Overview of the Communication Networks and Services Research (CNSR) Project A multi-institute proposal to the Atlantic Innovation Fund by Dalhousie University Memorial University of Newfoundland Saint Francis Xavier University University College of Cape Breton Université de Moncton University of New Brunswick Industrial Partners Contact: Dr. Brad Nickerson, University of New Brunswick, Dr. Z. David Chen, Dalhousie University,

CNSR Project Vision Atlantic Canada is a globally competitive centre of excellence for research in communication networks and services.

CNSR Project Mission To successfully carry out industrially significant research, development and education in the area of communication networks and services, thus contributing to the growth of globally competitive communication network and services companies in the Atlantic Canada region.

AIF Objectives 1. increase activity in and to build capacity for innovation, research and development (R&D) which leads to technologies, products, processes or services which contribute to economic growth in Atlantic Canada; 2. increase the capacity for commercialization of R&D outputs; 3. strengthen the region’s innovation capacity by supporting research, development, and commercialization partnerships and alliances among private sector firms, universities, research institutions and other organizations in the Atlantic system of innovation, and to increase their critical mass; and 4. maximize benefits from the national R&D programs.

AIF Essential Criteria Each proposal must: a) be compatible with the AIF purpose and objectives; b) be scientifically and/or technically sound; c) demonstrate management capability to successfully undertake the project; d) demonstrate significant economic benefits for Atlantic Canada; e) address ultimate commercialization potential of project; f) support new or improved technologies or new applications of technologies; g) have adequate financing for the duration of the project; h) be incremental; and i) support one or more strategic sectors or technologies.

AIF Desirable Criteria Key considerations in the evaluation of proposals under AIF: a) includes private sector participation (for institutional proposals); b) fills a gap in the Atlantic system of innovation; c) improves innovation capacity of the private sector; d) is pan-Atlantic in scope; e) builds critical mass through networks/cooperation of existing and/or additional talent (researchers); f) leverages funding from other public and private sector sources; g) attracts new firms, institutions and researchers to Atlantic Canada; h) builds on research excellence; and i) fosters national and international affiliations.

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model for Communication Networks

CNSR Project Physical optical networking smart antennas communication transceivers Systems wireless personal communication systems wireless telemetry Internet routing data, transport, network layers Services Internet computing information security software agents Subproject A Subproject D Subproject G Subproject X

CNSR Project Activities (1) research projects in communication networks, (2) research projects in communication network services, ( 3) education in communication networks and services, and ( 4) dissemination of communication networks and services knowledge.

Pan-Atlantic Collaboration University of New Brunswick (both Fredericton and Saint John campuses) Faculty of Computer Science (including related centers and laboratories) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Biomedical Engineering Institute Law Forestry and Environmental Management Civil Engineering Dalhousie University Faculty of Engineering (Electrical and computer, Civil, including related centers and laboratories) Computer Science Faculty of Medicine Memorial University of Newfoundland Computer Science Electrical and Computer Engineering Université de Moncton Department d’informatique Saint Francis Xavier University Computer Science University College of Cape Breton

Industrial Partners (including the potential partners) Telecommunication Applications Research Alliance (NS) Seimac Ltd. (NS) ComDev Wireless (NB) MTT/Aliant (NS/NB/Newfoundland) Innovatia MetOcean Ltd. (NS) Orion Electronics (NS) Waterfront Development Corporation (NS) Bank of Nova Scotia VisionMD (NB) A Bound (NB) Stora Enso (NS) Sun Microsystems Atlantic AgriFood Associates (NB) HDI Inc. (NS) Valley Machine (NB) Bayer-Canada Inc. Impact Blue (NB) PRIVA-C (NB) CGI (NB) GEODAT Information Services (NB) CARIS (NB)

Management Structure under Consideration Advisory Board Representatives from Industry, Academia and Government Optical networking subprojects Internet routing subprojects Internet computing subprojects Project Manager Administrative Office Physical Layers Theme Leader (D. Chen) Systems Theme Leader (J. Dedourek) Services Theme Leader (B. Nickerson) Budgets and Accounting Publications and web site Events and Conferences Communications Reporting Public Relations Smart antenna subprojects Communication transceiver subprojects Wireless personal communication systems (PCS) subprojects Wireless telemetry subprojects Information security subprojects Software agent subprojects Data, transport, network layers subprojects

Schedule August 3, 2001: meeting of all major players in Moncton, including industrial partners, to discuss how the final proposal will be written. August 30, 2001: deadline for the deadline for receipt of 1st draft of applications (12 copies) to the UNB Office of Research Services (ORS) for preliminary review and forwarding to UNB Review Committee members. September 21 (Friday) - deadline for receipt of ALL "categories" of applications (4 copies) to ORS for final review, endorsement and submission to ACOA (Moncton) by September 28.