Communication Networks (C-NET) - Current Activities

Wireless Communications and Coding
The theme has an excellent track record in the design and construction of many types of binary and non-binary error-correcting codes combined with equalisation for wireless communications and data storage. The performances of these systems are evaluated in many environments and methods to reduce complexity are investigated. Applications include multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) fixed broadband and cellular channels, cooperative networks and magnetic recording channels. The theme is also prominent in its research into adaptive transceiver design with emphasis on multi-path fading channels in the presence of multiple access interference. Moreover the theme is carrying out research on constellation shaping, transceiver precoding and peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) minimisation for OFDM based systems.

Wireless Sensor Networks
The theme has developed an array of wireless sensor technologies that enable ad hoc networks consisting of many sensor nodes to be set up for a variety of applications including traffic and pollution monitoring. Network routing protocols have been developed to ensure self-healing and collaborative location algorithms have been devised to achieve location awareness. Networks developed by the theme have been demonstrated in major city deployments and ongoing research is focused on link quality improvement, particularly in the presence of signal fading and multipath.

Extreme Communication Networks
Over many years, the theme has demonstrated unique expertise in wireless communications for extreme environments. The Theme is a centre of research excellence in this area and has established a state-of-the-art Sensors, Electromagnetic and Acoustics Laboratory (SEALAB) to develop robust communication methods through severe channels such as underwater and metal. Research achievements in underwater communications include acoustic signal communication with data rates up to 32 Kbit/sec and signal transmission over distances up to 10 km. The technology developed by the theme can be used in personal location transmitters or to control underwater vehicles as well as data logging and video transmission. In the area of through metal communications, the Theme has used novel acoustic technology to enable data rates of up to 1 Mbit/s through metal walls of 80 mm thickness. At this level of bandwidth video transmission is possible in addition to data communications. This approach can be used as acoustic gateways to facilitate wireless networking on-board ships and large metal containers.

Collaborations

Academic: Cambridge University, Lancaster University.
Industrial: Cambridge Broadband Ltd, BAE, Tritech International.

Contact

Prof. Bayan Sharif, email: bayan.sharif@ncl.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 191 222 6539.