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MADRINET

Multidisciplinary Advanced Research in
   User-Centric Wireless Network Enabling Technologies

MADRINET, the programme


This programme aims at advancing the key elements in frontier communications and location technologies, data processing and multisensory fusion and the paradigms for intelligent/adaptative management, that will make feasible the development of advanced applications for ambient intelligence. In this context, the concept of "feasibility" gathers together technology and service requirements and business model viability. On the other hand, the broad concept of "ambient intelligence" should be here understood as one where mobile services, whichever they are, are provided to the final user in a transparent, ubiquitous, continuous and personalized way.


From the conceptual point of view, this programme intends to contribute to the "user-centric" approach associated to ambient intelligence, from the "network-centric" approach of cooperation and resource-sharing on which distributed systems are based.


From the point of view of application areas, the programme intends to contribute to the development of mobility services in:
- Security, crisis management and disaster recovery.
- Surface traffic and airports (enhanced surface mobility, intelligent management).
- Tourism and natural environment.
- Telemedicine and telecare (hospitals and smart home).
- E-mobility applications (large scope applications).


From the technological point of view, this programme will consider the three horizontal basic areas needed for the implementation of this class of applications, namely:
a) The technological area related to the deployment and operation of intelligent network elements from the point of view of signal availability, integrity and compatibility, also considering coverage, electromagnetic compatibility, radio link capacity, intelligent antennas, ad-hoc networks, etc.
b) The area of location technologies, both indoors and outdoors, with the objective to integrate available and emerging technologies (GPS/Galileo, WiFi, WiMAX, UWB, RFID, etc.) through sensor fusion paradigms.
c) The technological area of intelligence for infrastructure management, on the one hand using intelligent systems for planning, and genetic optimization and multiagent systems for communication systems management; and, on the other hand, through the development of intelligent infrastructure agents to provide the devices with the information needed to make use of the services.


The integration of the advances in the three areas of knowledge is expected to lead to the definition of the architectural and processing elements and the intelligent management of the cooperative communication systems based on accurate positioning.


The programme includes the development of pilot test beds for algorithms and technologies, with the purpose of demonstrating services for the environments and applications listed above, in collaboration with the partners and final users in the consortium.


Some of the basic involved technologies are:.
 
Area 1) Deployment and operation of the network elements:
- Network elements deployment. Coverage and compatibility. Ad-hoc networks.
- Capacity of different radio links (GTD, PO and PTD methods).
- Coverage and compatibility: WiFi, UWB and RFID.
- WiMax possibilities.
- Adaptive sensors and MIMO.
- Coverage and compatibility in ad-hoc networks.
- Indoor signals in Galileo/GPS and cellular systems.
- Compatibility.
 
Area 2) Positioning systems:
- Accurate location methods. Data and multisensory fusion.
- WiFi accurate location.
- Integration possibilities with other technologies (WiMax, cellular, etc).
- UWB systems design.
- Data fusion and handheld terminal tracking.
- Multipath aspects.
- GPS/Galileo integration.
- RFID technologies for mobile services.
 
Area 3) Intelligence for infraestructure management:
- Intelligent management of network and positioning systems.
- Dynamic management of network coverage (power, frequency, channel).
- Transfer management among complementary wireless networks (intelligent handoff).
- Positioning by means of user's behaviour modelling.
- Positioning by means of information system's integration (maps, routes, etc.).
- Sensor management for data fusion.
- User identification management when user identity has to be simultaneously managed by different networks (GPS code, RFID code, IP address, etc.).
- Development of user's agents to access location system information.
- Location resources management by means of the user's system infrastructure agent.


Parallel progress in the three areas of knowledge will enable the deployment of an advanced infrastructure for communications and positioning using wireless networks, which will facilitate the development of new services based on users' position and context. Each area involves a collection of relevant technological problems, ranging from the radio electric modelling of coverage and compatibility in wireless networks, and the information fusion for obtaining an accurate, reliable and continuous positioning, to the intelligent and context-adaptive infrastructure management. Having all these problems their own technical-scientific interest, their planned aggregation into a unique finalistic research programme will allow us to develop the common infrastructure needed to undertake the conception of fully practical applications, by assuring their service quality and, in summary, their feasibility and viability.

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