Uplink Scheduling in CDMA Packet-Data Systems

Uplink scheduling in wireless systems is gaining importance due to arising uplink intensive data services (ftp, image uploads etc.), which could be hampered by the currently in-built asymmetry in favor of the downlink. In this work, we propose and study algorithms for efficient uplink packet-data scheduling in a CDMA cell. The algorithms attempt to maximize system throughput under transmit power limitations on the mobiles assuming instantaneous knowledge of user queues and channels. However no channel statistics or traffic characterization is necessary. Apart from increasing throughput, the algorithms also improve fairness of service among users, hence reducing chances of buffer overflows for poorly located users. The major observation arising from our analysis is that it is advantageous on the uplink to schedule “strong” users one-at-a-time, and “weak” users in larger groups. This contrasts with the downlink where one-at-a-time transmission for all users has shown to be the preferred mode in much previous work. Based on the optimal schedules, we propose less complex and more practical approximate methods, both of which offer significant performance improvement compared to one-at-a-time transmission, and the widely acclaimed Proportional Fair (PF) algorithm, in simulations. When queue content cannot be fed back, we propose a simple modification of PF, Uplink PF (UPF), that offers similar improvement. Hereafter, we refer to users with low recieved power at the base even when transmitting at peak transmit power as “weak” users, and the strongly recieved users at the base as “strong” users. Krishnan Kumaran is currently a member of the Complex Systems Modeling section in the Corporate Strategic Research of ExxonMobil Corp., Clinton, NJ. Formerly, he was a Member of Technical Staff in the Mathematics of Networks and Systems Research Department at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ, where his research interests were in modeling, analysis and simulation of design, resource management and scheduling issues in telecommunication networks. Lijun Qian is an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. He received his B.S. from Tsinghua University in Beijing, M.S. from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. from WINLAB, Rutgers University, all in electrical engineering. Before joining PVAMU, he was a researcher at Networks and Systems Research Department of Bell Labs in Murray Hill, NJ. His major research interests are in wireless communications and networking technologies, especially in radio resource management, protocol design, TCP/RLP optimization and MPLS traffic engineering.     

Foveation-Based Error Resilience and Unequal Error Protection over Mobile Networks

By exploiting new human-machine interface techniques, such as visual eyetrackers, it should be possible to develop more efficient visual multimedia services associated with low bandwidth, dynamic channel adaptation and robust visual data transmission. In this paper, we introduce foveation-based error resilience and unequal error protection techniques over highly error-prone mobile networks. Each frame is spatially divided into foveated and background layers according to perceptual importance. Perceptual importance is determined either through an eye tracker or by manually selecting a region of interest. We attempt to improve reconstructed visual quality by maintaining the high visual source throughput of the foveated layer using foveation-based error resilience and error correction using a combination of turbo codes and ARQ (automatic reQuest). In order to alleviate the degradation of visual quality, a foveation based bitstream partitioning is developed. In an effort to increase the source throughput of the foveated layer, we develop unequal delay-constrained ARQ (automatic reQuest) and rate compatible punctured turbo codes where the punctual pattern of RCPC (rate compatible punctured convolutional) codes in H.223 Annex C is used. In the simulation, the visual quality is significantly increased in the area of interest using foveation-based error resilience and unequal error protection; (as much as 3 dB FPSNR (foveal peak signal to noise ratio) improvement) at 40% packet error rate. Over real-fading statistics measured in the downtown area of Austin, Texas, the visual quality is increased up to 1.5 dB in PSNR and 1.8 dB in FPSNR at a channel SNR of 5 dB.     

Bias-temperature instabilities of polysilicon gate HfO/sub 2/ MOSFETs

Bias-temperature instabilities (BTI) of HfO/sub 2/ metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) have been systematically studied for the first time. NMOS positive BTI (PBTI) exhibited a more significant V/sub t/ instability than that of PMOS negative BTI (NBTI), and limited the lifetime of HfO/sub 2/ MOSFETs. Although high-temperature forming gas annealing (HT-FGA) improved the interface quality by passivating the interfacial states with hydrogen, BTI behaviors were not strongly affected by the technique. Charge pumping measurements were extensively used to investigate the nature of the BTI degradation, and it was found that V/sub t/ degradation of NMOS PBTI was primarily caused by charge trapping in bulk HfO/sub 2/ rather than interfacial degradation. Deuterium (D/sub 2/) annealing was found to be an excellent technique to improve BTI immunity as well as to enhance the mobility of HfO/sub 2/ MOSFETs.     

High-power 1320-nm wafer-bonded VCSELs with tunnel junctions

A new long-wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser structure is described that utilizes AlGaAs-GaAs mirrors bonded to AlInGaAs-InP quantum wells with an intracavity buried tunnel junction. This structure offers complete wavelength flexibility in the 1250-1650 nm fiber communication bands and reduces the high free-carrier losses and bonded junction voltage drops in previous devices. The intracavity contacts electrically bypass the bonded junctions to reduce threshold voltage. N-type current spreading layers and undoped AlGaAs mirrors minimize optical losses. This has enabled 134/spl deg/C maximum continuous-wave lasing temperature, 2-mW room-temperature continuous-wave single-mode power, and 1-mW single-mode power at 80/spl deg/C, in various devices in the 1310-1340 nm wavelength range.     

Acoustic emission technique for leak detection in an end shield of a pressurised heavy water reactor

This paper discusses the successful application of the Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for detection and location of leak paths present on the inaccessible side of an end shield of a Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). The methodology was based on the fact that air and water leak AE signals have different characteristic features. Baseline data was generated from a sound end-shield of a PHWR for characterizing the background noise. A mock up end-shield system with saw cut leak paths was used to verify the validity of the methodology. It was found that air leak signals under pressurisation (as low as 3 psi) could be detected by frequency domain analysis. Signals due to air leaks from various locations of a defective end-shield were acquired and analysed. It was possible to detect and locate leak paths. Presence of detected leak paths were further confirmed by alternate test.     

Literature reviews in student project reports

Writing project reports is an important part of the engineering curriculum at Singapore universities. One important section of the formal report is the literature review. Most universities around the world provide guidelines on writing reviews, emphasizing that plagiarism is unethical. However, these guidelines do not offer explicit training on how to avoid plagiarism. In order to write academically acceptable reviews while avoiding copying from source materials, students face a major challenge and resort to employing various strategies to cope with the task. In this study, we examined the literature review sections of final year project reports to find out how engineering undergraduates in a Singapore university cope with writing reviews and to suggest ways in which they can extend their skills to improve their literature reviews.     

Synthesis and characterisation of N-toluyl methacrylatoethyl carbamates,homopolymers and copolymers with methyl methacrylate

The paper describes the synthesis of N-2/4-toluyl methacrylatoethyl carbamates using 2/4-toluyl isocyanate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Homopolymerisation and copolymerisation of these novel monomers with methyl methacrylate was carried out using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator and tetrahydrofuran as solvent. Photopolymerisation of N-4-toluyl methacrylatoethyl carbamate could be carried out without the use of photosensitiser. Structural characterisation of copolymers was done using ¹H-NMR. Thermal stability of copolymers was evaluated in a nitrogen atmosphere by dynamic thermogravimetry.     

Correction to the Fukuda-Kawata Young's modulus theory and the Fukuda-Chou strength theory for short fibre-reinforced composite materials

The theories for modulus and strength of short fibre-reinforced composite materials are based on the calculation of the force sustained by fibres crossing an arbitrary line perpendicular to the applied load, called the scan line, in a thin, rectangular specimen. The widely referenced Fukuda-Kawata modulus theory and the Fukuda-Chou strength theory are based on an apparently incorrect procedure for the calculation of the force sustained by the fibres crossing the scan line. The error is explained in detail by comparing the Fukuda-Kawata modulus theory and the Cox modulus theory. The magnitude of this error is calculated for specific cases.     

Oxide scale stresses in polycrystalline Ni200

An X-ray diffraction (sin² ψ) method has been successfully used to measure the oxidation stresses at room temperature in annealed and electropolished samples of polycrystalline Ni200 coupons oxidized in the temperature range 760 to 982° C for 4 h. The stresses on the free surface of the oxide (σ ₁₁ andσ ²²) were compressive and the average stress through the thickness normal to the oxide layer was found to be tensile. Surface stresses on the oxides formed at temperatures up to 927° C were found to be isotropic and both surface stresses and the average normal stress increased with increasing temperature of oxidation. At 982° C, the surface stresses were lower and this was attributed to the deformation and fracture of oxide layer resulting in stress relaxation.