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Current Projects at ANTD

Contents:

• High Speed Networks
• Internetworking Technologies
• Mutimedia Networking
• Wireless

High Speed Networks

• WDM Network Metrology - The objective of this project is to accelerate the development of multi-vendor interoperable metropolitan/local access Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks. We will develop a WDM metrology testbed to characterize the effect of optical signal parameters (e.g., s/n ratio, wavelength stability) on network behavior, and to develop methods for characterizing very dense WDM networks with narrow spacing in 10GHz range. We will identify and demonstrate means of realizing reconfigurable/tunable multiplexers and routers and study their impact on network performance.
  • Overview: Project quad chart
  • Investigators:  David Cypher, Srikana Kumar, David Su, Jesse Wen and Jean-Francois Le Bihan
     
• WDM Network Planning and Modeling - We will develop software tools to simulate dynamic reconfiguration and physical layer characteristics of scalable WDM networks, and to analyze and design self-healing mechanisms in ring and mesh WDM topologies.  We will develop models, conduct simulations to evaluate distributed algorithms for wavelength assignment and routing, to assess the performance of alternative proposals for service adaptation including IP over WDM.
  • Overview: Project quad chart
  • Investigators:  Jin Seek Choi, Nada Golmie, Srikana Kumar, Francios Lapeyrere, Frederic Mouveaux, Guillaume Lhoste, Jigesh Patel, and David Su
     
• WDM Network Quality of Service - The main objective of this project is to develop a QoS model for WDM networks that maps well with QoS models for existing network technologies and applications and provides services transparently to higher layers. The model will include a set of parameters, service classes, protocols for QoS monitoring, and parameter negotiation. We will design QoS implementation schemes in WDM networks with respect to routing, wavelength assignment, reconfiguration and self-restoration.
  • Overview: Project quad chart
  • Investigators:  Nada Golmie and David Su
     
• Modeling of the Bluetooth(TM) Protocols - This project will validate and verify protocols developed for the Bluetooth program and provide technical comments to ensure that the specifications are complete and unambiguously specified.  To accomplish these tasks we will create a validation model of the Link Manager Protocol using the Promela language and then use a tool called SPIN to simulate the behavior of the validation model.  Additional models will be developed as other Bluetooth protocols become mature. 
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators:  David Cypher,  and Yunming Song
     
• Past projects in high speed networks.

• IP Quality of Service – The goal of this effort is to facilitate the research and development of protocols and applications that will enable Internet technology to support real time applications. Our focus is on two critical areas of this problem: (1) the design and engineering of QoS sensitive / adaptive applications for use with today's Internet technology; and (2) the research, development, and standardization of new architectures, protocols and services specifically designed to provide QoS controlled network services. In the latter area, we are focusing on  IETF efforts to define new signaling, routing, and transport protocols including: RSVP, RTP, MPLS, QoS Routing, Intserv, and Diffserv. Our approach is to research and develop test methods, tools and prototypes that will enable industry to improve the quality and expedite the deliver of new QoS sensitive applications and networking technologies. Our recent contributions include:
  • ISPI - a real time performance measurement tool that facilitates interactive experiments with RSVP signaling and SDR/RTP based real time streams.
  • NIST Net - a general-purpose tool for emulating performance dynamics in IP networks.  NIST Net is designed to allow controlled, reproducible experiments with QoS sensitive applications and protocols.
  • NIST Switch - an experimental prototype platform for research in Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), QoS routing and signaling.
  • DIPPER - a Distributed Internet Protocol and PERformance test system designed to support distributed testing of topologically sensitive, multiparty IP QoS signaling and forwarding mechanisms.
    • Overview: Project quad chart
    • Investigators: Mark Carson, Shu-jen Chang, Samir Shah, Mohammed Hendaz, Doug Montgomery.
       
• Internet Security Protocols – The goal of this effort is to expedite the research, development, standardization and commercialization of technologies to provide ubiquitous network security services. Our focus is on the IETF IPsec effort, including supporting protocols for key management (i.e., IKE) and certificate systems (i.e. PKIX). We actively participate in the IETF voluntary standards development effort and we deliver rapid prototypes and automated testing technology that makes a demonstrable impact on the IPsec research and development community. Our recent contributions include:
  • NIST Cerberus / PlutoPlus  - a leading edge prototype reference implementation of IP security (IPsec) and Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocols.
  • IPsec WIT - a Web based Interoperability Test system built around the Cerberus / PlutoPlus reference  implementations. WIT allows researchers and developers to conduct interoperability tests of security protocols anytime and anywhere without     relocating systems or software.
    • Overview: Project quad chart
    • Investigators: Rob Glenn, Sheila Frankel, Laurent Ciarletta, Paul Kabore, Doug Montgomery.
       
• Middleware for Reconfigurable Distributed Systems – The goal of this effort is to research and develop application middleware that supports scripting of globally distributed, reconfigurable, event-driven applications. In addition, we are investigating the infrastructural needs for such applications. Our research focuses on the forecast that in the future, the architecture of distributed systems will be radically different from those of today. The forces propelling such changes stem from several requirements: (1) the movement towards making embedded processing, sensors and actuators first order components of the networked computational infrastructure; (2) the need to accommodate environments in which semi-autonomous systems and devices organize into cooperating systems; (3) the need to enable distributed control systems to dynamically adapt and optimize their behavior in reaction to changing environments and physical composition of the system components. Our approach is build a distributed systems framework and tool kit based upon an abstraction we call Mobile Streams. Our mobile streams framework supports code mobility and dynamic reconfiguration  and extensibility of distributed systems. The framework enables us and other researchers to address  issues surrounding mobile code and reconfigurable distributed systems.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: Mudumbai Ranganathan , Virginie Schaal, Virginie Galtier, Fernand Pors, and Doug Montgomery
     
• Internet Performance Measurement - The goal of this effort is to advance the state of the art in internet performance measurement through improved measurement techniques and advanced statistical analysis of the collected data.  Our focus is on the research and development of measurement and analysis techniques to support the demand  for enforceable service level agreements (SLAs).  Our approach is to develop statistical data analysis techniques for the resulting  data.  Our initial approach is to work with measurement infrastructure and to work with the NIST Statistics Division in data modeling and analysis techniques.
  • Overview:  Project quad chart
  • Investigators:  Craig Hunt, Sri Kumar,  and Hsin Fang
     
• PAST Projects in Internetworking.

• Image modeling and related Standards  -   This project seeks to facilitate the development of multimedia products through two main activities. (1) Basic research with emphasis on image modeling, indexing, compression, fidelity metrics, and document handling; results are documented and made available through refereed publications, conference participation, and reference material. (2) Active standards participation (MPEG-4 and W³C) with emphasis on the development and collection of reference implementations and testing material.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: Wo Chang, Omid Kia, Tassos Nakassis, Rem Onyshczak, and Abdou Youssef.
     
• SMIL  - This project consists of developing and maintaining reference source code of a player implementing the Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (a W³C standard).  This material is used in the development of the standard and in testing commercial implementations.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators:  Wo Chang
     
• Click here for more detailed information

Wireless

• 3rd Generation Wireless Systems - The goal of this project is to evaluate the performance of major IMT-2000 proposals for third-generation wireless communication systems.  We will define a set of metrics for evaluation of such systems.  We plan to build a software testbed that would allow us to evaluate the major contenders for the IMT-2000 standard in different wireless transmission scenarios, such as for mobile users, for indoor users, in city and urban areas, and in countryside.
  • Overview:  Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: Hamid Gharavi, Tommi N. Makelainen, Vladimir V. Marbukh, Maarit I. S. Melvasalo, Michael D. Miller, Nader Moayeri, and Madhavi W. Subbarao
     
• Characterization of Broadband Wireless Access Communication Systems -We will develop metrology to characterize the performance of broadband wireless access communication systems with a focus on the fidelity of digital transport.  We will construct a laboratory testbed with a hardware component in Boulder and a mostly software component in Gaithersburg with links that will allow remote experimental control from Gaithersburg.  We will use the testbed to study the performance of digital coding and modulation schemes and their relationship to the performance of radio-frequency components.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: Nader Moayeri, Roger B. Marks, Anthony J. Kearsley, and                            Jan Erik Hakegard
     
• Bluetooth and Smart Spaces - Bluetooth is a wireless technology under development by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba.  Bluetooth technology enables personal computing and communication devices to communicate with each other in a wireless fashion over the unlicensed, ISM, 2.4GHz frequency band.  We plan to evaluate the performance of the Bluetooth air interface as far as system capacity and interference from other users is concerned.  We also plan to look at image and video transport mechanisms for Bluetooth. Bluetooth can play a key role in indoor smart space applications, where users are expected to have access to a wealth of information in a seamless fashion.
  • Overview: Project quad chart
  • Investigators: Vladimir V. Marbukh, Michael D. Miller, Kevin L. Mills and              Nader Moayeri
     
• Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) - We plan to evaluate existing routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks, and to develop new ones.  In these networks, users can communicate with each other without having to go through base stations and backbone networks. The routing problem here is interesting, because one has to take into account the time-varying nature of the communication channel between each pair of nodes as well as the power expended by each user.  We will define metrics for evaluating  performance of these protocols and will also look at stability and scalability issues.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: Madhavi W. Subbarao, Nader Moayeri, and Srikanta Kumar
     
• Wireless Multimedia Information Networks - The goal in this project is threefold: queueing performance analysis of future wireless information networks, quality of service and pricing issues, and new transmission algorithms for multimedia information in such networks.  The issues are interrelated, and the findings of this research will make it possible to use the precious network resources efficiently in future systems.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: Vladimir V. Marbukh, Hamid Gharavi, Nader Moayeri  and                   Rosemary Wyatt-Millington
     

Past Projects and Activities

High Speed Networks

• ATM Network Protocol Testing - The major goal of this project is to develop a set of test suites for assessing the interoperability of the Asynchronous Mode (ATM) network equipment from different vendors and the conformance of these products to applicable standards. NIST has been very active in the ATM Forum, working with industry partners, to develop conformance and interoperability test suites for ATM Forum specifications. These test suites cover all layers of the ATM network protocol stack: physical, ATM, ATM adaptation, signaling and routing. We have also developed software tools for implementation of these test suites.
  • Overview: Project quad chart .
  • Investigators: David Cypher, Leslie Collica, and David Su
     
• Modeling and Performance Evaluation of ATM Protocols - The objective of this project is to conduct theoretical analysis of protocols being developed for the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network.  We developed protocol models, conducted software simulations to gain insights into the behavior and performance of ATM protocols. The results are used for validation of protocol specifications, and for selection of proper algorithms, optimal operation parameters and implementation alternatives. These results wer also used to improve the quality of specifications and implementations.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators:  Yoon Chang, David Cypher, Nada Golmie, and David Su
     
• Performance Evaluation of MAC Protocols in HFC Network – The Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) technology is capable of providing high bandwidth connections for accessing Internet from homes.  The IEEE 802.14 Cable TV Working Group has been developing physical layer (PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer protocol specifications for HFC networks.  We were an active participant of the Working Group, and have performed objective evaluations of various MAC proposals submitted to the group.  Our performance evaluation results helped the group to resolve several MAC issues such as frame format, contention resolution algorithm, and priority support.  We have also conducted studies in performance issues related to support of higher layer services over HFC networks, such as ATM ABR service, and TCP/IP.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: Nada Golmie and  David Su
     
• Distribution of Digital Video Information over ATM - This project was initiated to identify the elements of ATM networks most critical to reliable, efficient video communication, and to advance the art of modeling and engineering of video over ATM.  In addition, we seek to promote interoperability across digital video applications and services.  We attempted to achieve these goals by (1) establishing a digital video testbed, initially focusing on Video-on-Demand systems, (2) examining the effect of ATM services on video quality, (3) developing conformance and interoperability test procedures, and (4) implementing those test procedures.
  • Overview: Project quad chart.
  • Investigators: David Cypher, Mike Frey, Nada Golmie, Karen Hsing, Alfred Koenig, and David Su
     

Internetworking Technologies

• Next Generation Internet Protocols (IPv6) - The goal of this effort has been to facilitate the development, standardization and pilot deployment of emerging IPv6 technologies.  Our focus has been on the research and development of test and instrumentation tools for IPv6 and to facilitate early vendor interoperability testbeds, participation in the early 6Bone development, development of 6Bone measurement tools, and the development of IPv6 specific protocol test and diagnostic tools.  Some of our contributions include:
  • NIST 6Bone Monitor - the first on line monitoring and measurement system on the 6Bone.
  • LibcapV6 - a IPv6 extension to the Berkeley packet filter that enables numerous commonly used test tools (e.g. tcpdump) to be easily extended for full support of IPv6.
    • Overview: Project quad chart.
    • Investigators: Hsin Fang and Doug Montgomery