In 21st century, the development strategy and the management policy of Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a key issue to a nation¡¦s competitiveness. Particularly, the development of telecommunication liberalization, governance in the telecommunications regime and the relevant science and technology policies of the telecommunication industry is the most important factor for creating a leading knowledge-based economy for Information Communication Technology related industries. Looking forward to the future, the trends and developments of the convergence of telecommunication, broadcasting and internet services will drive the demand for the telecommunication and broadcasting industries to look for cost-efficient provisioning of converged multimedia services. The emerging technology of next generation network (NGN) infrastructure enables the convergence of multi-access networks to deliver the multimedia contents and application services seamlessly. Therefore, the consumers, government, and industry can obtain the benefits because of technology development and industrial cooperation. In addition, the converged broadcasting and telecommunication services as well as Fixed-Mobile Converged applications over the internets results in the needs for the improvement in network interconnectivity and service interoperability. No matter it is telecommunication, broadcasting or information, to converge as common info-communication services, such as telephony, data and multimedia will eventually run over the all IP networks. Therefore, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) becomes one of the promising technologies to drive it happen. However, existing policy and regulations must cope with the changes of this development. The liberalization of broadband and communication market allows the participation of the private companies to create new investment and revenue. This research studies the possible evolution of an IP-based communication infrastructure from today's networks toward a converged next generation network and proposes an Inter-Exchange Center of Converged Network Architecture (IEXCNA), applying to VoIP service. The IEXCNA model shows more efficient in the transmission, interconnectivity and reducing implementation cost of network infrastructure. Thus the consumers are able to enjoy better quality of service and cheaper rate of use for multimedia services.

This thesis deals with data transmission applications in the converged network, focusing on the WiFi network IEEE 802.11. The theoretical part describes the cause and nature of converged networks. One chapter is devoted to a description of IEEE 802.11, which is next to different standards and options described architecture, coordination and access network QoS solution to that standard. The research is based on custom design converged networks, and WiFi elements in the environment of graphic simulation software OPNET Modeler. In the proposed network was also simulated the operation of services such as voice, video conferencing, FTP and HTTP streaming. Results of simulation data traffic in the network are then analyzed. At the Conclusion of the thesis, is in OPNET Modeller program created the role of laboratory. The essence here is the comparison of operating a converged network, with and without quality support services.

Dans le cadre de calcul des assemblages de structures, les bureaux d'études sont à l'heure actuelle encore limités dans la possibilité de mener des travaux d'optimisation. En effet, la résolution numérique des assemblages nécessite la mise en œuvre de méthodes capables de prendre en compte différents types de non-linéarités (frottement, contact et jeux entre pièces). Le coût de calcul associé à ces méthodes est généralement trop important pour mener une optimisation globale nécessitant un trop grand nombre d'évaluations. Afin de pallier à ce problème, ce travail s'appuie sur une démarche d'optimisation à deux niveaux de modèles. Le premier niveau d'optimisation consiste à la création d'un métamodèle sur lequel est effectué une optimisation globale. Le second niveau d'optimisation consiste à mener à bien une optimisation locale sur le modèle mécanique réel. Cette optimisation locale s'appuie sur les résultats trouvés au premier niveau. Deux outils sont principalement utilisés au cours de cette thèse. Tout d'abord les simulations numériques sont réalisées à l'aide de la méthode LaTIn multiparamétrique qui assure la réduction des temps de calcul associés aux multiples résolutions du problème mécanique. L'autre outil plus largement développé au cours de ce travail s'appuie sur la construction de métamodèles multi-fidélité. En effet, la méthode LaTIn est une méthode de calcul itérative, il est alors possible d'avoir accès à un indicateur d'erreur servant de niveau de convergence pour les différents calculs numériques effectués. La construction de métamodèles multi-fidélité a pour particularité de pouvoir incorporé différentes sources d'informations qui sont dans ce travail dites "totalement convergé" lorsqu'un calcul est effectué à convergence et "partiellement convergé" lorsqu'un calcul est stoppé avant convergence. Différentes méthodes multi-fidélité sont testées dans ce travail sur plusieurs exemples mécaniques afin de déterminer les plus performantes. Deux cas industriels sont également traités. / Optimisation strategies on assembly design are often time expensive on industrial case. The main difficulties are due to the non-linearties of the calculation (contact, friction and gap between pieces). The computation cost can be too expensive to lead a global optimization with a large number of evaluation of the mechanical problem.In order to achieve this kind of optimization problems, this work purposes to use a two-levels models optimization strategy. THe first level is defined thanks to the construction of a metamodel which is used to lead a global optimization. On the second level, a local optimization is used on the real mechanical model thanks to the results got from the first level.Two main tools are used in this work. The first one is the multiparametric LaTIn method which enables to reduce drastically the computational time for solving several similar mechanical assembly design problems. The other tool is the one which is the most developped in this work is the constrcution of multi-fidelty surrogate models. Indeed, the LaTIn method in an iterative method, so it is possible to define an error indicator which can be used as a level of convergence of the calculation. The construction of multi-fidelity metamodels has for particularity to incorpore several kind of information which are named as "totally converged" if the calculation has been converged and "partially converged" if the calculation has been stopped premarturly.Different multi-fidélity methods have been investigated in this work on several mechnaical examples in the aim to define the most performant. Industrial case test are trated in this thesis.In order to achieve this kind of optimization problems with an acceptable computational time, this work propose to use a two-levels model optimization strategy based on two main tools: (1) the multiparametric strategy based on the LaTIn method that enables to reduce significantly the computational time for solving many similar mechanical assembly problems and (2) a cokriging metamodel built using responses and gradients computed by the mechanical solver on few sets of design parameters. The metamodel provides very inexpensive approximate responses of the objective function and it enables to achieve a global optimisation and to obtain the global optimum. The cokriging metamodel was reviewed in detail using analytical test functions and some mechanical benchmarks. The quality of the approximation and the building cost were compared with classical kriging approach. Moreover, a complete study of the multiparametric strategy was proposed using many mechanical benchmarks included many kinds and numbers of design parameters. The performance in term of computational time of the whole optimisation process was illustrated.

No / Without making any distinction of the applicable accounting standards, this paper investigates, firstly, the value relevance of accounting information from 1999 to 2012 in different segments of the Chinese stock market. This investigation includes A-shares, prepared under Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS) for domestic firms; B-shares, prepared under either the International Accounting Standards (IAS) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for both domestic and overseas firms; and H-shares prepared under either the IAS or Hong Kong GAAP for Hong Kong and overseas firms. Then, the paper examines whether or not the converged IFRS with CAS, applicable from 2007 onwards, is more value relevant when compared with prior to the 2007's standards (CAS, IAS, Hong Kong GAAP for A-share, B-share, and H-share markets, respectively). Based on 34,020 firm-year observations and after controlling for industry- and year-fixed effects, the findings suggest that accounting information is value relevant with A- and B-share markets, while it is partially relevant with the H-share market. The paper finds that the converged IFRS with CAS is more value relevant in A-shares and B-shares and it is partially more value relevant with the H-share market. These findings have implications for both policymakers and investors since they provide further empirical evidence for the current policy procedure which harmonizes local GAAP with IFRS.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Em razÃo da crescente demanda de usuÃrios mÃveis por conteÃdos criados com formato especÃfico e personalizado, ou adaptado para atender suas necessidades e preferÃncias no uso da web, as redes convergentes sensÃveis ao contexto incorporam uma promissora tecnologia para permitir aplicaÃÃes de serviÃos personalizados a mÃltiplos usuÃrios. O projeto C-CAST (Context Casting) (C-CAST, 2012) foi estabelecido para arquiteturas de redes convergentes sensÃveis ao contexto para suportar sessÃes com qualidade de serviÃo (QoS - Quality of Service) de forma garantida a mÃltiplos usuÃrios, simultaneamente, independentemente de suas tecnologias de conexÃo sem fio. O mecanismo de controle do C-CAST Legado introduz questÃes de degradaÃÃo de desempenho, visto que a abordagem de sinalizaÃÃo adotada à direcionada por fluxo. Isto significa que a carga de sinalizaÃÃo aumenta exponencialmente com o nÃmero de admissÃes de fluxo. Este trabalho propÃe o C-CAST AvanÃado, o qual aperfeiÃoa o sistema do C-CAST Legado pela extensÃo de mecanismos inovadores que integram um controle dinÃmico da largura de banda sobreaprovisionada por classes de serviÃo e alocaÃÃo de Ãrvores overlay. Por meio dessa estratÃgia, busca-se reduzir taxas de sinalizaÃÃo de controle e alocaÃÃo de recursos em todo o sistema. A avaliaÃÃo do C-CAST AvanÃado à conduzida por meio de simulaÃÃo, demonstrando seus benefÃcios em relaÃÃo ao C-CAST Legado, por otimizar significativamente os nÃveis de desempenho de todo o sistema de rede, enquanto mantÃm usuÃrios com a melhor percepÃÃo de qualidade. / Due to the increase demand of mobile users for content created in a specific and customized way, or adapted to comply with the needs and preferences in web usage, converged networks which are context-sensitive have been incorporated to a promising technology and enabled applications of personalized services to multiple users. The C-CAST project (Context Casting) was established to converged network architectures to support context-sensitive sessions with quality of service (QoS - Quality of Service) in a manner to guarantee to multiple users simultaneously, regardless of their wireless technologies. The C-CAST control mechanism of the Legacy introduces issues of performance degradation, once the signaling approach adopted is directed per-flow, which means that the signaling load increases exponentially with the number of admissions flow. This work proposes the Advanced of C-CAST, which reconstruct the C-CAST legacy system by the extent of innovative mechanisms that integrate dynamic control of provisioned bandwidth by the service classes and allocation overlay trees. Through this strategy, it seeks to reduce rates of control signaling and allocating resources throughout the system. The C-CAST Advanced evaluation is conducted through simulation, demonstrating its benefits in relation to C-CAST Legacy, by significantly optimization the performance levels of the entire network system while keep the network users with the best quality perception.

This master's thesis is focused on VoIP communications. It describes deploy of the operating system OpenWRT, analog interface of router Gigaset SX762 and GSM gateway for receiving or place calls. The paper describes the protocols involved in the communication and basic configuration elements. Deploying IP telephony enables to reduce the cost of operation and provides a number of additional functions.

This research presents design techniques for a linear power amplifier with high efficiency in wireless handsets. The power amplifier operates with high efficiency at the saturated output power, maintains high linearity with enhanced efficiency at back-off power levels, and covers a broadband frequency response. The amplifier is thus able to operate in multiple modes (2G/2.5G/3G/4G). The design techniques provide contributions to current research in handset power amplifiers, especially to the converged power amplifier architecture, to reduce the number of power amplifiers within the handset while covering all standards and frequency bands around the globe. Three main areas of interest in power amplifier design are investigated: high power efficiency; high linearity; and broadband frequency response. Multiple techniques for improving the efficiency are investigated with the focus on maintaining linear operation. The research applies a new technique to the handset industry, class-J, to improve the power efficiency while avoiding the practical issues that hinder the typical techniques (class-AB and class-F). Class-J has been implemented using GaN FET in high power applications. To our knowledge, this work provides the first implementation of class-J using GaAs HBT in a handset power amplifier. The research investigates the linearity, and the nature and causes of nonlinearities. Multiple concepts for improving the linearity are presented, such as avoiding odd-degree harmonics, and linearizing the relationship between the output current and the input voltage of the amplifier at the fundamental frequency. The concept of bias depression in HBT transistors is introduced with a bias circuit that reduces the bias-offset effect to improve linearity at high output power. A design methodology is presented for broadband matching networks, including the component loss. The methodology offers a quick and accurate estimation of component values, giving more degrees of freedom to meet the design specifications. It enables a trade-off among high out-of-band attenuation, number/size of components, and power loss within the network. Although the main focus is handset power amplifiers, most of the developed techniques can be applied to a wide range of power amplifiers. / Ph. D.

Crises are spontaneous and highly variable events that lead to life threatening and urgent situations. As such, crisis and emergency notification systems need to be both flexible and highly optimized to quickly communicate to users. Implementing the fastest methods, however, is only half of the battle. The use of geospatial location is missing from alert systems utilized at university campuses across the United States. Our research included the design and implementation of a mobile application addition to our campus notification system. This addition is complete with optimizations including an increase in the speed of delivery, message differentiation to enhance message relevance to the user, and usability studies to enhance user trust and understanding. Another advantage is that our application performs all location data computations on the user device with no external storage to protect user location privacy. However, ensuring the adoption of a mobile application that requests location data permissions and relating privacy measures to users is not a trivial matter. We conducted a campus-wide survey and interviews to understand mobile device usage patterns and obtain opinions of a representative portion of the campus population. These findings guided the development of this mobile application and can provide valuable insights which may be helpful for future application releases. Our addition of a mobile application with geospatial location awareness will send users relevant alerts at speeds faster than those of the current campus notification system while still guarding user location privacy, increasing message relevance, and enhancing the probability of adoption and use. / Master of Science

The maturity level of Internet Protocol (IP) and the emergence of standard Ethernet interfaces of Hydrocarbon Process Automation Application (HPAA) present a real opportunity to combine independent industrial applications onto an integrated IP based network platform. Quality of Service (QoS) for IP over Ethernet has the strength to regulate traffic mix and support timely delivery. The combinations of these technologies lend themselves to provide a platform to support HPAA applications across Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) networks. HPAA systems are composed of sensors, actuators, and logic solvers networked together to form independent control system network platforms. They support hydrocarbon plants operating under critical conditions that — if not controlled — could become dangerous to people, assets and the environment. This demands high speed networking which is triggered by the need to capture data with higher frequency rate at a finer granularity. Nevertheless, existing HPAA network infrastructure is based on unique autonomous systems, which has resulted in multiple, parallel and separate networks with limited interconnectivity supporting different functions. This created increased complexity in integrating various applications and resulted higher costs in the technology life cycle total ownership. To date, the concept of consolidating HPAA into a converged IP network over standard Ethernet has not yet been explored. This research aims to explore and develop the HPAA Process Control Systems (PCS) in a Converged Internet Protocol (CIP) using experimental and simulated networks case studies. Results from experimental and simulation work showed encouraging outcomes and provided a good argument for supporting the co-existence of HPAA and non-HPAA applications taking into consideration timeliness and reliability requirements. This was achieved by invoking priority based scheduling with the highest priority being awarded to PCS among other supported services such as voice, multimedia streams and other applications. HPAA can benefit from utilizing CIP over Ethernet by reducing the number of interdependent HPAA PCS networks to a single uniform and standard network. In addition, this integrated infrastructure offers a platform for additional support services such as multimedia streaming, voice, and data. This network‐based model manifests itself to be integrated with remote control system platform capabilities at the end user's desktop independent of space and time resulting in the concept of plant virtualization.

Η διδακτορική διατριβή με τίτλο «Σχεδιασμός και υλοποίηση συστήματος διαχείρισης και ενοποίησης διαφορετικών ταυτοτήτων χρηστών σε δίκτυα νέας γενιάς» πραγματεύεται την οργάνωση και διαχείριση των ταυτοτήτων χρηστών σε ένα ενοποιημένο δικτυακό περιβάλλον αποτελούμενο από διαφορετικά δίκτυα, τεχνολογίες και υπηρεσίες. Η διατριβή, αρχικά εξετάζει τις προτεινόμενες αρχιτεκτονικές και υπηρεσίες του Μελλοντικού Διαδικτύου και ανάμεσα στα προβλήματα που παρουσιάζονται επικεντρώνεται στην επίλυση της Διαχείρισης Ψηφιακών Ταυτοτήτων (Identity Management – IdM). Μέχρι τώρα οι προτεινόμενες λύσεις είναι λειτουργικές μόνο κάτω από συγκεκριμένες συνθήκες, όπως π.χ. την εφαρμογή νέων παγκόσμιων προσδιοριστικών ή τη δημιουργία μεγάλων ομοσπονδιών εμπιστοσύνης. Στην πράξη όμως τέτοιες πρακτικές δεν μπορούν να υιοθετηθούν από μεγάλης κλίμακας δίκτυα. Σε αντίθεση με αυτές τις προσεγγίσεις, η συγκεκριμένη διατριβή προτείνει τον σχεδιασμό ενός συστήματος που θα έχει ως σκοπό να βοηθάει τα εκάστοτε πλαίσια (δίκτυα, ομοσπονδίες, παρόχους κ.τ.λ.) να αντιμετωπίζουν μόνα τους τα προβλήματα διαχείρισης ταυτοτήτων που παρουσιάζονται στις υπηρεσίες τους. Για να επιτευχθεί αυτό, αρχικά αποδεικνύεται πως είναι αναγκαίος ο διαχωρισμός της διαδικασίας ανακάλυψης δεδομένων που σχετίζονται με τις ψηφιακές ταυτότητες, από τις υπόλοιπες διαδικασίες διαχείρισης (π.χ. ανταλλαγή δεδομένων μεταξύ παρόχων). Με βάση αυτή την προσέγγιση δημιουργήθηκε το σύστημα DIMANDS, το οποίο δίνει την δυνατότητα στους παρόχους να ανακαλύπτουν τα δεδομένα ταυτότητας που απαιτούνται για την ολοκλήρωση μιας δεδομένης υπηρεσίας, ενώ παράλληλα τους επιτρέπει να διαχειρίζονται αυτόνομα τις υπόλοιπες διαδικασίες που σχετίζονται με την υπηρεσία αυτή. Το σύστημα πληροί όλες τις απαιτήσεις ασφάλειας, εμπιστοσύνης, διαφύλαξης ιδιοαπόρρητου και απόδοσης ενός μεγάλης κλίμακας συστήματος διαχείρισης ψηφιακών ταυτοτήτων. Αυτό αποδεικνύεται από προσομοιώσεις που έγιναν στο περιβάλλον εξομοίωσης OPNET. Τέλος σημειώνεται πως ένα δοκιμαστικό σενάριο χρήσης του συστήματος υλοποιήθηκε σε περιβάλλον Ruby on Rails. / This PhD thesis entitled “Design and implementation of a system for the management and unification of users’ diverse identities in next generation networks” examines the organization and management of users’ identity data in a unified network environment composed by diverse networks, technologies and services. The dissertation, initially examines the proposed future Internet architectures and services and among the identified problems, it focuses on the management of Digital Identities (Identity Management – IdM). Until now, the proposed solutions are only functional if specific conditions are met, such as the implementation of new global identifiers or creating large scale federations of trust. In practice though, these conditions cannot be enforced in large-scale networks. Contrary to these approaches, this dissertation proposes the design of a system capable of helping the individual contexts (federations, networks, service providers, etc.) to independently deal with their own identity management problems that appear in their services. To achieve this, initially we prove that it is necessary to separate the process of discovering identity related data from the all the rest of the identity management procedures (e.g. data exchange between providers). Based on this approach we created DIMANDS, a system which allows providers to discover the necessary data required to complete a specific service, while enabling them to manage autonomously the remaining procedures associated with this service. The system meets all the requirements of security, trust, privacy and performance of a large scale identity management system. This is evidenced by simulations made in the OPNET simulation environment. Finally it must be noted that a demo based on the system’s functionality was implemented in Ruby on Rails environment.