End-to-end congestion control schemes: utility functions, random losses and ECN marks

We present a framework for designing end-to-end congestion control schemes in a network where each user may have a different utility function and may experience noncongestion-related losses. We first show that there exists an additive-increase-multiplicative-decrease scheme using only end-to-end measurable losses such that a socially optimal solution can be reached. We incorporate round-trip delay in this model, and show that one can generalize observations regarding TCP-type congestion avoidance to more general window flow control schemes. We then consider explicit congestion notification (ECN) as an alternate mechanism (instead of losses) for signaling congestion and show that ECN marking levels can be designed to nearly eliminate losses in the network by choosing the marking level independently for each node in the network. While the ECN marking level at each node may depend on the number of flows through the node, the appropriate marking level can be estimated using only aggregate flow measurements, i.e., per-flow measurements are not required.     

Miniaturized coplanar waveguide stop band filters based on multiple tuned split ring resonators

A novel compact stop band filter consisting of a 50 /spl Omega/ coplanar waveguide (CPW) with split ring resonators (SRRs) etched in the back side of the substrate is presented. By aligning SRRs with the slots, a high inductive coupling between line and rings is achieved, with the result of a sharp and narrow rejection band in the vicinity of the resonant frequency of the rings. In order to widen the stop band of the filter, several ring pairs tuned at equally spaced frequencies within the desired gap are cascaded. The frequency response measured in the fabricated prototype device exhibits pronounced slopes at either side of the stop band and near 0 dBs insertion loss outside that band. Since SRR dimensions are much smaller than signal wavelength, the proposed filters are extremely compact and can be used to reject frequency parasitics in CPW structures by simply patterning properly tuned SRRs in the back side metal. Additional advantages are easy fabrication and compatibility with MMIC or PCB technology.     

Rate adaptive speech coding for universal multimedia access

This article reviews state-of-the-art in transport adaptation techniques for mobile networks. It discusses the mechanisms for rate adaptation to combat quality degradations of speech caused by the radio links. It begins with a review of dynamic schemes for adaptation of speech encoders in cellular networks where we observe two distinct approaches to rate adaptation: network controlled and source controlled. The issues associated with adaptive voice over IP (VoIP) mechanisms are considered next. Here, the encoder detects some form of network congestion to judge how to behave itself for the good of the network. It is noted that this altruistic behavior will only benefit coordinated IP networks such as private intranets and its application to the public Internet is improbable.     

Spectral properties of diesel fuel droplets

Absorption spectra of several types of diesel fuel are studied experimentally. Index of refraction of these fuels is calculated using subtractive Kramers-Krönig analysis. The ageing process of fuels is simulated by prolonged boiling. Radiative properties of diesel fuel droplets are calculated using the Mie theory and a simplified approach, based on approximations of absorption and scattering efficiency factors. It is pointed out that the accuracy of the simplified approach is sufficient for practical applications in the visible and infrared ranges, for various types of diesel fuel, and for droplet radii in the range from 5 to 50 μm. The monodisperse approximation is shown to be applicable for the analysis of infrared radiative properties of realistic polydisperse diesel fuel sprays.     

High-resolution photonics-based interference suppression filter with wide passband

A new topology for a photonic signal processor, which overcomes the basic recursive frequency response problem that limits the passband range, is presented. The structure is based on a new multiple-wavelength offset-cavity structure that is cascaded with a series of unbalanced delay line structures. This not only can synthesize a very narrow notch response with good shape factor but also permits a multifold extension of the free spectral range (FSR) and passband width. Results on the interference mitigation filter demonstrate a stopband of 1% of center frequency and a fourfold increase in the FSR and passband width, while also having a very small shape factor, in excellent agreement with predictions.     

Combined RLS-LMS initialization for per tone equalizers in DMT-receivers

In discrete multitone receivers, the classical equalizer structure consists of a (real) time domain equalizer (TEQ) combined with complex one-tap frequency domain equalizers. An alternative receiver is based on a per tone equalization (PTEQ), which optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) on each tone separately and, hence, the total bitrate. In this paper, a new initialization scheme for the PTEQ is introduced, based on a combination of least mean squares (LMS) and recursive least squares (RLS) adaptive filtering. It is shown that the proposed method has only slightly slower convergence than full square-root RLS (SR-RLS) while complexity as well as memory cost are reduced considerably. Hence, in terms of complexity and convergence speed, the proposed algorithm is in between LMS and RLS.     

NEXUS — Resilient Intelligent Middleware

Service-oriented computing is the latest software paradigm brought about by the computing revolution. The different viewpoint and granularity of software components used in technologies based on the service-oriented architecture paradigm, compared to traditional object-oriented methodologies makes them better suited to many of the efforts that are being made in the pervasive and ubiquitous computing world. In the NEXUS project we are seeking ways of fusing the SOA and pervasive computing paradigms in order to build intelligent, robust and resilient networks connecting dynamic islands of service resources.     

Geometric derivation of expectation-maximization and generalized successive interference cancellation algorithms with applications to CDMA channel estimation

The expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is well established as a computationally efficient method for separable signal parameter estimation. Here, a new geometric derivation and interpretation of the EM algorithm is given that facilitates the understanding of EM convergence properties. Geometric considerations lead to an alternative separable signal parameter estimator based on successive cancellation. The new generalized successive interference cancellation (GSIC) algorithm is then applied to multiuser delay and channel estimation for code-division multiple access (CDMA) radiolocation and communication. The radiolocation application uses a handshaking protocol in which multiple reference nodes transmit acknowledge (ACK) CDMA packets to a master node, which then computes round-trip travel times (RTTs). Simulation results comparing EM and GSIC are presented for the CDMA channel-estimation problem.     

Analysis of the mechanism of die soldering in aluminum die casting

A mechanism of soldering of an aluminum alloy die casting to a steel die is proposed. A soldering critical temperature is postulated, at which iron begins to react with aluminum to form an aluminum-rich liquid phase and solid intermetallic compounds. The liquid joins the die with the casting upon solidification. The critical temperature is determined by the elements in both the casting alloy and the die material and is equal to the solidus temperature of the resulting alloy. The critical temperature is used to predict the onset of die soldering, and the local liquid fraction is related to the soldering tendency. Experiments have been carried out to validate the concept and to determine the critical temperature for die soldering in an iron-aluminum system. Thermodynamic calculations are used to determine the critical temperature and soldering tendency for the cases of pure aluminum and a 380 alloy in a steel mold. Factors affecting the soldering tendency are discussed, and methods for reducing die soldering are suggested.     

Physico-chemical characterization of hybrid polymers obtained by 2-hydroxyethyl(methacrylate) and alkoxides of zirconium

Hybrid monolithic materials were prepared through polymerisation of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) mixed with zirconium alkoxides (Zr(OBuⁿ)₄, Zr(OPrⁿ)₄ and Zr(OEt)₄), modified by acetylacetonate groups. The molar ratio HEMA/Zr varied between 1 and 4. Thermo-Gravimetry coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (TG-MS) analyses, ¹³C MAS NMR and Dynamical Mechanical Thermal Analysys (DMTA) indicated the polymeric chains were interconnected by the inorganic component.The presence of zirconium alkoxides modified substantially the poly-HEMA properties. Glass transition temperature of hybrid materials derived from butoxy and propoxy was found in the range 50-80 °C, depending on the composition. The typical swelling of p-HEMA in the water, was suppressed by the presence of zirconium compounds. After immersion in distilled water, hybrid polymers showed an initial slight weight increase, followed by a small mass loss, which increases proportionally to the length of alkoxyl group (ethoxide(propoxide(butoxide) and reaches a constant value after about 40 days. The hybrids remained always rigid and transparent. Flexural modulus and strength of about 400-900 and 4-8 MPa were measured.