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Objectives
The objective of the CollaBOD project is to refine and expand its technology for the web-based scheduling and management of shared bandwidth resources. Building upon technology developed for user-based scheduling of bandwidth-on-demand satellite services (and as currently deployed in Canada’s Smart Community Program), Colabnet seeks to expand the technology into a full commercially deployable resource and service management tool for bandwidth on demand service deployments.
Meeting this objective will require the expansion of the scheduling and management facilities to accommodate not only the satellite resources, but also the user facilities and terminal equipment, allowing user organizations to schedule and manage all aspects of satellite-based service delivery. The expanded product will also support rapid adaptation to multiple Network Management Systems (the current version is being built to support the MIDAS technology from Comtech/EF Data), as well as integrating with other related management systems, such as video conferencing bridge and gateway facilities.
Challenges
The core issue that the CollaBOD product is intended to address is the need to be able to provide end-users with the ability to schedule and manage their network resources in a distributed bandwidth-on-demand environment. To be able to fully exploit the advantages of bandwidth-on-demand technology to deliver cost-effective network services, user groups need a way to quickly customize the service to their needs while providing end-users and support staff with tools to effectively utilize and manage the service.
Plan
Under the current project plan the CollaBOD project will go through three specific phases:
- Phase One – Specification: This phase will see the definition of the Functional Requirements for the expanded product as well as the development of a System Design to guide the development process and a Test Plan to guide the pilot testing of the product.
- Phase Two – Development: This will see the development and integration testing of the product using an iterative prototyping process. Two prototype and test cycles are planned.
- Phase Three – Pilot Testing: This phase will see the live testing of the product in an operational environment, in conjunction with Telesat Canada.
Current Status
To date the project team has completed the second and final Prototype Version of the CollaBOD application, incorporating the comments from testing of the initial version as well as significant enhancements in functionality.
The project team has completed the planning and deployment process for the field-testing of the product, with the most recent version of the CollaBOD deployed at Telesat Canada. The system is deployed to manage satellite facilities in thirteen remote Canadian communities under the SmartLabrador Project, supporting multiple connection points in each community.
Field testing of the product ran through April 30th, 2004, with a number of adjustments made during the process to reflect user feedback and trial performance. During the testing process over 130 sessions were booked and managed through the system The updated version of the CollaBOD technology is now in production with SmartLabrador, and Colabnet has actively started to market the product as well as seeking additional satellite technology partners to integrate the technology with.
The Final Review was successfully completed on June 10th, 2004, marking the formal end to the project.
