Project
FDI 01: Wireless IP Multimedia Multicast
Project
Abstract: The objective of this project is to develop an asymmetric
wireless bidirectional transmission infrastructure operating with
IP technology. The specific application to be implemented is to
distribute videos on demand with educational content to high schools
(video service and cache). The system operates with two or more
distribution centers and approximately 60 reception points (high
schools) in Chile’s Fifth (Valparaíso) and Ninth (Temuco)
Region. Wireless transmission was chosen because other access
technology alternatives, like fiber optic, cable modem and xDSL
access technology are expensive for public and private high schools
in a country like Chile. In contrast, the broadband wireless access
in the non-licensed S band (2,5 GHz range), although requiring
some initial investment, has a low operational cost and it is
easy to scale.
Expected
Results: Video distribution to high schools. This material
will also be placed on a web site in low resolution, to be downloaded
with narrowband POTS modem technology, alongside with guidelines,
for teachers to be able to select and prepare their lecture material.
Once a video has been selected by a teacher, he/she may request
its transmission in a time frame of the day of his/her choice
for classroom use. This web site will also facilitate teacher
interaction, presentation of the transmission schedule, provide
a list of the most used videos, etc. In parallel to this service
an evaluation system will be designed to measure the impact of
this system in schools.
Main
Impacts:
Social
and Economic: To be able to develop a scalable community based
wireless IP network. Although in this particular implementation
the idea is to use this network to bring information technology
to high schools and incorporate it in to their curricula, the
application can be easily extended to other interest communities:
firefighters, city councils, hospitals and clinics, etc. For
High School teachers this will be a new way to use video information
to enrich their teaching activity.
Science
and Technology: Research in radio link design in the 2,5 GHz
S Band in a geographically difficult area like Valparaíso (many
hills that force to build a wireless backbone network) and tuning
of application layer software will be necessary to implement the
desired video distribution. Also, the capacity of LANs with wireless
backbone networks using Linux proxies at High Schools.
Institutional:
1) High speed video for High Schools; 2) Internet access for High
Schools and, 3) Use of Information Technology to aid the teacher
in the classroom through the implementation of a specific project.
