At this year’s GSMA MWC (GSM Association Mobile World Congress 2011) held at the Fira de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain), Intel Corp exhibited a mosaic of momentous live technology demonstrations at their Hall 8 pavilion. Inside the pavilion there were several booths including Intel’s “Better Connected” booth which featured WiMAX and LTE demonstrations.
Within the eye-popping Intel Pavilion at CES 2011 (Central Hall), Intel had one particular kiosk titled: “Laptop Gaming with 4G.” Using a Sandy Bridge-based Toshiba Satellite laptop, Intel revealed how the 2nd Generation(codenamed “Sandy Bridge” with quad-cores/Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 in conjunction with the embedded Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250) flawlessly executed the on-line/multi-player game called “Need for Speed” with smooth 3D rendering and no jitters. Clearwire installed an indoor WiMAX network infrastructure allowing for broadband connectivity via Toshiba’s embedded Intel 6250 PCI Express Mini card. Intel made history once again at CES 2011, with the unveiling of the Sandy Bridge processor family.
Its awe-inspiring features include:
1) A single monolithic die includes the processor graphics core alongside two – four cores and up to 8 MB shared L3 cache (25 clocks) on a new ring bus which is shared with the integrated graphics core – with L3 running at full core-clock speed.
2) The memory controller and a single X16 PCI-E 2.0 are embedded into the core as well – like prior designs.
3) Sandy Bridge is connected to the peripheral control hub (PCH) via a single 20Gb/s Direct Media Interface connection.
4) AES-NI instructions provide the encryption/decryption acceleration with the addition of Intel’s Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) – hence, improving floating-point performance for media- rich applications.
5) GPU-accelerated encoding (Quick Sync Video, etc.) which makes on-line games like “Need for Speed” possible for mainstream gamers and even extreme gamers.
6) Turbo Boost 2.0 (with all the cores being pushed) – making a single threaded game like “Need for Speed” performance possible.
In addition to “Need for Speed,” attendees had an opportunity to play ”Marvel Super Hero Squad Online” for the first time using a Sandy Bridge-based Lenovo T420 Thinkpad laptop with an embedded Sierra Wireless LTE PCI Express Mini Card connected to the commercial Las Vegas Verizon LTE network . For the first time in history, Intel demonstrated an Intel-Inside laptop with LTE 4G internet connectivity.
Stay tuned for further coverage next Monday on 4G Wireless Technology integrated into Smart TVs, laptops and more.… Read the rest
November 23-24 were
In the midst of all the exultation of OracleOpenWorld 2010 in San Francisco last week (September 19-24), Intel's sublime presence as the fundamental leader in silicon manufacturing and Intel-based Processing architecture could be felt throughout the event. With this technology leadership fueling the vast global IT machinery, Intel continues to build a venerable global partnership with the likes of software giant Oracle.
The prior week at IDF (Intel Developer Forum) 2010 (September 13-15), it was initially Intel's turn at the same Moscone Center, San Francisco to stun the world by giving live demonstrations on Intel's latest/futuristic breakthrough technologies, by delivering insightful executive keynotes on Intel's Computing 'Continuum', and by showcasing a vast partner network utilizing Intel architecture ingredients for personal, enterprise, and network infrastructure computing.
In spite of the slate tablet PC (personal computer) being the major talk of the show, there continued to be whispers and rumors by attendees on what was Intel's stance on Mobile WiMAX. Booth #692 on the first floor of the Moscone was not there by mere coincidence. “4G WiMAX – Smarter, Faster Internet” was the signage at this booth, and this booth was there to show the world that Intel along with its entire partner ecosystem have a pervasive nation-wide commercial Clear WiMAX network which is ready to be harnessed for business revenue by deployment of existing/new hardware and software (applications and services). Intel was instrumental as well as extremely successful in the leading the world-wide launch of the world’s first open-standard (IEEE802.16e-2005) mobile broadband internet WMAN (wireless metropolitan area network) technology – e.g. with commercial services in US, Japan, Ireland, Russia, Malaysia, Ukraine, Korea, Taiwan, etc.
At booth #692, Intel demonstrated some compelling applications and services using a select group of PCs connected to the live Clear indoor network: 1) A Lenovo Thinkpad Series W510 (Intel i7 Core processor) Notebook PC with embedded Intel 6250 WiMAX PCI Express Mini Card was used to perform a live video conference over WiMAX with several Intel Ix Core processor client PCs at IDF’s Vidyo booth as well as with a client PC at the Vidyo office (Hackensack, New Jersey), 2) a Toshiba Satellite U505 (Intel i3 Core processor) Notebook PC with embedded 6250 was used to download a Netflix movie, 3) A Dell Mini 1012 (Intel N450 ATOM processor) Netbook PC with embedded 6250 was used for … Read the rest
Let us do a quick review of a typical WiMAX network architecture: Essentially, the MS (member station)/SS (subscriber station) is on one side, and the BS (base station), ASN (Access Service Network) Gateway, CSN (Connectivity Service Network: HA(home agent), AAA, etc.) is on the other side. Please remember the following common interface terminologies: the air-interface between the MS to BS is termed R1, the interface between MS to CSN is R2, BS to ASN is R6, ASN to CSN is R3, ASN to another ASN is R4 and CSN to another operator’s CSN is R5. Next, we provide a simplistic summary of the network entry and initialization process: Phase a) the MS scans the DL channel and synchronizes with the BS, Phase b) transmit parameters are obtained, Phase c)
Once again, history in broadband wireless for PC communications was made in Kiev, Ukraine on the week of May 24th, 2010 with the official launching of Intel’s embedded Mobile WiMAX solution by Freshtel. Intel Corporation in conjunction with Freshtel partnered up to demonstrate several WiMAX-Ready PCs containing Intel’s silicon ingredients (Intel Core Ix Processor for Notebooks, Intel Atom N4xx Processor for Netbooks and Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 for Mobile Broadand). One week later, Intel showed off its latest processor technologies embedded inside a variety of standard/ultra-low – voltage notebooks, standard/sleek netbooks and standard/slate tablets (e.g. JooJoo Slate Tablet, Network Navigator NAV9, etc.) at Computex 2010 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Using Intel’s processing power, a variety of dazzling applications were demonstrated: e.g. 3D video, augmented reality, Intel Wireless Display, Intel(R) My WiFi Technology, MeeGo, etc. at several booths which comprised the impressive Intel pavilion. Taking center stage inside the Intel Pavilion was one of the Intel Mobility booths – this particular one was dedicated to demonstrating live WiMAX using a slew of PCs available in the market (Lenovo Thinkpad T410 Notebook (Intel® Core™ i5 CPU M520 @ 2.40GHz w/NVIDIA NVS 3100M), Lenovo Thinkpad T510 Notebook (Intel Core i7 CPU M620 @ 2.67GHz w/ Graphics Media Accelerator HD), Lenovo Thinkpad X201S Notebook (VMAX- Certified), Acer Aspire 5745 Notebook, MSI U135 Netbook (Intel Atom CPU N450 @ 1.66GHz/1.67GHz), ASUS EeePC 1001PG Netbook (VMAX – Certified, Intel Atom CPU N450 @ 1.66GHz/1.67GHz), Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 Netbook (Intel® Atom™ CPU N450 @ 1.66GHz/1.67GHz), 2Go Classmate PC E10 Netbook (technology demo, Intel® Atom™ CPU N450 @ 1.66GHz/1.67GHz), and Samsung NP-N210 Netbook (Intel® Atom™ CPU N450 @ 1.66GHz/1.67GHz)).
The WiMAX-Enabled Dell Inspiron Mini 1012 and Toshiba Satellite U505 can both be purchased @ Best Buy inside the US. All PCs contained the Intel 6250 WiMAX PCI Express Mini card – with one set of PCs (Lenovo, Samsung, MSI) connected to an in-pavilion Alvarion WiMAX Base Station @ 3.5GHz channel frequency, whereas the others (Dell, Acer, 2Go, ASUS) were connected to the extended VMAX network (in-pavilion Samsung WiMAX Base Station) @ 2.5GHz. The emphasis here was to show the global frequency support of Intel’s embedded WiMAX solution. A large high definition display showed off some killer applications requiring WiMAX‘s broadband pipe: e.g. Livecasting from Taipei’s VMAX network, Livecasting from Portland’s CLEAR network (Tri-Met trains) and Microsoft IIS Smooth Streaming of Big Buck … Read the rest
Since the first historical mobile WiMAX network deployment by Clear over a year ago, there have been more than 600 WiMAX networks worldwide which have either commercially launched or have entered into a planning/pre-deployment stage. For new devices (WiMAX Forum Certified or other devices) entering a Greenfield network, or for new devices entering an existing live mobile WiMAX network, the network operator, the device manufacturer or both need to comply with the WiMAX Forum defined Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) requirements. The same mandate applies to existing fixed WiMAX (IEEE802.16-2004 or 802.16d) network deployments worldwide that plan on upgrading to a mobile WiMAX (IEEE802.16e-2005 or 802.16e) network infrastructure. PKI utilizes X.509 digital certificates and their respective keys to correctly identify the devices and servers [AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting)], as well as to mutually authenticate within the mobile WiMAX network. The proper format and use of the X.509 certificates are described in the IETF RFC3280 document with the cryptographic algorithms located in the PKCS#1-PKCS#13 specifications (http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1363/) devised and published at RSA Security. Verisign is the leading source for the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate Authority (CA) as well as the sole entity for the processing of WiMAX Forum PKI certificate orders made by WiMAX operators.
Essentially, the operator and the device manufacturer are each tasked with configuring their respective AAA servers or devices with the proper WiMAX Forum® server certificates and device certificates, respectively – to ensure a successful EAP-TLS mutual certificate exchange between the server and the device. The certificate requirements summarized below are specific for the case of client devices (netbooks, notebooks, etc.) containing the Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 PCI Express Mini Card that will be conversing with the server. The AAA server should contain six added files: the AAA Server Certificate bundled together with the WiMAX Forum Server Subordinate CA Certificate, the AAA specific Private Key, and the WiMAX Forum Device Root (CA) Certificates inside the “Trusted Store” (WiMAX Device Root (for Intel IT Flex), the WiMAX Device Root CA1 (for Verisign), and the WiMAX Device Root CA2 (for Motorola). The operator has to generate the AAA Private Key as part of the Certificate Signing Request Form (CSR), and the CSR (containing the AAA Private Key) has to be submitted to VeriSign. Upon processing the submission, VeriSign will provide the Scuba and the AAA Server Certificate to the operator. On the client … Read the rest
In the backdrop of the many revolutionary business deals that were being made at the GSMA MWC 2010 (held from February 15-18th at the Fira de Barcelona), such as the unveiling of the Nokia/Intel plan for launching of a new operating system (using the “MeeGo Platform”) to power advanced smartphones and netbook PCs, Intel Corporation continued to demonstrate its commitment to advancing Mobile WiMAX world wide as the leading mobile broadband internet connectivity technology. A variety of Intel i3 Core Processor based notebooks and Intel N450 based netbooks with Intel’s embedded 6250 WiFi/WiMAX mini card were showcased at a variety of partner pavilions in addition to being showcased at the Intel Executive Business Center.
As soon as you walked into the Intel Executive Business Center in Hall 4, industry executives had an immediate view of an Alvarion WiMAX base station setup operating at 3.5GHz and a Motorola WiMAX Base Station operating at 2.5GHz. Next to the Motorola Base Station Antenna was a large screen display connected to a WiMAX enabled Dell Inspiron 1564 Notebook PC (Win 7, i3 Core Processor, embedded Intel 6250). The display showed a real-time Mobile WiMAX livecast from the commercial Clear network in Malaga, Spain. In this demonstration, Intel and Clearwire equipped some vehicles with WiMAX enabled Netbooks and used the PC’s GPS and Webcam to collect and transmit (over WiMAX) live location based information as well as live video information as the vehicle traversed the city streets.
Similarly, next to the Alvarion Base Station was a second large screen display powered by a WiMAX enabled Toshiba Satellite U505 (Win 7,i3 Core Processor, embedded Intel 6250) showing the Malaga network as well as some typical internet sites. Furthermore, inside the S1 conference room, Intel showcased the latest assortment of WiMAX enabled N450 Notebooks and i3 Core Netbooks to enter the world market: 2GO™ Classmate PC E10 Netbook, Toshiba Satellite U505 Notebook, Samsung NP-N150 Netbook, Dell Inspiron Mini Netbook, Toshiba Dynabook Netbook, MSI U140 Netbook, ASUS Eee PCTM 1001PG Netbook, and Dell Inspiron Mini Netbook (using Moblin OS).
In Hall 8, the Samsung Pavilion had a static display of the Samsung NP-N150 Netbook (Win 7,Intel N450 Processor and Intel 6250), and the Motorola Pavilion demonstrated live WiMAX connectivity between their Motorola Base Station to a 2GO™ Classmate PC E10 Netbook and a MSI U135 Netbook, both with embedded Intel 6250. Located at the Hall 3 … Read the rest
Commercially available Mobile WiMAX is here! Major networks have successfully rolled out worldwide with Clearwire in the U.S., UQ Communications in Japan, and Yota in Russia taking center stage. While existing networks are planning expansions, new operators are clearing paths for network launches very soon. With more and more multi-media hungry notebooks, netbooks, tablets, and smart phones anticipated to enter the world market, the existing WiMAX network capacity will get severely contrained.
WiMAX Release 2.0 (IEEE802.16m) which is a major amendment ( full backward compatibility) to the WiMAX Release 1.o (IEEE802.16e-2005) standard will offer significantly greater capacity, coverage and performance, and lower latency in order to meet the ITU-R requirements for an IMT -Advanced 4G technology solution. With remarkable design improvements in the advanced air interface architecture (new blocks inside Layer 1 and 2), 802.16m will be able to easily provide the necessary capacity that operators will demand to further grow their urban networks as well as to reliably deliver data at extremely high speeds (e.g. up to 120Mbps down and 60Mbps up using a 4×2 MIMO/TDD 5:3 configuration) to users.
As an example, in today’s WiMAX Network deployments, user devices connect to a single channel frequency utilizing a 5msec frame structure with time-division duplexed (TDD) DL and UL information using a 10MHz bandwidth. With 802.16m, user devices will be able to connect to two different channel frequencies (multi-carrier) at the same time utilizing the following possible combinations: 1) two independent 20msec super-frames each using a 10MHz bandwidth, 2) two independent 20msec super-frames each using a 20MHz bandwidth, and 3) one 20msec super-frame using a 20MHz bandwidth and the other 20msec super-frame using a 10MHz bandwidth – Hence, 20MHz (doubles today’s data transfer rates), 40MHz (quadruples today’s data transfer rate), and 30MHz (triples today’s data transfer rate), respectively. More so, the two carriers (radio frequencies) are not necessarily in adjacent bands. If they are in adjacent bands, then the guard bands can be used to transfer data. Digging deeper, a 20msec super-frame is divided into four 5msec radio frames with each radio frame further sub-divided into eight 0.617msec sub-frames. Each of the eight sub-frames per radio frame contains legacy zones for existing 802.16e devices and high-speed zones for new 802.16m devices. Within each of the four radio frames, a variety of DL/UL combinations ( 6/2, 5/3. etc.) can be achieved using various TDD, FDD … Read the rest
