Abstract
Overview
This report addresses technological and marketing issues of wireless mesh
networks (WMN) and it shows that such networks are playing a very important
role in the development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). WMNs allow
building self- organized and self-healing architectures where all nodes are
equally involved in the transport of video, voice and data, making decisions
based on information received from neighbors. The network responds on each
failure, and because it has in-built redundancy, re-routes traffic from a
place of failure. Such survivable communications is very important in
supporting of ITS, which may deal with unexpected factors and is operated,
usually, by non-technical operators (drivers).
The report analyzes WMN structures, and deals with:
- Radio technologies utilized by WMN
- Routing protocols
In discussion of radio technologies for WMN, we emphasize the importance of
three forward-looking wireless protocols: IEEE802.11n, ZigBee and Ultra
Wideband (UWB). Though the majority of WMNs, at the present time use slower
IEEE802.11b, g technologies, it is our perception that these three protocols
will be building blocks of WMN in the near future. Except ZigBee, these
technologies allow transmission with a rate of hundreds Mb/s and support
greater coverage. ZigBee-structured WMNs are already a today reality in spite
of a fact that their speed of transmission cannot exceed a couple of hundreds
Kb/s.
All discussed technologies have features that are useful in the WMN environment:
- Extremely low power consumption
- Inherent security features
- Low sensitivity to mutipath problems
The report analyzes technological benefits and limitations of each radio
technology and standardization process as well as presents the marketing
analysis and forecast.
The report also addresses the standardization process for WMN, and discusses a
status of the IEEE802.11s standard. It shows that, so far, almost every
manufacturer of WMN nodes uses proprietary routing protocols, and this
situation slows WMN development. Some of the most popular routing protocols in
use by WMNs are discussed in the report.
WMN architectures found already many applications in the commercial market,
though initially they were the military prerogative. Among the most popular
applications, we addressed:
- Municipalities
- ITS
- Public safety communications
- Industrial automation
- Consumers
Note that WMNs are perfect choice for ITS. These networks can be easily
deployed in a very short period of time (for example, in the emergency
situations), and each node may be associated with a car or an element of the
infrastructure, as per an ad-hoc network scenario. Some technologies, such as
UWB, may be used for dual purposes being a building block not only for
communications devices, but for extremely precise radar as well.
The report provides market characteristics of WMN, and shows that the industry
already has created a strong basis for future WMN expansion. We envision that
in several years 802.11n and UWB will prevail in WMN applications required
high-speed transmission (for example, video), and they will successfully
compete with wired technologies, such as Fast Ethernet. ZigBee and 802.11a,
b, g will be left for applications that do not require high speed
transmission, such as, for example, industrial automation, or home networks.
The report also analyzes a status of the ITS development; and it shows that
WMN may become a very important part of ITS.
Research Methodology
Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various
Web sites was studied and analyzed. Evaluation of publicly available marketing
and technical publications was conducted. Telephone conversations and
interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives.
In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were
used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including
industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.
The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and
relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the
information content.
Target Audience
This report is important to a wide population of researches, technical and
sales staff involved in the developing of mesh networks services and products;
it is also useful for ITS developers - it can help them to understand the WMN
role. It is recommended for both service providers and vendors that are
working with related technologies. The report also helps to understand issues
associated with relationship between WMN and other technologies.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
- 1.1General
- 1.2 WMN: the Industry Efforts
- 1.3 New Tasks
- 1.4 Technologies
- 1.5 Definition
- 1.6 Features
- 1.7 ITS - General
- 1.8 Scope
- 1.9 Research Methodology
- 1.10 Target Audience
2.0 Mesh Networks: Standards
- 2.1 General
- 2.2 IEEE 802.11s
- 2.2.1 Standardization Process
- 2.2.1.1 Wi-Mesh Alliance
- 2.2.1.2 SEEMesh
- 2.2.1.3 Selection
3.0 Radio Technologies
- 3.1 IEEE 802.11n
- 3.1.1 Advanced Technologies: MIMO and Others
- 3.1.1.1 General
- 3.1.1.2 Spatial Multiplexing
- 3.1.1.3 OFDM
- 3.1.2 Directions
- 3.1.3 Standard
- 3.1.4 Details: Technology
- 3.1.5 Market
- 3.1.5.1 General
- 3.1.5.2 Market Forecast
- 3.1.5.2.1 Model Assumptions
- 3.1.5.2.2 Estimate
- 3.1.5.2.2.1 Chipsets
- 3.1.5.2.2.2 Platforms
- 3.1.6 802.11n Industry Players
- Apple
- Atheros
- Belkin
- Broadcom
- Buffalo
- ESQube
- Intel
- Ruckus
- Linksys
- Marvell
- Metalink
- NEC
- Netgear
- SiGe
- TrendNet
- 3.2 ZigBee
- 3.2.1 General
- 3.2.2 Device Types
- 3.2.3 Protocol Stack
- 3.2.3.1 Physical and MAC layers - IEEE802.15.4
- 3.2.4 Upper Layers
- 3.2.5 Interoperability
- 3.2.6 Security
- 3.2.7 Platform Considerations
- 3.2.8 Technology Benefits and Limitations
- 3.2.9 Standardization Process
- 3.2.9.1 ZigBee Alliance
- 3.2.9.2 Objectives
- 3.2.9.3 802.15.4- ZigBee Basis
- 3.2.9.4 IEEE 802.15.4 Radio
- 3.2.9.5 Application Specifics
- 3.2.10 ZigBee Role
- 3.2.11 Market
- 3.2.11.1 Expectations
- 3.2.11.2 Segments
- 3.2.11.3 Forecast
- 3.2.12 Industry
- AeroComm
- Airbee (Software)
- Amber (RF Systems)
- Atmel (Chipsets)
- Chipcon -TI (Chipsets)
- Cirronet (Modules Industrial Automation)
- CrossBow
- Duolog (Transceivers)
- Eazix (Modules)
- Ember (Chipsets)
- Falcom (Modules)
- Helicomm (Modules)
- Jennic (Chipsets-Modules)
- Freescale (Chipsets)
- Luxoft Labs (Integration)
- M&R Lawugger GmbH (Software)
- Maxstream (WSN Modules)
- Nanotron (Chipsets)
- Oki (Chipsets)
- Renesas (Platforms)
- Silicon Laboratories (Chipsets, Modules)
- Telegesis (Integrator)
- Uniband (Chipsets)
- ZMD (Chipsets)
- 3.3 UWB
- 3.3.1 General
- 3.3.2 Obstacles
- 3.3.3 Benefits
- 3.3.4 Definition
- 3.3.5 Rates
- 3.3.6 Spectrum Allocation
- 3.3.7 Choices
- 3.3.8 Major Features
- 3.3.9 Standards and Regulations
- 3.3.9.1 Multiband OFDM
- 3.3.9.2 DS-UWB
- 3.3.9.3 Groups
- 3.3.9.4 ECMA
- 3.3.9.5 WiNET
- 3.3.10 Major Applications
- 3.3.11 Market Estimate
- 3.3.11.1 General
- 3.3.11.2 Geographical Segmentation
- 3.3.11.3 Forecast
- 3.3.12 Industry
- Aether (localization devices-ITS)
- Alereon (chipsets)
- Artimi (chipsets)
- BBN (radio, first responders applications)
- Camero (radar, equipment for first responders)
- decaWave (chipsets)
- Focus Enhancement (chipsets)
- Freescale (chipsets, systems)
- General Atomics (chipsets)
- Multispectral (RFID and others)
- Parco (RFID)
- Pulse~ Link (chipsets)
- RealTek
- Staccato (chipsets)
- TriQuint (chipsets - homeland security applications)
- Time Domain (chipsets-fusion of communications & radar)
- Tzero (chipsets)
- Ubisense (RFID-tracking)
- Wisair (chipsets)
- WiQuest (chipsets)
4.0 Technology: Mesh Networks Specifics
- 4.1 Features
- 4.1.1 Subclasses
- 4.1.1.1 General
- 4.1.1.2 Urban WMN
- 4.1.1.3 Car-to-Car
- 4.1.1.4 Modes
- 4.2 Benefits and Limitations
- 4.2.1 Benefits
- 4.2.2 ITS Specifics
- 4.2.3 Limitations
- 4.3 Architectures
- 4.4 Routing Protocols
- 4.4.1 Too Many
- 4.4.1.1. Lack of Standardization
- 4.4.1.2 Applications Variety
- 4.4.2 Protocols
- 4.5 Security Issues
- 4.5.1 General
- 4.5.2 802.11
- 4.5.3 UWB
- 4.5.4 ZigBee
- 4.6 Market: Mesh Networks
- 4.6.1 Major Segments
- 4.6.1.1 Advanced Segments
- 4.6.2 Market Estimate
- 4.6.3 Forecast
- 4.7 Major WMN Vendors and their Products
- Active Control (Building and Extreme Environments)
- ArrowSpan (Mesh in Transportation)
- BelAir (Nodes)
- Cisco (Protocols, Nodes)
- Coronis Systems (WMN Nodes)
- Crossbow (nodes)
- Dust Networks (WMN Nodes)
- Eka Systems (WMN Utilities)
- Ember (ZigBee chips for WMN)
- Intel (Nodes)
- IWT(Network Solution)
- IPMobileNet (WMN)
- Iteris
- FireTide (Mesh network-Public safety applications)
- MeshDynamics (Nodes)
- Millennial Net (SW and Systems)
- Moteiv (Nodes and SW)
- MeshNetworks (Motorola)
- Mitre (protocols)
- Motorola (Nodes-Public Safety Communications-ITS)
- Newtrax (WSN-mesh, UGS)
- NexGen City (Mesh-Public Safety)
- Northrop Grumman (Nodes)
- Nortel (WMN Systems)
- NovaRoam (Public Safety Communications -WMN)
- Now Wireless (Nodes, ITS)
- Octave Technologies (WSN)
- PacketHop (WMN SW)
- Proxim (WMN Nodes)
- Rajant (WMN-Military, First Responders)
- Sensoria (WMN for Public Safety Communications)
- Sensicast (WMN for Industrial Automation)
- SIAE (WMN for IA)
- SkyPilot Networks (WMN Nodes)
- Strix (Nodes)
- SysMaster
- Qorvus (WMN for IA)
- Telepath (Sensors Networks)
- Tropos (Routers, OS)
- Ubiwave (Mesh Network)
5.0 ITS-Intelligent Transport Systems
- 5.1 General
- 5.2 History: U.S.
- 5.3 ITS Architecture: U.S.
- 5.4 Technologies
- 5.5 ITS Applications
- 5.6 National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol (NTCIP)
- 5.7 WMN and ITS
- 5.7.1 General
- 5.7.2 Benefits
- 5.7.3 WMN ITS Applications
6.0 Conclusions
FIGURES:
- Figure 1: Wireless Communications: ITS Environment
- Figure 2: Mesh Network Diagram
- Figure 3: WiMesh Stack
- Figure 4: Basic two-antenna MIMO system with two-stream SDM Example
- Figure 5: 802.11 Protocol Family MAC Frame Structure
- Figure 6: 802.11n IC Market Estimate ($M)
- Figure 7: Market Estimate: 802.11n Equipment Shipping ($B)
- Figure 8: ZigBee Protocol Stack
- Figure 9: Estimate: ZigBee Chipsets Market Worlwide ($M)
- Figure 10: ZigBee Market Segmentation (2006)
- Figure 11: ZigBee Market Segmentation (2010)
- Figure 12: UWB Spectrum
- Figure 13: Market Estimate: UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 14: Market Estimate: Multiband OFDM UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 15: Market Estimate: DS UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 16: Estimate of UWB Market - Communications Applications ($B)
- Figure 17: Mesh Network Equipment Sale: Market Estimate ($B)
- Figure 18: Mesh Network Radio Technologies
- Figure 19: Technology Segmentation: Mesh Network Market
- Figure 20: Mesh Network Market Geography (2006)
- Figure 21: Wireless Communications: ITS Environment
- Figure 22 ITS Architecture
- Figure 23: NTCIP Structure
TABLES:
- Table 1: 802.11 Family
- Table 2: 802.11 Family-Rates
- Table 3: Parameters
- Table 4: Comparison: DS-UWB and MB-OFDM
