Deutsche Telekom

About: Deutsche Telekom is a company organization based out in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Telecommunications network & Signal. The organization has 3473 authors who have published 5208 publications receiving 65429 citations. The organization is also known as: DTAG & German Telecom.

Improving interaction with virtual globes through spatial thinking: helping users ask "why?"

Abstract: Virtual globes have progressed from little-known technology to broadly popular software in a mere few years. We investigated this phenomenon through a survey and discovered that, while virtual globes are en vogue, their use is restricted to a small set of tasks so simple that they do not involve any spatial thinking. Spatial thinking requires that users ask "what is where" and "why"; the most common virtual globe tasks only include the "what". Based on the results of this survey, we have developed a multi-touch virtual globe derived from an adapted virtual globe paradigm designed to widen the potential uses of the technology by helping its users to inquire about both the "what is where" and "why" of spatial distribution. We do not seek to provide users with full GIS (geographic information system) functionality, but rather we aim to facilitate the asking and answering of simple "why" questions about general topics that appeal to a wide virtual globe user base.

Method and system for determining toll charges for traffic routes and/or areas

Abstract: With the proposed method and system for determining toll charges for traffic routes and areas, toll charges are calculated with the aid of a device installed in the vehicle on the basis of positional and tariff data. The data are then transmitted via a data transmission system to a central point, with the possibility of verification of the appropriate charge.

A Cost Model for the WDM Layer

Abstract: In this paper a detailed capital expenditure cost model is presented taking various network elements and node architectures at the WDM layer into account. It was developed within the European NOBEL project [1] and aligned by major European network suppliers and operators. The current cost structure of WDM transport equipment is shown in a normalised format. Typical model applications are also discussed by presenting examples. This model can serve as a reference for future techno-economic research into optical transport networks in general.

Comparison of delay enhancement mechanisms for SBS-based slow light systems

Abstract: We compare two simple mechanisms for the enhancement of the time delay in slow light systems. Both are based on the superposition of the Brillouin gain with additional loss. As we will show in theory and experiment if two losses are placed at the wings of a SBS gain, contrary to other methods, the loss power increases the time delay. This leads to higher delay times at lower optical powers and to an increase of the zero gain delay of more than 50%. With this method we achieved a time delay of more than 120ns for pulses with a temporal width of 30ns. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest time delay in just one fiber spool. Beside the enhancement of the time delay the method could have the potential to decrease the pulse distortions for high bit rate signals.

Building book inventories using smartphones

Abstract: Manual generation of a book inventory is time-consuming and tedious, while deployment of barcode and radio-frequency identification (RFID) management systems is costly and affordable only to large institutions. In this paper, we design and implement a mobile book recognition system for conveniently generating an inventory of books by snapping photos of a bookshelf with a smartphone. Since smartphones are becoming ubiquitous and affordable, our inventory management solution is cost-effective and very easy to deploy. Automatic and robust book recognition is achieved in our system using a combination of spine segmentation and bag-of-features image matching. At the same time, the location of each book is inferred from the smartphone's sensor readings, including accelerometer traces, digital compass measurements, and WiFi signatures. This location information is combined with the image recognition results to construct a location-aware book inventory. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our book spine recognition and location estimation techniques in recognition experiments and in an actual mobile book recognition system.