Archive for December 2nd, 2008

Prescient Group, LLC, New York and Charlottesville, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the sole US provider of iSentry, a groundbreaking artificial intelligence-based video surveillance technology, this week is introducing the innovative iSentry software at the 15th World Congress of Intelligent Transport Systems convention at booth # 556 of the Javits Convention Center (November 16-20).

The iSentry launch in North America promises to be a new paradigm in artificial intelligence security surveillance technology. Proactive rather than forensic, iSentry is “the most technologically advanced proactive security software in the industry today,” according to Prescient Group LLC co-founder and President Charles Barber.

The iSentry program actively “learns” normal behaviors and then is able to distill suspicious or out of the ordinary behavior and then immediately takes responsive action as predetermined by the client.

According to Prescient Group LLC co-founder and Chairman Kendall Chen: “The iSentry advanced intelligence-based technology works to protect business and industry from multiple harm and security concerns. This should be of extraordinary interest to the World Congress of Intelligent Transport Systems audience, specifically with highway or rail transportation and container box/ shipping and maritime interests; as well as in the defense sector; homeland security; the power generation sector; hospitality; business in general and hospitals.”

How iSentry works: iSentry learns normal behavior by observation and detects unusual activity. Using advanced artificial (AI) software, the iSentry software is able to learn the activity patterns of the things and people in the camera’s view; and how to filter out normal activity and detect unusual activity. iSentry’s “black screen” technology dramatically increases video surveillance efficiencies, utilizing a client’s existing closed circuit television infrastructure. The iSentry technology maintains a black screen until it identifies unusual or suspicious behavior is identified. Therefore, only “of interest” video is displayed. Concurrently, pre-programmed responses, pre-determined by the client,

(Prescient Group US to introduce groundbreaking iSentry video surveillance technology at World Congress ITS meeting at Javits Center-page two)

such as email notifications, claxon alerts, lockdowns, and notification of building and regional security personnel, are already underway.

Mr. Barber and Mr. Chen note that the iSentry technology has the power to accomplish five things that few other systems can:

*Detect unusual activity: iSentry can filter out over 95% of so-called normal motion video and only present unusual activity to operators. It provides excellent and unrivalled situational awareness and the ability to achieve an effective, immediate response

*Multiple camera analysis and management: iSentry accommodates large numbers of cameras by scheduling interesting video, allowing the operator to shift priorities without missing critical incidents.

*Active pan/ tilt/ zoom camera control: iSentry can autonomously command the PTZ camera to zoom in and track the target. This ensures detailed images are captured, all without human detection.

*Ultra long video archive: iSentry relegates low-interest video to be saved in a lower resolution or quality, reducing disc storage space by 90%

*Reliable outdoor left-object detection: iSentry can reliably detect small objects left in busy outdoor areas, even during most all weather conditions, rain, hail or shine.

Spacenet Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of satellite networking solutions, announced that its Channel Partner Orbital Data Net (ODN) recently deployed Spacenet’s high-performance Connexstar satellite services in support of emergency networks for government agencies to help bring vital communications online during severe weather conditions. The services enable rapid deployment of completely converged communications to support voice, video and broadband data via satellite for emergency response teams.

ODN, a leading satellite network integrator and emergency services solutions provider, deployed an emergency satellite communications network for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety to support critical operations during and after back-to-back hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Spacenet’s industry leading Connexstar services, deployed by ODN, provided support for the State’s VPN connections and Voice over IP emergency telephones. The network connected the Department of Public Safety in Baton Rouge to Highway Patrol Trooper Headquarters located at sites across the affected zones. The satellite systems proved to be extremely reliable, enduring winds in excess of 100 miles per hour for sustained periods of time.

ODN also deployed an advanced emergency management network in Missouri to help government agencies and community organizations resume data and voice communications during the aftermath of severe flooding. With damaged terrestrial networks and with cellular towers down, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) provided a transportable and rapidly deployable satellite network to The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). The emergency communications network, based on Spacenet’s industry leading Connexstar Performance service and implemented by ODN, provided support for Voice over IP (VoIP), radio backhaul, and VPN Internet access.

MoDOT Traffic Division Communications Coordinator John Diggs said, “Spacenet’s satellite services combined with ODN’s Emergency Satellite Network provided the mission-critical communications support that we needed during our flood recovery efforts. Unlike previous alternative satellite systems that we used which proved to be unreliable, the solution provided by Spacenet and ODN met all of our requirements and was designed specifically for the unique needs of emergency responders.”

Spacenet President and COO Glenn Katz said, “Reliable communications are a critical component of emergency response efforts during the aftermath of any natural or man-made disaster. Spacenet’s satellite services provide the needed communications services that help meet emergency recovery efforts. We are pleased that integration partners like ODN have chosen Spacenet’s services to provide a dependable communications solution for their customers.”

About STRATACACHE

With decades of experience in satellite, Orbital Data Net (ODN), formerly Heifner Communications is a leading provider of fixed and mobile emergency satellite communication systems. ODN can be contacted at (573)445-8101 or visit http://www.orbitaldata.net.

The SDR Forum, a non-profit international industry association dedicated to promoting the success of next generation radio technology, has announced today that they have created a new group to address test guidelines and requirements for secondary spectrum access of unused TV spectrum, also known as white space. The group, “Test Guidelines and Requirements for Secondary Spectrum Access of Unused TV Spectrum,” will develop a set of use cases and test requirements for the use of cognitive radio techniques to allow unlicensed secondary spectrum access for unused TV bands.

Often in the news since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimous approval of the use of vacant portions of the broadcast spectrum by unlicensed devices on November 4, 2008, the topic of white space has been a source of debate, considering it has implications for many types of wireless broadband innovative technology, including software defined and cognitive radio.

“The work of this new group will help the wireless industry in many ways”, says group co-chair Pat Carson of TDK (www.tdk.com), “Our activities will expand the market for cognitive radio technologies by enabling standards to be developed based on a common set of test requirements that enable entry into the market”.

The initial focus of the new SDR Forum Secondary Spectrum Access Testing group will be on mobile technologies (”personal portable devices”), however, the group may also explore new business models in creating the use case scenarios. The anticipated results of the group’s efforts will be a set of uniform testing guidelines for each of the use cases. Potentially, the output will be used for certification testing and to help formulate recommendations to the FCC, ITU and other regulatory bodies promoting the use of Cognitive Radio Technology for secondary spectrum access.

“Testing of cognitive radio is the crucial step in making the transition from research to full commercialization, which is why I decided to support Pat’s idea of creating this group,” says group co-chair Joe Mitola of the Stevens Institute of Technology (http://www.stevens.edu/sit/). Dr. Mitola was one of the initial developers of software defined and cognitive radio technologies and was the first to coin the terms in 1991 and 1999, respectively. “The foundation that the SDR Forum is laying here also will enable military and public safety radios to be secondary users, opening up substantial new spectrum resources to DoD and DHS for spectrum surge in national security situations. William Webb of Ofcom, the UK spectrum regulatory body is working with us, so this is very important for commercial, military, and homeland defense spectrum policy here in the New York City area and around the world.”

The next step for the group will be to coordinate with the SDR Forum Cognitive Radio Work Group and other standards bodies to produce standard test procedures.

For more information on the group, or to become involved, visit the SDR Forum web site (www.sdrforum.org) or contact SDR Forum Lee Pucker (lee.pucker@sdrforum.org). The group will also be gathering at the SDR Forum working meeting in San Diego, 26-30 January, 2009 (http://sdrforum.org/pages/whatsNew/jan09meeting.asp).

Each year, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) presents an award to one public safety communications person who has demonstrated the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the local, state, and national public safety communications arena. NPSTC’s Governing Board is pleased to present the 2008 Richard DeMello award, named to honor the achievements of DeMello, one of the founding fathers of NPSTC, to Chief Charles Werner, Fire Chief of the Charlottesville, Virginia, Fire Department. Former DeMello Award winner Chief Harlin McEwen presented the award saying, “Charles has worked long and hard on behalf of the public safety community and is extremely worthy of the honor this award conveys.”

Chief Werner, a 30-year veteran, was also honored by his peers in August when he received the Fire Chief Magazine 2008 Career Fire Chief of the Year. He is a three-time recipient of the Virginia Governors Award for Fire Service Excellence and has received the Virginia Fire Chiefs President’s Award, the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council Spotlight Award, the International Association of Fire Chiefs President’s Award, and two Life Saving Awards.

“Chief Werner’s dedication to public safety on the national scene is as impressive as his service to his local community,” says Ralph Haller, NPSTC Chair. “He is well-known throughout the fire and emergency services nationwide for his expertise in communications, technology, grants and leadership, serving on the Virginia Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee for many years.” He is the Chair of the Department of Homeland Security’s SAFECOM Executive Committee, is Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Technology Council, and most recently, chaired the Digital Project Working Group, which investigated the possibility of unintelligible audio of digital systems in loud noise environments.

Chief Werner is a nationally published author with over 70 published articles. He serves on the editorial advisory boards for Firehouse Magazine, Firehouse.com, Urgent Communications (formerly Mobile Radio Technology), and Virginia Fire and Rescue Magazine. Chief Werner has provided testimony before Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), serving as a recognized authority on public safety communications on many panels. He serves on NPSTC’s Governing Board as an Alternate representing IAFC.

Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ: CLWRD for the first 20 trading days and CLWR thereafter) and Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S) announced today that they have completed the transaction to combine their next-generation wireless Internet businesses. With the closing, Sprint contributed all of its 2.5 GHz spectrum and its WiMAX-related assets, including its XOHM business, to Clearwire. In addition, Clearwire has received a $3.2 Billion cash investment from Comcast, Intel, Time Warner Cable, Google and Bright House Networks. The transaction with Sprint and the new cash investment were completed on the terms originally announced on May 7, 2008. The new company retains the name Clearwire and remains headquartered in Kirkland, Washington.

Nokia Siemens Networks has broken new ground with another technological first: mobile broadband communications beyond LTE. Company researchers have successfully demonstrated Relaying technology proposed for LTE-Advanced, enabling an exceptional end-user experience delivered consistently across the network.

Completed in Nokia Siemens Networks research facilities in Germany, the demonstration illustrated how advances to Relaying technology can further improve the quality and coverage consistency of a network at the cell edge – where users are furthest from the mobile broadband base station.

Relaying technology, which can also be integrated in normal base station platforms, is cost efficient and easy to deploy as it does not require additional backhaul. The demonstration of LTE Advanced means operators can plan their LTE network investments knowing that the already best-in-class LTE radio performance, including cell edge data rates, can be further improved and that the technological development path for the next stage of LTE is secure and future-proof.

Stephan Scholz, Chief Technology Officer of Nokia Siemens Networks, said: “Demonstrating improved cell edge and indoor-user data rates is an important milestone for coverage scenarios. It further strengthens the position of LTE as the major mobile broadband technology. Consumers will enjoy an even richer user experience thanks to higher throughput everywhere in the cell, while operators will be able to deploy their networks in a more flexible and cost efficient way.

“LTE Advanced is the next step in the evolutionary development of LTE technology. Nokia Siemens Networks performs extensive research activities for LTE-Advanced in developing this important technology which will be decisive to our customers in the future.”

As mobile networks move through the necessary stages towards ever faster and richer broadband performance, Nokia Siemens Networks is helping operators to create the foundation for future improvements.

These performance enhancements have been achieved by combining an LTE system supporting a 2×2 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna system, and a Relay station. The Relaying operates in-band, which means that the relay stations inserted in the network do not need an external data backhaul. They are connected to the nearest base stations by using radio resources within the operating frequency band of the base station itself. Towards the terminal they are base stations and offer the full functionality of LTE. LTE-Advanced is currently being studied by 3GPP for Release 10 and will be submitted towards ITU-R as the 3GPP Radio Interface Technology proposal.

The improved cell coverage and system fairness - meaning offering higher user data rates for and fair treatment of users distant from the base station - will allow operators to utilise existing LTE network infrastructure and still meet growing bandwidth demands.

The demonstration has been realised by using an intelligent demo relay node embedded in a test network forming a FDD in-band self-backhauling solution for coverage enhancements. With this demonstration the performance at the cell edge could be increased up to 50% of the peak throughput.

Nokia Siemens Networks is the forerunner in LTE. In 2006 the company was the first to demonstrate LTE technology with data speeds in the 160Mb/s range as well as a successful handover between LTE and HSPA, and continued breaking records in 2007 by demonstrating a multiuser field trial in an urban environment with peak data rates of 173 Mb/s. In February 2008 Nokia Siemens Networks showcased a live demo on commercial hardware and launched its LTE solution based on Flexi Multimode Base Station. In September 2008 Nokia Siemens Networks started to ship its LTE compatible Flexi Multimode Base Station hardware.

Building on the company’s technological leadership, Nokia Siemens Networks together with Nokia has continued to pioneer LTE and LTE-Advanced technology research and standardization work in 3GPP with major number of contributions in the 3GPP RAN standardization and is pushing its commercialization.

About Nokia Siemens Networks

Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of communications services. The company provides a complete, well-balanced product portfolio of mobile and fixed network infrastructure solutions and addresses the growing demand for services with 20,000 service professionals worldwide. Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the largest telecommunications infrastructure companies with operations in 150 countries. The company is headquartered in Espoo, Finland.www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a $3.7 million contract from Northrop Grumman Corp. to evaluate enhancements to communications security and replacements for data-storage media for the U.S. Air Force’s Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system. This contract is the second phase of risk-reduction work being done in advance of a major ICBM modification program planned for 2010.

Under this phase of the Master Code Cartridge Conversion program, Boeing will continue to develop hardware and software for a proof-of-concept demonstration and to draft the program’s requirements documentation. Boeing will complete work on this contract by September 2009.

“This contract will advance the hardware and software concepts that will be critical to keeping the Minuteman weapon system secure and sustainable,” said Kelly Johnson, Boeing ICBM Prime Ground and Weapons Systems program manager. “Data-transport technologies and communication security will be updated, demonstrated and deployed in the next phases of this important modification program.”

Boeing has played a key role in ICBM development design, production and maintenance since the Minuteman I was conceptualized in 1958. In addition to ground- and weapon-system sustainment, Boeing performs ICBM repair activities at its Guidance Repair Center in Heath, Ohio, and is a member of the ICBM prime contractor team.

Boeing’s integrated ICBM product teams include more than 1,000 Boeing employees and span several locations, including Heath; Ogden; Anaheim, Calif.; and El Paso, Texas.

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Symmetricom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYMM), a worldwide leader in precise time and frequency technologies that accelerate the deployment and enable the management of next generation networks, today announced the XPRO, its next generation, high performance rubidium oscillator designed for a wide range of applications in test and measurement, aerospace and defense markets. With its low profile and standard connector interface, the XPRO is designed for integration into a wide range of time and frequency systems.

“The XPRO leverages over 35 years of proven rubidium atomic physics technology combined with advanced digital electronics architecture to provide an exceptionally stable oscillator that meets the most demanding performance requirements,” commented Doug Lowrie, product marketing manager at Symmetricom. “Offering best in class short term frequency stability and low frequency aging, the XPRO operates for extended periods without calibration, which translates to lower cost of ownership.”

The XPRO is a drop-in replacement for Symmetricom’s successful Low Profile Rubidium Oscillator (LPRO), which has been widely used in a variety of applications in the test and measurement, aerospace and defense markets where an embedded high performance oscillator is required. Ideal for applications where GPS is not used or not always available, the XPRO’s design enables autonomous systems to maintain timing specifications that are not achievable using lower stability oscillators.

The key benefits of the XPRO include:

Optional <1E-11 per month aging – maintains 1E-9 frequency accuracy for 10 years or longer without recalibration

Digital monitoring and control – all monitoring and control done via RS-232 interface allowing easy access to comprehensive status and control parameters

Standard outputs – 10MHz and 1PPS

RoHs 5/6 compliant

The XPRO will be demonstrated at The 40th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI 2008) Systems and Applications Meeting, December 1–4, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Reston, Virginia. For more information on PTTI 2008, visit: http://www.pttimeeting.org/.

Availability

The XPRO Rubidium Oscillator will be available in January 2009.

For more information on the XPRO, visit: http://www.symmetricom.com/products/frequency-references/rubidium-frequency-standard/xpro/.

About Symmetricom, Inc.

As a worldwide leader in precise time and frequency products and services, Symmetricom provides “Perfect Timing” to customers around the world. Since 1985, the company’s solutions have helped define the world’s time and frequency standards, delivering precision, reliability and efficiency to wireline and wireless networks, instrumentation and testing applications and network time management. Deployed in more than 90 countries, the company’s synchronization solutions include primary reference sources, building integrated timing supplies (BITS), GPS timing receivers, time and frequency distribution systems, network time servers and ruggedized oscillators. Symmetricom also incorporates technologies including Universal Timing Interface (UTI), Network Time Protocol (NTP), Precision Time Protocol (IEEE 1588), and others supporting the world’s migration to Next Generation Networks (NGN). Symmetricom is based in San Jose, Calif., with offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.symmetricom.com.

SYMM-P

TRACOPOWER launches it’s new TEP-100 Series of isolated, high-performance DC/DC converter modules offering 100 Watts that are ideal solutions for industrial applications where PCB Mounting is not an option.

The new TEP-100 Series feature a metal enclosure with four M3 Inserts for attaching the converter to a chassis or heatsink. An optional chassis mount adaptor with screw terminals greatly simplifies electrical installation. The series is comprised of 12 models offering 100 Watts of Output power with input ranges of 18~36 or 36~75 VDC and outputs ranging from 5~48 VDC.3.3~48VDC. All models feature 2250 VDC Isolation; 92~93% operational efficiencies; -40~+105°C Operating Baseplate Temperature; full load capability up to 60°C; voltage trim function; remote sense function; and remote on/off function. The wide input range combined with reverse input protection make these converters excellent solutions for battery operated systems. These products are also available with an ultra-wide 18~75 VDC input voltage range (TEP-75 series) and reduced output power of 75W.

The TEP-100 products are in full production with deliveries from stock to 6 weeks. Pricing starts at $95.50 for 250 pieces. Specifications are available for download from http://www.tracopower.com/products/tep100.pdf.

In the United Kingdom, Murco Petroleum Limited’s Milford Haven refinery recently announced a new wireless network to assist in monitoring offsite operations that deal with large amounts of flammable gas and liquid. The network features explosion-proof and intrinsically safe technologies from the U.K.’s Extronics and integrated wireless mesh networking nodes from Los Gatos, Calif.-based Firetide Inc. As a whole, the system is designed to improve operational efficiencies throughout the facility while protecting the site and employees from accidents.

Plano, Tex.-based Invensys Process Systems (IPS) – a global technology, software and consulting firm with a major presence in industrial process manufacturing, plant optimization, and business operations – won the original turnkey system contract from U.K.-based Murco. IPS turned to Extronics to supply networking solutions that can be deployed in hazardous areas where even the smallest electrical spark can literally have explosive consequences.

“As a network infrastructure provider, we’ve built our company philosophy around reliable performance as well as safety,” said John Hartley, managing director of Extronics. “We are there to solve business problems with networking technologies, and in this case Firetide mesh was the only wireless solution that could deliver the throughput required for networking a facility spanning distances of nearly 1 mile.”

Murco’s Milford Haven offsite operations facility is a critical component of the refinery’s overall production process. The site manages the handling, storage and transfer of highly combustible materials at tank farms and terminals. More than 1,500 manual valves around the facility perform a wide variety of functions, many of which require exact positioning to ensure liquids are directed accurately and safely through a network of pipes.

Using a wireless solution, operators at Milford Haven employ mobile equipment such as rugged wireless Windows Mobile PDAs and RFID tags to immediately relay valve status information back to a central control room and view the status on a process mimic on the site’s DCS (Distributed Control Process). The system also enables real-time work scheduling so operators can pick up a new route to work on and provide their status at the same time.

Wireless is an obvious network infrastructure solution in hazardous environments because it reduces or entirely eliminates long trails of electrical cabling. Extronics chose Firetide, which develops advanced wireless mesh technologies for almost any environment, as the network delivery system for several reasons:

• Milford Haven’s tank farm is more than 1000 yards away from the facility’s control room network switches (A trench-and-cable network would prove far too costly at those distances).

• Regular wireless access points could have provided a solution to the cabling problem, but they lack the reliable network switching and routing intelligence of wireless mesh.

• Firetide wireless mesh nodes provide an extremely flexible growth path for future deployments.

“We always try to provide our clients with long-term, forward-thinking solutions,” said Hartley. “Firetide mesh is Ethernet-based, which means down the road Milford Haven can easily add other IP-based devices, such as video surveillance cameras, to the network.”

In total, Extronics deployed 15 Firetide wireless mesh nodes. Each node is housed in an Extronics 316L stainless steel explosion-proof enclosure along with protection electronics to allow the use of standard antennas. Thermostatically controlled anti-condensation heaters offered further protection against the hazardous area extreme environment.

“Firetide mesh nodes have demonstrated considerable success in a wide variety of diverse environments, with the Milford Haven deployment being an example of extremely dangerous conditions,” said Bo Larsson, chief executive officer of Firetide. “We are pleased in the confidence our customers exhibit not just in the core capabilities of our networking products, but that they can perform where safety is an extraordinary priority.”

About Firetide Inc.

Firetide is the leading provider of wireless mesh and access networks that enable concurrent video, voice and data for municipal, public safety and enterprise applications. Firetide HotPort® mesh nodes, HotPoint® access points, HotClient™ CPEs, Firetide Mobility Controller, Firetide WLAN Controller and HotView Pro™ network management platform provide a reliable high performance wireless infrastructure and access solution for video surveillance, Internet access, public safety networks and temporary networks wherever rapid deployment, mobility and ease of installation are required. Headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., Firetide is a privately held company with worldwide product distribution. www.firetide.com.