Qualcomm: CDMA
From Devwiki
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Objectivity Case History
FORMER CUSTOMER |
[edit] Important
This information is an archive, so any use of the present sense in the text should be taken in the historical context, generally determinable from the Status section below.
[edit] Status
Can we talk about this customer and the product/project?
Can be referenced: Yes/No
[edit] Separate Collateral
[edit] Customer Information
- Customer: Qualcomm, Inc. – BSM
- Country:
- Industry: Wireless Communications
- Application Domain: CDMA Infrastructure Solution – Sbsc
- Status: Deployed – software version 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 (Objy/DB 3.8.19)
- Number of developer licenses:
- Runtime license type and number:
[edit] Environment
- Hardware:
- Operating System: Sun Sparc – 30 series / OS – 2.5.1
- Precision: 32 or 64 bit?
- Development language: C++
- Compiler: All.
- Third Party vendor tools:
- Open Source tools:
- Lead came from:
- Other Tools: CLI / QMIP
[edit] The Project/Product
[edit] Project Background
Qualcomm is a true innovator, creating various wireless cellular standards for telecommunications. To capitalize on a burgeoning market, Qualcomm needed a DBMS that would allow its Intelligent Base Station Controller (IBSC) to manage hundreds of cells and the corresponding transmitter sites. Because one true fault can precipitate many apparent faults, real-time fault analysis was also a critical component of the system. Qualcomm’s choice of database would have deep impacts in its real-time fault analysis.
The Objectivity/DB Solution: Qualcomm turned to Objectivity/DB while it was developing Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a breakthrough standard in digital wireless telephone communications which improved voice quality and increased capacity by as much as 20 times.
Qualcomm used Objectivity/DB as the foundation of the management information base [MIB] for its CDMA Intelligent Base Station Controller, in part because of the ability of Objectivity/DB to specify objects cleanly, according to necessary telecommunications protocols. Objectivity/DB was also singled out for its ability to guarantee non-stop operation of the database server because of Objectivity's capability for transparent distribution of data and its flexible, configurable, data replication option. We were therefore able to save about 3 man-months of programming expenses with Objectivity."
[edit] Project/Product Description
Application History in which Objectivity is embedded into:
- Ibsc initially, went to Ebsc (enhanced – GMP compliant / support)
- Decided to skip the compact bsc (cbsc) – customer problems (5.0 – shelved)
- Current: sbsc – scalable – 3 racks and scales from there (code base: 3.5, 4.0 closed system, 4.5 open system); supports Netra and GMP.
- Next: 5.5 sbsc - Based on U.S. West contract. Better GUI for operators, better hardware, more open software (solaris 7 OS), and enhanced software performance. Going after tier 1 and tier 2 markets within WLL (US West shall be a showcase for Qualcomm’s entry into this North American market - $50 million contract). 5.5 CDMA infrasture shall support Netra and GMP – and will drop support for GMP. Existing clients shall have to upgrade.
[edit] Buying Criteria
To manage the Base Station which is embedded in their new networks more effeciently. To rapidly change their proprietary CDMA technology which exists in their Base Station and PCS networks. To buy a OODMBS which allows them to scale as their customer base grows and demands more customization from each customer.
- Performance
- Short Transactions (100/second)
- Data Replication
Currently the BSM – CDMA infrastructure turnkey solution is the only group making money in the CDMA division. In addition, because of the new Sbsc product they have been able to sell allot of product and infrastructure in the off-shore Wireless local loop market. Furthermore, within Qualcomm the CDMA Infrastructure division and the Globalstar divisions have merged – to be called COMM Systems. The reason for the merger is to reduce costs while these two divisions are ramping up, hence losing money, because no sales are coming in. The reason why the BSM has been so successful is due to two main reasons, which trend to Objectivity/DB. They are as follows:
1. CDMA has been able two kept far ahead of the product curve in terms of a smaller, more cost-effective Base station manager with the same robust functionality for the local wireless loop markets in second and third world countries. The reason they have been able to add new features, and adapt the product quickly and effectively is due to our versioning capabilities within Objectivity/DB. 2. The distributed nature of our architecture allows the operator in a country who is managing the base station controller can real-time manage all the BTS’ within the entire Wireless local Loop infrastructure. Because of our FDB they can move databases’ REAL-TIME which represents a BTS within a market. For example, in Santiago, Chile the operator of the BSM /CDMA infrastructure system manages 87 BTS’. 3. Performance – the key competitive advantage in this high-availability market is the reponse time of call / handling of info which increases caller’s acceptance o/ satisfaction of this wireless system. Because were embedded into the BSC which handles the majority of the network element portions of the system, and these objects (values and attributes) have extremely complex relationships performance would be slow if this these type of data and relationships were stored in a RDBMS. Objectivity/DB performs extremely well in this setting because of our ability to handle a scale with objects, which have extremely complex relationships.
[edit] Business Priorities
[edit] Technical Priorities
This particular application does not have complex data and is relatively simple in nature. Qualcomm feels that the high grade commercial databases are overkill for the application. They have already eliminated Versant because they feel it is too much for the job. This puts us in a similar situation. Qualcomm is currently leaning towards using their proprietary in-house database or buying a main memory database.
[edit] Competitors/Alternatives
Qualcomm feels that both Versant and Objectivity are overkill for this application. They feel that either using their in house object persistent mechanism or an in memory database from one of the vendor’s below is the preferred approach for this application. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
- TimesTen
- Angora
[edit] Why They Chose Objectivity
Allows them to more efficiently use their CDMA techlology in each of their new products. This allows them to handle more calls at a lower cost per network, callers on different systems to use the same frequency at the same time. Objectivity/DB gives Qualcomm the competitive edge vs. the competition with respect to more power per network at a lower cost. In addition, it allows Qualcomm to get in a brand new internatioinal business called Wireless Local Loop communications in essense, Qualcdomm will be able to provide second and third world countries global cellular communications without having to lay copper or wire. Qualcomm's benefit is the fact they have expanded their marketability substantially. Objectivity/DB allows Qualcomm, to rapidly change and customize each deployed CDMA-based product cost-effectively and quickly. This means reduced costs of deployment of new system to each new customer. As their customer base grows, and their product changes with respect to enhancements, Qualcomm now has te ability to quickly upgrade all their existing and new customers cost-effectivly and rapidly.
[edit] Contact Information
- Objectivity Rep:
- Customer Contact: Rick Yuen
- Customer Phone:
- Customer Email: ryuen@qualcomm.com
- URL:
