Recent US Patent Publications as co-inventor

Link: Details are available here.

Mobile Phone Chargers will become Universal

Bowing to a request from the European Commission, 10 major device manufacturers have agreed to adopt a universal battery-charging design for their mobile handsets. Though the agreement only applies to mobile-device sales within the member states of the European Union, the standard is expected to have a far wider impact since the mobile-device market is essentially global.
Phone-charger compatibility will make life much simpler for consumers, noted EU Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen. "They will be able to charge mobile phones anywhere from the new common charger," Verheugen said. "This also means considerably less electronic waste, because people will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new phones."

Eliminating Waste

Today's plethora of external power supplies for mobile phones means there are many chargers that can only interface with a particular handset. Any user buying a replacement handset today must get a new charger -- even though the charger for the previous phone may be in perfect condition.

According to the EC, the disposal of old chargers generates several thousand tons of waste each year. Moreover, consumers are paying for an accessory they shouldn't have to replace.

Beginning in 2010, consumers will be able to charge mobile phones from any external power supply compatible with the new common charger specs. Additionally, the agreement will protect consumers from unsafe operations, which can occur if an incompatible external power supply is used to charge a phone.

A new memorandum of understanding governing the changes has been signed by representatives of Apple, LG Electronics, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Texas Instruments. Verheugen said he was very pleased with the self-regulation agreement. "As a result, the commission does not consider it necessary to introduce legislation," he said.

Bing - New Search Engine

Bing is out....try using it!! Images look cool.

First commercial 4G base station being tested in Sweden

The world's first radio base station in a commercial 4G network has been deployed in Stockholm, Sweden. Or at least that's what the Swedish national incumbent telecommunications operator Telia has announced.

Telia is among a handful of mobile operators worldwide building next-generation networks for mobile broadband with 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology. The largest is Verizon, identified as a world leader by Ericsson CEO Carl-Henric Svanberg.

"The U.S. is back in the driver's seat and Verizon has taken the lead in rolling out LTE," 

Though Telia says it has connected the 4G base station to its IP network and to a test network belonging to Swedish telecom vendor Ericsson, commercial launch of the network is not expected until 2010, when modems will be available.

Expected speeds are "10 times faster than the speeds customers enjoy today with mobile broadband in 3G networks," according to Telia.

That would mean between 60 megabits and 100 megabits per second, given that today's 3G networks with HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) technology can attain 6Mbps to 10Mbps, depending on the version deployed.

One reason why Verizon is aggressively planning for a 4G network is that its 3G network, based on EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) technology, doesn't match the speeds possible in HSPA networks belonging to the GSM/WCDMA family, used by operators such as Telia and AT&T. GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications, while WCDMA is short for Wideband Code Division Multiple Access.

Ericsson: Next-gen base station ready for deployments

BOSTON—Ericsson's (NasdaqGS: ERIC) long-awaited universal base station is out of the lab and in the field. Verizon Wireless (NYSE: VZ) will be among the first to receive the new multi-standard platform, deploying it in its forthcoming long-term evolution (LTE) network, but Ericsson executives revealed that the kit is already deployed in an existing operator's high-speed packet access (HSPA) deployment, though they did not reveal whose.

Unveiled at Mobile World Congress in 2008, the RBS 6000 is Ericsson's first software-upgradable base station, supporting GSM, GPRS/EDGE, Wideband CDMA and eventually LTE. The platform consists of a single cabinet, sporting common components to all of the radio standards. The selected radio baseband technology is loaded into the box as a software module, either running on its own as a dedicated GSM or UMTS base station or concurrently with other radio standards.

Boston Dynamics-designed RiSE V3 robot climbs poles

The folks at Boston Dynamics have already made quite a name for themselves in the world of creepy robotics, but it looks like they're not ones to keep all their know-how to themselves, and they've now lent the University of Pennsylvania's Kod*lab a hand with this new RiSE V3 pole-climbing robot. That, as you've no doubt surmised, is a followup to RiSE V1 and V2, which were developed without the help of Boston Dynamics and were more suited to climbing flat surfaces than poles. In addition to a vastly different leg mechanism, this latest model also makes use of some brushless DC motors that increase the power density to let it climb poles at rates up to 22cm per second, which the researchers say make it well-suited for a wide range of tasks. As you can see for yourself in the video after the break, the bot mostly seems to work remarkably well, although it's obviously not quite ready to tackle critical jobs all by itself just yet.

Google Founder and EECS Alumnus Larry Page Delivers Commencement Speech

Larry Page received his undergraduate degree in computer engineering in 1995. Watch the video, view some photos and read the highlights of his speech. Read article.  [Video ]

XstreamHD live demonstration of their cutting edge technology at NAB show in Las Vegas

XstreamHD booth at NAB show

http://www.xstreamhd.com/NABshow.html

Report: HSPA Will Lead to LTE

A Frost & Sullivan report concludes that mobile operators will trend toward fully maximizing their high-speed packet access (HSPA) deployments before eventually deploying LTE.

The report comes amid an industry that paid a lot of attention to LTE at the recent CTIA 2009 trade show.

Citing skyrocketing data demands – six to 14 times more data being consumed over the past year – driven by flat-rate pricing, the report concludes that new networks are essential for continued revenue growth.

The report shows that average users download more than 5 GB per month, some as much as 9 GB to 11 GB.

“Next-generation wireless technologies such as 3G LTE and mobile WiMAX will eventually lead operators to move to an ‘open’ access, any client device connected, Internet model, with the advent of consumer electronic devices being embedded with 3G LTE technology,” notes Frost & Sullivan Program Manager Luke Thomas in the report.

Thomas stressed the importance of upgrading backhaul in a cost-effective manner, as each LTE base station “would require a minimum of 200-300 Mbps backhaul capacity.”

The report found that most mobile operators are considering high-capacity point-to-point microwave links and relay for backhaul, but also noted a growing interest in subsidizing femtocells as a way to reduce backhaul costs.

D.C. to Get First Crack at Free Mobile TV

Washington will be the first U.S. city to get free digital TV broadcasts for mobile devices like cell phones, laptop computers and in-car entertainment systems, broadcasters were set to announce today.

Broadcasts using new "mobile DTV" technology are expected to begin in late summer from five stations: local affiliates of CBS, NBC, PBS and Ion and one independent station owned by Fox.

The initial broadcasts will be identical to those beamed to TV sets, including the advertising.

It's unclear what devices might be available with the special receivers needed for the new signals. Cell phones are main candidates for the technology, but the wireless carriers have shown no enthusiasm, and the largest two have their own TV services, which require subscriptions.

However, Dell will be showing a prototype of a small laptop with a built-in mobile DTV receiver at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show in Las Vegas this week. The computer maker joins cell phone makers LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics in supporting the technology. Kenwood is developing car-based receivers.

The companies backing the technology in the so-called Open Mobile Video Coalition said Washington was chosen as a test market because the city is full of tech-savvy viewers who pay attention to local news. Attention from politicians and regulators probably doesn't hurt either – the coalition has earlier pointed to the usefulness of free mobile TV broadcasts in case of emergencies and disasters like hurricanes.

Broadcasters plan to quickly start broadcasts in more than two dozen other cities by the end of the year, covering 39 percent of U.S. households. Among the target cities are New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston and Atlanta.

HD Movies@ My Home: XstreamHD showcases innovative satellite technology at CES 2009

XstreamHD (based in McLean, VA) comes up with a winner! in this year CES 2009. XstreamHD marched ahead and the company showcased their new pro-receivers and RF remote control along with REV2 media servers and receivers that offers blue-ray quality 1080P video and unmatched 7.1 channels lossless DTS-master audio. The company had a big booth in CES South Hall at Las Vegas Convention Center and that clearly spells the seriousness with which XstreamHD is pursuing the home based digital entertainment technology. 

XStreamHD Media Servers utilized their custom ASIC that is specifically designed to support multiple simultaneous high bitrate streams. The ASIC supports dual GigE ports and uses hardware accelerators to transmit the IP streams. At CES, the XStreamHD Media Server demonstrated its ability to stream an 80Mbps MPEG2 main level/high profile 1080p movie at the same time it streamed another 1080p 40Mbps video stream rate movie along with several audio streams to other devices. The total aggregate stream exceeded 125Mbps! 

XStreamHD Media Server demonstrated at CES its ability to interoperate with six other DLNA client devices that included the Sony PS3, a Pioneer Kuro Plasma TV, a Samsung Plasma TV, a Dell notebook PC, a Phillips Internet radio, and a Denon networked audio system.

*** Disclaimer: This blog is purely based on the author's experience in telecommunications and wireless industry. It doesn't reflect the views of any other person, institution or organization whatsoever.

For Prospective CS Graduate Students: Umich, Ann Arbor

Watch this video 

Femtocells: making the economics of convergence work

October 22, 2008 — 11:29am ET | By Sangit Rawlley

Indoor telephony is under renewed attack. Emerging coverage enhancement solutions such as femtocells threaten to further erode the already declining market for fixed-line phones. But with adversity has come opportunity. Femtocells mitigate many of the historical challenges that lead to the failure of MVNO's set up to offer converged services and provide another opportunity for wireless and fixed line operators to work together.

The significance of having high quality voice telephony inside the house cannot be denied. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 76 percent of an average person's "awake hours" resides indoors. Of that time, 61 percent is spent in the home vs. a separate building.

Indoor telephony has traditionally been the stronghold of wireline and cable (fixed line) carriers. However, in the last few years cord-cutting has emerged as the primary threat for fixed line carriers. Declining mobile price is the key driver for this trend. According to CTIA, around 15.8 percent of U.S. households were wireless-only in 2007.

But there are limitations to using the cell phone inside the house. Bad indoor wireless coverage is one of the key barriers to cord-cutting.  According to a Harris Interactive survey, 62 percent of cell phone owners have done something special to improve signal reception in an attempt to make or receive a cell phone call at home. 30 percent said they used their fixed-line phone.

Today the question that is top of mind for all fixed line operators is how best to deal with femtocells. The situation is grimmer for operators such as British Telecom, Embarq, and Qwest that don't own wireless assets. Their past attempts to reduce cord cutting by offering wireline-wireless bundles and converged services through wireless wholesale (MVNO) deals have failed. 

But there is a glimmer of hope. Femtocells require a broadband connection to operate. Fixed line carriers can leverage this dependence of femtocells on DSL and cable in two ways--obstructive or constructive. The obstructive approach revolves around non-cooperation with wireless carriers and FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) marketing. Such tactics are not sustainable in the long term. The constructive approach is difficult, but if implemented correctly can reap long term benefits. This approach involves setting up mutually beneficial partnerships with wireless carriers to revive the convergence play. 

Google Introduces an iPhone Rival

SAN FRANCISCO — Google and T-Mobile unveiled their answer to the iPhone on Tuesday, pulling the wraps off a slick mobile device that combines a touch screen and a keyboard and is aimed at putting the Internet in the pockets of millions of cellphone users.

Enlarge This Image

The T-Mobile G1 will cost $179, $20 less than the iPhone.

Sharing TV spectrum may require Cognitive Radio Technology

By Fanny Mlinarsky

In the early days of broadcast TV, the world was analog and spectrum was plentiful. Spectrum sharing was unnecessary and, indeed, hadn't even been invented. Dedicated spectrum was allocated to each TV channel and later, 202 wireless microphones were permitted to operate in unused channels (FCC part 74).

Conventional TV stations use 6-MHz channels, numbered 2 to 69 in the VHF and UHF spectrum (54 to 72 MHz, 76 to 88 MHz, 174 to 216 MHz and 470 to 806 MHz). The 2009 transition from analog to digital TV, expected to free up channels 52 through 69 due to DTV's higher spectral efficiency, has prompted the FCC to update its regulations, allowing more efficient use of the spectrum, now possible with modern technology.

A hidden-node example signal from a TV station reaches WSD through a building or other obstructions and may be undetectable due to propagation losses. A TV antenna on the roof receives the same signal at a power level sufficient for viewing. WSD, not having detected the signal, may transmit and cause interference at the TV tuner.

The new regulations (FCC Dockets 04-186, 02-380) may allow unused portions of the TV spectrum to support wireless broadband services. They require the use of cognitive radios able to determine whether a channel is available prior to transmitting.

Nokia Linux tablets go 3G, OMAP3

Nokia's Linux-based web tablets may soon gain faster processors and built-in 3G cellular modems. Nokia executive Ari Jaaksi revealed today in a keynote at the Open Source in Mobile show that Nokia will add 3G/HSPA capabilities to an OMAP3-optimized Maemo 5 release for the tablets.

Jaaksi, is VP of Maemo Software at Nokia. A slide show of Jaaksi's presentation, posted on his blog, suggests that during his OSiM keynote, he also revealed that Nokia plans to contribute code for 3G/HSPA on OMAP3 to the Linux kernel, and that Nokia has upgraded its membership in the Linux Foundation (LF) from a Silver to a Gold sponsorship. The LF's members page confirms the upgrade. Another revelation from the talk is that the upcoming Maemo 5 release will support photo sharing with HD cameras. 

Jaaksi apparently did not offer a timetable for the release of Maemo 5. The last major revision of the Debian Linux-based distro, Maemo 4, appeared last November in conjunction with the arrival of the N810 Internet Tablet. Maemo 4 reflected N810 improvements including faster performance than the N800, and the addition of a slide-out hardware QWERTY thumb keyboard, GPS receiver, and a light-sensing screen dimmer. 


N810 WiMAX Edition

The N800 and N810 both depend on WiFi for connectivity, but a newer WiMAX version of the N810 (pictured above) also supports that higher-bandwidth, longer range wireless technology. The addition of a cellular modem has long been anticipated, however. When we spoke with Ari Jaaksi about the addition of WiMax, he said adding a cellular chip to the Nokia N8xx Linux tablets would be pretty easy to do, but that at the time it was "more a business model than a technology barrier."

Android Challenge Winner pushes location awareness

Google and the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) have announced the final winners for part one of the Android Developer Challenge. The OHA granted ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards for the best applications created for the Linux- and Java-based Android mobile phone platform. 

(Click for larger view of party location app, Wertago)

In May, the OHA chose 50 finalists out of a field of 1,788 submissions, awarding each team $25,000 and a chance to compete for the final awards. A second round of the challenge will be opened for submissions "after the first handsets built on the platform become available," the search giant said.

Most of the winners reflected the general focus of the finalists on GPS location awareness and Google Maps. Others put the camera to work as a barcode scanner, or focused on social networking.

Google Chrome is here!!

No doubt, its one of the fastest browser. 

The features are just breathtaking. The striking part is its ease of use just like Google Search Engine. 

1) Tabs are more easier to manage now 
2) Browsing history is pretty clean and easily organized 
3) Bookmarks are very easy to manage 
4) For developers - source, javascript, console debugging are pretty flexible 
5) Pop-ups are automatically blocked 
6) Password history etc. is similar to mozilla firefox and easier to manage 
7) Crash control is much more powerful than mozilla 
8) Safe browsing, faster downloads make it a clear winner. 

After 1 hour of browsing on chrome, I am switching loyalty from mozilla firefox to chrome. IE doesn't even figure in competition with Chrome or mozilla. Chrome can easily be upgraded for mobile applications and sooner we can have Android with Android app store with Chrome Browser coming in a single pack for Android Mobile Handsets...this is just the tip of iceberg. 

Google wins!!

Plus one more thing to add, task manager is integrated with the browser. One process per tab makes it so much easier to control through task manager in case of crashes or rogue application running in one of the tabs. Overall great thinking by google guys.

Google Unleashes Detail of Android App Store

On the Android Developers Blog the company showed how Android users will be able to get applications on their handsets. The process will be similar to posting a video on YouTube: Content providers register as a merchant, upload and describe content, and then publish it.

The first Android-powered handsets will be enabled with a beta version of Android Market that will at minimum support free applications. End users will use this to find, download, and install content, and they'll be able to rate and comment on applications.

Top 5 Hottest Technologies for the future

1. Green IT



2. Cloud Computing



3. Social Networking



4. Video Telepresence



5. Micro Blogging