of the RACH and DCH features into CPCH to create the most efficient approach to bursty packet arrivals in Internet and multimedia services. 3G is being defined by wireless Internet and multimedia services and since CPCH is much more efficient than RACH and DCH in accommodating this class of data, this will be the most prevalent choice of the 3G W-CDMA service providers. Common Packet Channel scheme facilitates the support of packet switched data services in an efficient manner over the common air interface. The maximum data rate in both uplink and downlink are such that the evolving needs of wireless Internet applications such as E-mail (voice, text, image, video attachments), FTP, Interactive Web Browsing, e-commerce, interactive messaging, and Voice over IP and H.323 are met. The support of the real time service such as VoIP and H.323 could be the subject of the Release 2000 standardization work. References: 1. 3GPP R1-99WG1#7bis-F11 GBT's simulation document 2. Kourosh Parsa, "Common Packet Channel: The optimum wireless Internet mechanism in W-CDMA," submitted paper to International Conference on 3G Mobile Communication Technologies, March 2000 3. 3GPP R1-99-222 "Circuit Mode versus Packet Mode transfers for bursty packets in W-CDMA systems," March 1999, Sweden 4. 3GPP R1-99-224, "Closed Loop Power Control for Random Access Channels"
RCR News Small N.J. firm fills role in 3G standards process November 8, 1999 – NEW YORK—A key component of the IMT-2000 global wireless third-generation standard that the International Telecommunication Union evaluated this month comes from the kind of small, entrepreneurial company whose voice is often drowned out in this type of process. Golden Bridge Technology, West Long Branch, N.J., has five patents pending for its Common Packet Channel technology. CPCH allows many users to share one channel and facilitates data performance and throughput by enabling very rapid packet acquisition and release. "The very recent approval of CPCH for inclusion into release 1999 of the 3G standard will lead to significantly improved high-speed wireless data transmission and Internet access up to 2 [Megabits per second]," said Elmer Yuen, president and chief executive officer of Golden Bridge. IMT-2000, a set of specifications that include wideband CDMA (based on Global System for Mobile communications) and cdma2000 technology "was put forth with the objective of accommodating packet data at high rates," said Kourosh Parsa, GBT vice president for systems engineering. Common Packet Channel allows typical data throughput at up to 385 kilobits per second, but also permits throughput of as much as 2 Mbps if the cell is used only for data, he said. This is a quantum leap from General Packet Radio Services, an emerging technology for which first-release terminals will enable speeds up to 56 kbps and, in future handset generations, maximum anticipated rates of 115 kbps. "The deployment of the Common Packet Channel at the 3GW-CDMA common air interface leads to a five-to-tenfold increase in data capacity and therefore an (equal] reduction in packet data modem cost at the base node," Parsa said. "Until we entered the scene, the talk was of dedicated channels in which you dial into the service provider and that line is always yours, which is very limited." Within the Telecommunications Industry Association TR46.1 committee, Golden Bridge led the technical specification of a packet-oriented 3G system for the United States, a process that began late in 1997. By June 1998, the resulting Wireless Multimedia and Messaging System known as WIMS W-CDMA was offered to the ITU as an IMT-2000 proposal. Karin Zickermann, manager for marketing and standards at Golden Bridge, said GBT encouraged the convergence of WIMS with a proposal known as W-CDMA/NA developed by T1, a committee accredited by the American National Standards Institute and supported by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions. By January, AT&T Labs, Ericsson Inc., Golden Bridge and several other participants in the standardization process developed the new consensus proposal known as Wideband Packet-CDMA. "W-CDMA could have been many things, but the reason it was a U.S. proposal is that, at the end of the day, friends and foes alike agreed it was a high-performance technology that withstood the scrutiny," Parsa said. W-CDMA is an evolution from GSM networks. For those cellular networks based on Interim Standard-41, carriers that deploy EDGE as a 2.5-generation transition "can probably graft GSM aspects onto the network backbone," Parsa said. "The [Interim Standard] 136 people (using Time Division Multiple Access technology), can take in W-CDMA after they take in EDGE." GBT, which has worked with AT&T Labs in New Jersey for several years on various projects related to packet data, has signed licensing agreements with AT&T and several other companies so far to provide access to its CPCH patents and technical knowledge. Plans call for ITU to complete the standard in December and the entire specification should be released in March, Zickermann said. The ITU task group was meeting from Oct 25 through Nov. 5 in Helsinki. "The purpose of the meeting is to complete Release 99 of the IMT-2000 radio interface specifications so that products can be available in time for the initial launch of IMT-2000 services in 2001," according to the ITU. Excerpts from ITU Press Release: ITU/99-22 November 5, 1999 3G Wireless Standard (IMT2000) IMT-2000 RADIO INTERFACE SPECIFICATIONS APPROVED IN ITU MEETING IN HELSINKI Geneva – The group of radio experts on IMT-2000 (ITU-R Task Group 8/1) meeting in Helsinki from 25 October to 5 November 1999 approved a comprehensive set of terrestrial and satellite radio interface specifications for IMT-2000. These specifications incorporate the flexibility required by existing mobile operators to seamlessly evolve their pre-IMT-2000 networks towards third generation service capabilities as well as meeting the various specific needs of operators of new satellite and terrestrial systems. The IMT-2000 terrestrial standard consists of a set of radio interfaces which allow performance optimization in a wide range of radio operating environments (see figure)1. Satellite interfaces cover LEO, MEO and GEO orbits as well as those specifically aimed at maximizing the commonality between terrestrial and satellite interfaces. For complete Press Release see: http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press/releases/1999/99-22.html "This testifies to the importance of the wireless internet and thus the importance of GBT's Common Packet Channel," says Dr. Kourosh Parsa, Vice President for Systems Engineering. GBT's Powerful North American Solution to IMT2000 - the Common Packet Channel November 3, 1999 – Since the beginning of this year, Golden Bridge Technology, a New Jersey based company, has been very active within the Third Generation Partnership Project introducing and developing the Common Packet Channel. 3GPP is composed of delegates representing telecommunication companies from around the globe and is presently developing GSM-based W-CDMA specifications for a 3G global wireless standard, the IMT 2000. Remarks Elmer Yuen, CEO and President: "The very recent approval of CPCH for inclusion into the 3G standard will lead to significantly improved high speed wireless data transmission and Internet access up to 2Mbps. We strongly believe that this approach fulfills the promise of cost-efficient wireless packet data support in the 3G systems." Golden Bridge Technology has pioneered wireless Wideband-CDMA solutions for service providers and manufacturers worldwide since 1995. The central distinguishing feature of GBT’s solution is the Common Packet Channel, which allows many users to share one channel and enables very rapid packet acquisition and release thus improving data performance and throughput. "Modern communication," says Dr. Kourosh Parsa, GBT’s Vice President for Systems Engineering, "requires wireless packet channels not only for operators’cost effectiveness but also the efficient use of available resources for the ever-increasing number of wireless users." He continues: "The deployment of the Common Packet Channel at the 3G W-CDMA Common Air Interface leads to a five to tenfold increase in data capacity and therefore to a five to tenfold reduction in packet data modem cost in the Base Node." By way of background, AT&T Labs and GBT led the technical specifications of a 3G packet-oriented system in the USA within TIA’s TR46.1. This resulted in the acceptance and production of the Wireless Multimedia and Messaging System called WIMS W-CDMA. WIMS was submitted to ITU as an IMT2000 proposal in June 1998. Later, GBT encouraged the convergence of WIMS with the proposal from T1’s T1P1.5 called W-CDMA/NA. By January 1999, AT&T Labs, Ericsson, GBT and a number of other companies that had taken part in the standardization process, developed a new joint proposal called Wideband Packet-CDMA. This was the first harmonized document to go forward to the ITU, with GBT’s Common Packet Channel offering a unique and powerful North American solution to IMT2000. GBT was one of the first companies to volunteer its patent portfolio to U.S. and international standards bodies. In addition, GBT has signed a license agreement with AT&T providing access to its patents as well as technical know-how and continues to license its technologies to companies in support of the 3G wireless wideband Internet connectivity solution.
Golden Bridge Technology Announces it has all the Patents Needed for 3G Standard Launch Business Wire 9:48am New York, February 8, 1999, Golden Bridge Technology, Inc., in a letter, to a high ranking official with the ITU (International Telecommunications Union), who is responsible for the 3G Standards Board, has explained it has sufficient patents to cover all aspects of the physical layer of the new proposed 3G W-CDMA Standard. Management also announced to the ITU that they would abide by the Standards rules and license GBT's technology in a fair and reasonable way to all companies. GBT, a privately held U.S. company, headquartered in West Long Branch New Jersey, remains the leading pioneer in the field of W-CDMA technology. Several years ago, along with AT&T, GBT began and co-chaired the U.S. Standards effort in W-CDMA by forming the TIA Committee TR46.1. This Committee has joined with a second U.S. Standard Committee called T1P1 and jointly agreed to harmonize with ETSI and ARIB to form an International 3G W-CDMA Standard capable of providing high speed data, random packet transmission needed for reliable wireless Internet connectivity, as well as providing high quality voice. GBT's patent portfolio has been recognized as extensive, and it is one of the first Companies to come forward to volunteer its very large patent portfolio to the U.S. and International Standards bodies. "We believe that the powerful pool of IPRs created by GBT in developing the WP-CDMA specification, in itself allows the extension of enhanced packet handling capabilities to CDMA wireless. We are encouraging others to provide an unconditional statement of willingness to license their patents, so that the industry can move forward," concluded Mr. Yuen , GBT's CEO. "As evidence of our resolve," Mr. Yuen continued, "AT&T and GBT have signed a license agreement providing access to GBT's patents as well as technical know-how, and we are eager to extend the same access to other interested companies." GBT's distinguished board members have contributed to the progress of CDMA for the past thirty years. GBT's Chairman Emeritus and co-founder Dr. Donald L. Schilling, holds more than 50 patents in the area of CDMA and remains one of the world's leading authorities.
Golden Bridge Technology Contributes Breakthrough Patents to Third Generation CDMA Wireless Technologies Business Wire 9:45am New York, January 19, 1999, Golden Bridge Technology, Inc. today formalized an offer to contribute their breakthrough patents to so-called "Third Generation" wireless systems, optimizing them for the carriage of connectionless multimedia packet data using the standard Internet Protocol stack (IP). Several major US network operators, including AT&T, have declared their belief that IP is the unifying protocol for transforming the telecommunications industry worldwide. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has received 16 proposals for new 3rd Generation wireless radio transmission technologies from companies and administrations all over the world. Four terrestrial proposals were from the USA, including two that are newly merged under the title of Wideband Packet Code Division Multiple Access, WP-CDMA. Golden Bridge Technology has played a key role in the design of the new and unique packet elements of the WP-CDMA proposal, which was submitted to the ITU on January 8 as the first new 3rd Generation proposal to be handled under its "harmonization" procedures. "In light of the controversy surrounding the handling of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) associated with other CDMA 3rd Generation radio proposals, Golden Bridge Technology felt that it was vital that it declare its intent to completely comply with both the letter and the spirit of the open IPR policies of all relevant bodies, including those of the International Telecommunications Union, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, the Telecommunications Industry Association and the Internet Engineering Task Force, which generally require that proponents of technology utilized in standards should agree in advance that they are willing to negotiate licenses with other parties on a non-discriminatory basis, and on reasonable terms and conditions", said Elmer Yuen, president and chief executive officer of Golden Bridge Technology. "As evidence of our resolve," Mr. Yuen continued, "we have signed a license agreement with AT&T providing access to our patents as well as technical know-how, and we are eager to extend the same access to other interested companies." Golden Bridge Technology and AT&T Laboratories have been cooperating on developing advanced packet radio concepts for over two years. "We believe that the powerful pool of IPRs created by GBT and AT&T Labs in developing the WP-CDMA specification, in itself allows the design and implementation of the 3rd Generation Wideband Packet CDMA system," concluded Mr. Yuen. Golden Bridge Technology (GBT) headquartered in West Long Branch New Jersey, has been a leading pioneer in wireless CDMA ASIC's. GBT has pioneered a new "system on a chip" ™ called REALConnect™ . Among GBT's superior system advantages, is its ability to provide the means to achieve, with its proprietary ASIC's, a connectionless packet switched architecture. For
important related news, see: (click on) Golden Bridge Technology Featured On Caspar Weinberger's World Business Review TV Series January 4, 1999 – Multi-Media Productions (USA), Inc. announces the appearance of Feliciano Giordano, founding president of Golden Bridge Technology, Inc. and managing director of GBT Europe, on World Business Review. The weekly television series focuses on technology and is hosted by Caspar Weinberger, Chairman of Forbes magazine and Secretary of Defense during the Reagan administration. Also appearing on the show is communications industry expert Sue Almeida, co-founder of Network Strategy Partners LLC, to discuss the topic of Remote Access Services. "Golden Bridge Technology was selected to appear on the show because its application of former military technology may revolutionize the wireless communications industry," said Charles Hopkins, the show's Associate Producer. Golden Bridge Technology, Inc. (GBT) is developing commercial applications for a former military technology called Spread Spectrum, and is providing a number of wireless communication devices for the mobile telephone and Internet markets. "The technology enables assured communications, highest quality of service and privacy in a highly congested electromagnetic environment," said Giordano. This is accomplished by spreading the signal to be transmitted over a wide frequency band (thus the name spread spectrum) using a pseudo-random code, so it appears as noise or static. It then mixes with background noise, making the signal nearly undetectable. At the receive end, the signal is spread using the same code, resulting in the exact recovery of the original signal. "This gives the user wired line quality in a mobile telephone service," said Giordano. A different code is used for every communication session, which provides almost absolute privacy. Other applications include wireless local loop, mobile telephony, Local Area Networks, and high data rate direct connection to the Internet. Almeida said GBT's use of Spread Spectrum was indicative of a growing trend she called anywhere access. "This is a huge trend," she said. "What we’re doing as an industry is trying to give everyone access to all of their tools all of the time." The most difficult task in Spread Spectrum is the design of the receiver module used to capture and de-spread the signal. "This is known as signal acquisition," said Giordano, who added, "Conventional methods for signal acquisition are relatively slow, creating a number of system design limitations that affect quality of service, capacity and complexity. A very fast signal acquisition method, using a device called a Matched Filter, was invented over forty years ago at MIT, said Giordano. The filter essentially enabled the instantaneous capture and analysis of the signal, however due to its size and the circuitry required to manufacture the device, it was not practical for commercial use. Another drawback to commercialization of the filter was the fact that it produced a very high power drain, thus a very short battery life. A number of inventions by GBT scientists have drastically reduced both the size of the circuit and its power drain, making it more suitable for commercial applications. "Advances in semiconductor technology have contributed to the reduction in the size and cost of the chip on which the circuit is located," Giordano stated. This has enabled GBT to develop a Matched Filter based technology that has opened whole new vistas in wireless communications for all sorts of applications and markets, such as cordless telephones. One of the areas GBT has focused on is applying spread spectrum technology to the next generation cellular system. In January, 1998 the world’s standards bodies universally adopted a particular implementation of Spread Spectrum, known as W-CDMA for Third Generation Cellular systems (G3), because of the greater capacity the application enables. By design, this is the exact technology GBT had decided to develop when the company was formed in 1995. "The other choice would have been Narrowband-CDMA, which exhibits inferior performance characteristics in addition to lower capacity," said Giordano. As a result, GBT’s Matched Filter based technology has been adopted in the US WP-CDMA proposal to the International Telecommunications Union for the IMT2000, the global standard for the next generation cellular system. About
World Business Review World Business Review, with host Caspar Weinberger, takes the viewer behind the scenes to examine the leading-edge technologies and innovative business solutions shaping our future. Blending interviews and panel discussions with global field reports and technical reviews, each half-hour broadcast is designed to enable leaders from a variety of industries to offer their insight into the challenges and opportunities businesses face as the 21st century nears. Taped in Washington, D.C., World Business Review currently airs on PBS The Business Channel, and in prime business time slots in numerous Public Television markets including San Francisco, New York, Denver and Miami. The weekly series can also be viewed on United Airlines or from any desktop computer via AENTV. Individual videotapes or continuing education systems (via Indiana State University) are available by calling 1-800-WBR-1032, or by visiting www.wbrtv.com, whichshowcases featured topics and specific companies technologies.
Golden Bridge Technology On
show 537:B World Business Review goes behind the scenes with an innovative
company that is applying former military technology to the wireless
communications industry. Golden
Bridge Technology, Inc. (GBT) is developing commercial applications
for a former military technology called Spread Spectrum, and is providing
a number of wireless communication devices for the mobile telephone
and Internet markets. At
the receive end, the signal is 'de-spread' using the same code, resulting
in the exact recovery of the original signal. "This gives the user
wired line quality in a mobile telephone service," said Giordano.
A different code is used for every communication session, which provides
almost absolute privacy. Other
applications include wireless local loop, mobile telephony, Local Area
Networks, and high data rate direct connection to the Internet. Also
appearing on the show is communications industry expert Sue Almeida,
co-founder of Network Strategy Partners LLC. Almeida said GBT's use
of Spread Spectrum was indicative of a growing trend she called 'anywhere
access.' "This is a huge trend," she said. "What we're
doing as an industry is trying to give everyone access to all of their
tools all of the time." The
most difficult task in Spread Spectrum is the design of the receiver
module used to capture and de-spread the signal. "This is known
as signal acquisition," said Giordano, who added, "Conventional
methods for signal acquisition are relatively slow, creating a number
of system design limitations that affect quality of service, capacity
and complexity." A
very fast signal acquisition method, using a device called a Matched
Filter, was invented over forty years ago at MIT, said Giordano. The
filter essentially enabled the instantaneous capture and analysis of
the signal, however due to its size and the circuitry required to manufacture
the device, it was not practical for commercial use. Another drawback
to commercialization of the filter was the fact that it produced a very
high power drain, thus a very short battery life. A
number of inventions by GBT scientists have drastically reduced both
the size of the circuit and its power drain, making it more suitable
for commercial applications. "Advances in semiconductor technology
have contributed to the reduction in the size and cost of the chip on
which the circuit is located," Giordano stated. This has enabled
GBT to develop a Matched Filter based technology that has opened whole
new vistas in wireless communications for all sorts of applications
and markets, such as cordless telephones. One of the areas GBT has focused on is applying spread spectrum technology to the next generation cellular system. In January 1998 the world's standards bodies universally adopted a particular implementation of Spread Spectrum, known as W-CDMA ('W' stands for 'wideband), for Third Generation Cellular systems (G3), because of the greater capacity the application enables. By design, this is the exact technology GBT had decided to develop when the company was formed in 1995. "The other choice would have been Narrowband-CDMA, which exhibits inferior performance characteristics in addition to lower capacity," said Giordano. As a result, GBT's Matched Filter based technology has been adopted in the US WP-CDMA proposal to the International Telecommunications Union for the IMT2000, the global standard for the next generation cellular system. WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 1998 /PRNewswire/via NewsEdge Last Friday, the T1P1 and TR46.1 standards groups voted to merge the United States' W-CDMA/NA (W-CDMA North America) and WIMS (Wireless Multimedia and Messaging Services) W-CDMA proposals. This new aligned proposal offers enhanced data capabilities as compared to other proposed third generation technologies, such as enabling packet data to be delivered to up to ten times as many users. The GSM Alliance submitted the W-CDMA/NA technology, which mirrors the recent W-CDMA proposals submitted to standards bodies around the world, to the ITU. The GSM Alliance is a group of 12 U.S. and one Canadian digital wireless PCS (Personal Communications Services) carriers that provide wireless communications for their customers, whether at home in more than 1,500 U.S. and Canadian cities and towns, or abroad. The WIMS W-CDMA technology was submitted to the ITU by AT&T Wireless Laboratories, Hughes Network Systems, InterDigital Communications Corporation, OKI America, and Golden Bridge Technologies. WIMS W-CDMA is supported by the TR46.1 standards group chaired by Dr. Donald J. Bowen of AT&T Laboratories and incorporates four key W-CDMA/NA elements into its technology: --
4.096 Mcps chip rate "This harmonic alignment is the smart and efficient thing to do and is an example of a successful standards process. It improves an already superior W-CDMA technology, by incorporating the best aspects of both proposals -- rather than diminishing it by forcing compatibility with second generation technologies," said North American GSM Alliance LLC Chairman Don Warkentin, President & Chief Executive Officer of Aerial Communications. "In fact, the gains achieved from this alignment with WIMS W-CDMA would be lost if the proposal was artificially forced to support legacy systems," he added. "This merger strengthens the United States' position in the international standards-setting process and offers a technology that allows the acquisition of packet data within 10 milliseconds, which is much faster than other proposed 3G technologies," said Brian G. Kiernan, Senior Vice President of InterDigital Communications Corporation. They added that competition between multiple standards supports the best interests of wireless service providers, manufacturers, vendors, employees and most importantly, customers throughout North America and the world. The ITU, a treaty organization of the United Nations, is coordinating the worldwide process to establish a family of global Third Generation standards. The ITU's stated goal is to establish recommendations that will allow global roaming, including high-speed data and Internet access, full-motion video and other sophisticated multi-media services. Under this alignment, the enhanced W-CDMA/NA proposal, supported by the GSM Alliance and specified by the T1P1 standards committee will incorporate the following WIMS elements into its technology: use of multiple parallel orthogonal codes for higher data rates, and a new pilot/header structure enabling very rapid packet acquisition and release. This will improve data performance and throughput to address the growing marketplace and demanding requirements of multi-media and Internet based services. "As a result of these efforts, the synergy and commonality between the TR46.1 and T1P1.5 RTT proposals is clear," said Warkentin. Citing the significant commonality of key technical parameters of chip rate, frame length, asynchronous base station operation, and vocoders, among others, the GSM Alliance strongly endorses the merging of the two technologies. The Alliance said the alignment of the two technology proposals is a direct result of the cooperation and activities of the T1P1 Harmonization ad hoc group, the TIA 3G ad hoc and the US ITU-R TG 8/1 evaluation group. The new, aligned standard proposal increases data capacity ten-fold, and offers a unique and powerful North American solution to the ITU in looking at Third Generation digital wireless. The next step will be to work within the ITU consensus building process to align the merged proposal with those from ETSI in Europe and ARIB in Japan. GSM Alliance members include: Aerial Communications, Inc., Airadigm Communications, Inc.; BellSouth Mobility DCS; Conestoga Wireless Company; Cook Inlet PCS; DIGIPH PCS; Microcell Telecommunications Inc.; NPI Wireless; Omnipoint Communications LLC; Pacific Bell Mobile Services; Powertel, Inc.; Western Wireless Corp.; and Wireless 2000 PCS. The GSM Alliance works in cooperation with North American GSM equipment manufacturers: Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel and Siemens. CONTACT:
Mike Houghton for GSM Alliance, 703-799-7383; Second Meeting of the Third Generation Mobile Systems(UMTS) Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Working Group Paris, 8 April 1998, As agreed during the inaugural meeting on 25 February 1998, the third generation mobile systems (UMTS) Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Working Group met for the second time at Alcatel in Paris to present the progress made in joint efforts to investigate the handling of IPR essential to the UMTS specification. Five additional companies decided to join this initiative: four manufacturers (Golden Bridge Technology, OKI Electric, Philips and Qualcomm) and one operator (British Telecom). All interested companies, regardless of their membership to any standards bodies, are indeed welcome to join this Working Group as one of its goal is to develop an open and transparent process for bringing together all concerned parties. The Working Group reviewed possible implementation schemes for identifying essential patents and the administration of those schemes, as it results from the investigations conducted in three specialized Task Forces, created at the inaugural meeting. These Task Forces (TF) worked using E-Mail and conveyed public meetings as follows: -
Patent Pooling TF met on 19 and 26 March, in Tokyo, Japan; The meeting focused on understanding more fully each of the three options, its advantages and drawbacks. In addition, Kenneth Rubenstein - the US lawyer who was directly involved in one of the first patent pool organization - was invited to attend and share his experience with respect to MPEG-2, a video compression standard. Arising from the existing results and the meeting discussions, a set of comprehensive documents will be prepared by the various Task Forces to more fully describe the proposed options. The next UMTS IPR Working Group meeting is planned on 26 May 1998 and the Task Forces will continue to work between meetings. The participating companies listed below fully support this initiative: Alcatel, Analog Devices, Bosch, British Telecom, Cegetel, Ericsson, France Telecom, Fujitsu, Golden Bridge Technology, Lucent Technologies, Mannesmann, Matsushita, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Nortel, NTT DoCoMo, Philips, Qualcomm, Siemens, Sony, T-Mobil, Telecom Finland and Telecom Italia Mobile. Representatives from ETNO, ETSI and the GSM MoU Association also attended this meeting. For
further information, please contact: United States Standards Group Joins Europe and Asia to Establish a Worldwide Next Generation Cellular: Global Roaming Foreseen. February 26, 1998 8a.m. EST PR NEWSWIRE Last week in Japan, ETSI (the European Telecommunications Standards Institute), Japan's standards group ARIB, (Association of Radio Industries and Business) the TTA (standards body for Korea), and the United States TIA's TR 46.1, formally united behind a single wideband CDMA standard for the International Telecommunications Unions' (ITU), IMT 2000. The new 3G single global standard will provide wireline quality voice, high speed data, multimedia, efficient mobile internet access at data rates up to 2Mbps and will allow for the much anticipated, global roaming. In contrast, the rival system CDMA-One, has received almost no support since it is not backward compatible to GSM (Global System for Mobile), the major 2G communication system used throughout the world. According to Professor Donald L. Schilling, the Chair of the United States TIA's 46.1 and Chairman of Golden Bridge Technology: "We expect that in the interest of achieving this global standard, and not compromising at the lowest common denominator, we will achieve the highest performing wideband CDMA 3G system." Golden Bridge Technology (GBT) headquartered in West Long Branch New Jersey, has been a leading pioneer in wireless CDMA ASIC's which will support this new global roaming standard. This new global standard will provide consumers with enormous benefits, not the least of which includes the convenience of anywhere, anytime, connectivity. As consumers have become more cautious in adapting longer periods of "wait and see" buying patterns, world telecom companies should better balance their economic needs to protect legacy platforms, with the consumers new requirements for greater interoperobility and compatability. Richard C. Kirby, the former Director of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for Radio Communication says: "It is encouraging to see the global consensus building foreseen by ITU's IMT 2000 process is already underway among business and standards activities among Europe, Asia and the U.S."
|
