AI3 BoF at APNG Singapore: Meeting Minutes

January 23, 1996, Singapore

Opening

Suguru Yamaguchi (suguru@wide.ad.jp) chaired this BoF session. Suguru presented an overview of the AI3 project.

The WISH Technologies by the WIDE Project

Jun Murai (jun@wide.ad.jp) presented an overview and the brief history of the WISH Technologies and the WIDE Project. The WIDE Project was established in 1988 in Japan and is one of major research groups for the development of the Internet technologies. The WISH (stands for "WIDE Internet with Satellite Harmonization") is a joint research with the WIDE Project and the JSAT (Japan Satellite Systems, Inc. Japan) for developing new technologies to merge satellite communication channels into the existing Internet infrastructure. Since its creation, the WIDE project and the JSAT have been operating its testbed network called "WISHBone". The WISHBone is constructed with the VSAT technologies and 10 earth stations in Japan. Currently, the WIDE Project provides several software to make the satellite links as both IP Point-to-Point link and IP Multicast channel. These technologies were applied to several experiments, such as the remote observation system with the micro gravity testing site in Hokkaido or the aquarium in Tokyo bay area, the music concert live feed to the MBone on the Internet, and the Internet operation training for emergencies like disasters. Currently, the WISH experiments are applied for the domestic Internet in Japan. The AI3 project is a sort of expansion of the WIDE experiments to the Asia Pacific area.

The AI3 Project in details

Suguru presented details of the AI3 project. This presentation was based on the AI3 proposal available at their WWW site. In his talk, he presented brief explanations about key technologies which were developed through the WISH experiments, the satellite which the AI3 will use, what is the AI3 research partners, and several experiments which are planned for the AI3 network.

Technical Aspects of the JCSAT-3 and the AI3 Satellite Links

Hidetaka Izumiyama (izu@jcsat.co.jp) of the JSAT presented technical aspects of the JCSAT-3 satellite. The JCSAT-3 satellite covers several Asian countries and regions with its Asian Zone Ku-band Beam which the AI3 project will use. Also, the JCSAT-3 has capability to handle the C-band beam which covers many countries from India to the Pacific, from Mongolia down to Australia. Hidetaka told that the JSAT would provide this C-band beam for the AI3 project, however, if the project uses the band, several equipment should be added to the AI3 earth station in Japan. Also, he noted that the AI3 network might stop by heavy rain shower because the Ku-band has rain degradation characteristic.

Licensing Issues

Masataka Komiya (k-massy@po.iijnet.or.jp) of the JSAT presented the license requirement in order to use the AI3 network in Asian countries. If a researcher wants to use the AI3 network, the appropriate local authority where the researcher is located should give a satellite communication license to the JSAT and an earth station license to the research if the researcher builds it. Since the licensing takes long time, Komiya asked attendees to investigate the licensing procedure in several countries.

Discussions

Many attendees made questions about the AI3 project. The Q and A are listed below:
  1. How long can a partner use the AI3 satellite link without any charge?
    In the current AI3 plan, a partner can use the link in 24 months without any charge from the JSAT. The months will be counted since the first link in the AI3 network is up.

  2. What will happen after the 24 months?
    The AI3 project and the JSAT will evaluate the AI3 activities. This evaluation will be taken on the each partners. If all of them (the AI3 project, the JSAT, and the partner) believe that the link should be operated as a commercial Internet connection, the free use is terminated, and then, the commercialization process will be started.
    If they still have research topics and the JSAT accepts the expand of the free use of the link for them, the free use will be expanded one more year (12 months). After the period, the evaluation will be set again.
    If they recognize that the link is no more needed by all of them, the free use is terminated immediately.

  3. Who is funding for this project?
    The expenses for running this project is currently shared by the WIDE Project, the NAIST (Nara Institute of Science and Technology) and the JSAT. The WIDE Project is in charge of this project, the JSAT provides the bandwidth of the JCSAT-3 satellite links, and the NAIST deploys the AI3 earth station and pay all the cost for the station on its location in Nara, Japan.

  4. How many countries can join this project?
    Currently, the number of the available AI3 links is 8 channels. This is caused by the limitation of the number of modems at the Hub station side. The earth station in Japan can handle up to 8 VSAT modems, thus, the total number of the AI3 links should be equal or less than 8.

  5. Who owns the intellectual property of the technologies the AI3 develops?
    Obviously, all the WISH technologies developed by the WIDE project remains in the public domain. Thus, anybody in this project can use the WISH technologies freely. If its partner develops new technologies, then the intellectual properties are reserved by the partner, of course. However, the WIDE project will discuss with the partner to make them in the public domain. But, we never force to do it.

  6. When do you expect that the first link is up?
    Construction of the earth station in Japan side should be finished in the middle of March. After that, for its licensing, at least 4 months may required. Thus, the first link will be in July or August in the best case.

  7. Why does not this project uses the C-band provided by the JCSAT-3? The C-band is much better than the Ku-band in the sense of its coverage and the influences of "heavy rain".
    For the AI3 project, the JCSAT offers the Ku-band only. However, the JSAT is still considering use of the C-band.

  8. In the case of IP multicast, do the IP Multicast datagrams have to travel from the source to the destination once via the Hub in Japan?
    Technically, the answer is "No."

  9. Are there any plans to use other beam to cover other countries out of the Asian Zone Beam foot print?
    At this point, the answer is "No." If we cover the area, we should use the cross strap function provided by the JCSAT-3. In this case, the C band should be used at the partners side. However, this implementation requires technical design and negotiation with the JSAT.

  10. What is the relationship between this AI3 project and the Internet 1996 World Exposition? Is this a sub project of the IWE96?
    There is no official relationship among them, however, if a partner wishes, then the JSAT and the AI3 project allow the partner to use this link as a part of the IWE96 railroad.

Please write your comments and suggestions to our AI3 project mailing list.
This mailing list includes all the presenters of the AI3 BoF session.
January 24th, 1996, by Suguru Yamaguchi.