Showing papers on "Mobile telephony published in 2006"

The challenges of building mobile underwater wireless networks for aquatic applications

Abstract: The large-scale mobile underwater wireless sensor network (UWSN) is a novel networking paradigm to explore aqueous environments. However, the characteristics of mobile UWSNs, such as low communication bandwidth, large propagation delay, floating node mobility, and high error probability, are significantly different from ground-based wireless sensor networks. The novel networking paradigm poses interdisciplinary challenges that will require new technological solutions. In particular, in this article we adopt a top-down approach to explore the research challenges in mobile UWSN design. Along the layered protocol stack, we proceed roughly from the top application layer to the bottom physical layer. At each layer, a set of new design intricacies is studied. The conclusion is that building scalable mobile UWSNs is a challenge that must be answered by interdisciplinary efforts of acoustic communications, signal processing, and mobile acoustic network protocol design.

Realtime, location-based cell phone enhancements, uses, and applications

Abstract: Enhancements of and to cell phone operations are based in whole or in part on determining the location of the cell phone. Systems and methods select and determine locations or areas of importance or relevance, and based on that information and other programmed factors affect or alter the operations of the cell phone. While the systems and methods are illustrated by use of cell phone embodiments and applications, they are equally applicable to virtually any portable or mobile communication device, including for example, wireless laptop computers and PDAs.

Can the ubiquitous power of mobile phones be used to improve health outcomes in developing countries

Abstract: The ongoing policy debate about the value of communications technology in promoting development objectives is diverse. Some view computer/web/phone communications technology as insufficient to solve development problems while others view communications technology as assisting all sections of the population. This paper looks at evidence to support or refute the idea that fixed and mobile telephones is, or could be, an effective healthcare intervention in developing countries. A Web-based and library database search was undertaken including the following databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, (nursing & allied health), Evidence Based Medicine (EBM), POPLINE, BIOSIS, and Web of Science, AIDSearch (MEDLINE AIDS/HIV Subset, AIDSTRIALS & AIDSDRUGS) databases. Evidence can be found to both support and refute the proposition that fixed and mobile telephones is, or could be, an effective healthcare intervention in developing countries. It is difficult to generalize because of the different outcome measurements and the small number of controlled studies. There is almost no literature on using mobile telephones as a healthcare intervention for HIV, TB, malaria, and chronic conditions in developing countries. Clinical outcomes are rarely measured. Convincing evidence regarding the overall cost-effectiveness of mobile phone " telemedicine" is still limited and good-quality studies are rare. Evidence of the cost effectiveness of such interventions to improve adherence to medicines is also quite weak. The developed world model of personal ownership of a phone may not be appropriate to the developing world in which shared mobile telephone use is important. Sharing may be a serious drawback to use of mobile telephones as a healthcare intervention in terms of stigma and privacy, but its magnitude is unknown. One advantage, however, of telephones with respect to adherence to medicine in chronic care models is its ability to create a multi-way interaction between patient and provider(s) and thus facilitate the dynamic nature of this relationship. Regulatory reforms required for proper operation of basic and value-added telecommunications services are a priority if mobile telecommunications are to be used for healthcare initiatives.

DVB-H: Digital Broadcast Services to Handheld Devices

Abstract: This paper gives a brief review of the new Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld(DVB-H) standard. This is based on the earlier standard DVB-T, which is used for terrestrial digital TV broadcasting. The new extension brings features that make it possible to receive digital video broadcast type services in handheld, mobile terminals. The paper discusses the key technology elements-4K mode and in-depth interleavers, time slicing and additional forward error correction-in some detail. It also gives extensive range of performance results based on laboratory measurements and real field tests. Finally it presents viewpoints relevant for DVB-H network design and system use in general.

Adoption of Mobile Devices/Services — Searching for Answers with the UTAUT

Abstract: The future of mobile telephony is expected to rely on mobile services and the use of mobile services will be an integral part of the revenues to be generated by third generation mobile telephony. The adoption of new mobile services contradicts this proposition as it has been much slower than expected, especially in Europe. Basic services such as SMS, ring tones, icons and logos are still the most popular services. Several reasons have been suggested for the slow adoption rate, ranging from cultural to business models. In this paper we are searching for answers to the adoption rates by testing the applicability of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to explain the acceptance of mobile devices/services. Based on our empirical evidence from a survey conducted in Finland, it seems that the UTAUT to some extent and with some reservations can be used as a starting point to find some explanations for the adoption of mobile devices/services.

Broadband ultrasonic location systems for improved indoor positioning

Abstract: Ultrasonic location systems are a popular solution for the provision of fine-grained indoor positioning data. Applications include enhanced routing for wireless networks, computer-aided navigation, and location-sensitive device behavior. However, current ultrasonic location systems suffer from limitations due to their use of narrowband transducers, This paper investigates the use of broadband ultrasound for indoor positioning systems. Broadband ultrasonic transmitter and receiver units have been developed and characterized. The utilization of these units to construct two positioning systems with different architectures serves to highlight and affirm the concrete, practical benefits of broadband ultrasound for locating people and devices indoors.

Cell Phone Culture: Mobile Technology in Everyday Life

Abstract: Providing the first comprehensive, accessible, and international introduction to cell phone culture and theory, this book is and clear and sophisticated overview of mobile telecommunications, putting the technology in historical and technical context. Interdisciplinary in its conceptual framework, Cell Phone Culture draws on a wide range of nationa

Mobility-based communication in wireless sensor networks

Abstract: Wireless sensor networks are proposed to deliver in situ observations at low cost over long periods of time. Among numerous challenges faced while designing WSNs and protocols, maintaining connectivity and maximizing the network lifetime stand out as critical considerations. Mobile platforms equipped with communication devices can be leveraged to overcome these two problems. In this article existing proposals that use mobility in WSNs are summarized. Furthermore, a new approach to compute mobile platform trajectories is introduced. These solutions are also compared considering various metrics and design goals.

Antennas and Propagation for Body Centric Communications

Abstract: Body centric wireless communication is now accepted as an important part of 4th generation (and beyond) mobile communications systems, taking the form of human to human networking incorporating wearable sensors and communications. There are also a number of body centric communication systems for specialized occupations, such as paramedics and fire-fighters, military personnel and medical sensing and support. To support these developments there is considerable ongoing research into antennas and propagation for body centric communications systems, and this paper will summarise some of it, including the characterisation of the channel on the body, the optimisation of antennas for these channels, and communications to medical implants where advanced antenna design and characterisation and modelling of the internal body channel are important research needs. In all of these areas both measurement and simulation pose very different and challenging issues to be faced by the researcher.

Authorized mobile content search results

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for receiving a search request and information relating to a mobile communication facility, and determining if the mobile communication facility is authorized to receive a type of mobile content relating to the search request.

Mobile content spidering and compatibility determination

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention relates to systems and methods for indexing mobile content, wherein the indexing is based at least in part on compatibility between the content and a mobile communication facility.

Wireless Health Care Service System for Elderly With Dementia

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to integrate the technologies of radio frequency identification, global positioning system, global system for mobile communications, and geographic information system (GIS) to construct a stray prevention system for elderly persons suffering from dementia without interfering with their activities of daily livings. We also aim to improve the passive and manpowered way of searching the missing patient with the help of the information technology. Our system provides four monitoring schemes, including indoor residence monitoring, outdoor activity area monitoring, emergency rescue, and remote monitoring modes, and we have developed a service platform to implement these monitoring schemes. The platform consists of a web service server, a database server, a message controller server, and a health-GIS (H-GIS) server. Family members or volunteer workers can identify the real-time positions of missing elderly using mobile phone, PDA, Notebook PC, and various mobile devices through the service platform. System performance and reliability is analyzed. Experiments performed on four different time slots, from three locations, through three mobile telecommunication companies show that the overall transaction time is 34 s and the average deviation of the geographical location is about 8 m. A questionnaire surveyed by 11 users show that eight users are satisfied with the system stability and 10 users would like to carry the locating device themselves, or recommend it to their family members

Self-Organization Routing Protocol Supporting Mobile Nodes for Wireless Sensor Network

Abstract: In mobility-centric environments, wireless sensor networks are designed to accommodate energy efficiency, dynamic self-organization and mobility. In typical applications of wireless sensor networks, fixed sensor nodes are mixed with mobile sensor nodes in 'hot areas'. Also, as they move, network topology needs to be reconstructed by reacting upon the mobility of sensor nodes quickly. In this paper we proposed an improved protocol called "LEACH-Mobile" for mobile nodes to declare the membership of a cluster as they move, and to confirm whether a mobile sensor node is able to communicate with a specific cluster head within a time slot allocated in TDMA schedule. The LEACH-Mobile protocol achieved definite improvement in data transfer success rate as mobile nodes increased compared to the non-mobility centric LEACH protocol.

Location based presentation of mobile content

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for tracking a mobile communication facility, presenting search results based at least in part on a first location, and presenting updated search results based at least in part on a second location, including a predicted second location.

Displaying and tagging places of interest on location-aware mobile communication devices in a local area network

Abstract: Embodiments of a location-based social network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of location-aware mobile communication devices over a wireless network. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. The process establishes communication links between the user and the plurality of acquaintances through respective location aware mobile communication devices through a network protocol. The process facilitates the sharing information about places of interest among a plurality of users. The system stores location information for a place of interest in a region in a database along with information related to the place of interest. The location of the place of interest is displayed on each user's mobile communication device as an icon superimposed on the map shown on the display. The location of the users can be established with respect to their distance relative to a place of interest. Users can define their own places of interest as well as provide a quantitative or qualitative ranking for places of interest within a region. This information can then be shared with other users in the network.

Location influenced search results

Abstract: Improved mobile content presentation capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications facilities, such as cell phones. Information relating to the location of mobile communication facilities and other capabilities are employed to improve the presentation and relevance of mobile content to appropriate or desirable mobile communication facilities.

Implications of Mobility: The Uses of Personal Communication Media in Everyday Life

Abstract: This study examined the impact of mobile communications on interpersonal relationships in daily life. Based on a nationwide survey in Japan, landline phone, mobile voice phone, mobile mail (text messaging), and PC e-mail were compared to assess their usage in terms of social network and psychological factors. The results indicated that young, nonfamily-related pairs of friends, living close to each other with frequent faceto-face contact were more likely to use mobile media. Social skill levels are negatively correlated with relative preference for mobile mail in comparison with mobile voice phone. These findings suggest that mobile mail is preferable for Japanese young people who tend to avoid direct communication and that its use maintains existing bonds rather than create new ones. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2006.00023.x Since their rapid growth in popularity in the late 1990s, mobile phones have become an almost essential part of daily life. Currently, mobile phones are also used for purposes other than voice communication. In some countries, there has been a trend for young people to create their own unique subcultures in which they communicate predominantly through SMS (short message service), or by e-mail over their mobile phones (Ishii, 2004; Kasesniemi & Rautiainen, 2002; Skog, 2002). To explore the implications of media mobility, this study compared the impact of four types of personal communication media—landline phone, mobile voice phone, mobile mail, and PC e-mail—on interpersonal relationships, based on a representative survey. More specifically, egocentric network data were analyzed to examine the factors affecting the use of these media in daily life. In this study, empirical data were collected in Japan where cutting-edge mobile technologies (e.g., ‘‘i-mode’’ and 3-G phones) are widely used and where a unique mobile communication culture is prevalent among the youth. Henceforth, the term ‘‘mobile mail’’ will be used to refer to both SMS and e-mail via mobile phones because in Japan, SMS and e-mail

Workgroup report: base stations and wireless networks-radiofrequency (RF) exposures and health consequences.

Abstract: Radiofrequency (RF) waves have long been used for different types of information exchange via the airwaves—wireless Morse code, radio, television, and wireless telephony (i.e., construction and operation of telephones or telephonic systems). Increasingly larger numbers of people rely on mobile telephone technology, and health concerns about the associated RF exposure have been raised, particularly because the mobile phone handset operates in close proximity to the human body, and also because large numbers of base station antennas are required to provide widespread availability of service to large populations. The World Health Organization convened an expert workshop to discuss the current state of cellular-telephone health issues, and this article brings together several of the key points that were addressed. The possibility of RF health effects has been investigated in epidemiology studies of cellular telephone users and workers in RF occupations, in experiments with animals exposed to cell-phone RF, and via biophysical consideration of cell-phone RF electric-field intensity and the effect of RF modulation schemes. As summarized here, these separate avenues of scientific investigation provide little support for adverse health effects arising from RF exposure at levels below current international standards. Moreover, radio and television broadcast waves have exposed populations to RF for > 50 years with little evidence of deleterious health consequences. Despite unavoidable uncertainty, current scientific data are consistent with the conclusion that public exposures to permissible RF levels from mobile telephony and base stations are not likely to adversely affect human health.

Data Replication for Improving Data Accessibility in Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract: In ad hoc networks, due to frequent network partition, data accessibility is lower than that in conventional fixed networks. In this paper, we solve this problem by replicating data items on mobile hosts. First, we propose three replica allocation methods assuming that each data item is not updated. In these three methods, we take into account the access frequency from mobile hosts to each data item and the status of the network connection. Then, we extend the proposed methods by considering aperiodic updates and integrating user profiles consisting of mobile users' schedules, access behavior, and read/write patterns. We also show the results of simulation experiments regarding the performance evaluation of our proposed methods

Method and system for reducing service interruptions to mobile communication devices

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring context information associated with a wireless communication entity for determining a potential occurrence of a network disruption for that wireless communication entity. Upon determining a potential occurrence of a network disruption, causing an adjustment of bandwidth available for data transfer involving the wireless communication entity. The adjustment is used to prevent or mitigate service disruptions.

Method and system for alerting a person to a situation

Abstract: A method of alerting a person to a situation is disclosed. An alert signal is received from a mobile communication device in signal communication with a wireless communication system and an alert system. In response to the alert signal, a database of an alert service is accessed for information relating to the subscriber of the mobile communication device and for information relating to a contact list associated with the subscriber. Information is obtained from the wireless communication system relating to the location of the subscriber, and a communication is made to a member of the subscriber's contact list providing information relating to the subscriber and the situation.

Mobile payment facilitation

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for using a mobile communication facility to complete a transaction, paying for the transaction with an account associated with the mobile communication facility, and receiving a bill for the transaction along with a bill for other activities associated with the mobile communication facility. The association of the mobile communication facility and the account may be password protected such that a user entering the password on the mobile communication facility can complete a transaction. Billing for the transaction may be included in a monthly bill, such as that for other mobile services associated with the mobile communication facility.

Spectroscopic sensor on mobile phone

Abstract: This invention discloses a spectroscopic sensor that is integrated with a mobile communication device, such as a mobile phone. The spectroscopic sensor is capable of measuring the optical spectra of a physical object for purposes of detection, identification, authentication, and real time monitoring. Through the mobile communication device, the obtained spectral information can be transmitted, distributed, collected, and shared by utilizing all the functions of the known or existing wireless communication networks.

Increasing mobile interactivity

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for caching search related data on a mobile communication facility, coordinating the presentation of the cached information with network information to the mobile communication facility display to facilitate response to user queries with up to date information, and implicitly downloading updates to cached information while previously cached information is available to the user.

Preventing mobile communication facility click fraud

Abstract: Improved capabilities are disclosed for receiving a request to connect to sponsored content from a mobile communication facility, receiving information relating to a characteristic associated with the mobile communication facility, and assessing the appropriateness of the request based at least in part on the information relating to the characteristic. Based at least in part on the assessed appropriateness, a mobile communication facility user's assess to content may be determined. These and other capabilities are employed to decrease the likelihood of fraudulent user interaction with content presented to a mobile communication facility.

Skyline Queries Against Mobile Lightweight Devices in MANETs

Abstract: Skyline queries are well suited when retrieving data according to multiple criteria. While most previous work has assumed a centralized setting this paper considers skyline querying in a mobile and distributed setting, where each mobile device is capable of holding only a portion of the whole dataset; where devices communicate through mobile ad hoc networks; and where a query issued by a mobile user is interested only in the user’s local area, although a query generally involves data stored on many mobile devices due to the storage limitations. We present techniques that aim to reduce the costs of communication among mobile devices and reduce the execution time on each single mobile device. For the former, skyline query requests are forwarded among mobile devices in a deliberate way, such that the amount of data to be transferred is reduced. For the latter, specific optimization measures are proposed for resource-constrained mobile devices. We conduct extensive experiments to show that our proposal performs efficiently in real mobile devices and simulated wireless ad hoc networks.

A GSM, internet and speech controlled wireless interactive home automation system

Abstract: The home automation today needs to make use of the latest technological components available. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a home automation system where communication technologies GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), Internet, and speech recognition have been used. All these techniques are successfully merged in a single wireless home automation system. This system offers a complete, low cost, powerful and user friendly way of real-time monitoring and remote control of a house

Mobile pay-per-call campaign creation

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for receiving a request from a mobile communication facility, receiving information relating to the mobile communication facility, generating at least one suggestion based at least in part on the request, and presenting at least one suggestion to the mobile communication facility. Improved capabilities are also described for receiving a keystroke combination from a mobile communication facility, receiving information relating to the mobile communication facility, generating at least one suggestion based at least in part on a letter combination associated with the keystroke combination and in part on the information relating to the mobile communication facility, and presenting at least one suggestion to the mobile communication facility.

Network effects and the choice of mobile phone operator

Abstract: This paper explores the role of network effects in the consumer’s choice of mobile phone operators in the UK. It contributes to the existing literature by taking a new approach to testing for direct network effects and by using individual-level data, which allows to analyse the impact that the immediate social network has on consumer choice in network markets. For our empirical analysis we use two sources of data: market-level data from the British telecommunications regulator OFCOM and micro-level data on consumers’ usage of mobile telephones from the survey, Home OnLine. We estimate two classes of models which illustrate the role of network effects. The first is an aggregate model of the comparative volume of on-net and off-net calls. This finds that the proportion of off-net calls falls as mobile operators charge a premium for off-net calls, but even in the absence of any price differential between on-net and off-net, there is still a form of pure network effect, where a disproportionate number of calls are on-net. The second is a model of the individual consumer’s choice of operator. This finds that individual choice shows considerable inertia, as expected, but is heavily influenced by the choices of others in the same household. There is some evidence that individual choice of operator is influenced by the total number of subscribers for each operator, but a much stronger effect is the operator choice of other household members.