Invited Speakers

NIST’s Communications Technology Laboratory and its Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division is leading a first-of-its-kind nationwide cell-phone network that will enable improved interoperable broadband communications and new functionalities.  As this network becomes a reality, public safety stakeholders have set unprecedented metrics for Location Based Services (LBS) as one of its primary goals.  This presentation will provide an overview of these criteria for 3D indoor localization (vertical and horizontal local positioning) necessary for servicing large numbers of first responders in emergencies that have especially challenging, unique operations in a dense, urban environment.  Cell phone modulation protocols and 4G LTE standards use RF spectra that does not include precise 3D positioning at this time but is primarily focused on spectrum-shared, robust communications.  I will discuss PSCR research that directs 5G LTE formats and RF modulation protocols that potentially achieves 0.1m 3D uncertainty in real-time position and velocity dynamics for hours-long durations.  Lastly, I will present the significant benefits of small, low-phase noise atomic oscillators that can be introduced into future cell phone networks to obtain high precision 3D RF localization and improved data capacity.

David A. Howe leads the Time and Frequency Metrology Group of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO, and the Physics Laboratory’s Time and Frequency Division, Boulder, CO. He is an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer 2017 and 2018 and has over 160 publications and three patents in subjects related to PNT. His expertise is in high-accuracy time synchronization and ranging, spectral estimation using digital processing techniques, spectral purity and noise analysis, automated accuracy evaluation of a variety of atomic standards, reduction of oscillator acceleration sensitivity for special applications, statistical theory, and clock-ensemble algorithms.  Howe worked in NIST’s Atomic Standards Sectionfrom 1973 to 1984 doing advanced research on cesium and rugged, compact rubidium and ammonia standards with David Wineland.  Howe, with Fred Walls, developed the first operating compact hydrogen maser in 1979.  He returned to the Dissemination Research Section in 1984 to lead and implement several global high-accuracy two-way satellite time-synchronization experiments with other national laboratories. For this contribution, he was awarded the Commerce Department’s highest commendation, the Gold Medal, in 1990 for advancements in time calibrations of GPS and Universal Coordinated Time (UTC).  From 1994 to 1999, he worked as a statistical analyst for the Time Scale Section which maintains UTC(NIST) from an ensemble of laboratory atomic frequency standards. Dr. David Howe is the developer of the Total and TheoH variances used in high-accuracy estimation of long-term frequency stability for which he won a NIST Bronze Medal and a second Bronze in 2012 for Achievements in Phase Noise Metrology.  He received the 2013 IEEE Cady Award and was co-recipient of the 2013 IEEE UFFC Outstanding Paper and 2015 NIST Astin Measurement Sciences awards of the Commerce Department.