This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project targets significantly increased throughputs and distances for broadband access over landline infrastructure in both urban and suburban/rural environments. For many underserved areas, it will offer the only low-cost broadband access alternative to costly, inefficient satellite coverage. In the physical-layer communication system being developed, conventional Fourier Transform (FT) based Discrete-Multi-Tone (DMT) techniques are replaced with the more spectrally efficient Wavelet-based Adaptive Filter Bank Modulation (AFBM) patented technology. A key aspect of this innovation is in the adaptive nature of its modulation method, optimizing use of available channel capacity. The project will comprise both in-depth theoretical analysis, at the algorithmic level, as well as implementation challenges, where innovation at the architectural level is expected to minimize system cost and power consumption. The theoretical research will target spectrum utilization maximization in the constrained copper-wire channels, which is enabled by the adaptive features of the technology combined with a novel approach to the wavelet-basis selection and its use in the modulation. Based on preliminary analysis and experimentation, it is anticipated that this project will result in the doubling of areal coverage, or doubling of throughput at fixed distances, compared to competing copper-wire solutions.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be to enable broadband service to the approximately 20 million households in the US, primarily rural, which cannot receive broadband service over existing infrastructure, other than expensive, inefficient satellite service. With this system solution, a large majority of those households could be provided with AFBM-enabled broadband access. Furthermore, AFBM will enable telco providers to better compete in areas where cable exists. Deployment will be via a business model that is to be a fabless semiconductor supplier to multiple telco equipment manufacturers, who have conveyed their pressing need for the throughput and range performance enhancements offered by this technology. Service providers indicate strong demand for high-data-rate "triple-play" service as an improvement over VDSL2, and also for T1 replacement in the cellular backhaul infrastructure, in addition to the need for rural long-reach solutions. Societal benefits include providing broadband service to previously-unreachable homes. In addition, AFBM, protected by several patents, can serve as a platform technology in wireless, coax, and power-line applications. Collaborative research with local universities will serve to steer academic research in this field towards the actual needs and interests expressed by service providers, thus advancing the related fields in communication theory.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project carried out by Xtendwave targeted significantly improved performance for broadband access over the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure, in both urban and suburban/rural environments. For many underserved/rural areas, the improved use of copper-wire infrastructure will provide a broadband access alternative to costly, inefficient satellite coverage. A key aspect of this Phase 1 project was the optimization of available capacity of existing phone lines, and bundles of copper wires, for DSL internet service, and cell phone "backhaul" service. The advantage of this optimization approach is that it accelerates the availability of broadband internet service to residences, businesses, schools, and government entities, and avoids the large expenditures (both public and private) associated with installing new fiber optic cables to existing locations. The Phase 1 project comprised both in-depth theoretical analysis, as well as implementation work, and established proof-of-concept of Xtendwave’s innovations in this field. The R&D targeted improved spectrum utilization in the constrained copper-wire channels, with adaptive features enabling improved performance in a range of applications and situations. Based on preliminary analysis and experimentation, it is anticipated that this project will result in a doubling of area coverage for broadband and backhaul service, based on distance from a telecom central office, or other distribution point. Prototyping and commercialization of this work will be carried out in Phase 2 of the project. The Phase 1 R&D, in which the majority of the technical team at Xtendwave was involved, was successful both in achieving the original technical objectives, while gaining considerable learning, as well as in defining the path for commercialization, as defined for the Phase 2 project, which has received funding. The targeted objectives were achieved, including the refinement and optimization of the simulation models, as well as the investigation and exploration of various techniques to increase the system throughput, for both long-reach DSL, and other data transmission over copper wire infrastructure. Additional challenges and research objectives have been identified and explored, particularly in the context of interference, which will be targeted in the Phase 2 project, and in other work carried out separately by Xtendwave. The objective of the Phase I R&D was to explore the potential performance improvements offered by novel modulation and encoding methods to be applied in DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) broadband access systems, for the purpose of achieving greater distances and data-rates than are achievable with the use of existing standards. The work was carried out in collaboration with Southern Methodist University (SMU), with the work at SMU under the direction of Prof. Dinesh Rajan. The work was successful in validating the potential for significantly improved performance. The R&D work investigated two particular applications that were identified: extended-reach access, i.e., distances that are beyond those normally served by today’s widely deployed DSL solutions and short-range high-rate solutions, allowing services where fiber-to-the-node is available (distances of about 3,000 feet with aggregate data rates of about 75Mbps). Plans for continuation in Phase 2 have been refined to focus commercial efforts on both DSL service and copper backhaul service to cell towers, campuses, and businesses. The broader impact of this project will be to enable improved broadband internet service to the millions of households, businesses, and institutions in the US that cannot adequately receive broadband service over existing infrastructure, and to reduce the need to spend tax dollars and private investment on expensive fiber optic network deployment. Deployment will be via a business model that is to be a "fabless" semiconductor supplier to multiple telecommunications equipment manufacturers, who have conveyed their pressing need for the throughput and range performance enhancements offered by this technology. Collaborative research with local universities will serve to steer academic research in this field towards the actual needs and interests expressed by service providers. All of the objectives set forth in the Phase I research plan were successfully accomplished, and the plans for continuation of the work through the commercialization stage in Phase 2 were defined in the recently-approved Phase 2 proposal by Xtendwave. The commercialization of the technology, in addition to providing improved internet and cell phone access for U.S. consumers, businesses, schools, and government, will result in U.S. job creation, as products employing Xtendwave’s new technology are developed and manufactured. Xtendwave is deeply appreciative of the support of the National Science Foundation in funding this project. Xtendwave™ is a Dallas-based semiconductor technology company focused on improving the speed and distances of network transmission at the physical layer, with major innovations in DSL and cellular backhaul. The company has been awarded five U.S. patents, and has received Small Business Innovation Research ("SBIR") funding from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
