Wireless communication, identification and sensing technologies enabling integrated logistics: a study in the harbor environment

In the last decade, integrated logistics has become an important challenge in the development of wireless communication, identification and sensing technology, due to the growing complexity of logistics processes and the increasing demand for adapting systems to new requirements. The advancement of wireless technology provides a wide range of options for the maritime container terminals. Electronic devices employed in container terminals reduce the manual effort, facilitating timely information flow and enhancing control and quality of service and decision made. In this paper, we examine the technology that can be used to support integration in harbor's logistics. In the literature, most systems have been developed to address specific needs of particular harbors, but a systematic study is missing. The purpose is to provide an overview to the reader about which technology of integrated logistics can be implemented and what remains to be addressed in the future

Service Platform for Converged Interactive Broadband Broadcast and Cellular Wireless

A converged broadcast and telecommunication service platform is presented that is able to create, deliver, and manage interactive, multimedia content and services for consumption on three different terminal types. The motivations of service providers for designing converged interactive multimedia services, which are crafted for their individual requirements, are investigated. The overall design of the system is presented with particular emphasis placed on the operational features of each of the sub-systems, the flows of media and metadata through the sub-systems and the formats and protocols required for inter-communication between them. The key features of tools required for creating converged interactive multimedia content for a range of different end-user terminal types are examined. Finally possible enhancements to this system are discussed. This study is of particular interest to those organizations currently conducting trials and commercial launches of DVB-H services because it provides them with an insight of the various additional functions required in the service provisioning platforms to provide fully interactive services to a range of different mobile terminal types

High altitude platform stations in design solutions for emergency services

High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) are expected to conform a third major infrastructure for communications and broadcasting, after terrestrial and satellite systems. The proposal, which is maintained by many authors, is the use of HAPS as alternative wireless network provider that can partial replace or add capacity to damaged or overloaded wireless networks during a man-made or large-and small-scale natural disaster. During these critical phenomena, the telecommunications infrastructure and the required coverage for the emergency service operations might be unavailable due to the destroyed area or overloading by the excessive communications demand. Along with satellites, high altitude platforms (HAPs) will be completely isolated from the effects of disasters on the ground. A couple of stratospheric-based network scenarios are considered as examples for a HAPS-aided disaster deployment assessing communication viability and outlining issues in interoperability with existing networks.Peer Reviewe

A Convergent Mobile Infrastructure: Competition or Co-operation

This paper will describe how the various telecommunication networks are converging to create an environment described by this paper as a Convergent Mobile Infrastructure (CMI). The convergent mobile infrastructure spans multiple technologies including fixed telecommunication network, Wireless Fidelity (WIFI) networks and space technologies, and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). A business model framework is presented which is derived from the literature to aid the development of viable business models expected from the amalgamation of mobile telecommunication and space infrastructure. With examples for the global mobile telecommunication industry, this theoretical paper will illustrate the importance of technological and organizational co-operation between the various actors. The paper argues that using the business model concept to describe the framework for a convergent mobile infrastructure can increase adoption of competing network technologies