Radio Over Wireless Broadband
Project Description
SNAPSHOT
This high-level network diagram illustrates how the systems supporting the ROW-B project were physically distributed across the United States and accessed via the Internet.
The ROW-B project successfully integrated radios operating on the District of Columbia’s existing LMR system with a broadband network, allowing for broadband devices such as computers and cell phones to communicate with radios on the LMR network. This technology enables public sector personnel to have seamless interoperation between broadband and LMR, and have location awareness of users. Not only can emergency responders use this service but it also can be extended to other personnel—such as bus drivers and crossing guards—so that critical information can be easily communicated during an incident.
BACKGROUND
Emergency responders typically use LMR systems that are either hand-held or mounted in vehicles to communicate. These systems provide first responders with critical capabilities (i.e., high reliability, one-to-many communication) often not available from commercial alternatives such as cellular networks.
At the same time, responders are increasingly using commercial cellular phone networks as a secondary means of communications and gaining access to other advanced communication capabilities through high-speed, or broadband, wireless connections. As a result, public safety agencies are struggling with interoperability issues between LMR and broadband systems, which were not designed to interoperate.AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH
Working with industry and on behalf of DHS/OIC, the PSCR program developed a common method (otherwise known as an implementation profile) to connect LMRs together from multiple manufacturers using the Internet Protocol. This profile, called the BSI, leveraged work from PSCR’s VoIP project. PSCR piloted the BSI in August 2008 in Washington, DC. ROW-B demonstrates an innovative method to:
Address a critical interoperability gap quickly and outside of the formal standards process.
Provide public safety and other personnel access to a broad set of advanced features, such as PTT radio calls on wireless broadband mobile devices, which also connect to a LMR radio system and GIS system.
VALUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY
The PSCR ROW-B project demonstrates how:
Localities nationwide can integrate legacy and emerging, cutting-edge communications systems to provide additional interoperability without having to build out additional expensive LMR infrastructure.
A single user can reach multiple users through talk groups on the broadband cellular network, reducing the need to place several calls to coordinate a group and saving critical response time.
Agencies will increase efficiency and effectiveness of response efforts by using real-time location mapping and location-based group calls, enabling emergency responders to access the locations of critical resources—such as equipment and personnel—in real time and to form dynamic talk groups based on proximity.
The emergency response community can employ innovative technologies to create entirely new methods of communicating.
RESULTS
Interoperability between incompatible LMR and broadband systems has been a long-term goal until now. ROW-B will extend the capabilities of existing public safety communication systems and enable seamless voice communications between LMR and broadband systems. By demonstrating interoperability between broadband technologies and an existing LMR network, the PSCR program ’s ROW-B project demonstrated how public safety can integrate new technologies with existing emergency response communications systems.
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Right-click Radio Over Wireless Broadband to save or download this one-page project summary PDF file. See also, Broadband Press and Radio over Wireless Broadband Pilot Project Report.
For more information, contact: Emil Olbrich
