IEEE 1900.4 Standard has been published

More effective and efficient use of radio resources is required to enable higher speed, larger size and higher quality wireless communications in today's restricted radio use. Architecture for expanding system wide communications capacity through efficient frequency use and improving communications quality in different radio access networks have been evaluated for P1900.4.

_{We expect this standard to be used as core technology for using wireless communications in new generation network architecture that NICT is moving ahead with primarily on evaluations. We also anticipate 1900.4.1, 1900.4a and other standards to be established based on this established standard.}

Cognitive Radio Technology
Cognitive radio technology is a wireless communications technology for transmitting, continuously working on efficient frequency use at a communications quality users require be at a desired communications size through the wireless device recognizing the radio environment, and the proper use of frequency bandwidth, timeslots and other wireless resources without interfering with other systems according to these conditions.

Different Radio Access Network
This is a network that assumes multiple different wireless systems will be used in combination (ex. 3G mobile phones and wireless LAN). Each wireless system differs in their respective strengths (ex. strong mobile communications, fast transmission speed, low power consumption), and is assumed to switch to the appropriate items according to the conditions and be used in multiple combinations. Seamless handover technology, handover technology between different wireless communication systems, etc. are being evaluated in order to switch between systems.

More effective and efficient use of radio resources is required to enable higher speed, larger size and higher quality wireless communications in today's restricted radio use. Research and development on cognitive radio technology focusing on commercialization is progressing globally in order to achieve this. Evaluations into wireless resource management and methods for effective use are also being evaluated in new generation network architecture where NICT is advancing research and development.

An environment where standards and standard interfaces are specified, and where multiple wireless systems can operate harmoniously, must be created in order to improve frequency use efficiency using this technology. NICT has worked to establish standardization for promoting the practical use and commercialization of this technology by companies as the only public research institute on information communications in Japan based on this perspective. Architecture for expanding the full system communications capacity and its communications quality through effective frequency use was evaluated for different radio access networks with the P1900.4. Twenty-three organizations comprising U.S., European and Asian hardware and software device manufacturers, cell phone carriers, universities and public research institutes (at final draft approval) joined together and held discussions from their respective viewpoints to establish core architecture standards for cognitive radio networks in the P1900.4.

The core architecture defined in these specifications is shown in the figure. These are generally classified and consist of core networks, radio access networks and terminals. This specification defines OSM and NRM for core networks, RRC and RMC for radio access networks, TRM, TRC and TMC for terminals, and defines their functions and interfaces.

NICT has participated in P1900.4 since it began in February 2007, has submitted more than 150 contributions and led the discussions. Around half of all contributions submitted in P1900.4 are those from NICT. NICT’s contributions have achieved the merging and development of ‘MIRAI' seamless handover technology, software wireless platform technology and other research achievements advanced from around the year 2000 with “Cognitive Wireless Clouds (CWC)” technology research achievements promoted from 2006. More advanced use of radio resources can be achieved, and improvements in mobile communication band, quality and stability can be anticipated through the establishment of P1900.4 standard.

NICT has contributed greatly to the administration of this standardization group beyond proposing and discussing. NICT plays the deputy chairman both of SCC41 (Standards Coordinating Committee 41), the top organization for P1900.4, and of P1900.4, and P1900.4 technical editor (all from 2008), while playing a central role in the creation of standardization documents. It also supported conferences in Osaka (together with KDDI R&D Laboratories) in February 2008 and in Tokyo (together with the Tokyo University of Science) in July 2008, providing an environment where it is easy for Japanese companies and universities to participate in standardization conferences.

Further technology evaluations and establishing standards are expected based on the established 1900.4 standard. The establishment of the P1900.4.1 Working Group for discussing interfaces and protocols based on 1900.4 architecture and the P1900.4a Working Group for discussing the expansion of Spectrum sharing cognitive wireless networks in this standard is being proposed based on the today’s established standards. Its use as wireless resource management and as a method for effective use is also expected for new generation network architecture.