Efficient OVSF code assignment and reassignment strategies in UMTS

This paper presents an integrated solution for code management, assignment, and reassignment problems in UMTS. We propose a new architecture for code management and, based upon this new architecture, a code assignment strategy, referred to as "crowded-group first strategy". Our system architecture and code assignment strategy represent significant improvements both in the time complexity and the maintenance complexity. Moreover, the code blocking probability of the crowded-group first strategy is competitive to that of the other strategies. In this paper, we also propose a new code reassignment strategy, called the "crowded-branch first strategy". The main objective of this reassignment strategy is to reduce reassigned call probability with low computation overhead and extend this strategy for the general case. In order to systematically analyze the performances of the code assignment strategy, we implement a simulator to analyze the code selection behavior and code blocking probability of each strategy. Moreover, we propose some new performance metrics, named "weighted code blocking", "reassigned call probability", and "ratio of actual code reassignments", in order to precisely measure the performance obtained by different strategies. From the simulation results, we show that our proposed strategies efficiently utilize the OVSF codes with low computation overhead.     

Adaptive median filters: new algorithms and results

Based on two types of image models corrupted by impulse noise, we propose two new algorithms for adaptive median filters. They have variable window size for removal of impulses while preserving sharpness. The first one, called the ranked-order based adaptive median filter (RAMF), is based on a test for the presence of impulses in the center pixel itself followed by a test for the presence of residual impulses in the median filter output. The second one, called the impulse size based adaptive median filter (SAMF), is based on the detection of the size of the impulse noise. It is shown that the RAMF is superior to the nonlinear mean L(p) filter in removing positive and negative impulses while simultaneously preserving sharpness; the SAMF is superior to Lin's (1988) adaptive scheme because it is simpler with better performance in removing the high density impulsive noise as well as nonimpulsive noise and in preserving the fine details. Simulations on standard images confirm that these algorithms are superior to standard median filters.     

Conference key distribution schemes for secure digital mobilecommunications

We propose a new service for digital mobile communication systems. The service enables two or more users to hold a secure conference. Two requirements must be considered: privacy and authentication. Privacy involves ensuring that an eavesdropper cannot intercept the conversations of the parties holding the conference. Authentication involves ensuring that service is not obtained fraudulently in order to avoid usage charges. We present two new conference key distribution schemes for digital mobile communication systems. In these schemes, a group of users can generate a common secret keg over a public channel so that they may hold a secure conference     

Multimedia Signal Processors: An Architectural Platform with Algorithmic Compilation

Novel algorithmic features of multimedia applications and advances in VLSI technologies are driving forces behind the new multimedia signal processors. We propose an architecture platform which could provide high performance and flexibility, and would require less external I/O and memory access. It is comprised of array processors to be used as the hardware accelerator and RISC cores to be used as the basis of the programmable processor. It is a hierarchical and scalable architecture style which facilitates the hardware-software codesign of multimedia signal processing circuits and systems. While some control-intensive functions can be implemented using programmable CPUs, other computation-intensive functions can rely on hardware accelerators.To compile multimedia algorithms, we also present an operation placement and scheduling scheme suitable for the proposed architectural platform. Our scheme addresses data reusability and exploits local communication in order to avoid the memory/communication bandwidth bottleneck, which leads to faster program execution. Our method shows a promising performance: a linear speed-up of 16 times can be achieved for the block-matching motion estimation algorithm and the true motion tracking algorithm, which have formed many multimedia applications (e.g., MPEG-2 and MPEG-4).     

Two-level optimal output feedback stabilizer design

The paper addresses the design of two-level power system stabilizers using an optimal reduced order model whose state variables are torque angles and speeds. The reduced order model retains their physical meaning and is used to design a two-level linear feedback controller that takes into account the realities and constraints of electrical power systems. The two-level control strategy is used, and a global control signal is generated from the output variables to minimize the effect of interactions. The effectiveness of this controller is evaluated and a multimachine system is given as an example to illustrate the advantages of the proposed method. Responses of the system with a two-level scheme and an optimal reduced order scheme are included for comparative analysis.     

Degradation of junction leakage in devices subjected to gateoxidation in nitrous oxide [MOS transistors]

Nitrided gate oxides offer several electrical and reliability advantages over conventional oxides and also provide a good barrier against impurity diffusion. Oxidation in nitrous oxide (N₂O) has been very successful in overcoming some of the problems associated with nitridation in ammonia. The authors have observed that the extent of N₂O oxidation has a strong detrimental effect on the drain leakage current of MOS transistors in the off state. This phenomenon has been identified to be caused by an increase in the active area junction leakage current     

Multi-H phase-coded modulations with asymmetric modulationindexes

Multi-H phase-coded modulation (MHPM) is a bandwidth-efficient modulation scheme which offers substantial coding gain over conventional digital modulation schemes. MHPM with asymmetric modulation indices corresponding to the bipolar data +1 and -1 is considered, and numerical results for the minimum Euclidean distances are provided. It is shown that performance improvements on the error probability over conventional MHPM are gained with essentially the same bandwidth and a very slight modification in implementation. The upper bounds on the error probabilities as functions of observation intervals and received E_b/N₀ are also investigated in detail. It is concluded that the concept of asymmetric modulation indices for MHPM is attractive for bandwidth and power-efficient modulation     

Patient thermal comfort requirement for hospital environments in Taiwan

This study examines the comfort criteria of ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 for their applicability in hospital environments. Through an extensive field survey conducted in a university hospital in Taiwan, 927 sets of data have been collected. Above half of the measured samples failed to meet the specifications of Standard 55 comfort zone due to improper humidity control. Acceptability votes by patients exceeded the Standard's 80% criterion, regardless of whether the physical conditions were in or out of the comfort zone. Thermal neutrality, preference and comfort range are compared with other studies conducted in office environments and Standard 55 criteria. Results of chi-square tests revealed that patients’ physical strength significantly effected their thermal requirements. The net effect of health yields a marked difference in thermal neutrality and preference, and also in the comfortable temperature range.