Design and development of an industrial network laboratory

This paper presents the first developments of an industrial network laboratory prototype. In the Automation Laboratory several kits have been implemented for local and remote control tests. The approach includes the design and implementation of an industrial network where the common communications protocols can be tested: the Automation Network Locker (ANL). To facilitate the monitoring and control of the network, WALC (Web Assisted Laboratory for Control Engineering on-line Education) interface platform was developed. This allows the remote monitoring and control of the pedagogic kits to complement the teaching/learning automation to undergraduate engineering students. The security of network access is also taken into account in order to limit and control the number of users that can access it. An on-line questionnaire accessed at the end of each semester, allows an actualization and to follow the students’ feedbackFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Unattended network operations technology assessment study. Technical support for defining advanced satellite systems concepts

The results are summarized of an unattended network operations technology assessment study for the Space Exploration Initiative (SEI). The scope of the work included: (1) identified possible enhancements due to the proposed Mars communications network; (2) identified network operations on Mars; (3) performed a technology assessment of possible supporting technologies based on current and future approaches to network operations; and (4) developed a plan for the testing and development of these technologies. The most important results obtained are as follows: (1) addition of a third Mars Relay Satellite (MRS) and MRS cross link capabilities will enhance the network's fault tolerance capabilities through improved connectivity; (2) network functions can be divided into the six basic ISO network functional groups; (3) distributed artificial intelligence technologies will augment more traditional network management technologies to form the technological infrastructure of a virtually unattended network; and (4) a great effort is required to bring the current network technology levels for manned space communications up to the level needed for an automated fault tolerance Mars communications network

Correlated multi-streaming in distributed interactive multimedia systems

Distributed Interactive Multimedia Environments (DIMEs) enable geographically distributed people to interact with each other in a joint media-rich virtual environment for a wide range of activities, such as art performance, medical consultation, sport training, etc. The real-time collaboration is made possible by exchanging a set of multi-modal sensory streams over the network in real time. The characterization and evaluation of such multi-stream interactive environments is challenging because the traditional Quality of Service metrics (e.g., delay, jitter) are limited to a per stream basis. In this work, we present a novel ???Bundle of Streams??? concept to de???ne correlated multi-streams in DIMEs and present new cyber-physical, spatio-temporal QoS metrics to measure QoS over bundle of streams. We realize Bundle of Streams concept by presenting a novel paradigm of Bundle Streaming as a Service (SAS). We propose and develop SAS Kernel, a generic, distributed, modular and highly ???exible streaming kernel realizing SAS concept. We validate the Bundle of Streams model by comparing the QoS performance of bundle of streams over different transport protocols in a 3D tele-immersive testbed. Also, further experiments demonstrate that the SAS Kernel incurs low overhead in delay, CPU, and bandwidth demands

A Data Communication Network for Administrative Purposes within the EU

The study assesses data communication requirements within the EU as it concerns Member State officials, EU bodies and the Community. A survey of current projects and their backgrounds is given. In addition the division of responsibilities among various bodies of the Commission are discussed. Given the EU's need for some sort of integration of data transfer services is self evident, the study investigates what possible challenges lie ahead as EU integration processes continue and its already large communications requirements continue to grow. For example, while the Commission as well as its empowered bodies have recognized the need for a unified communications architecture, the political will to implement such a system has been lacking. The report recommends the creation of a unified, universal communications architecture, that not only can handle all current types of data transfer, but anticipates growth as well.EU; data communication; authorities

Performance Improvements for FDDI and CSMA/CD Protocols

The High-Performance Computing Initiative from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has defined 20 major challenges in science and engineering which are dependent on the solutions to a number of high-performance computing problems. One of the major areas of focus of this initiative is the development of gigabit rate networks to be used in environments such as the space station or a National Research and Educational Network (NREN). The strategy here is to use existing network designs as building blocks for achieving higher rates, with the ultimate goal being a gigabit rate network. Two strategies which contribute to achieving this goal are examined in detail.1 FDDI2 is a token ring network based on fiber optics capable of a 100 Mbps rate. Both media access (MAC) and physical layer modifications are considered. A method is presented which allows one to determine maximum utilization based on the token-holding timer settings. Simulation results show that employing the second counter-rotating ring in combination with destination removal has a multiplicative effect greater than the effect which either of the factors have individually on performance. Two 100 Mbps rings can handle loads in the range of 400 to 500 Mbps for traffic with a uniform distribution and fixed packet size. Performance is dependent on the number of nodes, improving as the number increases. A wide range of environments are examined to illustrate robustness, and a method of implementation is discussed

The Pilot Land Data System: Report of the Program Planning Workshops

An advisory report to be used by NASA in developing a program plan for a Pilot Land Data System (PLDS) was developed. The purpose of the PLDS is to improve the ability of NASA and NASA sponsored researchers to conduct land-related research. The goal of the planning workshops was to provide and coordinate planning and concept development between the land related science and computer science disciplines, to discuss the architecture of the PLDs, requirements for information science technology, and system evaluation. The findings and recommendations of the Working Group are presented. The pilot program establishes a limited scale distributed information system to explore scientific, technical, and management approaches to satisfying the needs of the land science community. The PLDS paves the way for a land data system to improve data access, processing, transfer, and analysis, which land sciences information synthesis occurs on a scale not previously permitted because of limits to data assembly and access

University of Missouri--Rolla Self-Study Prepared for the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

This document has been developed as a part of the planning processes ongoing within the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) community and the University of Missouri (UM) System In 1993, the four-campus UM System conducted a significant planning effort under the aegis of the University’s Board of Curators focusing on program review, which involved a detailed setting of academic priorities Within the past two years, the four- campus system has, based on inclusive planning, established priorities for additional support from the State of Missouri under a mission enhancement effort Further, the UMR campus has a well-developed annual planning cycle which produces a detailed strategic plan UMR has also conducted detailed self-studies via a Baldrige-type process in completing two applications for the Missouri Quality Award and was the first doctoral university in the nation to earn a state-wide quality award Elements of the above documents were included in the initial draft of this self-study and the resulting document was posted at the campus web site where it was reviewed by all interested members of the community. Sufficient time was provided to solicit additions, modifications, and other improvements. When John T Park was named UMR\u27s Interim Chancellor in 1991, the campus began an in-depth study to prepare a five-year budget plan From this successful process emerged the campus planning initiatives discussed in the preceding paragraph Thus, self-study and self-analysis are ongoing undertakings and the 1999 North Central Accreditation Review was seen as an opportunity to synthesize these analyses Accordingly, the steering committee established to oversee the self-study organized subcommittees to address various facets of the NCA criteria for accreditation The document presented here is the result of the subcommittees’ reviews, several drafts edited by the steering committee, and a final review by a broad group of faculty, staff, and students. In the past, each of these exercises in analysis and planning has found varied audiences The self-study is anticipated to be a timely means of identifying UMR as a quality component in Missouri’s outstanding university system. The self-study documents that UMR has clear and publicly stated goals consistent with its mission and appropriate to an institution of higher education; that it has effectively organized the human, physical, and financial resources necessary to accomplish its purposes, that its educational and other purposes are being accomplished; that it can continue to accomplish its purposes and strengthen its educational effectiveness; and that it demonstrates integrity in its practices and relationships.https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/self_study/1000/thumbnail.jp