Project Title: Multihop Ad Hoc Instant Messaging using 802.11 and Pocket PCs

 

Student Name: Jiangfeng (Jeff) Ye

Project Instructor: Prof. Ing-Ray Chen

Semester: Fall 2002

 

The project will build a research prototype allowing Pocket PCs equipped with IEEE 802.11 to perform MSN-style instant messaging over multi-hop communication paths. Between two Pocket PCs within radio range of 802.11, P2P will be used to implement instant messaging. Between two PCs out of radio range of 802.11, the communication route will be multihop involving multiple Pocket PCs. The development tools to be used include Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2002 SDK, P2P API with ViaXML and Smart Device Extensions for Visual Studio .NET for mobile device development. The system will contain the following two components:

1.      A primitive messaging interface allowing end users using Pocket PCs to chat with each other

2.      A multihop-enabled communication subsystem based on 802.11 technology that allows two Pocket PCs to communicate with each other

It is required that a working prototype be built containing the above two components and a report be written summarizing the technologies employed to implement the prototype, code developed, and experiences learned from the project.

 

Project Title: Wireless Mobile Set-top Box Design and Implementation using .NET Development Tools for Smart Devices on Pocket PCs

 

Student Name: Haiyue (Cindy) Yu

Project Instructor: Prof. Ing-Ray Chen

Semester: Fall 2002

 

This project involves the design, development, and experimental validation of a mobile and wireless set-top box running on a Pocket PC iPAQ in a wireless LAN based on 802.11a or 802.11b. The project includes two parts: a server part that broadcasts live video streams over an 802.11 LAN and a client part for the set-top software running a Pocket PC. The set-top box running on a Pocket PC behaves like a smart TV converter with functionality including:

 

-        Automatic detection of live video streaming broadcast by the server when it enters the LAN area

-        Able to switch among live video streams broadcast by the server to allow the user to view a selected live video stream with instantaneous responses (less than 1 sec)

-        Able to pause a live stream currently viewing for up to a certain amount of time period and resume playing without loss of video content

 

The project will use Microsoft’s Smart Device Extensions for Visual Studio .NET for mobile device development. You will have a chance to use the C# language developed by Microsoft for the project. The development tools for smart devices based on .NET Compact Framework (Beta version) provide a Pocket PC emulator to run on a desktop computer before deployment to a Pocket PC. At the end of the project, it is required that a working prototype of the set-top box software running on a Pocket PC be completed and a report summarizing the design and implementation of the application based on Microsoft’s .NET technology be written.

 

Project Title: Maximizing the Throughput of a Multiple Server System By Use of a Queuing Network Model

 

Student Name: Michael Esposito

Project Instructor: Prof. Ing-Ray Chen

Semester: Fall 2002

 

This project will use a queuing network model (QNM) to model a multiple server system currently in use for high-volume electronic data transfer. The system consists of multiple upload servers feeding incoming jobs to a central database. The system uses a master-slave model for load balancing between server hosts. (The system is composed of one master and several slaves.) The server process running on each upload server has two thread pools, one for the initial upload of jobs and the other for inserting jobs into the database. Jobs waiting to be inserted into the database are held on the local file systems of the upload servers.
 
The purpose of the study is to determine the number of threads in each thread pool required to maximize system throughput without allowing the queue of jobs held on the upload servers to exceed file system capacities.

The specific tasks for this independent study project are as follows:

 

·        Model the multiple server system using an appropriate QNM.

 

·        Use the QNM to determine the number of threads in each thread pool to maximize system throughput without exceeding system capacities.

 

·        Prepare a final report presenting the results.

 

The evaluation criteria for this independent study are:

 

·        Source code for the implementation of the QNM.

 

·        The final report.