Wireless Wide Area Networking for Device Monitoring By Owen A.L. Zacharias Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree Master of Science Supervised by Professor Wendi B. Heinzelman Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering The College School of Engineering and Applied Sciences University of Rochester Rochester, New York 2004 Curriculum Vitae The author was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 24th, 1979. He attended the University of Rochester from 1999 to 2003, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering concentrating in Computers. He then continued his studies at the University of Rochester in the Master’s program in Electrical and Computer Engineering. With the guidance of Professor Wendi B. Heinzelman, he has researched wireless communications protocols with a major focus into wide area networking. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my Advisor on my thesis work, Professor Wendi B. Heinzelman. It was a very rewarding experience to work with someone who is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable in her discipline, and who provides continuing and critical feedback. In addition, I would also like to thank the talented graduate students who make up Professors Heinzelman’s research group. They have all provided me with a strong source of information and an excellent outlet for critical thinking and reasoning. I would like to especially thank Colin Goldsmith, who partnered with me on our thesis work with Xerox: without his drive and knowledge this Thesis would not exist. I would also like to thank those in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department who have helped me along my way over the past five years. Without my fellow colleagues Michael Wieckowski, Jacob Keniston, and Scott Sturdivant, my time in the department certainly would have been lacking in excitement and enthusiasm. I’m grateful for all of our experiences together, and wish each of you the very best wherever the future may take you. Finally, I would like to thank my parents, brother, and grandparents. Thank you so much for supporting me though my efforts in the continuing of my education over the years. I hope that I can use the skills that I have obtained here to make you proud in the future. iii Abstract This thesis discusses a means of connecting devices over a wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) in order to perform a number of different remote administration functions. These include, but are not limited to automated meter reads, product break notifications, maintenance support, and process automation. A detailed review and comparison of the available wireless WANs currently in operation was conducted. Out of the numerous choices the best-suited protocol, based on a number of decision metrics, was chosen for the task at hand. Finally, the system was prototyped in hardware and in software using the Java™ programming language. Simulations using wired networks demonstrated the successful operation of the remote administration functions. iv Table of Contents Curriculum Vitae....................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................................................iii Abstract .................................................................................................................................................iv Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................v List of Figures .....................................................................................................................................viii List of Tables.........................................................................................................................................ix Chapter 1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................10 1.1 Motivation ..................................................................................................................................10 1.2 Contributions..............................................................................................................................11 1.3 Organization ...............................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2 Wireless Wide Area Networks (WAN) Background...........................................................13 2.1 A Myriad of Protocols................................................................................................................13 2.1.1 Voice ...................................................................................................................................13 2.1.2 Data .....................................................................................................................................14 2.1.3 Combined Networks............................................................................................................14 2.2 Service Providers........................................................................................................................15 Chapter 3 Technologies........................................................................................................................16 3.1 Overview ....................................................................................................................................16 3.2 Mobitex ......................................................................................................................................16 3.2.1 Operating Frequencies.........................................................................................................18 3.2.2 Services & Devices..............................................................................................................18 3.3 Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD).........................................................................................19 3.3.1 Established Applications .....................................................................................................19 3.3.2 Services & Devices..............................................................................................................21 3.4 Advanced Radio Data Information Service (ARDIS) ................................................................23 3.4.1 Coverage..............................................................................................................................23 3.4.2 Operating Frequencies.........................................................................................................25 3.4.3 Services & Devices..............................................................................................................25 3.5 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).......................................................................................26 3.5.1 Established Applications .....................................................................................................26 v 3.5.2 Coverage ............................................................................................................................. 27 3.5.3 Protocol Specifications ....................................................................................................... 29 3.5.4 Devices................................................................................................................................ 30 3.6 Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) .................................................................... 30 3.6.1 Compatibility with GPRS ...................................................................................................31 3.6.2 Devices................................................................................................................................ 31 3.7 Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN)........................................................................... 32 3.7.1 Transmission Types ............................................................................................................ 32 3.7.2 Data Rates ........................................................................................................................... 33 3.7.3 Operating Frequencies ........................................................................................................ 34 3.7.4 Coverage ............................................................................................................................. 35 3.7.5 Devices................................................................................................................................ 36 Chapter 4 Technology Decision........................................................................................................... 37 4.1 Comparison................................................................................................................................ 37 4.2 Decision Matrix ......................................................................................................................... 38 4.3 Final Decision ............................................................................................................................ 42 Chapter 5 Component Design.............................................................................................................