Actualidad en Telefónica I+D

Carlos Domingo awarded prize for Professional Career in Computer Engineering

adminprod — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:34:35 +0200

Carlos Domingo, director of the Telefónica I+D centre in Barcelona, has been awarded the 2nd National Prize for a Professional Career in Computer Engineering. This recognition was awarded him by the Spanish Association of Computer Engineers, which draws together the different computer engineer associations at autonomous community level.

The award panel highlighted Carlos Domingo's professional career and his contribution to the world of research in Spain, a country to which he returned two years ago, to take charge of innovation and development for Telefónica in Internet and Multimedia.

The prize was awarded in Valladolid, as part of the events in the second Night of Computer Engineering in this autonomous community.

Carlos Domingo Soriano is an engineer in Computing by the Faculty of Computing, Barcelona, at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), with a Master in Computer Engineering by the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Doctor in Computer Engineering by the UPC. He also has a postgraduate degree in company management at the University of Stanford.

Since 2006, he is Director of the Barcelona centre of Telefónica I+D, specializing in Internet, multimedia and multilinguism.

TI+D in the MWC: Telefónica presents the 3GBox Project, a 3G USB MODEM developed by TI+D, and several eBooks' demos

etirado — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:24:55 +0100

The Mobile World Congress 2010, the world's reference technology fair, the mobile services and applications has an outstanding participation of the Telefónica group. Telefónica I+D is present in this fair with several demonstrations and innovations, which Telefónica presents to visitors and the media in its stand.

Telefónica presents the first 3GBox prototype, a 3G USB modem, for the moment unique in the world, which connects to mobile broadband networks and allows a practically non-limited storage, based on the Cloud Computing technology. The Project has been developed by Telefónica I+D, in collaboration with other Telefónica business units.

In order to conceive and develop this product, agile design methodologies focused on the user have been followed. These methodologies allow proving and verifying each concept and steps of the development with people, from very early stages of the development.

The use appearance and experience of the 3GBox is the same as the one of a pen drive, with the difference that the contents instead of being saved in local, they are "uploaded" directly to the Net. This way, the user is sure that his/her data is stored correctly in a repository, with a much bigger capacity than that of a traditional pen drive.

Furthermore, its autoconnection capacity makes easier the downloading and uploading of contents easily. With this prototype, the user can choose the storage capacity he/she is Share the contents with its contacts, watch videos uploaded to the folder in the network on streaming or listen to music without having to download the whole file to start to reproduce it.

The 3GBox use is extremely simple, as the installation of the appropriate software and the connection to the 3G network are done automatically when the pen drive is plugged in. In addition, it has an automatic updating procedure for new version.

Telefónica also presents several demonstrations of connected eBooks and eReaders, developed in TI+D, which constitute the first e-Book experience of an operator. These devices open a new concept for the use of the current electronic books, as well as a world of possibilities for the digitalisation of editorial contents and its enjoyment online.

In addition, these future eReaders develop a community concept, which allows people with common interests to get in touch, for example with the upload of comments from the device to Internet directly.
The presented demos show several innovative uses of the eReader device, based in a new reading technology (e-ink).

The Way of St. James (chosen because 2010 is the Xacobeo year), the travel market, is one of the most adequate for the e-readers market. The travel keeps people away form their houses and offices, and frequently from access to computers. This electronic guide is especially useful, as the unpredictable nature of travels puts the traveller in unexpected situations where they have to adjust their plans as they go along.

Anaya Interactiva recreates the access to Anaya's TV educational contents.

Telefónica also presents Haikus, an application to create microservices.

The cenit Segur@ project completes its third year

etirado — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:25:55 +0100

The CENIT Segur@ (Security and Trust in Information Society) program is a national point of reference in Spain, in the R&D field, which is oriented to the security and trust in Information Society field. Its activities focus on key fields, such as: the security and control of access to fixed and mobile networks, digital identity, cryptography, DNI-e (electronic ID), digital signature, biometrics, attacks' detection and simulation technologies and analysis of security risks. Likewise, it investigates the development of platforms of collaborative management of identity and privacy security and management.

The Segur@ project is subsidized by the CDTI (Centre for Industrial Technological Development), an organism which depends on the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain. Its activities started in July 2007, inside the third session of the CENIT Program (a program which is part of the national initiative INGENIO 2010).

Several companies integrate the project: Telefónica I+D (company which leads the project), Ericsson, Isdefe, Secuware, S21Sec, Safelayer, Atos Origin, Sermepa, Ecija Abogados, Optenet, Ecija Consulting and Security and Caja de Ahorros de Navarra.

Among the research organisms that collaborate I would like to point out the following: the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, the Technical University of Madrid, the Carlos III University, the Deusto University, the Pompeu Fabra University, the University of Málaga, the University of Murcia, the Technical University of Catalonia, the Public University of Navarra, the Technological Centre CEMITEC, the Vision through Computer Centre, the I2CAT Foundation, Robotiker and VICOMTech.

In 2010, the project enters its final phase with the closure of the third year of the project. This phase will give a start to the third year, for which new results are being prepared and the prototypes and platforms which have been developed during the projects will be finished. This year several events are going to be organised in order to spread them.

For the moment, several patents have been registered as a result of the project's activities and several articles and papers have been published in magazines and congresses, both national and international.

Among the obtained results, many of which have been translated into patents, some solutions outstand:

• Dynamic security system, based on multiple factors. It allows to improve the user's security, as well as its use by the Internet services.
• Detection of equipments which are compromised with malware, through an anomaly detection system based of traffic behaviour.

• Collaborative system of security management. It has improvements on security events correlation systems, as well as on the alerts and incidents data exchange between different systems, or even between different organisations. It guarantees confidentiality and anonymity of the data which are required.
• The reliable access to services through the "Safe Zones" concept.

• Application of econometric models to risk analysis.
• New advances on cryptographic systems, both classic and quantum.
More information: www.cenitsegura.com

The Muy interesante magazine awards the prize “Muy Innovación en Telecomunicación” to the eHealth Colabor@ project

etirado — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:35:42 +0100

The Muy interesante magazine has awarded the prize "Muy Innovación en Telecomunicación" to the eHealth Colabor@ project. The scientific informant Eduard Punset announced, in a gala which took place in Madrid, the winners of the contest, in which more than 200 products competed in the categories of: Automobiles, Image and Sound, Computing, Health, Food and Environment.

Colabor@ is a system, developed in Telefónica I+D's centre in Granada, which makes easier for health care professionals to collaborate in real-time, in order to improve the service for patients and make easier doctors' work, by applying ICTs to medicine.

It is a quick and simple tool, which allows establishing virtual work sessions to share medical information in real time between medicine professionals.

Based on the capacities multimedia communication offers, doctors can interact with each other to: solve complex cases, carry out daily cooperation and opinion exchange sessions, establish sessions between professionals of a health care centre or a geriatric centre with specialists of a hospital of reference to treat common cases and make a telediagnosis, among other application.

Colabor@ also allows to look up patient's data and visualise medical images to make the best diagnosis possible. Likewise, it makes easier the access to training on several fields for health professionals.
Thanks to Colabor@, the professionals, as well as interacting with each other, they avoid unnecessary travels and improve assistance to patients.

In order to provide these possibilities, Colabor@ includes communication capacities through video and audio, instant messaging, electronic blackboard, multiconference functions, etc. The service is installed in the Hospital Costa del Sol in Málaga (Spain).

Telefónica presents along with eyeOS the web desktop's 2.0 version based on cloud, eyeOS

etirado — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:19:50 +0100

Telefónica and eyeOS, company which collaborates with Telefónica in R&D projects, present the 2.0 edition of the eyeOS web desktop. This free software product, created and leaded from Spain, already counts with 28 communities of users in the whole world and has already been downloaded more than half a million times.

The new desktop's edition has new functions, such as the strengthening of collaborative work between users, and has more powerful, complete and solid applications, which integrate with the cloud computing concept and convert it in a real free software alternative.

This version allows, in a easy and intuitive way, sharing files, calendars and agendas between users, at the same time it makes work easier through any office automation program (text editor, spreadsheets...). Furthermore, the desktop has improved its performance to an internal level to support a bigger load and be quicker.

As free software product, eyeOS makes easier for the user to install the program for free in a server under his/her control (be it its own or having contracted it from a third party) and prevents loss of privacy and confidentiality, which happens when you store your file in the big companies' servers.

Through the navigator of any computer or mobile phone, the user can access, modify his/her files (photos, music, films, documents, presentations...) and see them as he/she left them the last time he/she accessed, regardless of whether he/she is at home or in any other place, as all the information is stored in the Net.

The bet of Telefónica for cloud

Telefónica, as leader in the ICT field, is based on the Cloud Computing model as evolution to continue to offer the best services in a more efficient way.

The Telefónica offer is adapted to the specific needs of each market segment, whether they are SMEs or big corporations or homes. During last year the operator launched in Spain, under this business model, "Terabox" an storage online service which will be exported to other regions, as well as "Aplicateca" an aggregation and applications' self management environment, oriented to SMEs. In addition, Telefónica works in the best Hosting y Storage solutions for big companies, offering services on Cloud adapted to their needs.

Project Nuba

Furthermore, Telefónica I+D leads Nuba, a Plan Avanz@ project, whose objective is the development of key technologies in the building of cloud computing platforms that will allow the provision of infrastructures as a service.

Inside the program, the operator's affiliate collaborates with eyeOS in the design of access from web desktops to applications in clouds, which are based on Nuba technology.

Both companies plan to continue collaborating in research and development projects which allow them to unite their efforts to configure a new web desktop, developed as free software, for the "Cloud of the future".

Telefónica I+D presents m: Vía, a project included in Avanz@ Plan to achieve intelligent vehicles, routes and transports.

etirado — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:39:58 +0100

Andalusia's Technological Park in Málaga, hosts the experts meeting and the presentation event "m: Vía - Innovative solutions to achieve intelligent vehicles, routes and transports".

M: Vía is a peculiar project of strategic nature included in the Spanish Plan Avanz@, co-financed by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce. Its activities have focused in the field of communication technologies and networks, as well as in the field of applications and services platforms for transports' intelligent systems.

In the project, an architecture based on the basic concepts of European architecture of ITS reference has been developed, with improvements, such as the inclusion of capacities of the IMS subsystem. Also other basic aspects of the ad-hoc mobile networks have been dealt with as well as their integration with the already existent network infrastructure (GSM, UMTS, WiMAX...), covering also the technological aspects related with onboard vehicle systems, integrated or nomadic.

Another key factor has been the specification and design of a service architecture, which makes easier the management of the complete life cycle of the services, working in the mechanisms and tools that allow its development, deployment and management, in the vehicular environment, in a quick, secure and solid way.

The main developed solutions have been integrated in a demo, which also includes the services in the field of road safety, infotainment in mobility, management of professional vehicles and traffic optimization, and which have been used to show the viability of the proposed solutions and to evaluate its performance.

During the event, which will take place in Andalusia's Technological Park (Málaga) the 19th of January of 2010, the results and advances done in m: Vía will be shown in both a theoretical and practical way, as well as the future of ITS inside national context.

More information on the event in www.mvia.es. Contact: info@mvia.es

Register in Keteke and enjoy its promotions

etirado — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:46:06 +0100

Keteke, Telefónica's social network, has launched a promotion, aimed to young people. It gives away 20 parties with open bar in the best club of Spain and it also offers the opportunity to talk free forever with your friends. It is an activity in collaboration with the Plural tariff and with Movistar, which any person of legal age can join, till the 11th of January of 2009.

Keteke was born twelve months ago to become a social network aimed, mainly, at young people. After its first year of life it has achieved much more.

Firstly, it is the only social communication tool which admits users through four different channels: mobile television, iPhone and PC: Furthermore, it doesn't ask for any kind of invitation to register, it incorporated many public galleries and is a step ahead in immediacy. It is, at the same time, the first social network that bets for the total integration with the mobile phone. This means it can notify on the phone any comment and friendship request that affects our user account. It also allows uploading photos through MMS and, even, changing your status through SMS. And everything free for Movistar customers.

Telefónica I+D is working to incorporate to this network new technologies which increase its functions. A group of experts, which work in the centres of Madrid and Barcelona of this company, are in charge of detecting necessities of the users of these networks to develop technologies which are able to satisfy them. The next step in its improvement strategy, expected for the 30th of January, is the launching of a new version of the WAP portal and of the iPhone. "From that day, everyone will be able to use its terminal to send private messages to their friends and will have a free chat to communicate with their connected contacts through the mobile phone. This function will also be free for Movistar customers", explains Javier Chico, responsible of this activity in Telefónica I+D.

From that date, a new functionality, called "aggregation of social network", will also be started. With it we will be able to unify the changes made in the different platforms. For example, if a user changes his/her Facebook status, he/she won't have to do it in Keteke. Automatically, this tool will detect the modification and will export it to the Movistar network.

The work group of T I+D has known how to focus its objectives: "We are not here to compete with Facebook, or with other networks, but to offer an alternative with better technological options. Telefónica wants to be present in the new communicative forms its customers use and also has to make the most out of its strengths as operator to offer added value. Technology is, therefore, one of our fundamental values", affirms Javier Chico.

With all of these advantages, Telefónica chases the goal of becoming Movistar's communication channel with young people. In the last weeks, the network is receiving more than 1.500 daily registers.

To enjoy the promotion, it is necessary:

1. To sign up in Keteke

2. To create a party in the city you want or otherwise ask to join the captain (creator) of one of the already created parties. There is a ranking where all the created parties can be seen.

Telefónica participates in the Free Software World Conference, which takes place in Cáceres

etirado — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:07:42 +0100

Telefónica participates again this year in the V Free Software World Conference, which takes place in Cáceres. This gather-together is organised by the Junta de Extremadura (Autonomous Government of Extremadura )and the Junta de Andalucía (Autonomous Government of Andalucía), with the special collaboration of CENATIC (National Reference Centre in ICT Application based on Open Sources) and the Universidad de Extremadura (Extremadura University).

The company, which is member of the CENATIC, participates as collaborating company of the event, which -in its fifth edition- presents a program dedicated to the exposition and debate of solutions for the business sector. Telefónica provides the Internet wireless access technology for the attendants and broadband Internet access for the video broadcasting of the different conferences.

Telefónica I+D also participates outstandingly presenting the Morfeo Open Source Community's activities. Morfeo is a community which provides an open frame for collaboration between companies (big companies and medium and small enterprises), universities, research centres and administrations, which have faith in the possibilities open source software offers.

Participation

In the scientific section, Juan Jose Hierro, CTO for Telefónica I+D and Morfeo's chairman, gives the Morfeo conference: Building OSS components for the cloud. In this conference, the last contributions of Morfeo Community to cloud technology development in Europe are shown. After, he participates as part of the Software Business Model panel.

The Morfeo Formación project has organised a workshop for the consortium members and other collaborators in the project. Some of the courses developed in this project are also being presented, among others, "ezWeb" (platform to create application directly by mixing microapplications), "Introduction to Free Software" and "Management of Open Source Projects".
Finally, Andrés Leonardo Martínez, Morfeo's community manager, and Manuel

Velardo, from CENATIC, will do a presentation together about the formative initiatives carried out by both organisms, manifesting the recent agreement between both organisations to do a formative promotion of free technologies.

In addition, as part of Morfeo PYME's activities, a meeting with ASOLIF (the Spanish Associations Federation of Free Software Companies), Morfeo Community members and CENATIC's representatives has been organised.

The activities organised by the Morfeo community culminated with the ezWeb developers meeting, which takes place in the Extremadura University. Organisms from all Spain participate in it, collaborating on this technology's development.

TI+D has been invited to participate in the Ombudsmen Coordination Conference. ICTs as guarantee of social rights

granado — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:22:43 +0100

Luis Carlos Fernández González, Managing Director of Telefónica I+D in Granada, has been invited to participate in the XXIV Ombudsmen Coordination Conference; which are celebrated in Seville in the multifunction room of Andalusia's Parliament.

In the round table about "ICTs as instruments of guarantee of Social Rights effectiveness". Reflections about the current profile, users and challenges of the ICTs, Luis Carlos Fdez. has presented the main projects which are developed in TI+D's centre in Granada, emphasizing the Centre of teleinterpreting for deaf people and the activities on adapted mobile services. He has focused on the MyFamily project, oriented to the care of people with a certain degree of dependence.

Among its conclusions, he defended that the technologies are already available; we just have to adapt them to the environment in which they are going to be used. He explained that there are barriers, such as cost, usability and credibility, which T I+D is trying to eliminate. He also defended that sustainable models in auto financing and in costs/benefits relationship are currently possible. Finally, he analysed that in certain circumstances and situations, changes in the way in which services are provided (which forces to a process reengineering) can be specified. Luis Carlos Fdez. insisted that the use of ICTs, especially on mobile communications, can help improve in a significant way, elder's and children's care.

As he declared, the future is nearer everyday and ICTs, which are already accessible, can improve perceptibly the citizen's life quality and also those of elderly, sick, handicapped, and dependent people.

In addition to Luis Carlos Fdez., the following also participated in the conferences. D. Claudio Feijoo González, IPTS - Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, European Commission; Javier Echeverría, research lecturer of the Philosophy Institute of the Superior Council of Scientific Research; Luis Manuel Cuaresma Gallardo, head of the administrative service of the S.E.T.S. Telecommunication User's Service Division. I.; Fernando de Pablo Martín, CEO for the Public Service State Department of the Ministry of the Presidency's Electronic Administration Promotion, María Pérez Naranjo, CEO of Public Services Modernization and Innovation of Andalusia's Autonomous Government; María Antonia Fernández Felguerosa, general attorney of the Principado de Asturias, and José Chamizo de la Rubia, Ombudsman of Andalusia, among others.

Green IT. We bank on IT infrastructure’s sustainability and consumption optimisation in Cloud Computing environments

granado — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:17:12 +0100

T I+D has shown the results of its investigation about energy consumption optimisation in Cloud Computing environments, in the Intel Developer Forum 2009 congress, which took place in San Francisco (U.S.A.)

In this congress it has presided, along with Intel and EMC, a technical session in which they presented the results of the collaboration activities between Intel and Telefónica I+D to optimise IT infrastructure's energy consumption based on the Cloud Computing paradigm, without making an impact on the service levels of the applications, which are spread in this kind of environments.

The presented solution is focused in the Cloud infrastructure's dynamic management, based on service level indicators, acting and monitoring on the platform, not only at hardware level (monitoring and management of service's energy consumption), but also of virtualization (monitoring and management of the assignation of physical resources to virtual systems).

In this kind of environment, is possible to adjust the infrastructure features to the level demanded by the services, reducing to the minimum the resulting energy consumption. In the same way, it is also possible to satisfy the energy consumption and CO2 emissions restrictions, by minimising its impact in the service level.

The goal of these solutions is to improve IT infrastructures' sustainability, in line with European initiatives of increasing energy efficiency and reducing 20% of the CO2 emissions by 2020 and with Grupo Telefónica's environmental goals of reducing 30% of the indirect CO2 emissions by equivalent access by 2015. In the same way, it is also expected to contribute to IT systems transformation, improving its efficiency and scalability, derived from a more efficient use of energy resources.

The 2009 edition of the IDF congress exceeded the 4000 attendants, which came from the whole world. More than 150 collaborating companies attended the technology exhibition.