ATR Adaptive Communications Research Laboratories

The ATR Adaptive Communications Research Laboratories were established in March 1996, succeeding the ATR Optical and Radio Communications Research Laboratories and ATR Communications Systems Research Laboratories. With a view to establish technologies that can be used easily by anyone in any communication environment, four laboratories are promoting research in the following areas: construction and evaluation of adaptive systems, control of adaptive communication, adaptive spatial link technologies, and advanced communication devices. Five research engineers from NHK have been on loan to the laboratory to conduct joint research on compound semiconductors for display/imaging devices and optical parallel signal processing. They have been working toward the establishment of basic technologies for future broadcasting use.
To be an open laboratory for basic and creative research has been the basic principle of ATR since its establishment. A variety of talented people from a wide range of specialized fields, careers, and nationalities have participated in the work done at the Adaptive Communications Research Laboratories. A number of accomplishments have won high praise internationally, giving the Laboratories recognition as a COE on a global scale. The ATR Adaptive Communications Research Laboratories will continue to perform an ever more important role as one of the largest institutions for basic research on IT-related technologies.

(Tahito AIDA, Head of Lab 4, ATR Adaptive Communications
Research Laboratories)


Cooperation with Stanford University

I have been working on a one year term as a visiting researcher at Stanford University's CSLI (Center for the Study of Language and Information) since July 2000. Presently, in cooperation with Stanford University, I am doing research on an autonomously distributed information discovery system, which automatically retrieves the information desired by a program producer. In this system, our goal is not only to realize information retrieval from the massive amount of networked database including the Internet, but also to realize the extraction and summarization of key information, augmentation and complementation for missing data, information management, and presentation in the best tailored form for program producers. A wide range of technologies will be required in order to build such a system, from basic to applied. To accomplish this, we will continue to promote work on this research theme, making the best use of the state-of-the-art technologies belonging to both the STRL and Stanford University.

(Yeun-Bae KIM, Senior Research Engineer,
Multimedia Services Division)


Research on Digital Transmission Schemes for Terrestrial Broadcasting

The launch of digital terrestrial broadcasting in Japan is expected in 2003. Our study group has concentrated in the research and development of the ISDB-T digital terrestrial broadcast system. Currently, with that aim of achieving the implementation of digital terrestrial broadcasting, we are conducting surveys on reception characteristics in Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities using actual transmission facilities. We are also researching technical schemes to improve those reception characteristics. A wide range of research will continue on the application of digital terrestrial broadcasting technologies to other fields, including ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems), and evolution of post-ISDB-T broadcast systems.

(Shigeki MORIYAMA, Senior Research Engineer,
Digital Broadcasting Networks Division)