Quality of service assurance for the next generation Internet

The provisioning for multimedia applications has been of increasing interest among researchers and Internet Service Providers. Through the migration from resource-based to service-driven networks, it has become evident that the Internet model should be enhanced to provide support for a variety of differentiated services that match applications and customer requirements, and not stay limited under the flat best-effort service that is currently provided. In this paper, we describe and critically appraise the major achievements of the efforts to introduce Quality of Service (QoS) assurance and provisioning within the Internet model. We then propose a research path for the creation of a network services management architecture, through which we can move towards a QoS-enabled network environment, offering support for a variety of different services, based on traffic characteristics and user expectations

Past, present and future of IP telephony

“Copyright © [2008] IEEE. Reprinted from International Conference on Communication Theory, Reliability, and Quality of Service, 2008. CTRQ '08. ISBN:978-0-7695-3190-8. This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by writing to [email protected]. By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it.”Since the late 90's IP telephony, commonly referred to as Voice over IP (VoIP), has been presented as a revolution on communications enabling the possibility to converge historically separated voice and data networks, reducing costs, and integrating voice, data and video on applications. This paper presents a study over the standard VoIP protocols H.323, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP), and H.248/Megaco. Given the fact that H.323 and SIP are more widespread than the others, we focus our study on them. For each of these protocols we describe and discuss its main capabilities, architecture, stack protocol, and characteristics. We also briefly point their technical limitations. Furthermore, we present the Advanced Multimedia System (AMS) project, a new system that aims to operate on Next Generation Networks (NGN) taking the advantage of its features, and it is viewed as the successor to H.323 and SIP

Scott & White Healthcare: Opening Up and Embracing Change to Improve Performance

Offers a case study of a multispeciality system with the attributes of an ideal healthcare delivery system as defined by the Fund. Describes a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and peer accountability, and a comprehensive approach to care

Lacan and Organization

239 p.Libro ElectrónicoThe work of Jacques Lacan has become an influential source to most disciplines of the social sciences, and is now considered a standard reference in literary theory, cultural studies and political theory. While management and organization studies has traditionally been preoccupied with questions of making corporations more efficient and productive, it has also mobilized a strong and forceful critique of work, management and capitalism. It is primarily as a contribution to this tradition of critical scholarship that we can see the work of Lacan now emerging.La obra de Jacques Lacan se ha convertido en una fuente de influencia para la mayoría de las disciplinas de las ciencias sociales, y ahora se considera una referencia estándar en la teoría literaria, estudios culturales y la teoría política. Mientras que los estudios de gestión y organización ha sido tradicionalmente preocupado por las cuestiones de lo que las empresas más eficientes y productivos, sino que también ha movilizado una fuerte crítica y contundente del trabajo, la gestión y el capitalismo. Es sobre todo como una contribución a esta tradición de los estudios críticos que podemos ver la obra de Lacan surgiendo.Contributors ix Preface xiii Carl Cederström and Casper Hoedemaekers 1 Lacan and Organization: An Introduction 1 2 Lacan at Work 13 3 Symbolic Authority, Fantasmatic Enjoyment and the Spirits of Capitalism: Genealogies of Mutual Engagement 59 4 The Unbearable Weight of Happiness 101 5 For the Love of the Organization 133 6 You Are Where You Are Not: Lacan and Ideology in Contemporary Workplaces 169 7 Danger! Neurotics at Work 187 8 Lacan in Organization Studies 21

Determinants of reduction in 30-day readmissions among people with a severe behavioral illness: a case study

BACKGROUND: Individuals with serious mental illness face a significant burden of disease, yet experience lower quality care across a range of services (1). Hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge is an important, if imperfect, proxy for quality of care. Factors contributing to readmission are well documented (2–5), yet successful interventions to decrease readmissions have been slow to take shape (6–9). To effectively develop and incorporate evidence-based interventions to reduce 30-day psychiatric readmissions into large, geographically diverse inpatient systems; there is a need to conduct in-depth implementation analyses to better understand the relationship between patient-, hospital-, health system-, and community-level factors and their net impact on readmissions. This research addresses this need. METHODS: Using a modified Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), two state-based case studies were conducted within a large U.S. hospital system. Two hospitals per state were selected-- one with a high and one with a lower readmission rate. We conducted document reviews and semi-structured interviews (N=52) with corporate, clinical and community stakeholders, using the CFIR to identify key themes within each construct. We scored and compared hospitals with lower vs. higher readmission rates. An analysis of EMR data from the hospital system contextualized case study findings. RESULTS: In one state a complex interplay of factors at all levels contributed to readmission rates in both hospitals. In the second, constructs within the inner hospital setting contribute to differences in hospital readmission rates. Facilities with high readmission rates scored lowest among CFIR constructs “Patient Needs and Resources in the Community” and “External Policies and Incentives.” CONCLUSIONS: Ours is the first known study to explore a broad range of factors that influence readmission rates among patients with serious mental illness and a range of comorbidities. Findings from two state-based case studies indicate that readmission rates are determined by multiple, interrelated factors which vary in importance based on hospital and community context and political environment. To be effective, systemic interventions to reduce readmissions must be tailored to the specific context at targeted hospitals

Q-Andrew: a consolidated QOS management framework

Tese de mestrado em Segurança Informática, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2008As redes IP convergentes são compostas por uma diversidade de tecnologias que suportam múltiplos tipos de serviços com diferentes características. Cada fabricante de equipamento activo de rede usa sistemas de manutenção proprietários, incompatíveis com equipamentos de outros fabricantes. Para um operador de telecomunicações a gestão da Qualidade de Serviço, numa rede composta por vários fabricantes, é uma tarefa complexa e dispendiosa. Algumas tarefas requerem configuração manual para garantir a compatibilidade entre configurações de equipamentos de fabricantes diferentes. Melhorar a resposta operacional e reduzir os custos de operação nestas circunstâncias é apenas possível com a consolidação da gestão de rede. Para responder a este desafio, propomos: Um conjunto de mecanismos geradores de configurações de Qualidade de Serviço, consistentes entre equipamentos de diversos fabricantes; A definição de um modelo abstracto de representação destas configurações, reutilizável em futuras aproximações de gestão consolidada de rede; Por fim, descrevemos uma aplicação de demonstração onde algumas das propostas apresentadas são concretizadas, tendo como objectivo futuro a sua utilização numa rede real de um operador de telecomunicações nacional, onde são utilizados equipamentos de diversos fabricantes.Converged IP networks consist of diverse technologies and support both legacy and emerging services. Different vendors use separate management systems to achieve similar goals. Manual provisioning today represents a large portion of the total effort required to manage a complex IP network. A consolidated Quality-of-Service policy is difficult to implement in heterogeneous networks. Creating and maintaining such policies is very demanding in terms of operations. For this reason, reducing operational costs while improving Quality-of-Service Management is only possible through a consolidated approach to network management. To leverage operations in converged IP networks, we propose the following: A mechanism to automatically generate consistent configurations across a network with equipment from different vendors; A framework definition such that network element configurations can be specified using a common model; Applying some of the methods proposed to an application that can be used in a real network with diverse technologies and equipment vendors

Moving Ideas and Money: Issues and Opportunities in Funder Funding Collaboration

Presents an overview of funder collaboratives, ranging from information exchange, co-learning, informal and formal strategic alignments to pooled funding, joint ventures, and hybrid networks. Discusses elements of success, outcomes, and challenges

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Once you are aware of the benefits and applications of Voice over IP, it is too good to resist. Perhaps that is why vendors are flooding the market with VOIP products and services. The following paper analyzes the various issues in the evolving VOIP technology and the challenges in the development of VOIP products. It then presents the features of few VOIP Products offered by the leaders in this field, how well they handle the issues and som