Internet-of-Things Applications Development for Private LTE Small-Cell Networks | Consortium for Embedded Systems | SIU

Abstract: We are witnessing the dawn of a new era of Internet of Things (IoT; also known as Internet of Objects). Generally speaking, IoT refers to the networked interconnection of everyday objects, which are often equipped with ubiquitous intelligence. Projections say that by the year 2020, 16 billion dynamic-networked devices will be deployed, and interact with the real world simultaneously generating huge quantities of data. Smart building, self-driving cars, house monitoring and management, city electricity and pollution monitoring are some examples where dynamic networked real-time systems are deployed. This bloom of dynamic networked devices was also a result of new network services. With lower latency and higher bandwidth than its predecessor 3G networks, the latest cellular technology 4G LTE has been attracting many new users. However, the interactions among applications and network transport protocol still remain unexplored. In this project, we propose methodologies for interfacing, controlling and monitoring IoT devices in industrial settings over private LTE small-cell networks over 3.65 GHz frequency band.

Problem: The value of dynamic networked real-time systems is hidden in the increased value of information created by the number of interconnections and the transformation of the processed information into knowledge. However, the growing complexity of these systems, due to the high number of interconnected components and complex iterations among devices, will be unmanageable, and will obstruct the development of new services and applications. 4G LTE is the latest deployed cellular network technology that provides high-speed data services for mobile devices with advertised bandwidths matching and even exceeding the home broad band network speeds. However, this new technology has not been extensively studied empirically in a deployed commercial network setting to understand how network resources are utilized across different protocol layers for real users. It is important to evaluate the benefits of increased bandwidth for popular mobile applications and essential network protocols to identify their limitations for needed improvements.

Rationale / Approach: The recently opening up of 3.65 GHz CBS band can in fact be utilized for deploying private LTE small-cell networks for connecting industrial appliances directly to a desired network without intermediate agents if one ensures proper interfacing between appliances and LTE UE. In this project, we focus on characterizing the usage of a private LTE network stats with a careful analysis of basic network characteristics in terms of flow properties, network latency, followed by the congestion control statistics of observed network flows. Also, we will study and report the preliminary results of an analysis of the suitability of LTE as the wireless technology to connect IoT gateways to the Internet. Additionally, we will propose methodologies for interfacing, controlling and monitoring IoT devices in industrial settings over private LTE small-cell networks over 3.65 GHz frequency band. Last, in order to expand the utilization and connectivity properties of the private LTE network, focus will be given on developing device specific drivers, for private LTE network, that will allow the support of multiple user-end devices.

Novelty: This project: (i) will study and analyze LTE as the wireless technology to connect IoT gateways to the Internet; (ii) Will characterize the usage of a commercial LTE network; (iii) Will validate the accuracy of bandwidth estimation algorithms using controlled experiments; (iv) will perform a case study on popular multimedia applications from the perspectives of network resource usage; (v) will make several recommendations on protocol and application design to more effectively take advantage of the available network resources.

Potential Member Company Benefits: The developed framework for supporting Internet-of-Things applications will be useful in many situations for the member companies. Firstly, new techniques for characterizing the usage of a private LTE network starts will be evaluated. Also, user-end applications will be integrated and tested. Last, device specific drivers will allow the support of new devices in the private LTE network.

Deliverables for the proposed year: The proposed project deliverables will be as follows: (i) Comprehensive report on the developed techniques and network utilization. The report will also include the results regarding application and system requirements; and (ii) a demo of a simple IoT scenario

Milestones for the proposed year: Q1: Study of existing IoT tools and network utilization methodologies-algorithms. Q2: Define software architecture and hardware specifications for IoT applications. Q3: Development of the aforementioned IoT framework. First ideas about demo functionality. Q4: Finalize development, demo and report.