Showing papers on "Communications protocol published in 2011"

Bidirectionally Coupled Network and Road Traffic Simulation for Improved IVC Analysis

Abstract: Recently, many efforts have been made to develop more efficient Inter-Vehicle Communication (IVC) protocols for on-demand route planning according to observed traffic congestion or incidents, as well as for safety applications. Because practical experiments are often not feasible, simulation of network protocol behavior in Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) scenarios is strongly demanded for evaluating the applicability of developed network protocols. In this work, we discuss the need for bidirectional coupling of network simulation and road traffic microsimulation for evaluating IVC protocols. As the selection of a mobility model influences the outcome of simulations to a great extent, the use of a representative model is necessary for producing meaningful evaluation results. Based on these observations, we developed the hybrid simulation framework Veins (Vehicles in Network Simulation), composed of the network simulator OMNeT++ and the road traffic simulator SUMO. In a proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate its advantages and the need for bidirectionally coupled simulation based on the evaluation of two protocols for incident warning over VANETs. With our developed methodology, we can advance the state-of-the-art in performance evaluation of IVC and provide means to evaluate developed protocols more accurately.

Stability Analysis of Networked Control Systems Using a Switched Linear Systems Approach

Abstract: In this paper, we study the stability of networked control systems (NCSs) that are subject to time-varying transmission intervals, time-varying transmission delays, and communication constraints. Communication constraints impose that, per transmission, only one node can access the network and send its information. The order in which nodes send their information is orchestrated by a network protocol, such as, the Round-Robin (RR) and the Try-Once-Discard (TOD) protocol. In this paper, we generalize the mentioned protocols to novel classes of so-called “periodic” and “quadratic” protocols. By focusing on linear plants and controllers, we present a modeling framework for NCSs based on discrete-time switched linear uncertain systems. This framework allows the controller to be given in discrete time as well as in continuous time. To analyze stability of such systems for a range of possible transmission intervals and delays, with a possible nonzero lower bound, we propose a new procedure to obtain a convex overapproximation in the form of a polytopic system with norm-bounded additive uncertainty. We show that this approximation can be made arbitrarily tight in an appropriate sense. Based on this overapproximation, we derive stability results in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). We illustrate our stability analysis on the benchmark example of a batch reactor and show how this leads to tradeoffs between different protocols, allowable ranges of transmission intervals and delays. In addition, we show that the exploitation of the linearity of the system and controller leads to a significant reduction in conservatism with respect to existing approaches in the literature.

Communication Infrastructures for Distributed Control of Power Distribution Networks

Abstract: Power distribution networks with distributed generators (DGs) can exhibit complex operational regimes which makes conventional management approaches no longer adequate. This paper looks into key communication infrastructure design aspects, and analyzes two representative evolution cases of Active Network Management (ANM) for distributed control. Relevant standard initiatives, communication protocols and technologies are introduced and underlying engineering challenges are highlighted. By analyzing two representative case networks (meshed and radial topologies) at different voltage levels (33 and 11 kV), this paper discusses the design considerations and presents performance results based on numerical simulations. This study focuses on the key role of the telecommunications provision when upgrading and deploying distributed control solutions, as part of future ANM systems.

Health care applications: a solution based on the internet of things

Abstract: This paper proposes the Internet of Things communication framework as the main enabler for distributed worldwide health care applications. Starting from the recent availability of wireless medical sensor prototypes and the growing diffusion of electronic health care record databases, we analyze the requirements of a unified communication framework. Our investigation takes the move by decomposing the storyline of a day in Robert's life, our unlucky character in the not so far future, into simple processes and their interactions. Subsequently, we devise the main communication requirements for those processes and for their integration in the Internet as web services. Finally, we present the Internet of Things protocol stack and the advantages it brings to health care scenarios in terms of the identified requirements.

A Survey of Communication Protocols for Automatic Meter Reading Applications

Abstract: Utility companies (electricity, gas, and water suppliers), governments, and researchers have been urging to deploy communication-based systems to read meters, known as automatic meter reading (AMR) An AMR system is envisaged to bring on benefits to customers, utilities, and governments The advantages include reducing peak demand for energy, supporting the time-of-use concept for billing, enabling customers to make informed decisions, and reducing the cost of meter reading, to name a few A key element in an AMR system is communications between meters and utility servers Though several communication technologies have been proposed and implemented at a small scale, with the wide proliferation of wireless communication, it is the right time to critique the old proposals and explore new possibilities for the next generation AMR We provide a comprehensive review of the AMR technologies proposed so far Next, we present how future AMRs will benefit from third generation (3G) communication systems, the DLMS/COSEM (Data Language Messaging Specification/Companion Specification for Energy Metering) standard and Internet Protocol-based SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) signaling at the application level The DLMS/COSEM standard provides a framework for meters to report application data (ie meter readings) to a utility server in a reliable manner The SIP protocol is envisaged to be used as the signaling protocol between application entities running on meters and servers The DLMS/COSEM standard and the SIP protocol are expected to provide an application level communication abstraction to achieve reliability and scalability Finally, we identify the challenges at the application level that need to be tackled The challenges include handling failure, gathering meter data under different time constraints (ranging from real-time to delay-tolerance), disseminating (ie, unicasting, multicasting, broadcasting, and geocasting) control data to the meters, and achieving secure communication

Smart Generation and Transmission With Coherent, Real-Time Data

Abstract: In recent years, much of the discussion involving “smart grids” has implicitly involved only the distribution side, notably advanced metering. However, today's electric systems have many challenges that also involve the rest of the system. An enabling technology for improving the power system, which has emerged in recent years, is the ability to measure coherent, real-time data. In this paper, we describe major challenges facing electrical generation and transmission today that availability of these measurements can help address. We overview applications using coherent, real-time measurements that are in use today or proposed by researchers. Specifically, we describe, normalize, and then quantitatively compare key factors for these power applications that influence how the delivery system should be planned, implemented, and managed. These factors include whether a person or computer is in the loop and (for both inputs and outputs) latency, rate, criticality, quantity, and geographic scope. From this, we abstract the baseline communications requirements of a data delivery system supporting these applications and suggest implementation guidelines to achieve them. Finally, we overview the state of the art in the supporting computer science areas of overlay networking and distributed computing (including middleware) and analyze gaps in commercial middleware products, utility standards, and issues that limit low-level network protocols from meeting these requirements when used in isolation.

Modeling of Node Energy Consumption for Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract: Energy consumption is the core issue in wireless sensor networks (WSN). To generate a node energy model that can accurately reveal the energy consumption of sensor nodes is an extremely important part of protocol development, system design and performance evaluation in WSNs. In this paper, by studying component energy consumption in different node states and within state transitions, the authors present the energy models of the node core components, including processors, RF modules and sensors. Furthermore, this paper reveals the energy correlations between node components, and then establishes the node energy model based on the event-trigger mechanism. Finally, the authors simulate the energy models of node components and then evaluate the energy consumption of network protocols based on this node energy model. The proposed model can be used to analyze the WSNs energy consumption, to evaluate communication protocols, to deploy nodes and then to construct WSN applications.

Identification of devices in a medical device network and wireless data communication techniques utilizing device identifiers

Abstract: A fluid infusion system as described herein includes a number of local “body network” devices, such as an infusion pump, a handheld monitor or controller, a physiological sensor, and a bedside or hospital monitor. The body network devices can be configured to support communication of status data, physiological information, alerts, control signals, and other information between one another. In addition, the body network devices can be configured to support networked communication of status data, physiological information, alerts, control signals, and other information between the body network devices and “external” devices, systems, or communication networks. The networked medical devices are configured to support a variety of wireless data communication protocols for efficient communication of data within the medical device network. In addition, the wireless medical devices may be configured to support a number of dynamically adjustable wireless data communication modes to react to current operating conditions, application-specific data content, or other criteria.

EEDBR: Energy-Efficient Depth-Based Routing Protocol for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract: Recently, Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSNs) have attracted much research attention from both academia and industry, in order to explore the vast underwater environment However, designing network protocols is challenging in UWSNs since UWSNs have peculiar characteristics of large propagation delay, high error rate, low bandwidth and limited energy In UWSNs, improving the energy efficiency is one of the most important issues since the replacement of the batteries of such nodes is very expensive due to harsh underwater environment Hence, in this paper, we propose an energy efficient routing protocol, named EEDBR (Energy-Efficient Depth Based Routing protocol) for UWSNs Our proposed protocol utilizes the depth of the sensor nodes for forwarding the data packets Furthermore, the residual energy of the sensor nodes is also taken into account in order to improve the network life-time Based on the comprehensive simulation using NS2, we observe that our proposed routing protocol contributes to the performance improvements in terms of the network lifetime, energy consumption and end-to-end delay

Improving wireless network performance using sensor hints

Abstract: With the proliferation of mobile wireless devices such as smartphones and tablets that are used in a wide range of locations and movement conditions, it has become important for wireless protocols to adapt to different settings over short periods of time. Network protocols that perform well in static settings where channel conditions are relatively stable tend to perform poorly in mobile settings where channel conditions change rapidly, and vice versa. To adapt to the conditions under which communication is occurring, we propose the use of external sensor hints to augment network protocols. Commodity smartphones and tablet devices come equipped with a variety of sensors, including GPS, accelerometers, magnetic compasses, and gyroscopes, which can provide hints about the device's mobility state and its operating environment. We present a wireless protocol architecture that integrates sensor hints in adaptation algorithms. We validate the idea and architecture by implementing and evaluating sensor-augmented wireless protocols for bit rate adaptation, access point association, neighbor maintenance in mobile mesh networks, and path selection in vehicular networks.

Compositional Modeling and Analysis of Multi-Hop Control Networks

Abstract: We propose a mathematical framework for modeling and analyzing multi-hop control networks designed for systems consisting of multiple control loops closed over a multi-hop (wireless) communication network. We separate control, topology, routing, and scheduling and propose formal syntax and semantics for the dynamics of the composed system, providing an explicit translation of multi-hop control networks to switched systems. We propose formal models for analyzing robustness of multi-hop control networks, where data is exchanged through a multi-hop communication network subject to disruptions. When communication disruptions are long, compared to the speed of the control system, we propose to model them as permanent link failures. We show that the complexity of analyzing such failures is NP-hard, and discuss a way to overcome this limitation for practical cases using compositional analysis. For typical packet transmission errors, we propose a transient error model where links fail for one time slot independently of the past and of other links. We provide sufficient conditions for almost sure stability in presence of transient link failures, and give efficient decision procedures. We deal with errors that have random time span and show that, under some conditions, the permanent failure model can be used as a reliable abstraction. Our approach is compositional, namely it addresses the problem of designing scalable scheduling and routing policies for multiple control loops closed on the same multi-hop control network. We describe how the translation of multi-hop control networks to switched systems can be automated, and use it to solve control and networking co-design challenges in some representative examples, and to propose a scheduling solution in a mineral floatation control problem that can be implemented on a time triggered communication protocols for wireless networks.

Cloud platform supporting fusion network service and operating method thereof

Abstract: The invention relates to a cloud platform supporting fusion network service and an operating method thereof The cloud platform is provided with a plurality of hardware and software resources, and is connected with three access networks of a telecommunication network, an interconnection network and a broadcasting and television network respectively through three core networks of operators of the three networks and the corresponding communication protocol to allow platform users (including the operators of the three networks or service providers and the like) to rent platform resources according to respective requirements to deploy respective services and operational capabilities The cloud platform has a layered structure, and is provided with a platform management layer, a service execution layer, a resource virtualization and management layer and a hardware resource layer respectively from top to bottom, and in an interactive mode among the layers, an upper-layer module uses the function provided a lower-layer module in a mode of interface call The cloud platform supports the platform users to adjust the rent resources dynamically and conveniently according to actual requirements, and simultaneously, provides the access capability on the resources of the three networks and convenience for the development and operation of the fusion network service by the platform users

Schedule Optimization of Time-Triggered Systems Communicating Over the FlexRay Static Segment

Abstract: FlexRay is a new high-bandwidth communication protocol for the automotive domain, providing support for the transmission of time-critical periodic frames in a static segment and priority-based scheduling of event-triggered frames in a dynamic segment. The design of a system scheduling with communication over the FlexRay static segment is not an easy task because of protocol constraints and the demand for extensibility and flexibility. We study the problem of the ECU and FlexRay bus scheduling synthesis from the perspective of the application designer, interested in optimizing the scheduling subject to timing constraints with respect to latency- or extensibility-related metric functions. We provide solutions for a task and signal scheduling problem, including different task scheduling policies based on existing industry standards. The solutions are based on the Mixed-Integer Linear Programming optimization framework. We show the results of the application of the method to case studies consisting of an X-by-wire system on actual prototype vehicles.

A survey of cross-layer design for VANETs

Abstract: Recently, vehicular communication systems have attracted much attention, fueled largely by the growing interest in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). These systems are aimed at addressing critical issues like passenger safety and traffic congestion, by integrating information and communication technologies into transportation infrastructure and vehicles. They are built on top of self organizing networks, known as a Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANET), composed of mobile vehicles connected by wireless links. While the solutions based on the traditional layered communication system architectures such as OSI model are readily applicable, they often fail to address the fundamental problems in ad hoc networks, such as dynamic changes in the network topology. Furthermore, many ITS applications impose stringent QoS requirements, which are not met by existing ad hoc networking solutions. The paradigm of cross-layer design has been introduced as an alternative to pure layered design to develop communication protocols. Cross-layer design allows information to be exchanged and shared across layer boundaries in order to enable efficient and robust protocols. There has been several research efforts that validated the importance of cross-layer design in vehicular networks. In this article, a survey of recent work on cross-layer communication solutions for VANETs is presented. Major approaches to cross-layer protocol design is introduced, followed by an overview of corresponding cross-layer protocols. Finally, open research problems in developing efficient cross-layer protocols for next generation transportation systems are discussed.

A Comprehensive approach to WSN-based ITS applications: a survey.

Abstract: In order to perform sensing tasks, most current Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) rely on expensive sensors, which offer only limited functionality. A more recent trend consists of using Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for such purpose, which reduces the required investment and enables the development of new collaborative and intelligent applications that further contribute to improve both driving safety and traffic efficiency. This paper surveys the application of WSNs to such ITS scenarios, tackling the main issues that may arise when developing these systems. The paper is divided into sections which address different matters including vehicle detection and classification as well as the selection of appropriate communication protocols, network architecture, topology and some important design parameters. In addition, in line with the multiplicity of different technologies that take part in ITS, it does not consider WSNs just as stand-alone systems, but also as key components of heterogeneous systems cooperating along with other technologies employed in vehicular scenarios.

Light-weight communications on Intel's single-chip cloud computer processor

Abstract: Many-core chips are changing the way high-performance computing systems are built and programmed. As it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain cache coherence across many cores, manufacturers are exploring designs that do not feature any cache coherence between cores. Communications on such chips are naturally implemented using message passing, which makes them resemble clusters, but with an important difference. Special hardware can be provided that supports very fast on-chip communications, reducing latency and increasing bandwidth. We present one such chip, the Single-Chip Cloud Computer (SCC). This is an experimental processor, created by Intel Labs. We describe two communication libraries available on SCC: RCCE and Rckmb. RCCE is a light-weight, minimal library for writing message passing parallel applications. Rckmb provides the data link layer for running network services such as TCP/IP. Both utilize SCC's non-cache-coherent shared memory for transferring data between cores without needing to go off-chip. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of RCCE and Rckmb. To compare their performance, we consider simple benchmarks run with RCCE, and MPI over TCP/IP.

Energy-efficient protocol for cooperative networks

Abstract: In cooperative networks, transmitting and receiving nodes recruit neighboring nodes to assist in communication. We model a cooperative transmission link in wireless networks as a transmitter cluster and a receiver cluster. We then propose a cooperative communication protocol for establishment of these clusters and for cooperative transmission of data. We derive the upper bound of the capacity of the protocol, and we analyze the end-to-end robustness of the protocol to data-packet loss, along with the tradeoff between energy consumption and error rate. The analysis results are used to compare the energy savings and the end-to-end robustness of our protocol with two non-cooperative schemes, as well as to another cooperative protocol published in the technical literature. The comparison results show that, when nodes are positioned on a grid, there is a reduction in the probability of packet delivery failure by two orders of magnitude for the values of parameters considered. Up to 80% in energy savings can be achieved for a grid topology, while for random node placement our cooperative protocol can save up to 40% in energy consumption relative to the other protocols. The reduction in error rate and the energy savings translate into increased lifetime of cooperative sensor networks.

Reverse Engineering of Protocols from Network Traces

Abstract: Communication protocols determine how network components interact with each other. Therefore, the ability to derive a specification of a protocol can be useful in various contexts, such as to support deeper black-box testing or effective defense mechanisms. Unfortunately, it is often hard to obtain the specification because systems implement closed (i.e., undocumented) protocols, or because a time consuming translation has to be performed, from the textual description of the protocol to a format readable by the tools. To address these issues, we propose a new methodology to automatically infer a specification of a protocol from network traces, which generates automata for the protocol language and state machine. Since our solution only resorts to interaction samples of the protocol, it is well-suited to uncover the message formats and protocol states of closed protocols and also to automate most of the process of specifying open protocols. The approach was implemented in a tool and experimentally evaluated with publicly available FTP traces. Our results show that the inferred specification is a good approximation of the reference specification, exhibiting a high level of precision and recall.

Building Blocks of the Internet of Things: State of the Art and Beyond

Abstract: ICT has simplified and automated many tasks in the industry and services sector. Computers can monitor and control physical devices from very small to very large scales: they are needed in order to produce semiconductor wafers and can help operating ships, airplanes or manufacturing devices. Until some years ago though, these solutions were monolithic and thus application specific. In the field of monitoring and control, the wide adoption of modular design patterns and standardization, together with the improvements in communication technologies, paved the way to the diffusion of single component products that could be integrated as building blocks for ever more complex applications. An array of embedded devices and autoID technologies are now available as well as off-the-shelf platforms (ref Oracle, IBM, Arduino, Arch Rock, Sensinode) which can be used and customized for addressing specific purposes. One of the biggest paradigms behind this trend is the Internet of Things (IoT) which foresees a world permeated with embedded smart devices, often called “smart objects”, interconnected through the Internet1. These devices should help blending together the digital and the physical world by providing Things with “identities and virtual personalities” (European Technology Platform on Smart Systems Integration [EPoSS], 2008) and by providing pervasive sensing and actuation features. This scenario is very challenging as not all the building blocks of the IoT are yet in place. Standardization efforts are essential and have only recently been made and a reference architecture is still missing. Other researches on this topic nowadays focus on hardware and software issues such as energy harvesting, efficient cryptography, interoperability, communication protocols and semantics. The advent of IoT will also raise social, governance, privacy and security issues. This work provides a historical and conceptual introduction to the IoT topic. In the second part of the chapter, a wide perspective on the aforementioned issues is provided. The work also outlines key aspects in the process of moving from the current state of the art of IoT, where objects have digital identities, towards a network of objects having digital personalities and being able to interact with each other and with the environment. In the last part, a selection of the possible impacts of the IoT is analyzed.

Multi-hop communication routing (MCR) protocol for heterogeneous wireless sensor networks

Abstract: Effective energy management in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is a more challenging issue compared to homogeneous WSNs. Much of the existing research has often assumed homogeneous sensor nodes in the networks. The energy preservation schemes for the homogeneous WSNs do not perform efficiently when applied to heterogeneous WSNs. In this paper, we have presented an energy-efficient multi-hop communication routing (MCR) protocol in order to address the traditional problem of load balancing, lifetime, stability and energy efficiency in the WSNs. MCR protocol is based on dividing the network into dynamic clusters. The cluster-heads election is based on weighted probability. The cluster's nodes communicate with an elected cluster head node by using single hop communication approach, and then the cluster heads communicate the information to the base station via multi-hop communication approach. Performance studies indicate that MCR effectively solves the problem of load balancing across the network, extends the network lifetime, stability and is more energy efficient in comparison to multi-hop low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (M-LEACH) and multilayer energy efficient cluster head communication protocol (MEECHCP).

A power-efficient routing protocol for underwater wireless sensor networks

Abstract: Underwater wireless sensor networks have attracted significant attention recently from both academia and industry to explore natural undersea resources and gathering of scientific data in aqueous environments. The nature of an underwater sensor network, such as low bandwidth and large propagation latency, floating node mobility, and power efficiency, is significantly different from traditional ground-based wireless sensor networks. Power-efficient communication protocols are thus urgently demanded in the deployment of underwater sensor networks. In this paper, a routing protocol is developed to tackle these problems in underwater wireless sensor networks. A forwarding node selector is employed to determine the appropriate sensors to forward the packets to the destination, and a forwarding tree trimming mechanism is adopted to prevent excess spread of forwarded packets. The proposed protocol is compared with a representative routing protocol for UWSNs in the literature. The experimental results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed work.

A Reliability-Oriented Transmission Service in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract: Reliable communications are essential for most applications in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). In traditional approaches, the per-hop and end-to-end (E2E) recovery schemes are widely used. These schemes, however, suffer from low E2E success rate and poor energy efficiency in large-scale real environments. Through empirical studies, in this paper we identify three major problems that hinder the efficient and reliable communications. To address these problems, we propose a novel in-middle recovery scheme and realize it by designing and implementing a proliferation routing. Proliferation routing integrates three core technologies, namely, capability-based path finder, a randomized dispersity, and reproduction. Proliferation routing offers great flexibilities for transmissions. It cannot only be applied with any Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols and routing metrics, but also obtains a desired service quality (i.e., transmission success rate, energy cost, etc.) by controlling the system parameters. To demonstrate the effectiveness of proliferation routing, we thoroughly analyze its performance. We also conduct performance evaluations through implementation experiments as well as simulations. In a specific experimental setup, proliferation routing can increase the E2E transmission success rate up to 80 percent compared with the well-known hop-based routing and flooding.

Real-time and synchronization Internet of things analyzer System Architecture

Abstract: The Internet of things needs using the self-configuring wireless sensors network to interconnect all things. Using a internet of things analyzer Architecture and methods, we can real time monitor and analysis the wireless network nodes, routing, coordinator to collect the information of the spectrum, the noise, the network of communication protocol, the EPC RFID data communication protocol and the states, low power states . . . . The architecture and methods will help build the high reliability, long battery life, green Internet of things and wireless sensors network.

Information-driven interaction-oriented programming: BSPL, the blindingly simple protocol language

Abstract: We present a novel approach to interaction-oriented programming based on declaratively representing communication protocols. Our approach exhibits the following distinguishing features. First, it treats a protocol as an engineering abstraction in its own right. Second, it models a protocol in terms of the information that the protocol needs to proceed (so agents enact it properly) and the information the protocol would produce (when it is enacted). Third, it naturally maps traditional operational constraints to the information needs of protocols, thereby obtaining the desired interactions without additional effort or reasoning. Fourth, our approach naturally supports shared nothing enactments: everything of relevance is included in the communications and no separate global state need be maintained. Fifth, our approach accommodates, but does not require, formal representations of the meanings of the protocols. We evaluate this approach via examples from the literature.

Gateway of Internet of things and automatic adaptation method of communication protocol

Abstract: The invention relates to a gateway of the Internet of things, which comprises a standard interface connector for inserting wireless sensing units, an information receiving module for receiving information of the wireless sensing units through the standard interface connector, a protocol query model for querying applicable protocol stacks from a management platform of the Internet of things at the network side according to the received information of the wireless sensing units, a protocol deployment module for downloading the queried protocol stacks applicable to the wireless sensing units into the gateway of the Internet of things for deployment, and a protocol conversion and adaptation module for carrying out protocol conversion and adaptation between nodes in a wireless sensor network and the management platform of the Internet of things according to the deployed protocol stacks and a message protocol format defined by the management platform of the Internet of things. In the invention, the gateway of the Internet of things can insert different wireless sensing units according to the specific need of the wireless sensor network and queries and downloads the protocol stacks corresponding to the wireless sensing units from the management platform of the Internet of things so as to adapt to various wireless networks rapidly.

Dynamically configurable IP based wireless device and wireless networks

Abstract: A wireless communication and control system including a wireless device. There is a central server for storing communication protocols and control protocols and communicating the communication protocols and selectively communicating the control protocols between the wireless device and the central server. A communication protocol configures the system for communication and control protocols configure the system as one of a selection of intelligent appliance controllers. Alternately the control protocols configure the system as one of a selection of Internet terminals. The wireless device is any hand-held communication device, such as a hand-held computing device, wireless telephone, or cellular phone.

Coding approach for a robust and flexible communication protocol

Abstract: A coding approach for a robust and flexible network communication protocol is described. By using coding, it is possible to eliminate the need to track packet identities, and hence, it is possible to reduce coordination overhead associated with many conventional protocols. The method and system described herein takes advantage of multiple paths, interfaces, mediums, servers, and storage locations available in a network. The proposed protocol allows quick response to congestion by load balancing over different network resources. The method also enables soft vertical hand-overs across heterogeneous networks. In one embodiment, a media file is divided into chunks and transmitted using a transport protocol tailored to meet delay requirements of media streaming applications. Also described are different coding strategies for chunk delivery based upon an urgency level of each chunk.

Method and System for Handling Connection Setup in a Network

Abstract: Certain embodiments of a method and system for handling connection setup in a network may comprise a network interface hardware device (NIHW) that may be operable to receive a services list and/or connection acceptance criteria from a first guest operating system running on a host system, receive a connection request from a second guest operating system running on the host system, and determine whether to allow establishment of the requested connection based on one or both of the services list and the connection acceptance criteria. The determination may be made prior to or during connection set up. The NIHW may maintain a connection state comprising information regarding set up of the requested connection. The services list may comprises one or more of a local network address, a local transport address, a network protocol, and a transport protocol. The communicated acceptance criteria may comprises packet filtering operations and/or security operations.