Review: A survey of active and passive indoor localisation systems

A common theme in analysis and evaluation of network-based critical infrastructure is the assessment of system vulnerability. Graph theoretic, simulation, and optimization-based techniques have played a significant role in examining potential network vulnerabilities given the insights they can provide for mitigating facility loss and prioritizing fortification efforts. Central to these approaches is the concept of facility (arc—node) importance or criticality to system survivability. Assessments of network vulnerability can dramatically differ based on how facility importance is characterized. In this review, various approaches for assessing facility importance and network vulnerability are examined. The key differences in these approaches are the ways in which a facility's role in maintaining network operability is evaluated given arc—node disruption. Comparative results suggest significant differences exist among measures of facility importance and network performance. Furthermore, the subsequent incong...

Comparative Approaches for Assessing Network Vulnerability

Real-time locating systems (RTLS, also known as real-time location systems) have become an important component of many existing ubiquitous location aware systems. While GPS (global positioning system) has been quite successful as an outdoor real-time locating solution, it fails to repeat this success indoors. A number of RTLS technologies have been used to solve indoor tracking problems. The ability to accurately track the location of assets and individuals indoors has many applications in healthcare. This paper provides a condensed primer of RTLS in healthcare, briefly covering the many options and technologies that are involved, as well as the various possible applications of RTLS in healthcare facilities and their potential benefits, including capital expenditure reduction and workflow and patient throughput improvements. The key to a successful RTLS deployment lies in picking the right RTLS option(s) and solution(s) for the application(s) or problem(s) at hand. Where this application-technology match has not been carefully thought of, any technology will be doomed to failure or to achieving less than optimal results.

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Real-time locating systems (RTLS) in healthcare: a condensed primer

With an increased level of interconnection between critical network infrastructures, the potential for cascading actions that trigger both primary and secondary network failures are of great concern. Recent events, including the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the blackout of 14 August 2003, and the Galaxy IV satellite failure in 1998, have reinforced the need for a more thorough understanding of vulnerabilities relative to system performance. This article explores the topological complexities associated with network interconnections. In particular, we evaluate the potential impacts of losing critical infrastructure elements that are geographically linked. The loss of vital nodes, like telecommunication switching centers, is evaluated utilizing a developed spatial optimization model. Results indicate that certain infrastructure topologies are not particularly well equipped to handle the loss of vital nodes, whereas others could withstand the loss of such nodes and maintain an adequate lev...

Vital Nodes, Interconnected Infrastructures, and the Geographies of Network Survivability

Building Energy Management is identified as a key part of the move towards localised energy generation and control. The significant discrepancy between building energy use as designed and during actual operation shows a need to evaluate the relationship between building occupants and energy requirements. The need to better account for the influence of occupants on building energy use has been established through post-occupancy studies, highlighting the characteristics needed for more successful building control systems. This paper provides an overview of current building control systems technology and discusses existing academic research into more advanced occupant-centric controls. The potential for application of various methods is compared. It is found that study into occupant-centred control systems covers a wide array of approaches, ranging from simple presence-based switching of lighting systems to full model predictive control. Studies suggest an optimum point balancing the complexity of a system against its potential for saving energy.

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A review of occupant-centric building control strategies to reduce building energy use

The development of real-time locating systems (RTLS) has become an important add-on to many existing location aware systems. While GPS has solved most of the outdoor RTLS problems, it fails to repeat this success indoors. A number of technologies have been used to address the indoor tracking problem. The ability to accurately track the location of people indoors has many applications ranging from medical, military and logistical to entertainment. However, current systems cannot provide continuous real-time tracking of a moving target or lose capability when coverage is poor. The deployment of a real-time location determination system however is fraught with problems. To date there has been little research into comparing commercial systems on the market with regard to informing IT departments as to their performance in various aspects which are important to tracking devices and people in relatively confined areas. This article attempts to provide such a useful comparison by providing a review of the practicalities of installing certain location-sensing systems. We also comment on the accuracies achieved and problems encountered using the position-sensing systems.

An evaluation of indoor location determination technologies

Investigating text input methods for mobile phones

Human Computer Interaction is a primary factor in the success or failure of any device but
if an objective view is taken of the current mobile phone market you would be forgiven for thinking
usability was secondary to aesthetics. Many phone manufacturers modify the design of phones to be
different than the competition and to target fashion trends, usually at the expense of usability and
performance. There is a lack of awareness among many buyers of the usability of the device they are
purchasing and the disposability of modern technology is an effect rather than a cause of this.
Designing new text entry methods for mobile devices can be expensive and labour-intensive. The
assessment and comparison of a new text entry method with current methods is a necessary part of the
design process. The best way to do this is through an empirical evaluation. The aim of the study was to
establish which mobile phone text input method best suits the requirements of a select group of target
users. This study used a diverse range of users to compare devices that are in everyday use by most of
the adult population. The proliferation of the devices is as yet unmatched by the study of their
application and the consideration of their user friendliness.

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Investigating Text Input Methods for Mobile Phones

Recent trends in e-finance have shown that mobile technology is growing and with this comes new opportunities for deploying new services for customers. Development of systems on mobile devices can require a lot more resources in the form of development time. There is a lack of documentation as to the merits of leading development environments for mobile platforms. The objective here is to compare the implementation process of developing on each mobile device. We set about investigating the various properties through building an e-finance application on each platform and we offer recommendations for e-finance mobile developers as to which is most suitable.

Mobile development environments for electronic finance

From an exhaustive series of trace packets to a diverse set of destinations, our research has discovered that specific routers are the cause of bottlenecks in the Internet. We found that packets took the same route each time towards their destination. Our research has also found that over periods as large as seven days these routers continue to cause bottlenecks with no re-routing of packets to alleviate congestion. This research begs the question as to why these bottlenecks occur at the same places and for so long a period and also queries the extent of implementation of dynamic routing algorithms.

Derek Woods

Papers

An evaluation of indoor location determination technologies

Investigating text input methods for mobile phones

Investigating Text Input Methods for Mobile Phones

Mobile development environments for electronic finance

The effects of badly behaved routers on Internet congestion