The wireless industry is rapidly transitioning from close architecture to more flexible, cost effective open architecture systems. This transition is creating interesting challenges for traditional developers, manufacturers, integrators, operators and end-users as they wrestle with "complexities" of open wireless and open mobile systems.

"The mobile handheld device is evolving from a traditional transmission-specific radio terminal to an interface-based open wireless architecture (OWA) system for complete openness, cleanness and simplicity ", Prof. Willie Lu, Stanford U.

The future wireless service provision will be characterized by global mobile access (terminal and personal mobility), high quality of services (full coverage, intelligible, no drop and no/lower call blocking and latency), and easy and simple access to multimedia services for voice, data, message, video, world-wide web, GPS, etc. via ONE user SINGLE terminal.

This vision from the user perspective can be implemented by integration of these different evolving and emerging wireless access technologies in a common flexible and expandable platform to provide a multiplicity of possibilities for current and future services and applications to users in a single terminal. Systems of fourth generation mobile will mainly be characterized by a horizontal communication model, where different access technologies as cellular, cordless, WLAN type systems, short range wireless connectivity, broadband wireless access systems and wired systems will be combined on a common platform to complement each other in an optimum way for different service requirements and radio environments which is called “Open Wireless Architecture (OWA)” technology invented by Delson (R&D) Group including USCWC, 4G R&D Center, Sieneon Technologies, Obama Lab and CRCWC.

OWA defines the open and extensible interfaces in wireless networks and systems, including base-band signal processing parts, RF parts, networking parts, and OS and application parts, so that the system can support different industrial standards and integrate the various wireless networks into an open broadband platform. For comparison, Software Defined Radio (SDR) is only a radio in which the operating parameters including inter alia frequency range, modulation type, and/or output power limitations can be set or altered by software. Therefore, SDR is just one of the implemental modules of our OWA system.

OWA will eventually become the global industry leading solution to integrate various wireless air-interfaces into one wireless open terminal where the same end equipment can flexibly work in the wireless access domains as well as in the mobile cellular networks. As mobile terminal (rather than wireline phone) will become the most important communicator in future, this single equipment with single number and multiple air-interfaces (powered by OWA) will definitely dominate the wireless communication industries.

Fourth Generation (4G) mobile communication will basically focus on the Open Wireless Architecture, and Cost-effective and Spectrum-efficient High-speed wireless mobile transmission. The 3G system suffers tremendously worldwide because it did not fundamentally improve the wireless architecture, and making the architecture open is the final solution in the wireless industry.

Since 2002, OWA has become one of the hottest research topics in the field. OWA R&D focuses on the following issues (but not limited to):

- OWA system architecture & modeling
- OWA RF and transceiver architecture
- Open antenna & Space/Time processing
- Integrated 3G, LTE and WiMax platform
- OWA Software defined modules
- OWA Virtualization and Interoperability
- Converged broadband wireless platform
- Common base-band processing engine
- Transmission convergence & integration
- Service convergence & adaptation
- OWA channel & resource management
- OWA Adaptive modulation and coding
- Open Operating Systems & applications
- Open interface definitions & frameworks
- Co-existence & wireless integration

OWA R&D is very timely and significant because open wireless systems and networks are becoming the driving solutions for next generation wireless mobile communications, especially ITU WRC’2007 announced the post IMT2000 project which focused on open architecture of multiple air interfaces. In addition, open wireless platform to support various standards and modes are becoming the industrial trends on the worldwide basis. As of June 30, 2008, there are over 40,000 research projects involved in OWA development worldwide.

ObamaLab is a world-class venture technology Lab dedicated to promoting the growth and success of open broadband and mobile innovation ventures by connecting ideas, technology and people. We provide a platform for entrepreneurs, industry experts, venture capitalists, private investors and technologists to exchange insights about how to effectively deliver open architecture solutions amidst dynamic market risks and challenges. In a world where markets change at breakneck speed, knowledge is a critical source of competitive advantage. Our programs provide an excellent opportunity to network and learn about pivotal business issues, emerging industries and the latest technologies in the global movement towards the open broadband and mobile architecture.

OWA R&D in USCWC- ObamaLab: OWA_BB (Baseband Processing Unit) OWA_RF (Radio Frequency Unit) OWA_NET (Networking Unit) OWA_SDM (Software Defined Module) OWA_OS (Operating Systems) OWA_APP (Services and Application Platform) OWA_CAP (Access Point & Wireless Router) OWA_SEC (OWA Security Platform) OWA_REF (Reference Design Platform) OWA_TST (Testing & Conformance Unit) OWA_iHand (NG Phone HW/SW Platform) OWA_iARM (OWA Radio for CE Devices) OWA_STP (Standardization Program) For more info, please contact us at: General Office of Obama Lab, Palo Alto Open Wireless Architecture (OWA) Lab U.S. Center for Wireless Communications P.O.Box 19789, STANFORD, CA 94309, US E-mail: susan<at>cwc.us or nancy<at>cwc.us

Copyright (c) 2003-2009 USCWC-Obama Lab LLC.  All Rights Reserved Worldwide

<< Research IPRs Protected in United States and WIPO >>