Five Year Renewal of Wireless Internet I/UCRC

New York University, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

IIP-0933985 Polytechnic University of New York Bertoni This is a proposal to renew the Polytechnic University's participation in the Wireless Internet Center for Advance Technology (WICAT). The multi-university center consists of the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Auburn University. WICAT, with Polytechnic as the lead institution, has 25 companies and 8 federal and state agencies as industry associates. The Center research addresses cooperative communications and networking; extending battery life of portable terminals; and wireless applications and associated information delivery. Finding new and better ways to meet the demands on wireless networks will continue to be the goal of research being carried out in WICAT overall, and at the Polytechnic site inn particular. Polytechnic University currently has 8 industry associates and has generated over $300,000 in membership fees. Thus, Polytechnic University meets the minimum I/UCRC requirements for Phase II (YRS 6 through 10). Wireless internet research is critical to maintaining the United States lead in the information technology explosion. Renewal for a second five-year period of the Polytechnic site will allow continuation of research activities directed towards four major thrusts that are essential for widespread deployment and interconnection of wireless devices through the internet and other networks. The proposed research will continue to study networks built from codes that cooperate at the physical and network layers, and to demonstrate their capabilities through hardware implementations. Proposed research on wireless network security will address problems whose solutions have become even more urgent since WICAT was founded. WICAT will create tools to enable businesses and consumers to take advantage of the enormous diversity of technologies and services that characterize every aspect of the wireless internet. This breadth is of benefit to both students and companies regarding employment opportunities. The breadth of WICAT interactions will provide cultural diversity. At the Polytechnic site, there are two female and one physically challenged faculty members; and, Polytechnic University itself has students from 30 states and 50 foreign countries. Laboratories for hardware implementation and network security will serve undergraduate, as well as graduate students, providing them access to a wider view of technology.