Internet of Radio-Light

Wireless networks in buildings suffer from congestion, interference, security and safety concerns, restricted propagation and poor in-door location accuracy. The Internet of Radio-Light (IoRL) project develops a safer, more secure, customizable and intelligent building network that reliably delivers increased throughput (greater than 10Gbps) from access points pervasively located within buildings, whilst minimizing interference and harmful EM exposure and providing location accuracy of less than 10 cm. It thereby shows how to solve the problem of broadband wireless access in buildings and promotes the establishment of a global standard in ITU. Building landlords will be incentivized to find funding to realize this solution for their properties to increase their value resulting in a stimulated market for broadband networking products in buildings, benefiting society and stimulating the world Gross Domestic Product. IoRL project develops a proof of concept demonstrator, which consists of VLC and mm Wave radio transmission systems and a NFV/SDN network resource management system that will act as the basis for standardization of a global solution.

The challenges are to (i) Develop broadband communication solutions for buildings by integrating these technologies to exploit the pervasiveness and accessibility of the existing electric light access points, the broadband capacities of mmWave and VLC technologies and the flexibility of SDN/NFV; (ii) industrially design a radio-light solution that can be integrated into the myriad of form factors of existing electric light systems and consumer products.

Meet the Principal Investigator(s) for the project

Professor John Cosmas - I joined Brunel University in 1999 and soon became the leader of the Multimedia and Networks group. I have a BEng in Electronic Engineering from Liverpool University (1978) and a PhD in Image Processing from Imperial College (1987). Prior to Brunel, I worked as an electronic engineer at Tube Investments (1978-81) and at Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. (1981-83), and as a lecturer at Queen Mary College, University of London (1986-99).  Over the years, I have been at the forefront of research in the areas of digital multimedia TV, 2D/3D digital media with 3D virtual and augmented reality, and 3D TV, as well as digital media delivery and transmission networks. My current 5G research adventure focusses on the internet of radio light and the integration of digital media in the radio-light internet of small family homes, multi-occupancy high rise homes, buildings with public access (museum demonstrator) and public places (train station and supermarket demonstrators). Our research approach interweaves the digital design with the architectural interior design of spaces and the electronic design of the light roses.  Future plans include research related to the interactive and tactile internet and the development of digital media for specific interactive, tele-driven applications.

Related Research Group(s)

Wireless Network and Communication - Application of Networks for the communication of information, media and services within the media, energy and environment, security and defence, manufacturing and medical industries.

Project last modified 22/07/2020