Coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission has been regarded as a potential technology for LTE-Advanced. In frequency division duplexing systems, channel quantization is applied for reporting channel state information (CSI). Considering the dynamic number of cooperation base stations (BSs), asymmetry feature of CoMP channels and high searching complexity, simply increasing the size of the codebook used in traditional multiple antenna systems to quantize the global CSI of CoMP systems directly is infeasible. Per-cell codebook based channel quantization to quantize local CSI for each BS separately is an effective method. In this paper, the theoretical upper bounds of system throughput are derived for two codeword selection schemes, independent codeword selection (ICS) and joint codeword selection (JCS), respectively. The feedback overhead and selection complexity of these two schemes are analyzed. In the simulation, the system throughput of ICS and JCS is compared. Both analysis and simulation results show that JCS has a better tradeoff between system throughput and feedback overhead. The ICS has obvious advantage in complexity, but it needs additional phase information (PI) feedback for obtaining the approximate system throughput with JCS. Under the same number of feedback bits constraint, allocating the number of bits for channel direction information (CDI) and PI quantization can increase the system throughput, but ICS is still inferior to JCS. Based on theoretical analysis and simulation results, some recommendations are given with regard to the application of each scheme respectively.

Multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) in long-term evolution (LTE) is an essential factor in achieving high speed data rates and spectral efficiency. The unexpected growth in data rate demand has pushed researchers to extend the benefits of multi-user MIMO. The multi-user MIMO system can take full advantage of channel conditions by employing efficient adjustment techniques for scheduling, and by assigning different modulation and coding rates. However, one of the critical issues affecting this feature is the appropriate estimation of channel quality indicator (CQI) to manage the allocated resources to users. Therefore, an accurate CQI estimation scheme is required for the multi-user MIMO transmission to obtain significant improvements on spectral efficiency. This paper presents overviews of multi-user MIMO in LTE/LTE-advanced systems. The link adaptation, scheduling process, and different factors that affect the reliability of CQI measurements are discussed. State-of-the-art schemes for the post-processing CQI estimation, and the comparisons of various CQI estimation schemes to support multi-user MIMO are also addressed.

Wireless communication is one of most active areas in modern communication researches, QoS (Quality of Service) assurance is very important for wireless communication systems design, especially for applications such as streaming video etc., which requires strict QoS assurance. The modern wireless networks multi-layer protocol stack structure results in QoS metrics layered and acting in cascade and QoS metrics vertical mapping between protocol layers. Based on virtual buffer between protocol layers and queuing technology, a unified layered QoS mapping framework is proposed in this paper, in which we first propose virtual queue concept, give a novelty united neighboring protocol layers QoS metric mapping framework, and analysis method based on dicerete-time Markov chain, and numerical results show that our proposed framework represents a significant improvement over previous model.

Since 802.11 wireless LANs are so widely used, it has become common for numerous access points (APs) to overlap in a region, where most of those APs are managed individually without any coordinated control. This pattern of wireless LAN usage is called the private OBSS (Overlapping Basic Service Set) environment in this paper. Due to frame collisions across BSSs, each BSS in the private OBSS environment suffers severe performance degradation. This study approaches the problem from the perspective of congestion control rather than noise or collision resolution. The retry limit, one of the 802.11 attributes, could be used for traffic control in conjunction with TCP. Reducing the retry limit causes early discard of a frame, and it has a similar effect of random early drops at a router, well known in the research area of congestion control. It makes the shared link less crowded with frames, and then the benefit of fewer collisions surpasses the penalty of less strict error recovery. As a result, the network-wide performance improves and so does the performance of each BSS eventually. Reducing the retry limit also has positive effects of merging TCP ACKs and reducing HOL-like blocking time at the AP. Extensive experiments have validated the idea that in the OBSS environment, reducing the retry limit provides better performance, which is contrary to the common wisdom. Since our strategy is basically to sacrifice error recovery for congestion control, it could yield side-effects in an environment where the cost of error recovery is high. Therefore, to be useful in general network and traffic environments, adaptability is required. To prove the feasibility of the adaptive scheme, a simple method to dynamically adjust the value of the retry limit has been proposed. Experiments have shown that this approach could provide comparable performance in unfriendly environments.

The IEEE 802.15.6 is a communication standard for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). This standard includes a prioritized slotted Aloha as a choice for medium access control. This protocol is different from the traditional version as it has integral considerations for certain priorities of users. It attempts to resolve collision by halving the probability of retransmission, lower bounded by to a minimum, in the alternate slots to follow. In this paper, we present an analytical model to compute the non-saturated throughput of this protocol in the presence of finite number of nodes. The model is validated against simulation.

Inter-symbol interference (ISI) problem is inevitable when the guard interval (GI) is shorter than the delay spread (DS) for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system. Iterative techniques have been proposed to overcome such a problem. However, most of existing algorithms are not efficient for an OFDM system with a small GI working under the channel with a large DS. Especially in the case of the DS spans a longer time than the half of the OFDM symbol duration. On the other hand, conventional algorithms, which can reduce the effects of the severe ISI, often employ several impractical assumptions to support the conclusions. In this paper, we present a robust decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for the OFDM system to overcome the severe ISI problem. The proposed DFE removes the ISI in a same manner as the residual inter-symbol interference cancellation (RISIC) algorithm. However, the inter-carrier interference (ICI) is reduced via cyclicity removal instead of the cyclicity restoration used in the conventional algorithms. The link-level simulation (LLS) results indicate that our proposed DFE scheme can dramatically improve the BER performance when the DS spans longer than the half of ODFM symbol duration.

In this paper, we propose a distributed signal subspace interference alignment algorithm for single beam K-user ($3K{\geq}$) MIMO interference channel based on sum rate maximization and game theory. A framework of game theory is provided to study relationship between interference signal subspace and altruistic-egoistic bayesian game cost function. We demonstrate that the asymptotic interference alignment under proposed scheme can be realized through a numerical algorithm using local channel state information at transmitters and receivers. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can achieve the total degrees of freedom that is equivalent to the Cadambe-Jafar interference alignment algorithms with perfect channel state information. Furthermore, proposed scheme can effectively minimize leakage interference in desired signal subspace at each receiver and obtain a moderate average sum rate performance compared with several existing interference alignment schemes.

Most background subtraction methods focus on dynamic and complex scenes without considering robustness against noise. This paper proposes a background subtraction algorithm based on dictionary learning and sparse coding for handling low light conditions. The proposed method formulates background modeling as the linear and sparse combination of atoms in the dictionary. The background subtraction is considered as the difference between sparse representations of the current frame and the background model. Assuming that the projection of the noise over the dictionary is irregular and random guarantees the adaptability of the approach in large noisy scenes. Experimental results divided in simulated large noise and realistic low light conditions show the promising robustness of the proposed approach compared with other competing methods.

An improved Mean-Shift (MS) tracker called joint CB-LBWH, which uses a combined weighted-histogram scheme of CBWH (Corrected Background-Weighted Histogram) and LBWH (likelihood-based Background-Weighted Histogram), is presented. Joint CB-LBWH is based on the notion that target representation employs both feature saliency and confidence to form a compound weighted histogram criterion. As the more prominent and confident features mean more significant for tracking the target, the tuned histogram by joint CB-LBWH can reduce the interference of background in target localization effectively. Comparative experimental results show that the proposed joint CB-LBWH scheme can significantly improve the efficiency and robustness of MS tracker when heavy occlusions and complex scenes exist.

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are emerging as promising, convenient next generation wireless network technology. There is a great need for a secure framework for routing in WMNs and several research studies have proposed secure versions of the default routing protocol of WMNs. In this paper, we propose a security framework for Hybrid Wireless Mesh Protocol (HWMP) in WMNs. Contrary to existing schemes, our proposed framework ensures both end-to-end and point-to-point authentication and integrity to both mutable and non-mutable fields of routing frames by adding message extension fields to the HWMP path selection frame elements. Security analysis and simulation results show that the proposed approach performs significantly well in spite of the cryptographic computations involved in routing.

This paper proposes a novel image authentication scheme, aiming at tampering detection for block truncation coding (BTC) compressed image. The authentication code is generated by using the random number generator with a seed, and the size of the authentication code is based on the user's requirement, with each BTC-compressed image block being used to carry the authentication code using the data hiding method. In the proposed scheme, to obtain a high-quality embedded image, a reference table is used when the authentication code is embedded. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves high-quality embedded images and guarantees the capability of tamper detection.

The term "big data" has recently gained widespread attention in the field of information technology (IT). One of the key challenges in making use of big data lies in finding ways to uncover relevant and valuable information. The high volume, velocity, and variety of big data hinder the use of solutions that are available for smaller datasets, which involve the manual interpretation of data. Semantic computing technologies have been proposed as a means of dealing with these issues, and with the advent of linked data in recent years, have become central to mainstream semantic computing. This paper attempts to uncover the state-of-the-art semantics-based approaches and tools that can be leveraged to enrich and enhance today's big data. It presents research on the latest literature, including 61 studies from 2011 to 2014. In addition, it highlights the key challenges that semantic approaches need to address in the near future. For instance, this paper presents cutting-edge approaches to ontology engineering, ontology evolution, searching and filtering relevant information, extracting and reasoning, distributed (web-scale) reasoning, and representing big data. It also makes recommendations that may encourage researchers to more deeply explore the applications of semantic technology, which could improve the processing of big data. The findings of this study contribute to the existing body of basic knowledge on semantics and computational issues related to big data, and may trigger further research on the field. Our analysis shows that there is a need to put more effort into proposing new approaches, and that tools must be created that support researchers and practitioners in realizing the true power of semantic computing and solving the crucial issues of big data.

This paper empirically investigates the effects of technology licensing on the licensee firm's performance with the help of a unique data set of observed licensing transactions in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. We examine how intensity of licensing participation as a licensee affects the firm's performance. This study also analyzes how relationship between the licensor and the licensee in a deal along with characteristics of participants and their industry influences the performance of the licensee firm. The findings suggest that frequent participation in technology licensing increase licensee firm's sales growth. Also, transaction cost considerations and technology spillovers are important explanatory factors that influence licensee firms' performance in licensing.

In order to implement interactive and personalized Web services properly, it is necessary to understand the tangible and intangible responses of the users and to recognize their emotional states. Recently, some studies have attempted to build emotional state estimation models based on facial expressions. Most of these studies have applied multiple regression analysis (MRA), artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector regression (SVR) as the prediction algorithm, but the prediction accuracies have been relatively low. In order to improve the prediction performance of the emotion prediction model, we propose a novel SVR model that is optimized using a genetic algorithm (GA). Our proposed algorithm-GASVR-is designed to optimize the kernel parameters and the feature subsets of SVRs in order to predict the levels of two aspects-valence and arousal-of the emotions of the users. In order to validate the usefulness of GASVR, we collected a real-world data set of facial responses and emotional states via a survey. We applied GASVR and other algorithms including MRA, ANN, and conventional SVR to the data set. Finally, we found that GASVR outperformed all of the comparative algorithms in the prediction of the valence and arousal levels.

As a kind of personal lifelog data, activity data have been considered as one of the most compelling information to understand the user's habits and to calibrate diagnoses. In this paper, we proposed a robust algorithm to sampling rates for human activity recognition, which identifies a user's activity using accelerations from a triaxial accelerometer in a smartphone. Although a high sampling rate is required for high accuracy, it is not desirable for actual smartphone usage, battery consumption, or storage occupancy. Activity recognitions with well-known algorithms, including MLP, C4.5, or SVM, suffer from a loss of accuracy when a sampling rate of accelerometers decreases. Thus, we start from particle swarm optimization (PSO), which has relatively better tolerance to declines in sampling rates, and we propose PSO with an adaptive boundary correction (ABC) approach. PSO with ABC is tolerant of various sampling rate in that it identifies all data by adjusting the classification boundaries of each activity. The experimental results show that PSO with ABC has better tolerance to changes of sampling rates of an accelerometer than PSO without ABC and other methods. In particular, PSO with ABC is 6%, 25%, and 35% better than PSO without ABC for sitting, standing, and walking, respectively, at a sampling period of 32 seconds. PSO with ABC is the only algorithm that guarantees at least 80% accuracy for every activity at a sampling period of smaller than or equal to 8 seconds.

What is an ideal authentication method for smartphone banking services? And what are the critical elements to be considered when designing it? To provide valuable insight for these questions, this study investigates various authentication requirements to be considered in smartphone banking service with the aspect of security, convenience and cost. By applying Analytic Network Process (ANP), this study first analyzes priorities among the requirements and then draws an ideal authentication method for smartphone banking service. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis has been conducted by varying the relative importance of several requirements. The results from the judgment of 72 experts revealed that, although Korean government has obliged the use of Public Key certificate, OPT and biometric alternatives may prove to be more appropriate for the smartphone banking service. These results will contribute to the provision of more secured and convenient smartphone banking services.

The propagation of smart devices and the rapid expansion of wireless mobile networks have increased the need for ubiquitous device connectivity and contents access. DLNA is currently being used as the de facto standard for connectivity of consumer devices in the digital home. The guidelines provided by DLNA are intended to facilitate device and contents discovery, management, sharing and distribution. However, consumer experience with DLNA has been rather poor and usability not up to speed. Different problems and issues in limited compatibility have been reported due to manufacturer customizations. Such compatibility issues are often difficult to identify by average consumers who are not savvy in information communications and multimedia technology. In this paper, the design and implementation of a DLNA protocol inspection tool is presented for compatibility analysis among DLNA certified devices. The tool monitors the home network and performs analysis of the underlying protocols used by DLNA. The tool can be used for diagnostics and troubleshooting, enabling the user to identify compatibility issues between devices or problems in the network.

Risks are involved in all phases of the software life cycle, and due to these risks, software can face various problems that can cause different negative outcomes and sometimes, in extreme cases, the failure of the software. Most of these risks lie in the legacy software migration process. These risks can create many problems, and in the worst case they can lead to the failure of the migration project. This paper explores different types of risk analysis methods such as CRAMM, CORAS, OCTAVE and VECTOR. After comparing these methods, the two suitable methods were chosen, namely, OCTAVE and VECTOR. Based on the use of these two methods, the project suggests an enhanced EOV method for risk analysis in the migration of legacy software.

Embedded system testing, especially long-term reliability testing, of flash memory solutions such as embedded multi-media card, secure digital card and solid-state drive involves strategic decision making related to test sample size to achieve high test coverage. The test sample size is the number of flash memory devices used in a test. Earlier, there were physical limitations on the testing period and the number of test devices that could be used. Hence, decisions regarding the sample size depended on the experience of human testers owing to the absence of well-defined standards. Moreover, a lack of understanding of the importance of the sample size resulted in field defects due to unexpected user scenarios. In worst cases, users finally detected these defects after several years. In this paper, we propose that a large number of potential field defects can be detected if an adequately large test sample size is used to target weak features during long-term reliability testing of flash memory solutions. In general, a larger test sample size yields better results. However, owing to the limited availability of physical resources, there is a limit on the test sample size that can be used. In this paper, we address this problem by proposing a self-adaptive reliability testing scheme to decide the sample size for effective long-term reliability testing.

With advances in smart and ICT(information and communication technology) technologies, our life style has been changing dramatically. Now everybody can enjoy the benefits of such technologies in every aspect of his/her daily life. Currently more and more people are trying to have smart devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs so that smart devices become the bare necessities. New smart technologies have created a new concept called smart learning in education area. As educational smart contents become popular, we need quality standards for the contents. Those standards are essential for evaluating the smart contents and suggesting guidance for future smart contents production. Although there are some standards for the existing e-learning environments, to our best knowledge, there are no standards for educational smart contents in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to develop quality standards for educational smart contents. The proposed quality standards are based on the existing quality standards in e-learning environments and include some characteristics of smart learning. For development of quality standards, wide experts group from academy and industry are selected and surveyed. Their responses are analyzed based on thorough statistical analysis so that final quality standards for educational smart contents are developed.

From the perspectives of regulation and convergence, several debates on the industrial definition of smart TV service in the Korean broadcasting and communications market are currently in progress. The most heated controversy mainly depends on whether smart TV is controlled under broadcasting regulations or under communications regulations. This Korean- specific problem is summarized in regulation fairness or asymmetric regulations between smart TV and IPTV operators. Although both operators utilize very similar technology and share the same business model, the regulations for only smart TV operators are unfettered. This would be an intrinsic cause that prohibits fair competition in the new converging market. Currently we confront the matter of asymmetric regulations between smart TV and others including IPTV or ISP. The purpose of this study, thus, is to provide the strategic, regulatory guidance and theoretical definitions on smart TV service, as one of converging services, based on a qualitative approach through subjectivity methodology. The study identifies three issues net neutrality, regulation fairness and new media and new market and proposes desirable promotion plans regarding those issues. The study draws lessons learned through a Korean smart TV case and provides directions to strategic-policy studies for future emergent converging services.

Spam mail is one of the most general mail dysfunctions, which may cause psychological damage to internet users. As internet usage increases, the amount of spam mail has also gradually increased. Indiscriminate sending, in particular, occurs when spam mail is sent using smart phones or tablets connected to wireless networks. Spam mail consists of approximately 68% of mail traffic; however, it is believed that the true percentage of spam mail is at a much more severe level. In order to analyze and detect spam mail, we introduce a technique based on spam mail characteristics and text mining; in particular, spam mail is detected by extracting the linguistic analysis and language processing. Existing spam mail is analyzed, and hidden spam signatures are extracted using text clustering. Our proposed method utilizes a text mining system to improve the detection and error detection rates for existing spam mail and to respond to new spam mail types.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of online ballet community-based teacher-parent computer-mediated communication (CMC) on four achievement goals of ballet students. We used a randomized post-test only control group design. In order to test whether teacher-parent CMC has a positive impact on the improvement of achievement goals, multivariate analysis of covariance were performed with the ages of ballet students as the covariates. Teacher-parent CMC had significant effects on achievement goals. The mastery-approach goals of the experimental group were significantly higher than of the control group. In contrast, the performance-avoidance goals of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. There were no differences between the two groups in mastery-avoidance and performance-approach goals. Above all, this study is significant because the focus was placed on the inter-relationship between the two settings of school and family in regard to ballet student improvement, rather than on one setting only.