Research Activities
Reorganization of Research Structure
Human-Oriented Global Networks
Building on the excellent achievements and the rich experience of research during the five-year 21st century COE program, we expand our research activities to include the field of intelligent information systems, aiming at the construction of a global network enabling human-oriented communications.
The research structure is reorganized into three groups: (A) information and device fundamentals, (B) networking, (C) intelligent information systems. During the previous five-year 21st century COE program, we focused on the development of information communication devices, i.e., semiconductors, storage, optical, and display devices. However, in the new global COE program, we shift our focus to research on optical and wireless networking technology. We also conduct research into human-oriented intelligent information systems, intelligent communication systems based on autonomous recognition and prediction of the environment, and communication devices as well as developing fundamental theories.
The research target of Group A is to develop semiconductors, storage, optical and display devices with super high performance (i.e., high density, high speed, high functionality, low power consumption, etc.) and to develop the fundamentals of information communication devices and theories behind the information systems to be used in 10 years time. The research target of Group B is to develop super-high-speed coherent optical communication technology, broadband wireless signal processing technology, secure network architectures, and communications protocols, as well as optical and wireless technologies and distributed networks. The target data rate of optical communications is 1〜10 Tbps using optical TDM/WDM technology and the wireless data rate should be as high as 100 M〜1 Gbps over a hostile wireless propagation channel. The research target of Group C is the development of intelligent communications technology with a more than tenfold improvement in recognition capability and performance, and intelligent information systems with autonomous recognition and prediction of the environment.
In the new global COE program, Groups A〜C will work in close cooperation to develop the fundamental technologies necessary for global networks.