The phoneless in the broadband age: A pilot study in Massachusetts

Questions about universal service continue to evolve as information and communication technology advances, bringing new platforms, services, and business models. Concerns about exclusion remain, particularly in times of transition to new technologies and platforms. While the universal service literature is rich in econometric studies that indicate the drivers of household telephone penetration, without qualitative data directly from those households that experience phonelessness, we cannot understand the causes well enough to design effective policy. This research explores why people are phoneless in the current environment of increased platform and business model choices. Particular focus is placed on understanding the relationship between new technology, platforms and business models and phonelessness. Data is obtained from surveys completed by approximately 100 individuals in Massachusetts who are currently without any voice connection, either landline or mobile, or have been sometime in the past ten years. The survey includes questions about different platforms and communication services in order to learn how they have led to phonelessness. The results of the pilot study show that the vast majority of phoneless households do not choose to be phoneless. The study also shows that the most frequent causes of phonelessness in this population are unemployment and unpredictable bills. Many instances of unpredictable bills leading to phonelessness occur with wireless service or bundled services but are the result of business models for service provision rather than the platforms themselves. Prepaid wireless service is a market-based solution that helps households prevent phonelessness by reducing unpredictability. Universal service policy for voice and broadband can better reduce exclusion with greater attention to business models and practices versus technologies and platforms, and increased emphasis on prepaid service to reduce unpredictability.     

基于GPRS数据传输智能终端的实现

介绍了利用单片机控制GPRS调制解调器模块实现GSM网络GPRS业务数据接入的智能终端系统,详细介绍了系统的硬件电路实现、单片机与GPRS模块的接口方式,以及嵌入式TCP/IP协议在本系统中的应用和实现。     

Evaluating the impact of broadband access and internet use in a small underserved rural community

Having adequate access to the internet at home enhances quality-of-life for households and facilitates economic and social opportunities. Despite increased investment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of households in the rural United States still lack adequate access to high-speed internet. In this study, we evaluate a wireless broadband network deployed in Turney, a small, underserved rural community in northwest Missouri. In addition to collecting survey data before and after this internet intervention, we collected pre-treatment and post-treatment survey data from comparison communities to serve as a control group. Due to technical constraints, some of Turney's interested participants could not connect to the network, creating an additional comparison group. These comparisons suggest two primary findings, (1) changes in using the internet for employment, education, and health could not be directly attributed to the internet intervention, and (2) the internet intervention was associated with benefits stemming from the ability to use multiple devices at once. This study has implications for the design of future broadband evaluation studies, particularly those examining underserved rather than unserved communities. Recommendations for identifying appropriate outcome variables, executing recruitment strategies, and selecting the timing of surveys are made.     

一种新型通用无线定位增值服务平台

基于现有无线定位系统种类多、覆盖范围小、业务单一的缺点,本文提出了一种新型开放式通用无线定位增值服务平台。该通用定位平台构架于现有的多个无线定位网络并独立于具体的无线通信网络,从而使定位功能和服务范围得到增强,适用于独立于无线通信网络的通用无线定位服务专业运营商。本文给出了通用无线定位增值服务平台的系统结构,然后讨论了基于GSM和3GPPParlayAPI规范的无线定位增值服务平台中间件功能层的定义以及该服务平台的功能,最后介绍了该增值服务平台可为独立的服务提供商提供的基于位置信息的具体应用。     

一种新型的基于神经网络的无线信道模型

本文提出了一种使用神经网络来建模和仿真无线通信信道的方法。由于神经网络优异的学习特性,文中使用神经网络对无线信道的输入输出响应进行建模,讨论了建模的方法,给出了仿真的结果,分析了遇到的问题和解决方法,并进一步阐述了在实际的无线信道环境中使用神经网络建模的优越性。     

Forecasting category sales and market share for wireless telephone subscribers: a combined approach

The ability to forecast market share remains a challenge for many managers especially in dynamic markets, such as the telecommunications sector. In order to accommodate the unique dynamic characteristics of the telecommunications market, we use a multi-component model, called MSHARE. Our method involves a two-phase process. The first phase consists of three components: a projection method, a ring down survey methodology and a purchase intentions survey. The predictions from these components are combined to forecast category sales for the wireless subscribers market. In the second phase, market shares for the various brands are generated using the forecast of the number of subscribers that are obtained in Phase 1 and the share predictions from the ring down methodology. The proposed methodology produces the minimum Relative Absolute Error for each market as compared to the forecasts from each individual component in the first phase. The value of the proposed model is illustrated by its application to a real world scenario. The managerial implications of the proposed model are also discussed.     

Achieving low-cost UMTS networks via pricing

One of the main concerns of mobile operators towards deployment of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks is the investment cost. The costly radio access network, based on the network equipment required in a service area, prevents incumbents and new entrants from upgrading or building a new UMTS network. In this article, a novel, low-cost approach to the UMTS radio access network design is proposed. The approach employs the use of pricing incentives. This approach is based on the assumption that a pricing mechanism is in place to control excessive traffic load during peak periods. By incorporating this assumption into the network design, the network designer is able to relax certain design parameters, which may contribute to significant savings in equipment cost. Investigation is focused on the UMTS coverage and capacity planning, using the Net Present Value (NPV) financial analysis. For certain price-sensitivity levels, the analysis indicates that this approach provides a suitable strategy for mobile operators to comfortably move forward with UMTS upgrade and gain competitive edge in the wireless market.     

CDMA无线定位系统的基站选择算法

在基于CDMA网络的无线定位系统中，当移动终端处于多个基站的侦收范围时会面临定位基站的选择问题，基站选择的优化可以减少系统资源的占用，并且直接影响系统定位性能。文中提出采用精度因子的基站选择算法，通过实测验证具有较高的稳定性，并可提高系统的定位精度和实时性，对定位系统的基站架设和系统设计有实际的指导意义。     

OFDM系统中的资源调度

资源调度可以显著地改善通信系统的频谱效率和吞吐量。文中给出了OFDM下行链路中3种不同的时隙调度策略,这些策略都是以CDMA／HDR中比例公平算法(Proportional Fair)为基础。比较和分析了3种子带分配的方案。首先将OFDM的子载波划分为若干个子带,目的是减少系统的反馈量。所有的用户同时竞争所有的子带。仿真表明,子带的划分以16～32个比较合适,而调度可以将系统的吞吐量提高0．4～1倍,调度方案3实现了性能和复杂度的折衷,是一种好的选择。     

How the internet of things technology enhances emergency response operations

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a novel paradigm that connects the pervasive presence around us of a variety of things or objects to the Internet by using wireless/wired technologies to reach desired goals. Since the concept of the IoT was introduced in 2005, we see the deployment of a new generation of networked smart objects with communication, sensory and action capabilities for numerous applications, mainly in global supply chain management, environment monitoring and other non-stress environments. This paper introduces the IoT technology for use in the emergency management community. Considering the information required for supporting three sequential and distinct rhythms in emergency response operations: mobilization rhythm, preliminary situation assessment rhythm, and intervention rhythm, the paper proposes a modified task-technology fit approach that is used to investigate how the IoT technology can be incorporated into the three rhythms and enhance emergency response operations. The findings from our research support our two hypotheses: H1: IoT technology fits the identified information requirements; and H2: IoT technology provides added value to emergency response operations in terms of obtaining efficient cooperation, accurate situational awareness, and complete visibility of resources.