It is impossible to observe the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal traveling in Line of Sight (LOS) indoors. When the position is estimated by using Non-LOS GPS received signals, it results in serious positioning error because the conventional estimation method by the GPS supposes the GPS signals in LOS. However, we may observe reflected signals from the GPS satellites even if indoors. Thus, we consider that the reflected received signals are useful for a reference of the position estimation although it is impossible to directly estimate the position. Supposing that the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the GPS signal varies between locations, we create a database of the RSSI of the GPS signal in each location such as the well-known fingerprinting method. It is possible to estimate the user location by querying the database even if indoors. By experiments, we evaluate the proposed method and propose a shrink method for the database additionally. We show that the proposed method can estimate indoor location well enough.

In this paper, we present an outline of the new Information Delivery System During a Major Disaster for People Who are Deaf (IDDD) designed using a web platform such as node.js and GCM (Google Cloud Message), and explain the performance measurement results. Especially, a new implementation method using web system for embedded system and M2M system is explained. Also, we explained delay to provide disaster information to a user and spreading that information to multiple displays are shorter than previous IDDD.

In the present paper, we present a study focusing on the improvement of the operation of finger pointers, which are promising with respect to their potential for use as pointing devices in home environments. We developed a basic finger pointer and aimed at solving the following problems related to finger pointers: (1) instability and (2) time lag. For this purpose, the concept of prediction based on gray theory was applied to the finger pointer, and the relevant requirements were examined. The effectiveness of the proposed method was assessed through subjective evaluation, and the results indicated that all of the evaluated items were characterized by increased stability brought by the proposed technique. Using the proposed finger pointer together with the gray theory, we constructed a three-dimensional information presentation program whose operability was evaluated by using it as an electronic photo album, and the superiority of the proposed system was confirmed.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks use diverse connectivity between participants in networks. P2P networks are useful for many purposes. Sharing content files containing audio, video, data or anything in digital format is very common, and real-time data, such as telephony traffic, is also passed using P2P technology. Because the P2P communication model differs from that of conventional server and client system, further security threats emerge, which are not applicable to server and client architecture. The Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) developed network security Recommendations for P2P telecommunications on behalf of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This paper provides general survey of the Recommendations.

This paper investigates a 3D reconstruction of the building by detecting the vanishing points from the interlaced video sequence. It is theoretically possible to reconstruct a 3D model of the building from a single picture. However, the accuracy of reconstruction is not enough with a single picture because of the deterioration of the picture, such as noise or dim etc. Increasing the number of pictures, accuracy of the reconstructed model will become higher. It is also possible to apply this method to video sequences. There are deteriorations caused by interlace scanning in addition to noise in each video image. Our preliminary results show that from information of the many pictures, this method can reconstruct precise 3D structure. The addition average values that are obtained from the 50 pictures or more have been settled within 2% of the actual value.

There are about 90 million high performance mobile phones used in Japan. We are now planning to develop new applications of mobile phone to support children and elder and disabled people who are out of scope of major mobile phone application based on their requirements. We have a responsibility to extend the application filed of mobile phone as a leading country of ubiquitous life. This paper discusses possibilities to realize mobile ad hoc networks using Bluetooth functions equipped on a mobile phone. Hierarchical mobile ad hoc networks using Bluetooth in a mobile phone are firstly developed as a test platform. The test platform proves the possibility of developing mobile ad hoc network by mobile phone built-in Bluetooth functions. We demonstrate their capabilities by showing results of implementing game applications on the test platform. The paper also describes some example applications using mobile ad hoc network technologies, which include a location tracking system for children on the way to a school and an alarm system for hearing impaired people

With the onset of interactive digital data broadcasting, a user-friendly pointing device for controlling home use displays such as digital HDTVs is desirable. A linger pointer that does not use any artificial devices in the hand is a suitable candidate. This paper describes the basic design and usability of the finger pointer. To obtain a degree of freedom in the operation, we propose a finger pointer used in the crooked elbow position. In the experiments, we detect the position of the fingertip with a stereo camera and examine whether there is a datum point on the body that has sufficient accuracy for our purpose. Then, the psychological plane where the display is mapped by the finger is measured. The performance of the finger pointer is evaluated in accordance with IS09241-9. Moreover, we examine the subjective evaluation test and a comparison test using the mouse. The experimental results show the finger pointer to be a promising device for domestic use.

Telecommunications are powerful tools to reduce loss of life and property damage during disasters. Especially, for the people with disabilities, information provided through their own telecommunication devices is indispensable to move to a place of refuge safely and rapidly. In this paper, we propose the wireless system to send information on disasters to people with disabilities (especially deaf people) and to identify their location at the refuge when they are evacuated. The system consists of cellular phone, web server and electronic display, which are concatenated by Short Message Service (SMS) and Bluetooth. By using these devices and public network services, the system provides a function to send appropriate information to people with disabilities rapidly. The system provides the network platform to share information about their whereabouts with related persons. Finally, we summarize results from demonstration of our system to the deaf people experienced large earthquake.

This paper describes efficient transmission bandwidth management based on flexible channel assignment and effective grade of service (GOS) control methods for nongeostationary orbit mobile satellite service (NGSO MSS) networks. Our basic approach for the flexible channel assignment is to use linear programming (FLEXCA-LP), and to apply the column generation technique for further reduction of the total bandwidth requirement. These methods efficiently assign channels, taking account of moving spot beam coverage and dynamic traffic load variation for large-scale networks. The GOS is investigated for the channel assignment by FLEXCA-LP to make the GOS of ongoing calls better than that of fresh calls as stipulated in ITU-T Recommendations. We propose a few effective means to improve the results of FLEXCA-LP by reducing the disruption possibility of ongoing calls. One is to add channels utilizing a hysteresis concept. The others are effective use of GOS control techniques for NGSO MSS networks. These techniques are evaluated by a simulation study to identify promising techniques. Under time-variant conditions, we show that a reliable channel assignment plan is generated first by FLEXCA-LP considering the traffic load of fresh calls only and then by GOS control techniques to improve handover failure and call disruption rates.

The problem of finding an optimal control by trunk reservation which maximizes the trunk utilization under parcel blocking constraints is studied, and two different linear programming formulations for this optimization problem are proposed. One is based on the proposed conversion of the conventional nonlinear programming formulation to a linear programming one, and the other is based on the theory of the Markov decision process. A property of the optimal control parameter values is discussed theoretically, and the improvement of trunk utilization achieved by applying the optimal control is evaluated numerically. Moreover, a suboptimal control which observes only the number of busy trunks is compared with the optimal one in traffic characteristics including peakedness of parcel overflows of the controlled trunk group.>

The authors describe the structure of the worldwide intelligent network (WIN), describe methods for its design and planning, investigate the adequacy of decentralized control for problem-free worldwide call completion, explore the feasibility of adaptive routing and control concepts, discuss network robustness/reliability objectives, and describe a strategy for achieving these objectives for all cooperating international carriers. Several decentralized adaptive routing policies that are particularly attractive in the WIN environment and network performance improvements that can be achieved with the introduction of flexible routing capabilities are characterized. It is shown by example that network integration coupled with flexible routing and bandwidth allocation for preferential treatment of new services provides an effective approach for robust and economical new service provisioning.>

A theoretical method for analyzing overflow problems in queueing systems is presented. An interrupted Poisson process (IPP) approximation of overflow traffic is employed. An overflow stream is replaced by an IPP using the three-moment matching method. For a three-input model, to which one Poisson and two IPP streams are offered simultaneously, explicit and iterative formulas are derived to calculate the mean waiting time, overflow probability, and moments of overflow traffic intensity from the system for each of the three input streams. This three-input model is a general one, and can be used for analyzing complex problems such as multistage overflow models and individual traffic characteristics for a model with more than three inputs. By setting the capacity of the waiting room of the three-input model to 0, this method can cover loss systems. For both queueing and loss systems, several numerical examples of typical traffic models are shown. Comparisons are made between theoretical values and experimental values by computer simulations, and it is demonstrated that the accuracy of the method is excellent.