TechNews digests: Jan - Nov 2008

TechNews is a technology, news and analysis service aimed at anyone in the education sector keen to stay informed about technology developments, trends and issues. TechNews focuses on emerging technologies and other technology news. TechNews service : digests september 2004 till May 2010 Analysis pieces and News combined publish every 2 to 3 month

Distributed multimedia systems

A distributed multimedia system (DMS) is an integrated communication, computing, and information system that enables the processing, management, delivery, and presentation of synchronized multimedia information with quality-of-service guarantees. Multimedia information may include discrete media data, such as text, data, and images, and continuous media data, such as video and audio. Such a system enhances human communications by exploiting both visual and aural senses and provides the ultimate flexibility in work and entertainment, allowing one to collaborate with remote participants, view movies on demand, access on-line digital libraries from the desktop, and so forth. In this paper, we present a technical survey of a DMS. We give an overview of distributed multimedia systems, examine the fundamental concept of digital media, identify the applications, and survey the important enabling technologies.published_or_final_versio

Integrated Home Server

Since the advent of the microprocessor in the 1970s, the market for consumer electronics has exploded with new devices changing the way we live and do business. Today, mobile phones, cameras, PCs, iPads, mp3 players, network media players, security systems, automation and IT systems, all have common functionality and there is an increasing need for unification of access to all these devices around a common server based architecture to unlock the benefits of smart integration and to simplify access for the end user. IHS project is designed to provide to its business and home owners a unified network for all IT and electronic systems within a home or an office. This system integrates security, surveillance, access and attendance, home automation, audio and video players, File Server, Email Server, SMS Server (Texting), HTTP Proxy Server, DHCP Server, a caching DNS Server, Web Server and an internet gateway with an automatic virus scanner. In fact, it is a comprehensive system that completely governs a place wherever it is installed and provides integrated remotely accessible infrastructure for a Home or Business. Access to all home and business systems is available from any computer on the LAN, the internet and mobile phone. IHS is built around the Gateman Lifestyle Server which uses the robust Enterprise Linux Kernel CEntOS 5 and is written in Java. It can be accessed from Windows, MAC, Linux machines and i-phones as well as from any device that has a Java script enabled web browser. The device driver architecture allows additional electronic hardware to be incorporated making it relevant and extendable well into the future

CAN-based Data Acquisition System for Hybrid Powertrain HIPPO-2

Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο--Μεταπτυχιακή Εργασία. Διεπιστημονικό-Διατμηματικό Πρόγραμμα Μεταπτυχιακών Σπουδών (Δ.Π.Μ.Σ.) “Συστήματα Αυτοματισμού

Wi-Fi Enabled Healthcare

Focusing on its recent proliferation in hospital systems, Wi-Fi Enabled Healthcare explains how Wi-Fi is transforming clinical work flows and infusing new life into the types of mobile devices being implemented in hospitals. Drawing on first-hand experiences from one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States, it covers the key areas associated with wireless network design, security, and support. Reporting on cutting-edge developments and emerging standards in Wi-Fi technologies, the book explores security implications for each device type. It covers real-time location services and emerging trends in cloud-based wireless architecture. It also outlines several options and design consideration for employee wireless coverage, voice over wireless (including smart phones), mobile medical devices, and wireless guest services. This book presents authoritative insight into the challenges that exist in adding Wi-Fi within a healthcare setting. It explores several solutions in each space along with design considerations and pros and cons. It also supplies an in-depth look at voice over wireless, mobile medical devices, and wireless guest services. The authors provide readers with the technical knowhow required to ensure their systems provide the reliable, end-to-end communications necessary to surmount today’s challenges and capitalize on new opportunities. The shared experience and lessons learned provide essential guidance for large and small healthcare organizations in the United States and around the world. This book is an ideal reference for network design engineers and high-level hospital executives that are thinking about adding or improving upon Wi-Fi in their hospitals or hospital systems

CHORUS Deliverable 2.2: Second report - identification of multi-disciplinary key issues for gap analysis toward EU multimedia search engines roadmap

After addressing the state-of-the-art during the first year of Chorus and establishing the existing landscape in multimedia search engines, we have identified and analyzed gaps within European research effort during our second year. In this period we focused on three directions, notably technological issues, user-centred issues and use-cases and socio- economic and legal aspects. These were assessed by two central studies: firstly, a concerted vision of functional breakdown of generic multimedia search engine, and secondly, a representative use-cases descriptions with the related discussion on requirement for technological challenges. Both studies have been carried out in cooperation and consultation with the community at large through EC concertation meetings (multimedia search engines cluster), several meetings with our Think-Tank, presentations in international conferences, and surveys addressed to EU projects coordinators as well as National initiatives coordinators. Based on the obtained feedback we identified two types of gaps, namely core technological gaps that involve research challenges, and “enablers”, which are not necessarily technical research challenges, but have impact on innovation progress. New socio-economic trends are presented as well as emerging legal challenges

Multipath Transport Protocols for Real Time Communication Systems

Real-Time Communications (RTC) has become an integral part of our daily lives. Platforms like conferencing and live streaming serve as virtual bridges, connecting individuals from diverse corners of the globe. Telepresence technologies have revolutionized remote operations, and the popularity of cloud gaming platforms is increasing rapidly. However, amid this rapid evolution, RTC applications still face persistent challenges such as video freezes, frame drops, and diminished quality that can easily disrupt the RTC flow. The evolving nature of RTC applications, such as Dualgram or Duovisions utilizing multiple camera streams to capture the best of multiple worlds, introduces new bandwidth and latency requirements for RTC. In light of these challenges and the growing demands of these applications, this thesis delves into the core of RTC systems by proposing transport protocols that align with their current requirements. We explore utilizing the multiple network interfaces present in most devices to pave the solution. With a focus on enhancing streaming through Multipath TCP and pioneering a new multipath standard for WebRTC, this study proposes a multipath transport solution for RTC systems. &nbsp;</p

Concepts, applications and analysis of a submarine based wireless network

As Information Technology tools continue to improve, we must take advantage of this wave by developing wise solutions to help automate many daily tasks presented onboard submarines. Java based applications and Commercial-Off- The-Shelf (COTS) technology provides us low cost solutions that increase the availability and mobility of the information we seek. Small pen based computers and wireless LANS allow us to create dynamic and distributable applications that can route paperwork or fight casualties. It is imperative we take full advantage of these technologies in the design of our new submarines as well as in retrofit of our older ones. This thesis attempts to solve a key task, Damage Control (DC) communications, by designing a Java based application known as SWIPNet (Submarine Wireless Prototyped Network). This virtual grease board application uses multicast sockets to send standard DC and crew reports to all wireless handhelds that participate in a casualty. A proposed Virginia class wireless network, known a Non Tactical Data Processing System (NTDPS), was then analyzed to determine network efficiency in the presence of a SWIPNet and 14 other submarine type network loads. Demonstrations have proven that SWIPNet provides a more efficient way to communicate and can function effectively on the NTDPS.http://archive.org/details/conceptspplicati109451098