Center for Wireless Information Network Studies
Encyclopedia
Established in 1985, The Center for Wireless Information Network Studies (CWINS), Worcester Polytechnic Institute
, Worcester, Massachusetts
, is a compact wireless research laboratory with a successful history of research alliances with other industrial and academic groups. The center has performed research for government agencies and has close ties with the world-leading organizations in the wireless industry. The core competence of the center is in indoor radio channel propagation measurement modeling and in the development of testbeds and tools for design and performance monitoring of location aware wireless indoor networks. For over two decades, by publishing an international periodical journal, organizing several workshops and participating in organizing a yearly international conference, the center has contributed significantly to information exchange among important sectors of the wireless industry.
in 1985 as the first research program of this sort in the United States. In 1986, the program was awarded the first NSF
grant in modern wireless communications to start pioneering work on channel modeling, transmission and multiple access methods for wireless local area networks. In 1989 and 1990, the center participated in founding the IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC) and the IEEE International Symposium on Spread Spectrum Techniques and Applications (ISSSTA) in the UK. In 1991, the center organized the first of the IEEE Workshops on Wireless LAN
s, which was held at WPI. In 1992, the center organized the Third IEEE PIMRC in Boston which was the milestone in transferring the local symposium to a major yearly international event. In 1994, the center initiated the International Journal of Wireless Information Networks
, the first journal in this field. In 1995, Prof. Pahlavan and Dr. Levesque published "Wireless Information Networks", John Wiley and Sons, the first graduate level textbook in wireless networks. During 1996-98, the Wireless LAN Research Laboratory was formed under CWINS to serve as an industrial research alliance in answer to the growing interest in wireless LAN
technology. In 1996, Prof. Pahlavan was elected Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions in wireless office information networks. In 1997, the center expanded the scope of research to perform pioneering research for indoor and short-range geolocation applications for the Small Unit Operation Situation Awareness System program under DARPA. Also in 1997, the center initiated a long-term active collaboration with the University of Oulu
, Nokia
, and several other leading wireless companies in Finland
. In 1999, Prof. Pahlavan was the first non native of Finland to receive the Nokia fellowship. In 2000, he was the first scholar to receive the Fulbright Nokia fellowship. In 2002 Prof. Pahlavan and Prof. Krishnamurthy of the University of Pittsburgh (a former PhD graduate of the Center) published, "Principles of Wireless Networks - A Unified Approach", Prentice Hall which is considered by reviewers as the most comprehensive textbook in this field. In 2003 Prof. Pahlavan was co-chair of the International Workshop on Ultra Wideband Systems, Oulu, Finland and in 2004 he served as co-chair of the International Workshop on Wireless Adhoc Networks, Oulu , Finland. In 2005, he is serving as General Chairman of the IEEE International Conference on Mobile Adhoc Sensor Systems, Washington, D.C.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities...
, Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, is a compact wireless research laboratory with a successful history of research alliances with other industrial and academic groups. The center has performed research for government agencies and has close ties with the world-leading organizations in the wireless industry. The core competence of the center is in indoor radio channel propagation measurement modeling and in the development of testbeds and tools for design and performance monitoring of location aware wireless indoor networks. For over two decades, by publishing an international periodical journal, organizing several workshops and participating in organizing a yearly international conference, the center has contributed significantly to information exchange among important sectors of the wireless industry.
Brief history
The research program in wireless information networks at WPI was established by Professor Kaveh PahlavanKaveh Pahlavan
Kaveh Pahlavan , is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, a Professor of Computer Science, and Director of the Center for Wireless Information Network Studies, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts....
in 1985 as the first research program of this sort in the United States. In 1986, the program was awarded the first NSF
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
grant in modern wireless communications to start pioneering work on channel modeling, transmission and multiple access methods for wireless local area networks. In 1989 and 1990, the center participated in founding the IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (PIMRC) and the IEEE International Symposium on Spread Spectrum Techniques and Applications (ISSSTA) in the UK. In 1991, the center organized the first of the IEEE Workshops on Wireless LAN
IEEE Workshops on Wireless LAN
In May 1991, the first Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers workshop on Wireless LANs was held at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts. The workshop was scheduled in coordination with a meeting of the IEEE 802.11 Wireless Access Methods and Physical Layer...
s, which was held at WPI. In 1992, the center organized the Third IEEE PIMRC in Boston which was the milestone in transferring the local symposium to a major yearly international event. In 1994, the center initiated the International Journal of Wireless Information Networks
International Journal of Wireless Information Networks
The International Journal of Wireless Information Networks is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1994. It covers all aspects of wireless networks for researchers in both the telecommunications and computer industries...
, the first journal in this field. In 1995, Prof. Pahlavan and Dr. Levesque published "Wireless Information Networks", John Wiley and Sons, the first graduate level textbook in wireless networks. During 1996-98, the Wireless LAN Research Laboratory was formed under CWINS to serve as an industrial research alliance in answer to the growing interest in wireless LAN
Wireless LAN
A wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...
technology. In 1996, Prof. Pahlavan was elected Fellow of the IEEE for his contributions in wireless office information networks. In 1997, the center expanded the scope of research to perform pioneering research for indoor and short-range geolocation applications for the Small Unit Operation Situation Awareness System program under DARPA. Also in 1997, the center initiated a long-term active collaboration with the University of Oulu
University of Oulu
The University of Oulu is one of the largest universities in Finland, located in the city of Oulu. It was founded on July 8, 1958. The university has around 16,000 students and 3,000 staff...
, Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
, and several other leading wireless companies in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. In 1999, Prof. Pahlavan was the first non native of Finland to receive the Nokia fellowship. In 2000, he was the first scholar to receive the Fulbright Nokia fellowship. In 2002 Prof. Pahlavan and Prof. Krishnamurthy of the University of Pittsburgh (a former PhD graduate of the Center) published, "Principles of Wireless Networks - A Unified Approach", Prentice Hall which is considered by reviewers as the most comprehensive textbook in this field. In 2003 Prof. Pahlavan was co-chair of the International Workshop on Ultra Wideband Systems, Oulu, Finland and in 2004 he served as co-chair of the International Workshop on Wireless Adhoc Networks, Oulu , Finland. In 2005, he is serving as General Chairman of the IEEE International Conference on Mobile Adhoc Sensor Systems, Washington, D.C.