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What is mATRIC?

mATRIC, or the Multi-Access Technology Real-Time Intelligent Controller, is an advanced software platform developed as part of the REASON project. It is designed to revolutionise the way networks are implemented and managed, paving the way for future access technology-agnostic networks. mATRIC integrates multiple Radio Access Networks (RAN) and LiFi controllers, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to optimise network resources and performance, particularly for data-intensive, uplink-centric applications.

​Key Features

Multi-Access Management: mATRIC simultaneously manages multiple radio access technologies (RATs) and LiFi networks. This capability is crucial for environments that require seamless integration and optimisation of various network types.

AI-Driven Real-Time Intelligence: The platform employs AI-powered real-time data analytics to monitor and control network performance, ensuring optimal resource allocation and network efficiency. AI algorithms continuously learn and adapt to changing network conditions, enhancing decision-making and operational effectiveness.

Uplink-Centric Applications: Traditional networks prioritise downlink throughput. mATRIC addresses the emerging need for higher uplink capacity, which is essential for applications that generate large amounts of data, such as industrial IoT, augmented reality, and real-time 3D rendering.

Network Optimisation: By aggregating throughput from multiple access networks and utilizing intelligent controllers, mATRIC enhances network performance, reduces latency, and increases reliability. AI techniques play a significant role in dynamically adjusting network parameters to meet application demands.

Open Architecture: mATRIC is designed with an open architecture to support future 6G wireless networks, enabling flexibility and adaptability to evolving technological requirements. This open approach ensures compatibility and integration with a wide range of devices and systems.

The Innovation Behind mATRIC

AI-Powered Real-Time Control: At the heart of mATRIC’s innovation is its AI-driven real-time control system. Unlike traditional network controllers that rely on static algorithms, mATRIC employs machine learning to dynamically analyse network conditions and make intelligent decisions. This allows for real-time optimisation of network resources, adapting instantly to changes in traffic patterns, device behaviours, and application requirements.

Multi-Access Integration: mATRIC’s ability to manage and integrate multiple radio access technologies (RATs) and LiFi networks is a groundbreaking feature. This multi-access capability ensures that diverse network environments can be seamlessly unified, providing consistent and reliable connectivity across different access technologies. This integration is crucial for supporting the heterogeneous network landscape anticipated in future 6G deployments.

Uplink Optimisation for Data-Intensive Applications: Traditional networks have been designed with a downlink-centric approach, which is inadequate for emerging applications that require significant uplink capacity. mATRIC shifts this paradigm by prioritising uplink performance, making it ideal for data-intensive applications such as industrial IoT, augmented reality (AR), and real-time 3D rendering. This uplink-centric design is a response to the growing demand for high data rates, low latency, and high reliability in uplink channels.

Open and Flexible Architecture: mATRIC’s open architecture is designed to be adaptable and future-proof. This flexibility allows for easy integration with existing network infrastructure and future technologies. The open design also promotes interoperability, enabling mATRIC to work seamlessly with a wide range of devices and systems, which is essential for the diverse and evolving requirements of next-generation networks.

Advanced Data Analytics: The platform leverages advanced data analytics to provide deep insights into network performance and user behaviour. These analytics enable proactive management and troubleshooting, allowing network operators to predict and mitigate potential issues before they impact users. This proactive approach is a significant improvement over traditional reactive methods, ensuring higher network reliability and user satisfaction.

Innovative Use Cases: One of the key demonstrations of mATRIC’s innovation is its application in NeRF (Neural Radiance Fields) technology. By capturing 2D images and processing them into 3D scenes through a machine learning pipeline, mATRIC showcases its capability to support sophisticated, data-intensive applications. This use case highlights the practical benefits of mATRIC’s advanced features in real-world scenarios.

Going Open Source

The Multi-Access Technology Real-Time Intelligent Controller (mATRIC) is now available as an open-source project, hosted on GitHub. This move to open source means that developers, researchers, and network professionals worldwide can access, modify, and enhance the mATRIC platform. By opening its codebase, mATRIC invites contributions from the global community, fostering innovation and collaboration. Contributors can propose new features, optimize existing functionalities, and address any issues, accelerating the development and deployment of advanced network solutions. This open-source model ensures that mATRIC remains at the forefront of technological advancement, benefiting from diverse expertise and continuous improvement driven by its community.