29816088
GPRS-based WLAN authentication and auto-configuration
This paper proposes an authentication and auto-configuration mechanism for wireless LAN (WLAN) based on short message service of mobile telecommunications network. Our approach automates the authentication and WLAN configuration setup procedure without involving the users.
16848330
A flexible graphical user interface for performance modeling
We identify three goals for the graphical user interface (GUI) of a network simulation environment: user friendliness, model re-usability, and application extensibility. We address the user friendliness issue by proposing a simple yet efficient approach to setup parameters for the simulation models. We address the application extensibility issue by a two-layer GUI architecture. The two layers are loosely-coupled, and the first layer can be easily replaced (without affecting the other components of the simulation environment). We address the model re-usability issue by subnetworks. Unlike most existing simulation packages where subnetwork is simply a method to group the nodes, the subnetwork construct in our approach is an integral part of the simulation environment (i.e., all operations for a basic node also apply to a subnetwork). The port concept is used to explicitly define the I/O relationship between a subnetwork and the outside world. Parameter dialog boxes are used to set up the parameters for a subnetwork conveniently. Finally, a simple stack mechanism is proposed to measure subnetwork-wide output statistics.<<ETX>>
2805042
A new random walk model for PCS networks
This paper proposes a new approach to simplify the two-dimensional random walk models capturing the movement of mobile users in personal communications services (PCS) networks. Analytical models are proposed for the new random walks. For a PCS network with hexagonal configuration, our approach reduces the states of the two-dimensional random walk from (3n/sup 2/+3n-5) to n(n+1)/2, where n is the layers of a cluster. For a mesh configuration, our approach reduces the states from (2n2-2n+1) to (n/sup 2/+2n+4)/4 if n is even and to (n/sup 2/+2n+5)/4 if n is odd. Simulation experiments are conducted to validate the analytical models. The results indicate that the errors between the analytical and simulation models are within 1%. Three applications (i.e., microcell/macrocell configuration, distance-based location update, and GPRS mobility management for data routing) are used to show how our new model can be used to investigate the performance of PCS networks.
15619003
A Graphical User Interface Design for Network Simulation
Abstract This article describes a prototyping effort of a flexible graphical user interface (GUI) for a simulation tool called COPS. The GUI is designed to allow parameter setup for all modules in simulation model, and can be easily replaced by new GUIs implemented in different languages/graphical tools. This article provides design guidelines and implementation details of the flexible GUI.
16744149
Performance Analysis for Dual Band PCS Networks
In a dual band personal communications services (PCS) network, heavy traffic areas are covered by microcells which overlay macrocells. In such a network, microcells and macrocells utilize different frequency bands. We propose an analytic model to study the performance of a dual band PCS architecture. Our model assumes that a PCS subscriber has a general residence time distribution in a microcell and the macrocell residence time distribution is derived from the microcell residence time distribution. An iterative algorithm is used to compute the overflow traffic from a microcell to its overlaid macrocell. Then, the call incompletion probability is computed by a macrocell model based on the overflow traffic. Our study indicates that the variance of the microcell residence time distribution and the number of microcells covered by a macrocell have significant effects on the call incompletion probability.
5110930
A comparison study of the two-tier and the single-tier personal communications services systems
A two-tier PCS system integrates the high tier PCS system and the low tier PCS systems into a single system to provide the advantages of both tiers. Such a system is expected to provide better service (more available and more cost effective to the users) at the expense of the extra tier switching management. We compare the performance of the two-tier PCS system and the single low tier system in two aspects: the registration traffic and the service availability. Because of the tier management, the two-tier system generates more registration traffic than the single low tier system. Under the range of the input parameters in our study, we show that the two-tier system generates less than 10% extra registration traffic than the single low tier system in most cases and generates less than 20% registration traffic in the worst cases. It is clear that for the service availability, the two-tier system is better than the single one tier system. We also study the probability that a call is forced terminated in the single low tier system because the low tier becomes unavailable during the call (such a call can be continued in the two-tier system).
195837942
Optimum and heuristic data path scheduling under resource constraints
An integer linear programming model for the scheduling problem in high-level synthesis under resource constraints is presented. The following applications are considered: multicycle operations with nonpipelined or pipelined function units: mutually exclusive operations: functional pipelining: loop-folding; and scheduling under bus constraint. Besides the model, a new technique, called zone scheduling (ZS), is proposed to solve large-size problems. ZS partitions the distribution graph into several zones and sequentially solves the problems contained. A novel feature of this technique is that it schedules more than one control step at a time, allowing a more global view of a scheduling problem to be taken.<<ETX>>
6310496
Middleware based data replication providing snapshot isolation
Many cluster based replication solutions have been proposed providing scalability and fault-tolerance. Many of these solutions perform replica control in a middleware on top of the database replicas. In such a setting concurrency control is a challenge and is often performed on a table basis. Additionally, some systems put severe requirements on transaction programs (e.g., to declare all objects to be accessed in advance). This paper addresses these issues and presents a middleware-based replication scheme which provides the popular snapshot isolation level at the same tuple-level granularity as database systems like PostgreSQL and Oracle, without any need to declare transaction properties in advance. Both read-only and update transactions can be executed at any replica while providing data consistency at all times. Our approach provides what we call "1-copy-snapshot-isolation" as long as the underlying database replicas provide snapshot isolation. We have implemented our approach as a replicated middleware on top of PostgreSQL replicas. By providing a standard JDBC interface, the middleware is completely transparent to the client program. Fault-tolerance is provided by automatically reconnecting clients in case of crashes. Our middleware shows good performance in terms of response times and scalability.
195838317
Data path allocation based on bipartite weighted matching
Proposes a graph-theoretic approach for the data path allocation problem. The problem is decomposed into three subproblems: (1) register allocation, (2) operation assignment, and (3) connection allocation. The first two subproblems are modeled as two bipartite weighted matching problems and solved using the Hungarian method. The third subproblem is solved using a greedy method. It is shown that, by taking the other into consideration while solving one, equally satisfactory results can be obtained, regardless of the order in which (1) and (2) are performed. Two programs, LYRA and ARYL, are implemented which solve the subtasks in different orders. For register allocation, the approach is the first one to guarantee minimal use of registers while being able to take the interconnection cost into account. This research has demonstrated that the bipartite weighted matching algorithm is indeed a good solution for the data path allocation problem.<<ETX>>
14489226
A performance-driven standard-cell placer based on a modified force-directed algorithm
We propose a performance-driven cell placement method based on a modified force-directed approach. A pseudo net is added to link the source and sink flip-flops of every critical path to enforce their closeness. Given user-specified I/O pad locations at the chip boundaries and starting with all core cells in the chip center, we iteratively move a cell to its force-balanced location assuming all other cells are fixed. The process stops when no cell can be moved farther than a threshold distance. Next, cell rows are adjusted one at a time starting from the top and bottom. After forming these two rows (top/bottom), all movable core cells force-balanced locations are updated. The row-formation-and-update process continues until all rows are adjusted and, hence, a legal placement is obtained.
 We have integrated the proposed approach into an industrial APR flow. Experimental results on benchmark circuits up to 191K-cell (500K-gate) show that the critical path delay can be improved by as much as 11.5%. We also study the effect on both layout quality and CPU time consumption due to the amount of pseudo net added. We found that the introduction of pseudo net indeed significantly improves the layout quality.
30258464
Contextualising knowledge-making in Linux user groups
A common critique on free/libre open source software (FLOSS) is that FLOSS–oriented products, often mutated from or based on parallel works, are not really innovative. FLOSS’ development process and subsequent products (e.g. software packages, maintaining services, or the formation of user groups, etc.) definitely denote a kind of innovation driving our world towards a knowledge–based society. This perspective challenges the conventional notion of innovation in technological and economic arenas from a glocalised perspective. I argue that software development is not solely a matter of technical engineering or economic progress. Rather, it also involves cultural, social and political factors.

Through interaction and negotiation, FLOSS innovation is embedded in the translation of problems and knowledge–sharing between user and designer, and between lay and expert. Narratives of Linux users groups (LUGs) show that the influence of local knowledge and tacit skills is very much in evidence in the FLOSS innovation system. Practices in LUGs denote the codification of local knowledge and its translation into more formalised and sophisticated expertise. This raises fundamental questions about whether institutional involvement should continue along its techno–economic route of relying entirely on specialists (programmers) to reach developmental decisions, or whether the process should be made more democratic by allowing a broader range of social interests to have some input into software development.

In this paper, I demonstrate the values of local tinkering, soft skills and tacit knowledge in FLOSS innovation. I investigate how locally defined software problems and locally crafted solutions towards the problems are codified and translated into expert knowledge within FLOSS innovation through intense hands–on practices and ongoing debate. The process of translating local knowledge into formal expertise is analysed in light of data collected from the York Linux User Group (YLUG). While FLOSS is gaining unprecedented recognition at an accelerating pace, and more institutional resources are made available, noticeably from national agencies and industry, it is crucial to get a genuine picture of FLOSS development, on which this paper will shed some light.