TM
A Perspective on Ubiquitous
Communications: the MoCCA
Project
Anton T. Dahbura
Digital Equipment Corp.
Cambridge Research Laboratory
2nd IEEE WS on WLANs
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Outline




Oct 1996
Introduction and Background
The MoCCA Vision
Technology Barriers and Research
Opportunities
Conclusions and Open Issues
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Why Has the Vision not Flown?
 devices have not displaced other carried items
 lack of clear vertical market focus
 low-performance CPUs, small memories, poor battery life
 inadequate input such as handwriting recognition
 disappointing ease-of-use factors
 inadequate display and keyboard sizes
 lack of seamless and ubiquitous communications
 cost/value!
Oct 1996
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Device Trends
The industry has entered a period of transition and growing user
acceptance.
Relative successes in the consumer market:






Newton MessagePad 130
Sharp Zaurus
Hewlett-Packard OmniGo 100
Casio Z-7000
U.S. Robotics Pilot
Psion 3A
Mainly organizers with limited communications/synchronization
means.
Oct 1996
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Vertical Markets Trends
Some progress in market for mobile devices for
vertical applications (inventory control, health care):
 Telxon
 Badger
 Fujitsu (pen-based, Windows 95)
 Symbol
 Norand
These and other devices are exposing many to the
technology.
Oct 1996
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Microprocessor Technology Trends
Features size (micron)
0.5
0.35
0.25
0.18
0.12
0.10
5M
10M
20M
1G
4G
16G
256M
1G
4G
2500
5000
10000
75GB
200GB
500GB
2004
2007
Gates/chip
300K
800K
2M
DRAM
16M
64M
256M
SRAM
4M
16M
64M
Mips
100
400
1000
Disks
2GB
8GB
25GB
LAN Bandwidth
100
1000
1992
1995
10000?
1998
2001
Source: Semiconductor Industry Association -- Semiconductor Technology Workshops Conclusions March, 1993
10/25/96
Oct 1996
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Microprocessors Technology Trends
(Cont.)
Performance (SPECint92)
10000
10/25/96
Oct 1996
Natural Language
1000
Vision
100
GUIs
Speech Recognition
10
1
1982
1987
1992
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1997
2002
Relative Performance: Microprocessors (SPECfp92)
TM
100,000
SPECfp92
10,000
1,000
Alpha (xxx64) SPECfp
HP Precision SPECfp
PowerPC/RIOS SPECfp
100
SPARC/MIPS/Other RISC SPECfp
Intel CISC SPECfp
10
1990
Oct 1996
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995 1996 1997
1998 1999
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2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
TM
Digital-ARM Partnership
 DS has negotiated an architecture license from ARM Ltd.
• unique position (others are manufacturing licensees only)
 DS will develop and manufacture a series of standard
products (SPs) and application specific SPs (ASSPs) based
on the StrongARM core technology
• Standard Products are general purpose devices
• ASSPs are targeted at specific markets and applications
 DS will develop a family of ARM compliant cores (the
StrongARM family) which will be made available to ARM Ltd.
for sub-license to their manufacturing licensees
• cores are enabling technology for ASSPs and CSSPs (customer
specific SPs), from other ARM licensees
Oct 1996
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ARM Family Roadmap
200
StrongARM1,110
MIPS
100
ARM8,810
80
ARM7DMT
Code Density
ARM7D,7DM
Fast Multiply
ARM7,710
Embedded ICE
ARM6,60,610 Power Efficiency
60
40
20
ARM2,3
Worlds Smallest RISC
0
1985 - 90
Oct 1996
1991
1993-1995
1996
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Architecture
Enhancement
TM
StrongARM Target Market Segments
 Smart Handheld Devices
– PDAs, Electronic Organizers,
– Digital Cameras, Smart Phones
 Interactive Digital Media
– Digital Set-top devices, Interactive TV, Video Game Players
 Internet Appliances
– Net Browsers, Intranet Devices
 Embedded Control
–
–
–
–
–
Oct 1996
Internetworking: Routers, Bridges, LAN Switches
Office Automation: Printers, Scanners, Copiers, etc.
Telecommunication: PBX, Cellular Base Stations
Storage Peripherals: Drive Controllers, RAID Controllers
PC Add-Ins: Intelligent I/O Cards, LAN / WAN
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SA-110 Details
 Process Technology
 Supply voltage
0.35 um, 3LM CMOS
Core voltage 1.65 - 2.0 Volts
I/O voltage 3.3 Volts
 Frequency & Power
< 900 mW @ 200 MHz @ 2.00-V
< 450 mW @ 160 MHz @ 1.65-V
< 300 mW @ 100 MHz @ 1.65-V
 Power-down Modes
 Package
 Current Status
 Volume
Oct 1996
- Normal Mode (<300mW@100MHz)
- Idle Mode (20mW Average)
- Sleep Mode (50uA Average)
144 TQFP
Samples at key customers now
Q3 1996
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SA-110 Block Diagram
nWAIT MCLK nMCLK SnA CLK
5
A[31:0]
Address Buffer
JTAG Test
Clock
CCCFG
MCCFG
Instruction
IMMU
DMMU
16KB
ICache
16KB
DCache
PC
StrongARM
Core
SA-1
Addr
Control
Write
Buffer
Oct 1996
Load/Store Data
D[31:0]
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PWRSLP
ABORT
INTERRUPTS
RESET
TM
Establishing New Benchmarks in the
Smart Handheld Market
SA-110 / 100
SA-110 / 160
100 Mhz
160 Mhz
115
185
< 300 mW
< 450 mW
MIPS / Watt
383
411
Price (10k unit
$ 29
$ 49
4.0
3.8
Frequency
Performance
Best performance
in SHH market
(Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS)
Power
volumes)
MIPS / $
Oct 1996
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Leader in
power-efficiency
Leader in
price-performance
TM
Software Systems Trends
Contenders for next-generation mobile device drivers:
 Microsoft Windows CE (Compaq, Casio)
 JavaOS (Mitsubishi, Motorola, Nokia)
 General Magic’s Magic Cap (?)
 Geowork’s GEOS
These operating systems are also being considered for
set-top boxes and Internet appliances.
Oct 1996
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Communications Infrastructure Trends
 Next-generation wide-area technology in the U.S.
evolving towards PCS in spite of technological
confusion;
 GSM will continue to dominate in Europe and other
overseas markets;
 CDPD, packet radio (RAM Mobile, ARDIS), one- and
two-way paging, will continue to find niche markets;
 emerging: wireless cable, ESMR, satellite, television
 wireless LANs will continue to grow; residential?
Oct 1996
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Market Projections
The installed base of wireless data subscribers in the
U.S. is expected to grow from 500,000 in 1994 to
nearly 10M in 2000.
Driving factors:
 move towards the untethered, mobile workforce;
 gradual build-out of the wireless infrastructure;
 deregulation and spectrum auctions;
 emergence of end-user client-server business
applications and middleware.
Oct 1996
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Global Wireless Data Networks
Revenues
$Millions
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1993
Leos Satellite
Geosync Satellite
Cellular
Packet Radio
Paging Services
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
Source- 1995 Wireless Directory
Oct 1996
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Worldwide Wireless Infrastructure
Forecast
$millions
6000
5000
Asia
S. America
Europe
N.America
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
Source- 1995 Wireless Directory
Oct 1996
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US Mobile-Wireless Data: Technology Trends
Satellite
US Installed Base of Wireless by Transmission
Users
10,000
SMR/ESMR
9,000
Dedicated Data
8,000
Cellular Hybrid
7,000
Cellular Packet
Each technology choice is
different
5,000
BB PCS Hybrid
in terms of performance, price,
4,000
BB PCS Packet
and coverage
BB PCS Circuit
3,000
!
(1000's)
6,000
2,000
Narrowband
PCS
1,000
Cellular Circuit
1993
Oct 1996
1994
1995
1996
1997
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1998
1999
2000
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US Mobile-Wireless Data: Industry Trends
US Wireless Data Users by Applications
10,000
Other
Consumer
9,000
Mobile Prof Othr
8,000
Mobile Prof Sales
7,000
(1000's)
Transaction/POS
Vertical Markets
6,000
5,000
lead
Telementry
Horizontals follow
Field Sales
Transportation
4,000
Field Service
!
3,000
Public Safety
2,000
1,000
1993
Oct 1996
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
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1999
2000
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US Wireless LAN Market Trends
4500
4000
Misc.
3500
Transportation
3000
Hospitality
Factory floor
2500
Health care
Education
2000
Mobile Professional
1500
Retail
Warehouse and logistics
1000
500
0
1994
Oct 1996
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
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TM
RoamAbout PC Cards for Portable
Devices
High performance, credit card sized, wireless
modems and attached radio modules
 Available in three variations:

RoamAbout
PCMCIA
Network
Adapter
RoamAbout 2.4 GHz frequency hopping (FH)
 RoamAbout 2.4 GHz direct sequence (DS)
 RoamAbout 915 MHz direct sequence (DS)*

Uses inherently secure spread-spectrum RF
 No FCC license required
 Coverage up to 650 ft for 2.4 GHz MHz devices, 800PCMCIA
interface
ft for 915MHz devices
card
 Drivers for any PC network operating system
using ODI or NDIS network interfaces
 Gives wireless users access to wired Ethernet
networks via RoamAbout Access Point

Oct 1996
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Radio
Module
TM
RoamAbout Access Point
--- the most robust, reliable and highest-performing wireless bridge in the
Industry
 A superior,
full-featured wireless bridge
 Multiple wireless technologies
RoamAbout
Access Point
(direct sequence or frequency hopping)

RoamAbout
PCMCIA
Network
Adapter
Multiple frequency bands
(2.4 GHz or 915 MHz)
In-building “cell-to-cell” roaming
 Point-to-point diagnostics
 Software upgrade capabilities
 Standard UTP and ThinWire connections
 Network management via SNMP or
tools such as HUBwatch
 Local console management port

Oct 1996
Radio
Module
2nd IEEE WS on WLANs
PCMCIA
interface
card
TM
The Connectivity Chasm
“What customers want is a “black box” - metaphorically speaking -- that
allows them to integrate all of the enterprise resources....The third major
element of our strategy -- the centerpiece of our efforts and direction--is that
we will commit our resources to solving the ...”black box” connectivity
problems of our customers...”
Bob Palmer, Industry Analyst Briefing, 9/95
Enterprise Servers
“Black Box”
Clients & Workgroups
Oct 1996
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From an Early Market to Main Street
1- the Early Market
2- the Chasm
3- the Bowling Alley
5
Mass customization
4
Mass marketing
4- inside the Tornado
5- on Main Street
Deal driven
Oct 1996
1
2
3
Niche marketing
early
early
late
innovators
adopters
majority
majority
fad
trend
solution
standard
2nd IEEE WS on WLANs
laggards
source: Geoffrey Moore
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Outline




Oct 1996
Introduction and Background
The MoCCA Vision
Technology Barriers and Research
Opportunities
Conclusions and Open Issues
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The MoCCA Vision
Harness a powerful, wearable communications
processor to high-speed voice and data networks for
distinct vertical markets.
Functions:
 find and connect the user to one or more team
members or customers via voice and video;
 provide voice- or tactile-based mailbox management
(voice mail, e-mail, FAX, etc.);
 handle info./data queries to remote private/public
databases;
 manage appointment book, action-item list, etc.
Oct 1996
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Product Characteristics
 Modularity and compatibility:
–wireless earpiece/microphone
–wireless and/or wireline docking to PC
–compatibility with industry-standard software
–PCMCIA-like configuration management
 Displace cell phone, pager, PDA devices
 Network agility among CDPD, CSC, WLAN, etc.;
 As intuitive to learn and use as a cellular phone (?);
 Non-tactile input such as voice.
Oct 1996
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Product Characteristics (Cont.)
 Physical characteristics:
–wearable
–weigh less than 16 ounces
–normal battery lifecycle of 7 days minimum with
overnight or continuous recharge
 The device should be fashionable and practical
enough to encourage usage.
Oct 1996
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Program Overview
The program will be driven by blending
real vertical market needs
with
soon-to-market technological innovation
Rapid-prototyping, scenario-based project philosophy,
with Carnegie Mellon University as the enabler.
Oct 1996
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The Cambridge Research Laboratory
(CRL)
 Digital’s primary U.S. East Coast research site
 located near MIT and Harvard
 main focus: applications technology
–speech and speaker recognition
–video coding
–conversational systems
–computer vision
–distributed systems and scalable computing
–Internet applications
Oct 1996
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Program Operating Model
 Three facets:
–applied research
–system prototyping
–business development
 Core research group at CRL to advance technology
and pursue specific opportunities;
 Advanced development team will form the nucleus
of commercialization teams;
 One technical leader and one business leader.
Oct 1996
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Outline




Oct 1996
Introduction and Background
The MoCCA Vision
Technology Barriers and Research
Opportunities
Conclusions and Open Issues
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TM
Developments That Make This
Possible
 ubiquity of wireless technology from WLAN to
satellite-based;
 emergence of low-power, high-performance RISC
microprocessors; storage devices, DSPs, etc.;
 innovations in display technology for portability and
wearability;
 advent of WWW, popularity of corporate intranets;
 first wave trials and errors of mobile devices.
Oct 1996
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Mobile Computing Barrier Areas
 Human Interface
–display
–input means
 Power/Battery/Display Issues
 Performance (for speech, video)
 Communications Infrastructure
 Form Factor/ Heat Dissipation
 Applications
Oct 1996
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Technology Barriers
 Bandwidth, capacity, reliability, latency, coverage,
and cost of wide-area networks
–protocols for handling data transfers efficiently
–caching strategies
–security issues
–connectivity management in overlay networks
–Very-Local Area Networks (BodyLAN) and mobile
WLANs
–ad-hoc networking
–incorporation of video
Oct 1996 –new WAN media
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Technology Barriers (Cont.)


Input limitations for mobile/wearable devices
– speech capture, recognition, understanding
– speaker identification and verification
– handwriting capture and recognition
– real-time digital voice multicasting
– video
Architecture
– hardware/software architectures for mobile systems
– OS design (?)
– compilers for low-power devices
Oct 1996
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Technology Barriers (Cont.)
 Human-computer interaction
–new techniques for mobile I/O: gesture based,
augmented-reality displays
 System design and
packaging
–form factors for mobile systems (ID group)
–wireless headmounted I/O, including video capture
 Applications and user interfaces
Oct 1996
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Outline




Oct 1996
Introduction and Background
The MoCCA Vision
Technology Barriers and Research
Opportunities
Conclusions and Open Issues
2nd IEEE WS on WLANs
40
TM
Digital Equipment Corporation
© 1996