Robust Mobile Infostation Network Technology (MINT) System

Mayflower's proposed Robust MINT system is fully responsive to the Army STTR program objective to develop a robust high data rate, short distance mobile wireless communications system, which would allow the transfer of 100's of Mbps in a range of 50 - 100 feet from mobile base stations to combat vehicles or dismounted soldiers. The "robust" feature of our MINT system refers to its jamming immunity from intentional or unintentional jammers (referred to as radio frequency interference, RFI, signals). The RFI protection of the MINT system is considered an important requirement for Army field applications. These RFI concerns are currently not being addressed (except for some academic research in this area) in the commercial world and no hardware development plans are announced. The innovative MINT system architecture planned for Phase II laboratory/field demonstration consists of an enhanced 802.11n OFDM PHY layer augmented with a 2 X 2 (2 input and 2 output) antennae and an optimized MAC layer, that can be expanded to a 4 X 2 or a 4 X 4 system and can be configured to operate in the beam/null forming mode or in the MIMO mode, depending on the field requirement. The Phase II field demonstration will entail a high data rate application demonstration at ARL, where data can be transferred from the MINT base station to a mobile user while entering or exiting the building.