A Closer Look at … Networks and Information Access

Traditionally, wireless and optical fiber networks have been designed separately from each other. Wireless networks aimed at meeting specific service requirements while coping with particular transmission impairments and optimizing the utilization of the system resources to ensure cost-effectiveness and satisfaction for the end user. In optical networks, on the other hand, research efforts rather focused on cost reduction, simplicity, and future-proofness against legacy and emerging services and applications by means of optical transparency. With the ultimate goal of providing access to information when needed, wherever needed, and in whatever format it is needed, the vision of technological convergence of wireless and optical networks is not only becoming a necessity but also plays a key role in future communications networks. Towards the technical evolution of wireless-optical access networks and the seamless coexistence of both technologies, this paper provides a review of state-of-the-art developments and advances in wireless and optical communications, presents key technical challenges for providing seamless communications in fiber-wireless (FiWi) access networks, and highlights important research issues for providing intelligence, transport, access, and convergence of these future networks.

In this paper, we exploit the heterogeneity of wireless channels and propose an efficient opportunistic cognitive routing (OCR) scheme for dynamic spectrum access (DSA) networks. We first introduce a novel routing metric by jointly considering physical characteristics of spectrum bands and diverse activities of primary users (PU) in each band. To effectively explore the spectrum opportunities, a proper channel sensing sequence for fast and reliable message delivery is determined by secondary users (SU) in a distributed way. We then develop a greedy forwarding scheme that SUs can select the next hop relay based on the geometry information and channel access opportunity of their one hop neighbors. For the proposed OCR, as routing control messages are locally exchanged, SUs can efficiently make the routing decision and opportunistically access the available channels. We further evaluate the performance of OCR via extensive simulations. It is shown that our proposed scheme outperforms existing opportunistic routing schemes in DSA networks by exploiting the heterogeneity of spectrum bands for opportunistic channel access.

ABSTRACTMicro-firms are important for creating jobs and income in developing economies, but these firms face significant constraints, some of which could be ameliorated through ICT. However, it remains unclear which specific ICT uses are intensively employed by different entrepreneurial micro-firms. Notwithstanding external constraints, we examined differences in ICT use by comparably sized micro-firms operating in the same environment that exhibit different entrepreneurial attributes (proactiveness, innovativeness, risk-taking, and growth orientation). Using data from Zambian micro-firms, our findings demonstrate that the four entrepreneurial attributes have a positive yet different influence on three individual categories of ICT use: information and network access; online transaction and interaction; and in-house operations. Indirectly, we pinpoint which ICT applications will likely benefit entrepreneurial firms. Our findings could help researchers and policy-makers to target specific categories of ICT use that drive firm growth and nurture the desirable business behavioral orientations for deploying technology in business.

Individuals' access to information in a social network depends on its distributed and where in the network individuals position themselves. However, individuals have limited capacity to manage their social connections and process information. In this work, we study how this limited capacity and network structure interact to affect the diversity of information social media users receive. Previous studies of the role of networks in information access were limited in their ability to measure the diversity of information. We address this problem by learning the topics of interest to social media users by observing messages they share online with their followers. We present a probabilistic model that incorporates human cognitive constraints in a generative model of information sharing. We then use the topics learned by the model to measure the diversity of information users receive from their social media contacts.We confirm that users in structurally diverse network positions, which bridge otherwise disconnected regions of the follower graph, are exposed to more diverse information. In addition, we identify user effort as an important variable that mediates access to diverse information in social media.Users who invest more effort into their activity on the site not only place themselves in more structurally diverse positions within the network than the less engaged users, but they also receive more diverse information when located in similar network positions.These findings indicate that the relationship between network structure and access to information in networks is more nuanced than previously thought.

Exponential growth in data centric services often leads to overhaul of backbone and access networks. Design of high transmission capacity of up to 640Gbps DWDM system with EDFA was analyzed to meet less distortion in an optical backhaul system. Further the length of EDFA and pump power of EDFA are varied and evaluated for 16, 32 and 64 channels data transmission efficiently, such that it caters to the requirements of access networks. Parameters such as pump power and length of optical Amplifier in DWDM system are studied and its output characteristics are analyzed from co-channel and counter-channel propagations. The dependences parameters such as maximal BER, minimal SNR values among all the channels with signal power detection for each pump power results are obtained and compared to the same. Evaluations of Quality factor and BER for each pump power with all three configurations were done for different lengths of EDFA. The DWDM system with suggested optimum EDFA parameters gives good results in terms of Q-factor, eye opening and BER.

This paper is aimed at increasing the demand of real-time access and application services. An Internet in vehicles system based on On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) technology and android platform was proposed. This system was composed of a data acquisition device, an android smartphone, network access and a remote service center. Through the OBD interface interacting with the vehicle, the vehicle identification number (VIN), mileage, and condition information can be obtained, which could be used for vehicle identification and effective vehicle condition monitoring and control. The intelligent navigation services using GPS, AGPS, and INS based on an android smartphone was provided so the corresponding manmachine voice interaction and network data switching could be achieved. The results of the experiment indicated that the system can effectively provide data sharing, intelligent navigation, and remote fault diagnosis services, which can meet needs of the real-time capability and applicability of the Internet in vehicles system.

The explosive growth of the Internet has come with increasing diversity and heterogeneity in terms of client device capability, network bandwidth, and user preferences. To date, most Web content has been designed with desktop computers in mind, and often contains rich media such as images, audio, and video. In many cases, this content is not suitable for devices like netTVs, handheld computers, personal digital assistants, and smart phones with relatively limited display capability, storage, processing power, and network access. Thus, Internet access is still constrained on these devices and there is a need to develop alternative approaches for information delivery. In this paper, we propose a framework for adaptive content delivery in heterogeneous environments. The goal is to improve content accessibility and perceived quality of service for information access under changing network and viewer conditions. The framework includes content adaptation algorithms, client capability and network bandwidth discovery methods, and a Decision Engine for determining when and how to adapt content. We describe this framework, initial system implementations based upon this framework, and the issues associated with the deployment of such systems based on different architectures.

Summary form only given. The emergence of the WWW and the underlying Internet forever changed the way in which hundreds of millions of people access information and conduct online transactions. However, for the large part, this access requires fairly traditional computers and wired network access. Wireless network access and non-traditional handheld computing devices have the potential to increase both the reach and the impact of the WWW, and the online information access model, by an order of magnitude or more. Together, wireless networks and mobile computing will help in realizing the dream of truly ubiquitous access to the information superhighway. Of course, there are many technical problems standing in the way of this vision, and this paper will discuss some of these problems. While many of the difficult problems are indeed unique to the lower layers of the wireless link, such as modulation, MAC protocols, etc., we will focus on a separate set of issues. The problems we will focus on start from the well known one of extending IP routing to wireless hosts, and then go on to look at congestion control protocols such as TCP. We then will examine the emerging area of service discovery protocols and finally go on to describe a content adaptation framework that acts as an impedance matcher between the high-speed wired data world and the lower-speed wireless world. The questions that need to be asked in all these domains is whether standard Internet protocols apply well to the wireless data world, do they need to be extended or should they be replaced? Different researchers have taken different positions in the past, and we will explore when these different positions make sense.

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the benefits of implementing a SAP-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for end-users at PT XY, an Indonesian airport management company. A qualitative case study approach was applied through comprehensive in-depth interviews and direct observations of accounting division staff who actively utilize the SAP Financial Accounting (FI), Controlling (CO), and Materials Management (MM) modules as part of their daily operations. The findings demonstrate that SAP implementation significantly enhances work efficiency, data accuracy, and overall operational productivity across multiple business processes. The system facilitates seamless cross-departmental integration, reduces manual errors, accelerates financial reporting, and supports real-time, data-driven decision-making. Furthermore, SAP strengthens internal coordination by providing consistent, centralized, and easily accessible information to all relevant stakeholders. Key challenges identified include limited network access, server congestion during peak hours, and difficulties with remote connections when accessing the system outside the office environment. The company addressed these issues through regular user training, provision of secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) access, expansion of server capacity, and a strategic plan to migrate to cloud-based SAP S/4HANA to improve flexibility, scalability, and long-term system reliability. The findings not only enrich the literature on ERP adoption, with practical guidance for other organizations seeking to plan, implement, and evaluate ERP systems to meet their own business needs, including effective human resource planning and change management strategies.

The BMA has published new guidance for sessional GPs on how to set up and develop peer support groups to improve access to education, clinical information, networking, and career opportunities. Peer support groups can help reduce the professional isolation experienced …

Theorizing the digital divide: Information and communication technology use frameworks among poor women using a telemedicine system

Reflecting modern trends, there is a very strong interest in the Internet, which is having an impact on the lives of an increasing number of people. Many entrepreneurs are seeing the potential for doing business on the Internet and are using it for marketing and distribution purposes. South Africa is a country of extremes when it comes to networking and information access. While the country compares very favorably in these areas with the rest of the first world in the academic, research and business spheres, it lags excessively behind in traditional black homelands and townships. In many of these areas, even a basic telephone is seen as a luxury

Access Control (AC) in networking attempts to make sure that only authorized devices perform actions formed upon privileges defined for them with a view to prevent malicious users' entry and interaction in the communication grid. Blockchain solutions contain an arrangement of related blocks that naturally safeguards the trustworthiness, defending the incontestability, defend masked-identity of its transactions/transfers due to scattered consensus strategies and cryptographic solutions. Our survey comprehensively reviews BC-formed AC in broad scope of networking considering AC techniques while breaking down into 4 propositions and assessing them in terms of blockchain roles, AC technique and approach, network elements, and rest. We stockpiled a primary sample of 79 bibliographic references by weeding out them for screening criteria sought from scientific information reservoirs exploiting a qualitative and extensive strategy. Formed upon this survey, in blockchain-formed AC, blockchain can be exploited as an AC manager to administrate network devices and access information, implement automatic AC by means of smart contracts, secure storage of AC related data to reinforce overall AC security, and for safe data exchanging in the operation of AC. Minute assessment highlights that from blockchain-formed AC, 52.5% provide AC using blockchain itself or using smart contracts, 92.5% exploit sequential blockchain, 35% exploit PBFT consensus, provide 100% fine-grained and host-formed AC, 85% decentralized AC, 87.5% have single-factor authentication, 92.5% provide dynamic AC, and 45% have opted for IoT. Finally, we evaluate the chances and difficulties of the principle of blockchain-formed AC and then giving recommended actions to beat them.

Mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) is demand-based, self configurable, network without any existing infrastructure. Data caching can significantly improve the efficiency of information access in a wireless ad-hoc network by reducing the access latency and bandwidth usage. Every Mobile Hosts (MHs) can move arbitrarily and communicate with other MHs by using multihop wireless links. However, designing efficient distributed caching algorithms is nontrivial when network nodes have limited memory. In this paper, we consider the cache placement problem of minimizing total data access cost in ad-hoc networks with multiple data items and nodes with limited memory capacity. Defining benefit as the reduction in total access cost. The approximation algorithm is amenable to localized distributed implementation, which is shown via simulations to perform close to the approximation algorithm.

Current deployment of wireless community networks and wireless municipal services utilizes multi-hop backbone mesh network technology to provide ubiquitous Internet connectivity to the end users. IEEE 802.11s Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) is a promising technology to increase spatial reuse in a mesh backbone using high gain directional antennas. Uses of directional communication in a multi-interface mesh network introduce the problem of unbalanced traffic allocation among the end-to-end flows that results in inefficient channel access using the standard EDCA mechanism. Furthermore, the forwarding protocol should coordinate with the channel access to improve the network performance. In this paper, a localized distributed mechanism is proposed to share the channel bandwidth effectively among interfering interfaces based on the solution of the balanced traffic allocation problem. The standard forwarding algorithm is augmented to use the channel access information effectively in a dynamic network scenario. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated through the results obtained from a practical indoor IEEE 802.11n+s directional multi-interface mesh testbed.