Communications Research Centre
Encyclopedia
The Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) is a Canadian
government scientific laboratory for research and development in the field of advanced telecommunication
s. For over 40 years, it has made significant contributions to the information and communications technology sector in Canada and abroad. The CRC's research encompasses the four main platforms for information delivery: terrestrial wireless, satellite, fibre optics and broadcasting.
The CRC operates under a three-pronged mission:
In 1987, its Alouette
-ISIS
Program was designated one of the 10 most outstanding achievements in the first 100 years of engineering in Canada. The CRC has also won two Emmy Award
s, one in 1987 for its role in developing the Ku-band technology of the HERMES
satellite and a second one in 2009 for its contributions in standardizing the ATSC Digital Television System. CRC’s research and development in telecommunications earned it the 2007 Special Recognition Award from Canada’s Telecommunication Hall of Fame
.
wing in 1994.
, the Canadian videotex/teletext system that contributed to the development of international standards for the Web, later that same year. In 1983, the CRC set up the first permanent international connection to the Internet, known as ARPANET
.
In 1992, the CRC was helped create a repository of official government documents (including the Charlottetown Accord
) on the Internet. This marked the first time a collection of official Canadian government documents was made available to the public via the Internet. The next year, the CRC created a Web site for CBC Radio
to distribute their audio programs directly to the public on demand. This was the first time that a commercial radio broadcaster had used the Web for international audio broadcasting. In 1995, the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute awarded CRC's SARSAT team, headed by Dr. A Winter, Mr. H. Werstiuk and Dr. B. Blevis, the first ever Alouette Award for contributions in advancing search and rescue technology. The CRC is responsible for many other firsts in wireless systems, radio fundamentals, i.e., Software Defined Radio
, communication networks, photonics
and interactive multimedia that have impacted Canadian telecommunications.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
government scientific laboratory for research and development in the field of advanced telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
s. For over 40 years, it has made significant contributions to the information and communications technology sector in Canada and abroad. The CRC's research encompasses the four main platforms for information delivery: terrestrial wireless, satellite, fibre optics and broadcasting.
The CRC operates under a three-pronged mission:
- To serve as the federal government's centre of excellence for communications R&D, ensuring an independent source of advice for public policy purposes;
- To support government operations led by major clients in selected areas of ICT application such as national defence, public safety and space-based communications;
- To identify and close the innovation gaps in Canada's communications sector by engaging in industry partnerships, building technical intelligence, supporting small and medium-sized high technology enterprises, and working with other research organizations across Canada.
In 1987, its Alouette
Alouette 1
Alouette 1 was Canada's first satellite, and the first satellite constructed by a country other than the USSR or the United States. Occasionally, Alouette 1 is misrepresented as the third satellite successfully put in orbit, rather than being from the third country to have one of its own in space,...
-ISIS
ISIS (satellite)
ISIS I and II were the third and fourth satellites that were launched in a series of Canadian satellites sent up to study the ionosphere. After the success of Canada's Alouette 1, Canada and the United States decided to jointly launch three more satellites which they called the ISIS program...
Program was designated one of the 10 most outstanding achievements in the first 100 years of engineering in Canada. The CRC has also won two Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s, one in 1987 for its role in developing the Ku-band technology of the HERMES
Hermes Communications Technology Satellite
The Communications Technology Satellite, also known as Hermes was an experimental high-power direct broadcast communications satellite. It was a joint effort of Canada's Department of Communications, who designed and managed it, NASA who launched it and provided a traveling wave guide, the European...
satellite and a second one in 2009 for its contributions in standardizing the ATSC Digital Television System. CRC’s research and development in telecommunications earned it the 2007 Special Recognition Award from Canada’s Telecommunication Hall of Fame
Telecommunications Hall of Fame
Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame is a Canadian not-for-profit foundation that seeks to foster a greater awareness of Canada's role in developing and innovating telecommunications...
.
History
Officially established in 1969, the roots of the CRC can be traced back to the late 1940s with what was then the beginning of the Canadian Defence Research Board (DRB). Within the DRB was the Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment (DRTE), which existed from 1951-1969. In 1969, the federal government established a Department of Communications. The DRTE in its entirety was transferred to the new department's research branch, and renamed the Communications Research Centre. The CRC came under Industry Canada'sIndustry Canada
Industry Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regional economic development, investment, and innovation/research and development. The department employs 6104 FTEs across Canada....
wing in 1994.
Achievements
The CRC contributed to many "firsts" in Canadian communications, many of which fall under satellite communications. In 1962 the then-DRTE launched Alouette 1, Canada's first satellite. This led to the development of Canada's own communications satellite program. In 1976 the Hermes satellite was launched, and marked the first high-power satellite and the first to operate at the higher frequency Ku-band. In 1978, CRC offered the world's first direct-to-home satellite television broadcast via Hermes - a Stanley Cup hockey game. The CRC gave a public demonstration of TelidonNAPLPS
NAPLPS is a graphics language for use originally with videotex and teletext services. NAPLPS was developed from the Telidon system developed in Canada, with a small number of additions from AT&T...
, the Canadian videotex/teletext system that contributed to the development of international standards for the Web, later that same year. In 1983, the CRC set up the first permanent international connection to the Internet, known as ARPANET
ARPANET
The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network , was the world's first operational packet switching network and the core network of a set that came to compose the global Internet...
.
In 1992, the CRC was helped create a repository of official government documents (including the Charlottetown Accord
Charlottetown Accord
The Charlottetown Accord was a package of proposed amendments to the Constitution of Canada, proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. It was submitted to a public referendum on October 26 of that year, and was defeated.-Background:...
) on the Internet. This marked the first time a collection of official Canadian government documents was made available to the public via the Internet. The next year, the CRC created a Web site for CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
to distribute their audio programs directly to the public on demand. This was the first time that a commercial radio broadcaster had used the Web for international audio broadcasting. In 1995, the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute awarded CRC's SARSAT team, headed by Dr. A Winter, Mr. H. Werstiuk and Dr. B. Blevis, the first ever Alouette Award for contributions in advancing search and rescue technology. The CRC is responsible for many other firsts in wireless systems, radio fundamentals, i.e., Software Defined Radio
Software-defined radio
A software-defined radio system, or SDR, is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded computing devices...
, communication networks, photonics
Photonics
The science of photonics includes the generation, emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, detection and sensing of light. The term photonics thereby emphasizes that photons are neither particles nor waves — they are different in that they have both particle...
and interactive multimedia that have impacted Canadian telecommunications.
External links
- Communications Research Centre
- CRC Technology Showcase 2009
- Friends of CRC
- Carleton Immersive Media Studio