International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1993 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / As technology progresses we are faced with ever increasing volumes and rates of raw and processed telemetry data along with digitized high resolution video and the less demanding areas of video conferencing, voice communications and general LAN-based data communications. The distribution of all this data has traditionally been accomplished by solutions designed to each particular data type. With the advent of Asynchronous Transfer Modes or ATM, a single technology now exists for providing an integrated solution to distributing these diverse data types. This allows an integrated set of switches, transmission equipment and fiber optics to provide multi-session connection speeds of 622 Megabits per second. ATM allows for the integration of many of the most widely used and emerging low, medium and high speed communications standards. These include SONET, FDDI, Broadband ISDN, Cell Relay, DS-3, Token Ring and Ethernet LANs. However, ATM is also very well suited to handle unique data formats and speeds, as is often the case with telemetry data. Additionally, ATM is the only data communications technology in recent times to be embraced by both the computer and telecommunications industries. Thus, ATM is a single solution for connectivity within a test center, across a test range, or between ranges. ATM can be implemented in an evolutionary manner as the needs develop. This means the rate of capital investment can be gradual and older technologies can be replaced slowly as they become the communications bottlenecks. However, success of this evolution requires some planning now. This paper provides an overview of ATM, its application to test ranges and telemetry distribution. A road map is laid out which can guide the evolutionary changeover from today's technologies to a full ATM communications infrastructure. Special applications such as the support of high performance multimedia workstations are presented.

Este trabalho consiste na especificação e desenvolvimento da arquitetura de um Comutador Digital para TDM Determinístico E1, visando sua posterior implementação em microeletrônica. Inicialmente são apresentados os conceitos gerais sobre os Sistemas de Comutação, bem como das principais modalidades de comutação, seguidos de um estudo aprofundado da Comutação de Circuitos e suas técnicas mais utilizadas, devido a sua Intima relação com a multiplexação TDM e a hierarquia E1. Do mesmo modo, são descritas as características das Redes Corporativas E1 e dos multiplexadores E1, junto com as funções principais do Comutador dentro do ambiente de uma rede ponto-a-ponto. Com base no estudo prévio, e proposta a arquitetura de um Comutador Digital baseado em técnicas TSI capaz de fornecer funções de comutação local e remota entre os dispositivos conectados aos multiplexadores El, que formam os nos de uma Rede Corporativa com controle centralizado. 0 projeto logico e a simulação do Comutador Digital foram realizados dentro do framework SOLO/Cadence, usando a biblioteca de Standard Cells da tecnologia CMOS de 1.2µ. O simulador lógica SILOS, disponível no SOLO/Cadence, foi utilizado para validar a arquitetura proposta. Detalhes de implementação e resultados de simulação são apresentados. O módulo de controle do Comutador Digital e apenas especificado. / This work consists in the specification and development of a Digital Circuit Switch architecture for E1l Deterministic TDM, looking toward a future microelectronics implementation. First, general concepts about Switching Systems and its basic elements, as well as the main kinds of switching are presented. Also, a meticulous study about Circuit Switching and its more used techniques is realized, because of the intrinsec relation with TDM and E1 hierarchy. In the same way, the characteristics of E1 Corporate Networks and E1 multiplexers are described, along with the main functions of the Digital Switch into an end-to-end network. Taking into account the previous study, the architecture of a Digital Switch based on TSI techniques, is proposed. This architecture is able to perform local and remote switching between the devices connected to E1 multiplexers, which form the network nodes of an end-to-end Corporate Network. The logic design and the circuit simulation of the Digital Switch were performed within SOLO/Cadence Standard Cells desing framework, using CMOS 1.2µ technology. The logic simulator SILOS was used to validate the proposed architecture. Implementation details and simulation results are presented. The Control module of the Digital Switch is only specified.

Este trabalho consiste na especificação e desenvolvimento da arquitetura de um Comutador Digital para TDM Determinístico E1, visando sua posterior implementação em microeletrônica. Inicialmente são apresentados os conceitos gerais sobre os Sistemas de Comutação, bem como das principais modalidades de comutação, seguidos de um estudo aprofundado da Comutação de Circuitos e suas técnicas mais utilizadas, devido a sua Intima relação com a multiplexação TDM e a hierarquia E1. Do mesmo modo, são descritas as características das Redes Corporativas E1 e dos multiplexadores E1, junto com as funções principais do Comutador dentro do ambiente de uma rede ponto-a-ponto. Com base no estudo prévio, e proposta a arquitetura de um Comutador Digital baseado em técnicas TSI capaz de fornecer funções de comutação local e remota entre os dispositivos conectados aos multiplexadores El, que formam os nos de uma Rede Corporativa com controle centralizado. 0 projeto logico e a simulação do Comutador Digital foram realizados dentro do framework SOLO/Cadence, usando a biblioteca de Standard Cells da tecnologia CMOS de 1.2µ. O simulador lógica SILOS, disponível no SOLO/Cadence, foi utilizado para validar a arquitetura proposta. Detalhes de implementação e resultados de simulação são apresentados. O módulo de controle do Comutador Digital e apenas especificado. / This work consists in the specification and development of a Digital Circuit Switch architecture for E1l Deterministic TDM, looking toward a future microelectronics implementation. First, general concepts about Switching Systems and its basic elements, as well as the main kinds of switching are presented. Also, a meticulous study about Circuit Switching and its more used techniques is realized, because of the intrinsec relation with TDM and E1 hierarchy. In the same way, the characteristics of E1 Corporate Networks and E1 multiplexers are described, along with the main functions of the Digital Switch into an end-to-end network. Taking into account the previous study, the architecture of a Digital Switch based on TSI techniques, is proposed. This architecture is able to perform local and remote switching between the devices connected to E1 multiplexers, which form the network nodes of an end-to-end Corporate Network. The logic design and the circuit simulation of the Digital Switch were performed within SOLO/Cadence Standard Cells desing framework, using CMOS 1.2µ technology. The logic simulator SILOS was used to validate the proposed architecture. Implementation details and simulation results are presented. The Control module of the Digital Switch is only specified.

Este trabalho consiste na especificação e desenvolvimento da arquitetura de um Comutador Digital para TDM Determinístico E1, visando sua posterior implementação em microeletrônica. Inicialmente são apresentados os conceitos gerais sobre os Sistemas de Comutação, bem como das principais modalidades de comutação, seguidos de um estudo aprofundado da Comutação de Circuitos e suas técnicas mais utilizadas, devido a sua Intima relação com a multiplexação TDM e a hierarquia E1. Do mesmo modo, são descritas as características das Redes Corporativas E1 e dos multiplexadores E1, junto com as funções principais do Comutador dentro do ambiente de uma rede ponto-a-ponto. Com base no estudo prévio, e proposta a arquitetura de um Comutador Digital baseado em técnicas TSI capaz de fornecer funções de comutação local e remota entre os dispositivos conectados aos multiplexadores El, que formam os nos de uma Rede Corporativa com controle centralizado. 0 projeto logico e a simulação do Comutador Digital foram realizados dentro do framework SOLO/Cadence, usando a biblioteca de Standard Cells da tecnologia CMOS de 1.2µ. O simulador lógica SILOS, disponível no SOLO/Cadence, foi utilizado para validar a arquitetura proposta. Detalhes de implementação e resultados de simulação são apresentados. O módulo de controle do Comutador Digital e apenas especificado. / This work consists in the specification and development of a Digital Circuit Switch architecture for E1l Deterministic TDM, looking toward a future microelectronics implementation. First, general concepts about Switching Systems and its basic elements, as well as the main kinds of switching are presented. Also, a meticulous study about Circuit Switching and its more used techniques is realized, because of the intrinsec relation with TDM and E1 hierarchy. In the same way, the characteristics of E1 Corporate Networks and E1 multiplexers are described, along with the main functions of the Digital Switch into an end-to-end network. Taking into account the previous study, the architecture of a Digital Switch based on TSI techniques, is proposed. This architecture is able to perform local and remote switching between the devices connected to E1 multiplexers, which form the network nodes of an end-to-end Corporate Network. The logic design and the circuit simulation of the Digital Switch were performed within SOLO/Cadence Standard Cells desing framework, using CMOS 1.2µ technology. The logic simulator SILOS was used to validate the proposed architecture. Implementation details and simulation results are presented. The Control module of the Digital Switch is only specified.

Over the past three decades, agricultural machinery has made the transition from purely mechanical systems to hybrid machines, reliant on both mechanical and electronic systems. A this transformation continues, the most modern agricultural machinery uses networked systems that require a network connection to function to their full potential. In rural areas, providing this network connection has proven difficult. Obstacles, distance from access points, and incomplete coverage of cellular connection are all challenges to be overcome. “Off the shelf” commercial-grade Wi-Fi equipment, including many products from Ubiquiti like the Bullet M2 transceiver and the PowerBeam point-to-point linking system, as well as antennas by Terrawave, Crane, and Hawking, were installed in a purpose-built system which could be implemented on a production farm. This system consisted of a tower-mounted access point which used an antenna with a 65^o beamwidth, and the test included distances up to 1150 meters in an agricultural setting with corn and soybeans. Some sensors were stationary and the other platform was a tractor following a path around the farm with both 8dBi and 15dBi gain antennas. Through all tests, throughput never dropped below 5 Mb/s, and the latency of successful connections never exceeded 20ms. Packets were rarely dropped and never accounted for a significant portion of all packet transmission attempts. Environmental effects like immediate precipitation, crop heights, recent rainfall, and ambient temperature had little or no effect on wireless network characteristics. As a result, it was proven that as long as line-of-sight was maintained, reliable wireless connectivity could be achieved despite varying conditions using microwave radiation. Network throughput was marginally affected by the change in free space path loss due to increased distance between the access point and the client, as well as travel by the mobile client outside the beamwidth of the access point. By enabling this coverage, it is hoped that the implementation of new agricultural technology utilizing a live network connection will progress more rapidly.

<p>Information about the conditions of specific fields and assets is critical for farm managers to make operational decisions. Location, rainfall, windspeed, soil moisture, and temperature are examples of metrics that influence the ability to perform certain tasks. Monitoring these events in real time and being able to store historical data can be done using Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as sensors. The abilities of this technology have previously been communicated, yet few farmers have adopted these connected devices into their work. A lack of reliable internet connection, the high annual cost of current on-market systems, and a lack of technical awareness have all contributed to this disconnect. One technology that can better meet the demand of farmers is LoRaWAN because of its long range, low power, and low cost. To assist farmers in implementing this technology on their farms the goal was to build a LoRaWAN network with several sensors to measure metrics such as weather data, distribute these systems locally, and provide context to the operation of IoT networks. By leveraging readily available commercial hardware and opens source software two examples of standalone networks were created with sensor data stored locally and without a dependence on internet connectivity. The first use case was a kit consisting of a gateway and small PC mounted to a tripod with 6 individual sensors and cost close to $2200 in total. An additional design was prepared for a micro-computer-based version using a Raspberry Pi, which made improvements to the original design. These adjustments included a lower cost and complication of hardware, software with more open-source community support, and cataloged steps to increase approachability. Given outside factors, the PC architecture was chosen for mass distribution. Over one year, several identical units were produced and given to farms, extension educators, and vocational agricultural programs. From this series of deployments, all units survived the growing season without damage from the elements, general considerations about the chosen type of sensors and their potential drawbacks were made, the practical observed average range for packet acceptance was 3 miles, and battery life among sensors remained usable after one year. The Pi-based architecture was implemented in an individual use case with instructions to assist participation from any experience level. Ultimately, this work has introduced individuals to the possibilities of creating and managing their own network and what can be learned from a reasonably simple, self-managed data pipeline.</p>

<p dir="ltr">This thesis explores new ways to compress images for both human vision and machine learning algorithms. Targeting compression for human vision, we provide a new deep learning-based method that compresses images more efficiently than current methods. We develop a way to adapt pre-trained deep learning-based compressors to new data over time to improve their flexibility. Targeting compression for machine vision, we explore deep neural network feature compression in various scenarios. We develop an efficient feature compression method for edge-cloud systems. We extend it to a flexible compression system that can adjust the three-way trade-off between rate, prediction accuracy, and neural network model complexity. Finally, we propose a unified compression system that integrates image compression for both human and machine vision. Our system enables efficient compressed-domain inference of vision tasks such as classification and segmentation while retaining the ability to reconstruct the image using the compressed feature.</p><p dir="ltr">We believe this thesis contributes to advancing the lossy data compression research.</p>

Significant challenges to patient monitoring systems in a hospital environment include the reliable and energy-efficient transmission of data and their real-time display. This thesis proposes innovative and novel mechanisms for the reliable transmission of patient data in Body Area Network (BAN) communication, which simultaneously ensure high throughput, low data latency, and low energy consumption by implementing energy and QoS aware routing protocols. Five main contributions are made in this regard. Firstly, a novel patient monitoring system (ZK-BAN peering framework) is proposed for real-time hospital BAN communication that displays patient data on the display units by considering data privacy, low energy consumption, better control on the devices, and patient mobility. Secondly, a novel energy-aware peering routing protocol (EPR) is introduced in which the choice of next hop is based on the residual energy and geographic information of the neighbor nodes. EPR contains three main components: a Hello protocol, a neighbor table constructor algorithm, and a routing table constructor algorithm. Thirdly, a new modular QoS-aware routing protocol (QPRD) is designed to handle the ordinary and delay-sensitive data for BAN communication in hospitals. QPRD provides an end-to-end path delay mechanism to calculate the path delays of all possible paths from a source to destination and then chooses the best path with the lowest path delay for delay-sensitive packets. Fourthly, a novel modular QoS-aware routing protocol (QPRR) is developed to handle ordinary and reliability-sensitive data for BAN communication in hospitals. The modular architecture of QPRR includes five modules: a reliability module, a packet classifier, a Hello protocol module, a routing services module, and a QoS-aware queuing module. The proposed mechanisms for end-to-end path reliability calculation and data transmission using redundant paths ensure more reliable BAN communication. Finally, a new integrated energy and QoS aware routing protocol (ZEQoS) is designed to deal with ordinary, delay-sensitive, and reliability-sensitive data packets. Extensive simulations in the OMNeT++ based Castalia 3.2 simulator show that EPR, QPRD, QPRR, and ZEQoS perform better than other similar energy and QoS aware routing protocols.

Cloud computing allows on-demand provision, configuration and assignment of computing resources with minimum cost and effort for users and administrators. Managing the physical infrastructure that underlies cloud computing services relies on the need to provision and manage bare-metal computer hardware. Hence there is a need for quick loading of operating systems in bare-metal and virtual machines to service the demands of users. The focus of the study is on developing a technique to load these machines remotely, which is complicated by the fact that the machines can be present in different Ethernet broadcast domains, physically distant from the provisioning server. The use of available bare-metal provisioning frameworks require significant skills and time. Moreover, there is no easily implementable standard method of booting across separate and different Ethernet broadcast domains. This study proposes a new framework to provision bare-metal hardware remotely using layer 2 services in a secure manner. This framework is a composition of existing tools that can be assembled to build the framework.

Customer knowledge plays a vital part in organisations today, particularly in sales and marketing processes, where customers can either be channel partners or final consumers. Managing customer data and/or information across business units, departments, and functions is vital. Frequently, channel partners gather and capture data about downstream customers and consumers that organisations further upstream in the channel require to be incorporated into their information systems in order to allow for management information delivery to their users. In this study, the focus is placed on manufacturing organisations using third party distribution since the flow of information between channel partner organisations in a supply chain (in contrast to the flow of products) provides an important link between organisations and increasingly represents a source of competitive advantage in the marketplace. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a significant difference in the use of sales and marketing data marts as management information delivery mechanisms in manufacturing organisations in different industries, particularly the pharmaceuticals and branded consumer products. The case studies presented in this dissertation indicates that there are significant differences between the use of sales and marketing data marts in different manufacturing industries, which can be ascribed to the industry, both directly and indirectly. / Thesis (MIS(Information Science))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Information Science / MIS / unrestricted