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VoIP SYSTEMS for FAAVoIP SYSTEMS for FAA

Henning Schulzrinne, Supreeth Subramanya, Xiaotao Wu

Department of Computer Science

Columbia University

Date: Feb 25, 2008

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DISCUSSION FLOWDISCUSSION FLOW

Part 1 – The Bigger Picture What problem is the system trying to solve?

Why is the problem important?

Part 2 – Design of VoIP System How is the system designed?

Part 3 – Conclusion How well has the problem been solved?

Where do we go from here?

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THE BIGGER PICTURE (1/3)THE BIGGER PICTURE (1/3)

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Agency of the U.S. DoT with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of US civil aviation

FAA Academy The education and training division of FAA

We’re working with a group responsible for training the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC)

ATC training levels – low fidelity, medium fidelity and high fidelity

Photos - http://www.cba.uri.edu/classrooms/pictures/computerlab.jpg & http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/10307.jpg

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FAA Academy Communication System

Three parallel networks in every classroom and lab

Data Network (Fast or Gigabit Ethernet)

Voice Network (Analog, hardwired point-to-point connections)

Video Network (Graphical simulations)

Disadvantages

Difficult to add new training scenarios

Uses obsolete equipments, no longer available without custom manufacture

Solution – convergence of Data and Voice networks

Digital vs. analog

Better utilization of bandwidth

Reconfigurability in connections

I’m in

THE BIGGER PICTURE (2/3)THE BIGGER PICTURE (2/3)

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What are the ATCs trained on?

Learning to use air traffic control devices & displays Communicating and coordinating with Pilots / ATCs Many more aspects

Learning the air traffic rules Developing a mental picture of

air-space and air-timing

Why should we care?

We are designing the communication system

We’ll have to use air traffic control devices and displays for input/output

Photo - http://www.aeroport.public.lu/pictures/en/administration/atc/atc_003.jpg

THE BIGGER PICTURE (3/3)THE BIGGER PICTURE (3/3)

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DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (1/6)DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (1/6)

Voice over IP (VoIP)

Routing of voice communication over an IP network (E.g., the Internet)

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

PC–to–PC (Microsoft NetMeeting)

PC–to–Phone (Skype)

Phone–to–Phone (International Calls)

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Dual Sector

Scenario

Single Sector

Scenario

FAA Academy classroom

Consists of up to 26 configurable student positions (ATC, Pilot) and 1 instructor

Students and instructor use computer and push-to-talk (PTT) device

Instructor loads a flight scenario and teaches/tests the students

DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (2/6)DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (2/6)

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Communication Scenarios

1. Radio Communication

Broadcast mechanism for the ATC and all of the pilots in his sector

2. Point-to-point Communication

ATC communicates with neighboring ATCs during pilot handoff

3. Active Monitoring

Classroom supervisor may monitor students (i.e. listen to what they hear/talk)

4. Automatic Notification

Real-time tracking of particular events

5. Recording

Ability to record a communication sessions with VCR-like controls (record, play, pause etc)

DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (3/6)DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (3/6)

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User Interfaces and I/O Devices

Five rich graphical interfaces

Students – Pilots, ATCs

Instructors – Master Instructor, Position Instructors

Five I/O devices

Push -To -Talk (PTT)

Touch-screens

Foot-pedals

Speakers

Keyboard & mouse

Foot Pedal Push-To-

Talk

ATC Control Screen

DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (4/6)DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (4/6)

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PositionInstructorATC Pilot

MasterInstructor

MAPUA

SIP proxy server

RTSP server

File server

Presence server

Unified VoIP Server

SIP-CGI

ConfigurationDatabase

IP Network

DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (5/6)DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (5/6)

The VoIP System Architecture

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Novel System Development Methodology

Design Philosophy – software prototyping

Allows rapid development, iterative requirements adaptation

Hardware – software integration

Wrap every piece of hardware and talk to the wrapper

Self-correcting design to recover from component failures

Standards-based solution

Built using the Internet standards (SIP, RTP, RTSP)

Can be integrated with PSTN telephones or any other VoIP system

Extensibility

Ability to integrate newer hardware and GUI

Ability to add / modify / configure communications

DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (6/6)DESIGN OF VoIP SYSTEM (6/6)

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The good

Columbia’s Thought-to-finish approach

Handled everything from design to development to deployment

5 onsite visits to FAA, Oklahoma + 2 VoIP training sessions

Success story

FAA VoIP deployed in 5 classrooms (2 more expected by year end)

CONCLUSION (1/3)CONCLUSION (1/3)

The bad and the ugly (a.k.a. lessons learnt)

Prototype system vs. production system

Deployment environment, where users aren’t CS graduates

Remote debugging is a challenge (even for trivial issues)

Interference due to malfunctioning of associated systems

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The Road Ahead…

Know our system strengths

Standards-based voice communications system on data networks (e.g. the Internet)

Extensible, configurable design framework (to adapt to newer requirements)

Explore possibilities

Plethora of FAA classrooms that run 50-years old hardwired communication system

Corporate and other federal organizations that use old communication system

Our shortcomings

Limited resources (developer time, travel constraints)

Not a full-fledged product (a.k.a very limited support)

CONCLUSION (2/3)CONCLUSION (2/3)

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Thank you

for your time and support

CONCLUSION (3/3)CONCLUSION (3/3)