NetworkFirst Interoperability Through NetworkFirst Norman Hrapchak & Brian Leger February 12, 2003
Nov 13, 2014
NetworkFirst
Interoperability Through NetworkFirst
Norman Hrapchak & Brian Leger
February 12, 2003
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Our Focus: The Future Today
Today’sToday’sSystemsSystems Market DemandMarket Demand M/A-COMM/A-COM
Digital TrunkedDigital Trunked
IP Packet TechnologyIP Packet Technology
Voice & DataVoice & Data
High Capacity TDMAHigh Capacity TDMA
Multi-mode SW radiosMulti-mode SW radios
AnalogAnalog
Circuit Sw.Circuit Sw.
Primarily VoicePrimarily Voice
1 Call/Channel1 Call/Channel
ProprietaryProprietary
Quality/ServiceQuality/Service
FlexibilityFlexibility
Data ApplicationsData Applications
CapacityCapacity
InteroperabilityInteroperability
OpenSky: An IP solution
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
• Build the network top-down– Wide area switching
• Connectionless services• Group calling• Voice & Data
– Facilitate Interoperability• Network-level Gateways• Multi-mode radios• Internetworking of private systems
• Leverage industry standards– TCP/IP, CDPD (IS-732), ANSI 102 (P25
Phase I) CAI, …
Packet TechnologyInternet Protocols
OpenSky Design Paradigms
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
A New Model For Switching: Packet Switched Client/Server Architecture
• Traditional Networks– Switch– Circuit Switching Nodes– Base Sites– Terminals
• The Client Server Model– Server– Packet Switching Routers– IP Base Sites– Clients
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
System Interfaces:An All-IP Network
Interoperability IP
Console IP
Inter System IP
Base Station IP
TDMA Airlink
Application IPApplication IP
Application IP
Radio/SwitchClient/Server IP
IP Network Management
IP Network Administration
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
95% Radio Coverage - 45,000 sq/miles 27 State Agency Participants 25,000 150,000 UsersCounties – Interoperation Connectivity Currently rolling out the Network
PA Statewide Voice/Data Radio Network
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Rationalizing the New Architecture
• Why Packet Switched IP?– Industry Standard for Data Networks– Well Suited to Connection-less Push-to-Talk Group Voice Services– Cost Effective
• Why Client-Server?– The Norm for Complex System Applications
• Why TDMA?– Spectrum Efficiency– Effective Integration of Voice, Data & Control
• Why Cellular?– Highly Scalable to Large and Small Networks– Can Tailor Coverage and Capacity Within Network
Solving Interoperability
NetworkFirst
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Key Question
How to provide immediate interoperability among State, County, Local, and Federal Emergency
First Responders?
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Solution Options
To achieve interoperability, you can:
Adopt RadioStandard
Adopt NetworkStandard
EveryoneUses same radio
and system
IP Networksupports all existingradios and systems
or
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Interoperability Through the Customer’s Eyes
• What it means– The ability to communicate between mobile and fixed personnel
participating in group-based, coordinated, operations
• What is necessary– A vision and an operational plan– Cooperation between participating agencies– Products and technology
• What it needs to accomplish– Remain non-intrusive for normal day-to-day operations– Support pre-planned and unplanned scenarios
• Perspectives of different types of buyers– Economic: How do I maximize return on current investment and what
do I get for my incremental investment?– Technical: What service do my users really need?– Political: What have I contributed to the security of my constituency?
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
The Present State of Public Safety Communications
• Federal– Utilize federal NTIA regulated bands– Most agencies use analog non-trunked, some analog trunked use– Beginning deployment of P25 conventional, increased interest in P25 trunking
• State– Most state-wide networks are Low band & VHF conventional analog – State Patrol and DOT’s tend to drive statewide use– Regional use of VHF and UHF bands– Very limited deployment of statewide trunking– Some early migration to 800 MHz digital trunked
• Local Tier 1 County and Municipal– Analog trunked radio with migration to digital trunked radio
• Local Tier 2 County and Municipal– Conventional analog with some early migration to conventional digital P25
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
The Interoperability Problem
• Multiple Agencies: – Federal, State, County and Local
• Multiple Frequency Bands– VHF-low, VHF-high, UHF (low, T-band), 800, NPSPAC, 700
(proposed)
• Multiple Vendors - Proprietary Protocols • Other Variables:
– Multiple SW revisions, control channel rates, etc.– Narrowband & Wideband
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
The “Ideal” State
• An ubiquitous network with:– Coverage everywhere
• A user can use his/her radio wherever they are asked to go
– Full connectivity• A user can communicate with whomever he/she needs to
• Barriers to achieving the Ideal State– No unified frequency plan
• Every band exists everywhere … but• Band use is licensed for individual use – no clear concept of resource sharing• This is not a technical issue it is a regulatory issue
– Today’s radios do not implement effective mobility management• Requires user to remain cognizant of coverage (channel)• Trunked systems address part of this concern
– The radio channels that are in use are not part of a comprehensive switched network
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
State-of-the-Art for Interoperability
• Simulcast Trunked Radio Systems– Separated the channel from the group
– Full interoperability for all participating agencies
– Allow roaming within the coverage area
– Users select whom they talk to
– Dispatchers can patch groups together for increased interoperability
– Interfaces to conventional radio systems
• Wide Area Multisite Trunked Systems– All the features of Simulcast Trunked Radio Systems
– With increased coverage area
– Conventional overlay for legacy radios and interoperability with local governments
– Network interfaces to existing trunked systems
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
A Long-Term View of Interoperability
• Probably the best long-term interoperability solution is:– Statewide Digital Trunked Systems with:
• Conventional Overlay to analog systems within the state– Federal, state and local level
• Networked Trunked interfaces to existing trunked systems within the state
• Why states:– Significant geographic coverage
– States can bridge the gap between Federal and Local governments
– States have the right economies of scale
– Statewide systems are becoming practical to implement
Homeland Security money will be funneled through the states
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Short Term View of Interoperability
• What drives the short-term view?– Minimal cost – maximize leverage of customer’s existing
equipment
– Fast to deploy – Must be capable of being deployed across a state in less than 3 years
– Provides a technology step towards the long term solution
• The answer is NetworkFirst!– Start with a modern network backbone
• IP packet switched
– Interconnect existing conventional and trunked systems
– Enable incremental investment to achieve the long-term objective
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
NetworkFirstBridging the Past to the Future
Regional OperationsCenter
DispatchCenter
Gateway
Municipal800MHz
Digital Trunked
CountyUHF Conventional
FederalVHF
Other StateTrunked
PSTN
RegionalOperations
Center
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
The NetworkFirst Roadmap
ConventionalInteroperability
• Switching• Network Administration• Network Management
OpenSkyData
OpenSkyVoice P25IP EDACS
ConventionalSystems
TrunkedSystems
FutureSystems
IP Backbone • Routers• Wide Area Links
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Comparing Interoperability Solutions
NetworkFirst P25 Conventional Patch
Strategy • Network Solution• IP Network Standards
• Radio Solution• Airlink Standards
• Interconnectivity = Interoperability
Description • Interconnect existing analog and digital systems• Implement trunk-like features• Packet switched network• IP Protocols• Radio user selects who he/she talks to
• Standardize on a digital air interface• Interoperability within the same band on the same channels
• Console Patch• Cross band Radio Patch (ACU 1000)
Economics • Add-on to existing systems• No new terminals• Highly economical
• Migrate from analog to digital• Replace existing system• Replace terminals• Very expensive
• Add-on to existing systems• Highly economical
Issues • Does not increase system capacity• Increases service area not coverage• Requires an IP wide area network
• Does not address operation in different frequency bands• Does not address interoperability with non-P25 systems
• Not scalable• Not selective between talkgroups (patch vs switch)• Not a wide-area solution• Not user driven – user doesn’t decide who he/she talks to
Technical Overview of NetworkFirst
NetworkFirst Building Blocks
NetworkFirst Interfaces
System Scalability
System Addressing and ID’s
Resource Pools
Security
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
NetworkFirst Building Blocks
The Gateway• Converts audio protocols into VOIP• Universal audio ports• 1 DVU card per talkpath• Each DVU has a unique IP address
The Operations Center• Redundant Voice Switch (VNIC)• Network Management Server• Network Administration Server• High speed redundant LAN• High capacity redundant Routers
The IP Backbone• Private Intranet• Built on standard Internet Protocols• Utilizes third party equipment• Wide variety of communication media
Network Management Clients• User interface for Network Managers• Co-located or Remote• SUN and PC X-window clients
Network Administration Clients• User interface for Network Administrators• Co-located or Remote• WEB Browser
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Regional Operations Center
VNIC ApplicationSoftware
VNIC ApplicationSoftware
RedundantVoice Switch
(VNIC)
RedundantEthernet Switch
(HUB)
RedundantRouter
IP NetworkBackbone
IP NetworkBackbone
NetworkManagement
Server
NetworkAdministration
Server
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
The IP Backbone
• IP Networks are comprised of a mesh of routers• Routers are connected by links such as point-to-point microwave• Routers use IP addresses to route packets from one link to another• Routers use routing tables to perform this routing function
10.52.25.5 10.52.30.7
10.52.25.xx Subnetwork
10.52.25.5
10.52.30.xx Subnetwork
10.52.30.7
Digital Voice
SourceAddress
DestinationAddress Packet Data
10.52.30.xx
10.52.30.xx
10.52.30.xx10.52.30.xx
UDP …
ControlIP
Packet
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
DVU Cards provide Audio-to-IP
Serial Data to Network
Optional PSTN Interface
4-Wire Audio and signaling
Connects to IP Router38.4 kb/s SLIP RS-232Connects to IP Router38.4 kb/s SLIP RS-232
Connects to local PBXor POTS Line
Connects to local PBXor POTS Line
Universal Audio Port600Balanced Audio
Optional E&M Signaling
Universal Audio Port600Balanced Audio
Optional E&M Signaling
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Conventional Radio SystemsTrunked Radio Systems
NetworkFirst System Interfaces
Consoles
SystemController
TrunkedBase Sites
ConventionalBase Sites
ConsoleSwitchMatrix
Consoles
ConventionalBase Sites
PSTN
Network Management &Administration
IP Consoles
Desk Sets
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Building a Larger System
Regional NetworkFirstSystem
Regional NetworkFirstSystem
Regional NetworkFirstSystem
Regional NetworkFirstSystem
Regional NetworkFirstSystem
Regional NetworkFirstSystem
NetworkOperations Center
(NOC)
NetworkOperations Center
(NOC)
Conventional& Trunked
Radio Systems
Conventional& Trunked
Radio Systems
Conventional& Trunked
Radio Systems
The Network Operations Center• Network-wide Administration• Network-wide Management• Remote Clients
SystemAdministration
RegionalAdministration
AgencyAdministration
Levels ofAdministration
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Addressing and IDs
• Talkgroups• IP Addresses• The User ID Structure Defines:
– Regional Networks implemented as Regional Operations Centers
– Agency Operations Centers
• Service Provider Network ID (SPNI)– Not used in the NetworkFirst Interoperability Application
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Talkgroups
• Talkgroups are the fundamental entities for facilitating interoperability
• NetworkFirst Talkgroups have many of the same characteristics as in a trunked radio system
• Most NetworkFirst functions are tied to the talkgroup– Inter and Intra-regional calls
– Priority & preemption
– Call control timers
– Blocking and Non-blocking behaviors
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
NetworkFirst Security
• Some observations about security– A system is only as secure as its weakest link
• When dealing with conventional radio, the analog radio transmission is the weakest link
• Easy to detect, easy to eavesdrop
– To some degree security and interoperability impose conflicting requirements
• Security limits access• Interoperability expands access
• Within its boundaries, NetworkFirst provides security through encryption
– Encryption is end-to-end: from DVU to DVU
– Encryption utilizes the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES, FIPS-PUB-197 with 128 bit keys)
Configuring & Managing NetworkFirst
Network Administration System
Network Management System
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Network Administration System Overview
• Every NetworkFirst system includes a Network Administration System
– This includes both single ROC systems as well as multi-ROC systems
• A single NAS can configure a network of ROCs• The NAS is implemented in a multi-user, Client-Server, WEB-based
architecture• Network Administration Server
– JAVA WEB Front End – Implements the user interface– Sybase database manager– Provisioning Agent
• Network Administration Clients– WEB Browsers– Password Protected access to server– Multiple Levels of Administration Privileges– Administer, Configure and Control Resource Pools
• Talkgroups, IP Addresses, DVUs
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
System Level Administration
• Create and manage Administration Accounts• Create Administration Classes• Assign access rights(read/write) to databases for admin
classes• Add regional networks to system• Create talkgroup property and priority classes• Establish geographic distribution of talkgroups
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Regional Network Level Administration
• Create agencies within region• Assign IP Address pools to agencies within the regional
network• Enable agencies to access talkgroup priority and property
classes for use within the regional network• Can perform all Agency Administration functions
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Agency Level Administration
• Create talkgroups• Assign IP addresses to DVUs• Configure static and dynamic talkgroups for DVUs• Add Console Systems• Perform Encryption Key Management (Future release)
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
Solution Design Considerations
• Operational Considerations– What system(s) are being interconnected
– Who needs to talk to who - Fleet mapping
• Equipment Considerations:– System Sizing & Capacity
– How many ROCs
– IP Backbone Design
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
The NetworkFirst Roadmap
ConventionalInteroperability
• Switching• Network Administration• Network Management
OpenSkyData
OpenSkyVoice P25IP EDACS
ConventionalSystems
TrunkedSystems
FutureSystems
IP Backbone • Routers• Wide Area Links
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
When is NetworkFirst the Right Answer?
• When you want interoperability on demand• When you want users to determine who they talk to• When you want a scalable solution• When you want a migration path• When you don’t have enough money to replace all your
radios• When you don’t have 5 years to create a solution
M/A-COM Competition Sensitive
To private wireless users who require the highest level
of security, reliability, interoperability and capacity,
M/A-COM is the most experienced provider
of themost technologically advanced
voice and data networks.
www.macom-wireless.com