This book is an efficient introduction to fundamental concepts and principles underlying the behavior of queueing systems and its application to the design of packet-oriented electrical communication systems. In addition to techniques and approaches found in earlier works, the author presents a thoroughly modern computational approach based on Schur decomposition. This approach facilitates solution of broad classes of problems wherein a number of practical modeling issues may be explored.

Key features of communication systems, such as correlation in packet arrival processes at IP switches and variability in service rates due to fading wireless links are introduced. Numerous exercises embedded within the text and problems at the end of certain chapters that integrate lessons learned across multiple sections are also included. In all cases, including systems having priority, developments lead to procedures or formulae that yield numerical results from which sensitivity of queueing behavior to parameter variation can be explored. In several cases multiple approaches to computing distributions are presented.

is intended both for self study and for use as a primary text in graduate courses in queueing theory in electrical engineering, computer science, operations research, and mathematics. Professionals will also find this work invaluable because the author discusses applications such as statistical multiplexing, IP switch design, and wireless communication systems. In addition, numerous modeling issues, such as the suitability of Erlang-k and Pade approximations are addressed.

This volume examines the convergence of biotechnology and communication systems and explores how this convergence directly influences our understanding of the nature of communication. Editor Sandra Braman brings together scholars to examine this convergence in three areas: genetic information and “facticity”; social issues and implications; and the economic and legal issues raised by the production and ownership of information. The work highlights the sophisticated processes taking place as biotechnology and information technology systems continue to evolve.

The chapters in this book approach the complex history of this topic and the issues it raises from a number of directions. It begins by examining the shared features and spaces of biotechnology and digital information technologies as meta-technologies–qualitatively distinct from both the tools first used in the premodern era and the industrial technologies that characterized modernity. Next, the book explores what is and is not useful in treating the types of information processed by the two meta-technologies through a shared conceptual lens and looks at issues raised by the ownership of genetic and digital information. The final chapters are concerned with relationships between information and power.

“this volume should be acquired by college and university undergraduate and graduate libraries supporting degree programs in computer science, telecommunications, and business.” (E-STREAMS, April 2005)

“If you enjoy reading about the very latest technological revolutions, pick up a copy of this book…we love the book.” (Start Your Own Business, Summer 2005)  

Although telecom companies are battling for survival, technology is moving forward. In research laboratories around the world, powerful new technologies are being developed that will shape tomorrow’s communications world. Telecosmos will look at the many different telecom concepts that will be adopted by both consumers and businesses in the years ahead..

This book covers the applications of broadband PLC systems in low-voltage supply networks, a promising candidate for the realization of cost effective solutions for “last mile” communications networks. There are many activities surrounding the development and application of PLC technology in the access area, particularly because of strong interest of new network providers after the deregulation of telecommunications market. Nowadays, there are no existing standards for broadband PLC networks, which use a frequency range up to 30 MHz.

Broadband Powerline Communications: Network Design covers the applications of broadband PLC systems in low-voltage supply networks, a promising candidate for the realization of cost effective solutions for “last mile” communications networks. There are many activities surrounding the development and application of PLC technology in the access area, particularly because of strong interest of new network providers after the deregulation of telecommunications market. Nowadays, there are no existing standards for broadband PLC networks, which use a frequency range up to 30 MHz.

This book includes relevant and timely information regarding broadband PLC systems and especially PLC access networks and contributions to the design aspects of broadband PLC access systems and their network components.

This book:

• Offers explanations on how broadband PLC networks are realized, what the important characteristics for the transmission on electrical power grids are, and which implementation solutions have been recently considered for the realization of broadband PLC systems.
• Considers various system realizations, disturbance scenarios and their impact the transmission in PLC networks, electro-magnetic compatibility, applied modulation schemes, coding, and error handling methods.
• Pays particular attention to the specifics of the PLC MAC layer and its protocols, as well as the modelling and performance evaluation of broadband PLC networks.

“This new book by Hayes and Ganesh Babu brings new life to an old ‘academic’ topic…the book satisfies all requirements to become a landmark…” (IEEE Network, March 2005)

“This very well-written book is a good mixture of classic and advanced material…I believe that it will become the standard reference.” (Computing Reviews.com, August 13, 2004)

This book covers at an advanced level mathematical methods for analysis of telecommunication networks. The book concentrates on various call models used in telecommunications such as quality of service (QoS) in packet-switched Internet Protocol (IP) networks, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), and Time Division Multiplexing (TDM). Professionals, researchers, and graduate and dvanced undergraduate students of telecommunications will benefit from this invaluable guidebook.

An Instructor’s Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available online from the Wiley editorial department.

This book is a collection of papers dealing with the theoretical aspects of optical communications. It is divided into four parts: Information and Communication Theory for Optical Communications; Coding Theory and Techniques; Characterizing, Measuring, and Calculating Performance in Optical Fiber Communication Systems; and Modulation Formats and Detection. Each paper is self-contained, and will give the reader a clear picture of the treated topic, an overview of the theoretical aspects, and an idea of the most recent advances.

• Thoroughly understand the radiocommunications spectrum resource, how it is allocated, and the regulatory regime governing it

• Formulate efficient, cost-effective plans for obtaining access and approval to operate in frequency

• Master the lobbying, technical, regulatory, legal, and political skills needed for success

• Comprehend the growing variety of difficult policy challenges in the spectrum arena, including the use of secondary spectrum markets

• Gain valuable insight into how telecom’s financial meltdown is impacting the battle for spectrum

Radiocommunications spectrum is a limited resource and there will always be a struggle over how it is allocated and utilized. Spectrum Wars: The Policy and Technology Debate is insurance, helping you and your company succeed in this struggle.

Frequency spectrum is a limited and valuable resource for wireless communications. A good example can be observed among network operators in Europe for the prices to pay for UMTS-frequency bands. Therefore, the first goal when designing future wireless communication systems (e.g. 4G – fourth generation) has to be the increase in spectral efficiency. The development in digital communications in the past years has enabled efficient modulation and coding techniques for robust and spectral efficient data, speech, audio and video transmission. These are the multi-carrier modulation (e.g. OFDM) and the spread spectrum technique (e.g. DS-CDMA), where OFDM was chosen for broadcast applications (DVB, DAB) as well as for broadband wireless indoor standards (ETSI HIPERLAN-II, IEEE-802.11) and the DS-CDMA was selected in mobile communications (IS-95, third generation mobile radio systems world wide, UMTS/IMT 2000).

Since 1993 various combinations of multi-carrier (MC) modulation and the spread spectrum (SS) technique have been introduced and the field of MC-SS communications has become an independent and important research topic with increasing activities. New application fields have been proposed such as high rate cellular mobile, high rate wireless indoor and LMDS. It has been shown that MC-SS offers the high spectral efficiency, robustness and flexibility that is required for the next generation systems. Meanwhile, different alternative hybrid schemes such as OFDM/OFDMA, MC-TDMA, etc. have been deeply analysed and adopted in different international standards (ETSI-BRAN, IEEE-802 & MMAC).

Multi-Carrier & Spread-Spectrum: Analysis of Hybrid Air Interfaces draws together all of the above mentioned hybrid schemes therefore providing a greatly needed resource for system engineers, telecommunication designers and researchers in order to enable them to develop, build and deploy several schemes based on MC-transmission for the next generation systems (which will be an integration of broadband multimedia services covering both 4G mobile and fixed wireless systems). 

• Offers a complete treatment of multi-carrier, spread-spectrum (SS) and time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques
• Provides an in-depth insight into hybrid multiple access techniques based on multi-carrier (MC) transmission
• Presents numerous hybrid multiple access and air interface architectures including OFDM/CDMA, MC-CDMA, MC-DS-CDMA and MT-CDMA
• Covers new techniques such as space-time coding and software radio

Telecommunications engineers, hardware & software system designers and researchers as well as students, lecturers and technicians will all find this an invaluable addition to their bookshelf.

Providing more rigorous and technically deep coverage than most commonly used networking textbooks, An Introduction to Communication Network Analysis covers classical (e.g., queuing theory) and modern (e.g., pricing) aspects of networking in a clear, accessible manner. Chapters include:

• Review of Elementary Probability Theory
• Markov Chains
• Introduction to Queuing Theory
• Local Multiplexing
• Queuing Networks with Static Routing
• Dynamic Routing with Incentives
• Peer-to-Peer File Sharing with Incentives

Appendices include additional background information, solutions, and references for selected problems, making this an invaluable text for graduate-level students and networking researchers alike.