Cloud service provisioning in two types of DCN with awareness of delay and link failure probability

Cloud service based on data center network (DCN) has become an attractive choice for various applications. Traditionally, multiple DCs are distributed at different nodes across a given optical network, and users access DCs through predefined routes (this architecture is named as Multiple Independent DCN, MI-DCN). However, as there exist transmission delay and failure probability on each link, such a network may not be a good choice for the service providers from the perspective of service reliability and cost. Therefore, we propose the idea of regrouping all the racks and distributing each rack group on a special node, where there exists a gateway (this architecture is named as Integrated Distributed DCN, ID-DCN). As each group can provide service independently, by properly grouping and routing, the whole network can work more efficiently with lower cost and higher reliability. In this paper, we study the service provision in the above two types of DCN. With the given failure probability and transmission delay on each link, we aim to minimize the total service cost and design the access routes for the demands originated from each node. To integrate the system cost, we introduce two cost scaling factors for delay and failure probability, which can be flexibly adjusted to control their relative importance (i.e., the weights). Based on mathematical approximation, a novel method is proposed to compute the failure probabilities of individual service paths. This translates our objective function into a linear expression. Then, we formulate two integer linear programs (ILP) to compare the solutions of the two scenarios. Via extensive numerical experiments, the performance of the two schemes is properly verified.     

Automatic computation of histogram threshold for lip segmentation using feedback of shape information

Threshold-based segmentation methods provide a simple and efficient way to implement lip segmentation. However, automatic computation of robust thresholds presents a major challenge. This research proposes an adaptive method for selecting the histogram threshold, based on feedback of shape information. The proposed method reduces unnecessary overhead by first comparing the initial segmentation to a reference lip shape model to decide if optimisation is required. In cases where optimisation is required, the algorithm adjusts the threshold until the segmentation is sufficiently similar to a reference shape model. The algorithm is tested on the AR Face Database by comparing the segmentation accuracy before and after optimisation. The proposed method increases the number of segmentations classified as ‘good’ (overlap above 90 %) by 7.1 % absolute, and significantly improves the segmentation in challenging cases containing facial hair.     

An Effective Power-Aware At-Speed Test Methodology for IP Qualification and Characterization

Advanced nanometer technologies have led to a drastic increase in operational frequencies resulting in the performance of circuits becoming increasingly vulnerable to timing variations. The increasing process spread in advanced nanometer nodes poses considerable challenges in predicting post-fabrication silicon performance from timing models. Thus, there is a great need to qualify basic building structures on silicon in terms of critical parameters before they could be integrated within a complex System-on-Chip (SoC). The work of this paper presents a configurable circuit and an associated power-aware at-speed test methodology for the purpose of qualifying basic standard cells and complex IP structures to detect the presence of timing faults. Our design has been embedded within test-chips used for the development of the 28 nm Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator (FD-SOI) technology node. The relevant silicon results and analysis validate the proposed power-aware test methodology for qualification and characterization of IPs and provide deeper insights for process improvements.     

Epoch Extraction by Phase Modelling of Speech Signals

Epochs are instants of significant excitation of vocal-tract system in speech production process. In this paper, we attempt to extract information about epochs from phase spectra of speech signals. The phase spectrum of speech is modelled as the response of an allpass (AP) filter, and the resulting error signal is used for epoch extraction. The parameters of AP model are estimated by imposing sparsity constraints on the error signal. The error signal, thus obtained, exhibits prominent peaks at epoch locations. The epochal candidates obtained from the error signal are refined using a dynamic programming algorithm. The performance of the proposed method is consistent across genders and is comparable with the state-of-the-art methods.     

Fast Cut-and-Choose-Based Protocols for Malicious and Covert Adversaries

In the setting of secure two-party computation, two parties wish to securely compute a joint function of their private inputs, while revealing only the output. One of the primary techniques for achieving efficient secure two-party computation is that of Yao’s garbled circuits (FOCS 1986). In the semi-honest model, where just one garbled circuit is constructed and evaluated, Yao’s protocol has proven itself to be very efficient. However, a malicious adversary who constructs the garbled circuit may construct a garbling of a different circuit computing a different function, and this cannot be detected (due to the garbling). In order to solve this problem, many circuits are sent and some of them are opened to check that they are correct while the others are evaluated. This methodology, called cut-and-choose, introduces significant overhead, both in computation and in communication, and is mainly due to the number of circuits that must be used in order to prevent cheating. In this paper, we present a cut-and-choose protocol for secure computation based on garbled circuits, with security in the presence of malicious adversaries, that vastly improves on all previous protocols of this type. Concretely, for a cheating probability of at most \(2^{-40}\), the best previous works send between 125 and 128 circuits. In contrast, in our protocol 40 circuits alone suffice (with some additional overhead). Asymptotically, we achieve a cheating probability of \(2^{-s}\) where \(s\) is the number of garbled circuits, in contrast to the previous best of \(2^{-0.32s}\). We achieve this by introducing a new cut-and-choose methodology with the property that in order to cheat, all of the evaluated circuits must be incorrect, and not just the majority as in previous works. The security of our protocol relies on the decisional Diffie–Hellman assumption.     

Exploiting the Terahertz Band for Radionavigation

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of GPS-like ranging at terahertz (THz) frequencies. It is well established that GPS carrier signals are vulnerable to jamming via radio-frequency interference (RFI). As a result, there is a need for alternative radionavigation systems. THz signals offer a compelling option. Because of their high frequency (roughly ×100 higher than GPS), THz signals can be used to make highly precise range measurements. In addition, the large separation between the GPS and THz frequencies means that interference at GPS frequencies is very unlikely to impact the THz band. This paper lays the groundwork for a GPS-like ranging capability at THz frequencies. To this end, we identify key differences between THz hardware and GPS (radio frequency) hardware; we experimentally evaluate performance of a 0.30-THz system on a compact outdoor test range, and we introduce a measurement error model that highlights the distinctive role that multipath interference plays at THz frequencies.     

Road to Next Generation Mobile Networks: An Evolutionary Dynamics Approach

One of the major challenges that mobile operators (MOs) are faced with nowadays is the transition to 4th Generation (4G) mobile communication technologies. The main reason for this lies on the reluctance of MOs to invest in a new technology without being sure about its success. The current paper investigates the decision-making procedures of a MO that wishes to migrate from its current technology type to 4G. Traditionally, the decision of deploying a new technology has been based on the analysis of similar implementations in other countries. However, such approaches can be inefficient and time consuming, as there are discrepancies concerning the technological progress among different countries. To this end, the authors employ evolutionary game theory to model the interactions of the MO’s decisions and the subscribers’ needs, and propose a practical and efficient qualitative model that identifies the circumstances under which the transition towards 4G networking can be facilitated. Specifically, the mathematical foundation of the decision making process is provided and the key role of the charging price and the quality of experience by the subscribers for using 4G connectivity is proven. With the process of 4G deployment still ongoing, this paper aims to present an analysis that can be used supplementary to the decision process of a MO that aims to evolve his network.     

Capillary‐Bridge Mediated Assembly of Conjugated Polymer Arrays toward Organic Photodetectors

Large‐scale patterning of high‐quality organic semiconductors is crucial for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices with high efficiency and low cost. Yet, owing to the uncontrollable dewetting dynamics of organic liquid in conventional solution patterning techniques, large defect density of organic architectures is inevitable, which is detrimental to the device performance. To address this challenge, herein a capillary‐bridge‐mediated assembly technique is developed for regulating the dewetting process, yielding large‐scale 1D microstructure ordered arrays. The 1D arrays organic photodetectors exhibit a high optoelectronic performance of light on/off ratio exceeding 100, responsivity of 3.24 A W^?1, detectivity of 3.20 × 10¹¹ Jones and fast response speed, showing a great improvement compared with spin‐coated membrane devices. In addition, the significant enhancement of the device photodetection under the electronic field modulation is investigated by applying a back‐gate voltage and explained with the photocurrent predominating in the OFF state and the neglected thermocurrent and tunneling current promoting in the ON state of the phototransistor devices. The research offers a new insight for the facile fabrication of large‐scale integrated photodetectors and other organic devices based on patterned conjugated polymers.