InterDigital Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: IDCC), a leading developer and enabler of advanced wireless technologies, today announced the establishment of a research partnership with McGill University's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
Under the relationship, InterDigital will fund and guide the research of technical approaches to improve the efficiency of wireless networks that carry multi-media services. Such technical solutions will play an important part in the deployment of third generation (3G) wireless systems.
"I am delighted to announce the initiation of this research project on critical new technologies with McGill," commented Dr. Alain Briancon, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of InterDigital. "We are especially pleased that our presence in Montreal has begun to bear fruit already as we establish this important project with McGill's high-caliber, creative team. We look forward to a long-term relationship."
This research alliance between McGill and InterDigital is focused on Radio Resource Management techniques that support Smart Antenna systems solutions for 3G wireless networks. The research is designed to improve the efficiency of advanced wireless networks carrying large amounts of voice and data traffic, including multi-media services.
"McGill University is particularly keen to develop partnerships of this kind with leaders in critical technologies," said Ian Butler, the University's Associate Vice-Principal (Research). "McGill's research expertise in the area of telecommunications is well established and I feel confident that the team of Professors Le-Ngoc and Champagne will make important contributions to advanced wireless networks."
McGill University, located in the heart of Montreal, boasts a rich heritage of invention in electrical engineering. McGill's 22 faculties and professional schools offer more than 300 programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. McGill's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has extensive laboratory facilities for all its main research areas. Its telecommunications laboratories focus their work on signal processing and wireless communications. "This is a good example of our collaboration in multidisciplinary research to support local industry. This research project requires our expertise in the areas of smart antenna and radio resource management," commented Professors Tho Le-Ngoc and Benoit Champagne, who will jointly supervise the research at McGill University.
"The collaboration with McGill University is fully aligned with InterDigital Canada's work on the development of 3G radio resource management solutions," commented Michel Desgagne, Director of InterDigital Canada Ltee. "To accommodate the ever-increasing demand for wireless communications services, future wireless networks will need to carry interactive multi-media traffic with great efficiency while providing significantly higher capacity. Since 3G radio spectrum is a precious and limited resource, the development of such solutions will help to improve the business case for companies serving the 3G market."
"InterDigital's technology roadmap focuses on improving the business opportunities in advanced wireless communications for operators, equipment producers, and applications developers by developing technologies that enable richer, better integrated terminals, infrastructure, and applications. These advanced technology solutions will allow wireless companies to harvest great value from the ever-increasing ubiquity of cellular services. InterDigital's work on cutting-edge technologies with some of the world leaders in the telecommunications industry is strengthened by creative work on pioneering technology projects with leading research institutions, including our new partners at McGill," added Dr. Briancon.
InterDigital Communications has a deep heritage as a developer and enabler of digital wireless telecommunications technologies and products, having built a substantial portfolio of pioneering wireless technologies and forged relationships with many of the leading companies in this industry over its 30-year history. The Company today has approximately 250 engineers developing Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology for next generation wireless products.
Since February 1999, InterDigital and Nokia have been engaged in a strategic partnership to develop WCDMA Wideband Time Division Duplex (WTDD) air interface technology and cooperate in global standards bodies to help define the TDD standard. Together with Infineon Technologies AG, InterDigital is developing enabling software for 3G UMTS Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) that will be incorporated into Infineon's baseband integrated circuits (ICs) for use in 3G terminals worldwide. The companies are also cooperating in the development of FDD chipsets for infrastructure applications.
Earlier this year, InterDigital opened a design facility in Montreal, expanding its global reach and furthering its leadership role in next generation 3G technology and product development. InterDigital's engineers in Montreal work with their colleagues in King of Prussia, PA, USA, Melville, NY, USA and Munich, Germany on 3G technology development programs.