With the rapid advancement of mobile devices, people have become more attached to them than ever. This rapid growth combined with millions of applications (apps) make smartphones a favourite means of communication among users. In general, the available contents on smartphones, apps and the web, come into two versions: (i) free contents that are monetized via advertisements (ads), and (ii) paid ones that are monetized by user subscription fees. However, the resources (energy, bandwidth, processing power) on-board are limited, and the existence of ads in either websites or free apps can adversely impact these resources. These issues brought the need for good understanding of the mobile advertising eco-system and how such limited resources can be efficiently used. This thesis focuses on mobile web browsing. Surfing web-pages on smatphones is one of the most commonly used task among smartphone users. However, web-page complexity is increasing, especially when designed for desktop computers. On one hand, the existence of ads in web-pages is essential for publishers' monetization strategy. On the other hand, their existence in webpages leads to even higher complexity of the webpages. This complexity in the smartphone environment, where the battery and bandwidth resources are limited, is reflected in longer loading time, more energy consumed, and more bytes transferred. With this view, quantifying the energy consumption due to web ads in smartphones is essential for publishers to optimize their webpages, and for system designers to develop an energy-aware applications (browsers) and protocols. Apart from their energy impact, ads consume network bandwidth as well. Therefore, quantifying the bandwidth consumption due to downloading web ads is crucial to creating more energy and bandwidth aware applications. This thesis first classifies web content into: (i) core information, and (ii) forced ``unwanted" information, namely ads. Then, describes an approach that enables the separation of web content in a number of a websites. Having done so, the energy cost due to downloading, rendering, and displaying web ads over Wi-Fi and 3G networks is evaluated. That is, how much energy web ads contribute to the total consumed energy when a user accesses the web. Furthermore, the bandwidth consumed by web ads in a number of well-known websites is also evaluated. Motivated by our findings about ads' impact on the energy and bandwidth, the thesis proposes and implements a novel web-browsing technique that adapts the webpages delivered to smartphones, based on a smartphone's current battery level and the network type. Webpages are adapted by controlling the amount of ads to be displayed. Validation tests confirm that the system, in some cases, can extend smartphone battery life by up to ~ 30\% and save wireless bandwidth up to ~ 44\%.

abstract: The integration of passive optical networks (PONs) and wireless mesh networks (WMNs) into Fiber-Wireless (FiWi) networks has recently emerged as a promising strategy for providing flexible network services at relative high transmission rates. This work investigates the effectiveness of localized routing that prioritizes transmissions over the local gateway to the optical network and avoids wireless packet transmissions in radio zones that do not contain the packet source or destination. Existing routing schemes for FiWi networks consider mainly hop-count and delay metrics over a flat WMN node topology and do not specifically prioritize the local network structure. The combination of clustered and localized routing (CluLoR) performs better in terms of throughput-delay compared to routing schemes that are based on minimum hop-count which do not consider traffic localization. Subsequently, this work also investigates the packet delays when relatively low-rate traffic that has traversed a wireless network is mixed with conventional high-rate PON-only traffic. A range of different FiWi network architectures with different dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) mechanisms is considered. The grouping of the optical network units (ONUs) in the double-phase polling (DPP) DBA mechanism in long-range (order of 100~Km) FiWi networks is closely examined, and a novel grouping by cycle length (GCL) strategy that achieves favorable packet delay performance is introduced. At the end, this work proposes a novel backhaul network architecture based on a Smart Gateway (Sm-GW) between the small cell base stations (e.g., LTE eNBs) and the conventional backhaul gateways, e.g., LTE Servicing/Packet Gateway (S/P-GW). The Sm-GW accommodates flexible number of small cells while reducing the infrastructure requirements at the S-GW of LTE backhaul. In contrast to existing methods, the proposed Sm-GW incorporates the scheduling mechanisms to achieve the network fairness while sharing the resources among all the connected small cells base stations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Electrical Engineering 2016

In this master thesis the performance of external viscous dampers attached to cables in cable-stayed bridges have been studied. A comparison has been performed between a linear and a non-linear cable model. The comparison was carried out for two bridge cables, one from the Dubrovnik Bridge and the other from the Normandie Bridge. The performance of the dampers have been measured in terms of maximum achieved damping ratio and minimum amplitude of vibration. The analysis was performed using the finite element method. The damping ratio was measured using both the half-power bandwidth method and by calculating the loss factor. The half-power bandwidth method can only be applied to a linear system. Therefore, the loss factor was evaluated for the linear model and compared to the results obtained using the half-power bandwidth method. From the comparison, it was concluded that the damping ratio evaluated using the loss factor was similar to the results obtained when using the half-power bandwidth method. However, when calculating the loss factor, it was of great importance that the resonance frequency of the system was accurately determined. The loss factor was then calculated for the non-linear model and compared to the results obtained for the linear model. Since the loss factor measures the energy dissipated in a system, it could be utilised for the non-linear model. When computing the strain energy for the non-linear model an approximate method was used to take into consideration the strain energy caused by the static deformation of the cable. From the comparison between the linear and non-linear cable models, it was concluded that the optimal damper coefficients obtained by both models are not significantly different. However, there is an uncertainty in the results due to the fact that an approximate method was used when calculating the strain energy for the nonlinear model. It was also observed that a very accurate evaluation of the system’s resonance frequency was needed to calculate the loss factor. It was also observed that the variation in amplitude of vibration for varying damper coefficient was small for all modes of vibration for the Dubrovnik Bridge Cable as well as for the first mode of vibration for the Normandie Bridge Cable. The difference in the results between the two bridge cables needs to be investigated further in order to get a better understanding of the results.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 21, 2002 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / This paper will present the results of some experiments with non-coherent, single symbol detection of pulse code modulation (PCM)/frequency modulation (FM) where the receiver intermediate frequency (IF) bandwidth is much wider than the bit rate. The experiments involved varying the peak deviation and measuring the bit error probability (BEP) at various signal energy per bit to noise power spectral density ratios (E(b)/N(o)). The experiments showed that the optimum peak-to-peak deviation was about 0.7 to 0.8 times the –3 dB IF bandwidth and that the E(b)/N(o) required for a given BEP increased as the ratio of IF bandwidth to bit rate increased. Further, bi-phase-level/FM performed slightly better than non-return-to-zero-level (NRZ-L)/FM with an ac coupled RF signal generator and IF bandwidths much wider than the bit rate.

ITC/USA 2010 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Sixth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 25-28, 2010 / Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, California / Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems have at least two transmitting antennas, each generating unique signals. However some applications may require three, four, or more transmitting devices to achieve the desired system performance. This paper describes the design of a scalable MIMO transmitter, based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology. Each module contains a FPGA, and associated digital-to-analog converters, I/Q modulators, and RF amplifiers needed to power one of the MIMO transmitters. The system was designed to handle up to a 10 Mbps data rate, and transmit signals in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM band.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores two key aspects of wireless ad hoc networks. The first aspect concerns the topic of stimulating cooperation between nodes in a wireless ad hoc network. The functionality of a wireless ad hoc network depends entirely on the willingness of nodes to relay messages on behalf of other nodes. Network functionality depends on ensuring cooperation between nodes, so that each node benefits from continued participation in the network. This suggests an important question: how can cooperation among individual nodes be managed to improve overall wireless ad hoc network performance? The second aspect explored in this thesis concerns the concept of optimal resource utilisation. Wireless ad hoc networks are characterised by limited bandwidth and energy resources, which facilitates deployment in situations in which traditional infrastructure based networks are not practical. This suggests another important question: how can the use of the limited energy and bandwidth resources of wireless ad hoc networks be optimised? This research relies on the concept of a credit-based market economy. Nodes in simulated ad hoc networks use credits to pay for the cost of sending their own traffic and earn credits by forwarding traffic on behalf of other nodes. We show that a credit-based market economy approach can be employed to stimulate and regulate cooperation between nodes in a wireless ad hoc network. We show that this approach can be implemented in a simple decentralised manner and that it has several variants depending on which node is considered to be paying for the service, what the price of each service should be and how we route packets around the network using information derived from the credit-based economy. This thesis demonstrates that several variants of a credit-based scheme can be implemented in a packet based simulator and that these variants result in the stable operation of the network and improve the overall performance. The credit-based mechanisms also show significant improvement to network performance in resource constrained conditions and represent an effective means for optimising limited energy and bandwidth resource. The effectiveness of the credit-based mechanisms increases as the load on the networks increases. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek twee belangrike aspekte van draadlose ad hoc-netwerke. Die eerste aspek het betrekking op die onderwerp van 'n stimulerende samewerking tussen die nodusse in 'n draadlose ad hoc-netwerk. Dat die network funksioneer hang daarvan af om samewerking tussen die nodusse te verseker sodat elke nodus voordeel put uit voortgesette deelname in die netwerk. Dit dui op 'n belangrike vraag: Hoe kan die samewerking tussen die individuele nodusse bestuur word om die prestasie van 'n draadlose ad hoc-netwerk te verbeter? Die tweede aspek wat in hierdie tesis ondersoek word, behels die konsep van optimale hulpbronbenutting. Draadlose ad hoc-netwerke word gekenmerk deur beperkte bandwydte- en energie-hulpbronne, wat ontplooiing bewerkstellig in situasies waar tradisionele infrastruktuur-gebaseerde netwerke nie practise moontlik is nie. Dit dui op 'n ander belangrike vraag: Hoe kan die gebruik van die beperkte energie- en bandwydte-hulpbronne van draadlose ad hoc-netwerke optimaal bestuur word? Hierdie navorsing berus op die konsep van 'n krediet-gebaseerde markekonomie. Nodusse in gesimuleerde ad hoc-netwerke gebruik krediete om te betaal vir die versending van hul eie verkeer en nodusse verdien krediete deur die verkeer van ander nodusse aan te stuur. Ons wys dat die benadering van 'n krediet-gebaseerde markekonomie gebruik kan word om die samewerking tussen die nodusse in 'n draadlose ad hoc-netwerk te stimuleer en te reguleer. Ons wys dat hierdie benadering geïmplementeer kan word op 'n eenvoudige gedesentraliseerde wyse. Ons ondersoek verskeie variasies van die benadering, na gelang van watter nodus oorweeg word om vir die diens te betaal, wat die prys van elke diens moet wees en hoe inligting afgelei van die krediet-gebaseerde ekonomie gebruik kan word om pakkies in die netwerk te roeteer. Hierdie tesis toon dat verskeie variante van 'n krediet-gebaseerde skema geïmplementeer kan word in 'n netwerksimulator en dat hierdie variante die stabiele bedryf van en algehele verbetering in die prestasie van die network tot gevolg het. Die krediet-gebaseerde meganismes toon 'n beduidende verbetering in hulpbronbenutting en netwerkprestasie in omgewings met beperkte hulpbronne en verteenwoordig 'n doeltreffende manier om die beperkte energie- en bandwydte-hulpbronne optimaal te benut. Laastens, die doeltreffendheid van die krediet-gebaseerde meganismes word verhoog as die las op die netwerke word verhoog.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Most traditional approaches to TT&C have employed waveforms that are neither very power nor bandwidth efficient. A new approach to TT&C waveforms greatly improves these efficiencies. Binary Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) provides a constant envelope bandwidth efficient signal for applications above about 10 Kbps. The constant envelope preserves the spectrum through saturated amplifiers. It provides the best power efficiency when used with turbo coding. For protection against various kinds of burst errors it includes the hybrid interleaving for memory and delay efficiency and packet compatible operations in Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) environments. Commanding, telemetry, mission data transmission, and tracking are multiplexed in TDMA format.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) is a form of Continuous Phase Modulation (CPM) whose spectral occupancy can be easily tailored to the available channel bandwidth by a suitable choice of signal parameters. The constant envelope of the GMSK signal enables it to corporate with saturated power amplifier without the spectral re-growth problem. This paper provides a quantitative synopsis of binary GMSK signals in terms of their bandwidth occupancy and coherent demodulation performance. A detailed account of how to demodulate such signals using the Viterbi Algorithm (VA) is given, along with analytical power spectral density (PSD) and computer simulated bit-error-rate (BER) results for various signal BT products. The effect of adjacent channel interference (ACI) is also quantified. Ideal synchronization for both symbol time and carrier phase is assumed.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / An all-digital high data rate parallel receiver architecture developed jointly by Goddard Space Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is pre- sented. This receiver utilizes only a small number of high speed components along with a majority of lower speed components operating in a parallel fre- quency domain structure implementable in CMOS, and can process over 600 Mbps with numerous varieties of QPSK modulation, including those incorpo- rating precise pulse shaping for bandwidth eÆcient modulation. Performance results for this receiver for bandwidth eÆcient QPSK modulation schemes such as square-root raised cosine pulse shaped QPSK and Feher’s patented QPSK are presented, demonstrating the great degree of exibility and high performance of the receiver architecture.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / In this paper, orthogonal wavelets are employed to produce multiscale signaling. It is shown that signaling using these functions is bandwidth efficient compared other signaling schemes, including SFSK and GMSK. For signaling in Rician fast fading channel, it is also shown that scaling functions is superior in term of achieving low level of probability of error. Even for multiscale signaling, the level probability of error achieved by using wavelet is lower than conventional flat-top signaling. The benefits are largest for channels with small B(D)T , in which the degradation due to fading is most severe.