Communication Chain Research Articles

High‐data‐rate FSK demodulator for wireless communication

A low-power frequency-shift keying (FSK) demodulator capable of demodulating 5 Mbit/s data rate is presented. No high sampling clock is needed in this demodulator design, and thus the design not only greatly reduces the circuit complexity but also achieves a high data rate. It is suitable for a digital data transmission chain of wireless communication.

Provider Communication Behaviors that Predict Motivation to Change in Black Adolescents with Obesity

The goal of this research was to identify communication behaviors used by weight loss counselors that mostly strongly predicted black adolescents' motivational statements. Three types of motivational statements were of interest: change talk (CT; statements describing their own desires, abilities, reasons, and need for adhering to weight loss recommendations), commitment language (CML; statements about their intentions or plans for adhering), and counterchange talk (CCT; amotivational statements against change and commitment). Thirty-seven black adolescents with obesity received a single motivational interviewing session targeting weight-related behaviors. The video-recorded transcribed sessions were coded using the Minority Youth Sequential Coding for Observing Process Exchanges generating a sequential chain of communication. Data were then subjected to sequential analysis to determine causal relationships between counselor and adolescent communication. Asking open-ended questions to elicit adolescent CT and emphasizing adolescents' autonomy most often led to CT. Open-ended questions to elicit CML, reflecting adolescent CML, and emphasizing autonomy most often led to CML. In contrast, open-ended questions to elicit CCT, reflecting CCT, reflecting ambivalence, and neutral open-ended questions about the target behavior led to CCT. This study provides clinicians with insight into the most effective way to communicate with black adolescents with obesity about weight loss. Specifically, reflective statements and open questions focusing on their own desires, abilities, reasons, need, and commitment to weight loss recommendations are more likely to increase motivational statements, whereas other types of reflections and questions may be counterproductive. Finally, because adolescents have a strong need for autonomous decision making, emphasizing their autonomy may be particularly effective in evoking motivational statements.

Writing about Caring. Discourses, genres and remediation in elder care

In this article we discuss the results of a study within the project Language work as care work. The study focuses on the documentation practices of carers and assistant nurses within three elder care facilities in Sweden. The aim is to explore how representations of work and work content are remediated and recontextualised in some of the key written genres in the nursing home. In this process different discourses, and thus different versions of the practice of caring, are promoted and restrained. In order to show how the literacy practices and written text genres of elder care construe different meanings of caring we closely examine four key genres in the communicative chain and analyse them in terms of genre and discourse. The data discussed here was collected in an ethnographic study lasting eighteen months, using participant observation, qualitative interviews and collection of key texts as the main tools.

UNgenocide commemoration, transnational scenes of mourning and the global project of learning from atrocity

This paper offers a critical analytic reconstruction of some of the main symbolic properties of annual UN Holocaust and Rwandan genocide commemorations since 2005. Applying a discourse-historical approach (Wodak and Meyer 2010), it retraces how themes of guilt, responsibility, evil and redemption are woven together across annual commemorative performances in the hope of stabilizing shared patterns of cultural translation of the significance of these atrocities to globally dispersed communities. UN commemorative discourse characteristically links memories of Holocaust and Rwandan trauma in a 'chain of communication' with those of other episodes of brutality (e.g., Cambodia, Bosnia and Darfur) chiefly to convey the continuity of human barbarity across time and endorse certain presuppositions regarding the fate of a fallen humanity in this more 'post-secular' age. As scenes of mourning, UN commemorations unite participating international delegations in their expressions of grief for the victims of 'preventable tragedies' in the past but also, it must be said, their uncertainty regarding new horrors likely to occur in the future. The duty to remember is reiterated continuously as both a mark of respect to those who have already perished and as a warning of atrocities yet to unfold. This paper explores how the historical constancy of violence is interpreted by the UN through a detailed critical analysis of its recently inaugurated 'remembrance through education' programme aimed at a transnational collective learning from atrocity.

The communicative characteristics of musical interactions compared with play interactions between mothers and their one-year-old infants

The objective of this study was to compare the communicative characteristics of musical interactions with play interactions between mothers and their one-year-old infants. The characteristics were physical proximity and eye contact, mothers’ and infants’ emotional expressions, length of communication chains, synchronisation, and maternal mediation behaviours. A 10-minute musical interaction followed by a 10-minute play interaction was videotaped at each of the 93 participants’ homes. The data were analysed using Observer5 software, which combines viewing the interaction with simultaneous coding. The analysis of variance revealed that the durations of physical contact, eye contact, and positive emotions and the length of communication chains were significantly longer during the musical interactions. The frequency of mothers’ mediation and incompatible mediation behaviours was significantly higher in the play interactions. Musical interactions were found to provide more opportunities for positive emotional arousal and synchronisation, which are the basic characteristics of quality interactions and essential for future child development.

Close cooperation between science, management and industry benefits sustainable exploitation of the Falkland Islands squid fisheriesa

The Falkland Islands fishing industry is unique, as 60-80% of its annual catch consists of two squid species, Illex argentinus and Doryteuthis gahi. Short annual life cycles make both species susceptible to intra-annual environmental changes, resulting in large biomass fluctuations that must be addressed in management of the stocks. In the D. gahi fishery, short chains of communication between science, management and industry allow effective cooperation in the interest of long-term sustainable exploitation. The industry is responsive to short-notice requests for in-season information about the fishery. Management takes into account both scientific advice and industry recommendations, through ongoing consultations before and during the fishing seasons. As a result of this cooperation, D. gahi is one of the best managed squid fisheries in the world with local fishing companies being amongst the largest and most profitable enterprises in the Falklands economy. The I. argentinus fishery has the same potential, but a further level of cooperative management is needed as this squid is a straddling stock between several countries and the high seas. Development of a regional fisheries management organization in the South Atlantic Ocean is required to control multilateral exploitation and ensure long-term sustainability of I. argentinus stocks.

Raising the Bar for Patient Safety in Obstetric Care

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program Improving patient safety has become a major focus for healthcare organizations, especially in high‐risk areas such as obstetrics. Teamwork and collaboration among the healthcare team are essential for improved outcomes for mothers and neonates, error prevention, and quality care. Clinical care in obstetrics is complex, and the healthcare team often deals with rapidly changing or ambiguous patient situations, time pressures, and decisions that have the potential for serious consequences. The healthcare team is made up of individual expert clinicians, but these clinicians are not necessarily experts in working together and communicating effectively. Thus, the purpose of this program is to take teams of expert clinicians in a healthcare system and turn them into expert (functioning) teams. Proposed Change Four obstetric units within a healthcare system proposed to take patient safety to a higher level with the goals of improving clinical quality and outcomes; keeping mothers, infants, and family members safe; and becoming more effective and efficient as a team. The strategy was to combine the best practices of team/crew training and the tools needed to develop a high‐reliability culture into one patient safety program for obstetric care providers. Interdisciplinary classroom education was developed and included crew training concepts related to communication, teamwork, and collaboration; high‐reliability culture error prevention tools; and simulation and experiential learning. Other tools, such as chain of communication, board rounds, preprocedure and postprocedure briefings, and contingency teams were discussed during the educational program but implemented one at a time to hardwire the changes. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation An interdisciplinary team was involved in the program planning and development and served as trainers. Teams of obstetricians, anesthesiologists, certified nurse anesthetists, midwives, neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, registered nurses (RNs), obstetric technicians, and unit secretaries participated in the collaborative training experience. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected related to clinical outcomes as well as teamwork and collaboration. Implications for Nursing Practice Improvements have been identified in multiple areas, including quality, communication, and teamwork, and the use of tools to support communication (e.g., board rounds and briefings) has been sustained. A comprehensive program that addresses both the development of expert teams and the tools needed to shape a high‐reliability culture provides the needed framework for delivering care in a safe, reliable, and accountable environment with engaged healthcare providers.

Expected impacts and value of improvements in weather forecasting on the road transport sector

AbstractAtmospheric predictability has improved by approximately 1 day per decade during the last 20 years based on verification results of ECMWF forecast output. In Finland, locally applied accuracy measures indicate marked improvements in the quality of forecasts for the general public since the late 1980s. It is assumed that similar trends will continue to the foreseeable future. Use of weather information will allow for better options in the decision‐making of various stake holders in the transport sector, such as commuters or tourists, transport infrastructure owners and transport service and maintenance operators. This paper discusses the economic impacts and value of weather forecasts on different transport modes (road, rail, air) highlighting the effects of potential improvements in forecast quality in the expected future climates in Europe. It is not only the improved quality of available weather forecasts that will define the value of information. The way in which the information is communicated and how it is being utilized by decision‐makers are highly relevant steps in a weather service value chain. Rather than applying the traditional Cost‐Loss model, which would relate improved forecast accuracy to increased expected utility, an alternative approach is being applied. This ‘Weather Service Chain Analysis’ (WSCA) accounts for imperfect features in the communication chain and in the use of weather information by analysing the decay of the total potential benefits via decomposing the information flow from original forecast generation to final benefit realization. Concrete estimates are provided for the road transport modes both in Finland and in Europe. Copyright © 2013 Royal Meteorological Society

Lights, Camera, Save Lives! Impact of Low Budget, Low Fidelity Simulation to the Bedside Nursing Practice

Purpose for the Program Evidence has shown how simulation is an effective modality of teaching especially for adult learners. In a perinatal unit, where the level of nurse experience ranges from 1 to 30 years, the focus should not only be to determine the nurses’ skills and readiness to respond during a crisis but also on the ability of the nurses to be great team players and practice effective communication. Simulation, even on a low budget, would still help nurses prepare for high‐risk rare events with an ultimate goal of a healthy mother and infant. Proposed Change To improve patient outcomes through evidence‐based practice following a standardized process in an obstetric (OB) emergency or neonatal complication after birth. The proposed changes included role‐specific functions and responses, initiating the chain of communication, improving teamwork, redesigning unit practice, and regular multidisciplinary simulations. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation The first step was to send out an online questionnaire regarding simulation and high‐risk rare events to evaluate what the nurses’ current view of such topics and to see if they were willing to participate in a simulation. The next step was to create a calendar of dates and times to make the nurses want to participate with simulations. The schedule was one scenario per shift. Low‐fidelity simulators and/or volunteers were used to make the simulations more realistic. Debriefing, through the evaluation of the recorded event, took place after the simulations were completed. It was then decided by the OB advisory that debriefings should be done on all OB procedures that were completed in our unit. In addition, protocols were revised and updated. New protocols were incorporated in our electronic medical record that also prompts documentation. Implications for Nursing Practice Staff's perception of simulation has changed from a negative outlook to a positive outlook. They are aware that the environment of a simulation is safe and mistakes are allowed so that during a real event staff may be prepared and ready. Staff readiness was improved by using simulation to define the process, educate, assess competency, and improve teamwork and communication. The use of simulation for ongoing team evaluation will continue to reinforce these skills so that if a complication does occur this multidisciplinary team will be prepared to ensure the most optimal outcome. We are on our journey toward excellence in our nursing practice. Evidence has shown how simulation is an effective modality of teaching especially for adult learners. In a perinatal unit, where the level of nurse experience ranges from 1 to 30 years, the focus should not only be to determine the nurses’ skills and readiness to respond during a crisis but also on the ability of the nurses to be great team players and practice effective communication. Simulation, even on a low budget, would still help nurses prepare for high‐risk rare events with an ultimate goal of a healthy mother and infant. To improve patient outcomes through evidence‐based practice following a standardized process in an obstetric (OB) emergency or neonatal complication after birth. The proposed changes included role‐specific functions and responses, initiating the chain of communication, improving teamwork, redesigning unit practice, and regular multidisciplinary simulations. The first step was to send out an online questionnaire regarding simulation and high‐risk rare events to evaluate what the nurses’ current view of such topics and to see if they were willing to participate in a simulation. The next step was to create a calendar of dates and times to make the nurses want to participate with simulations. The schedule was one scenario per shift. Low‐fidelity simulators and/or volunteers were used to make the simulations more realistic. Debriefing, through the evaluation of the recorded event, took place after the simulations were completed. It was then decided by the OB advisory that debriefings should be done on all OB procedures that were completed in our unit. In addition, protocols were revised and updated. New protocols were incorporated in our electronic medical record that also prompts documentation. Staff's perception of simulation has changed from a negative outlook to a positive outlook. They are aware that the environment of a simulation is safe and mistakes are allowed so that during a real event staff may be prepared and ready. Staff readiness was improved by using simulation to define the process, educate, assess competency, and improve teamwork and communication. The use of simulation for ongoing team evaluation will continue to reinforce these skills so that if a complication does occur this multidisciplinary team will be prepared to ensure the most optimal outcome. We are on our journey toward excellence in our nursing practice.

GRP-122 New Perspectives of Hospital Pharmacists’ Role in Communicating Pharmaceutical Policy to Healthcare Professionals and Patients in Greece

BackgroundGiven the burden of unfortunate economic conditions in Greece, hospital pharmacists find themselves at the crossroads of different approaches to patient treatment options, trying to ensure the patient gets the...

Seeking Balance, Professional and Otherwise

“There is no such thing as work-life balance. Everything worth fighting for unbalances your life.” —Alain de Botton I find the quote attributed to Alain de Botton to be both intriguing and disturbing. I am certain that anybody who reads this editorial (both of you) struggles with the same issue of balance that I do. At times, I too feel like de Botton in that, to do something worthwhile requires a 100% effort. How, then, to feel that we can give 100% in everything that we do? Are there enough hours in the day? The lack of balance in our lives is typically most evident in seeking the inevitable “work-life” balance. Whether one works in academia or private practice, there is always something to do that threatens our personal/family/home time. I know a few practicing interventionalists who seem to be able to compartmentalize the various aspects of their lives, but those individuals are few and far between. There always seems to be something to do, something to accomplish away from what we should expect to be normal work hours. And in the era of electronic communication, it is far too easy to log on to our work e-mail accounts on the weekends and weeknights to decompress the inevitable onslaught of e-mail exchanges on Monday morning. Without a doubt, finding that balance between work and personal life becomes our own personal struggle. Each individual situation is different: Work environment, family support, and personal motivation all contribute to set the tone of our own personal struggle with this important life balance. And although I understand de Botton's point, I must admit that I struggle mightily against the idea that balance is an inaccessible goal. Perhaps it's just more difficult for a physician to accept the concept of the inevitability of the lack of life balance than it is for a Swiss writer (don't worry—I had to look him up, too). It probably is telling that I've been working on editing this Seminars issue all weekend. I have been in e-mail contact with Dan Brown and Bill Rilling about their contributions—and sadly they both responded on a Sunday in short order. There is one other issue I come up against with regard to balance. Let me preface this concept with the statement that I love, truly love, my job as an academic interventionalist. While discussing careers with trainees, I continually come back to the idea that as an academic, I get to be a clinical doctor one day, a researcher the next, and a teacher the following day. I enjoy that diversity more than anything, but it can also lead to a feeling of inadequacy in one or more aspects of this career. Not infrequently I look around our field, or even around my own laboratory, and realize I have some catching up to do with clinical skills, or writing that next paper, or better delivering my vast stores of knowledge to the next generation (frightening to all of us, I'm sure). Add into that mix the inevitable administrative duties and increasingly onerous communication chains, and trying to achieve that appropriate balance in one's professional life seems nearly impossible. Academic so-called triple threats are few and far between these days, for good reason. Who can really do it all? I suppose that this holy grail of balance will likely always seem to be just out of arm's reach, and that continual striving for this level of balance might be the reward in and of itself. I'm choosing to look at it that way: It's more healthy for me and my family, it's less negative, and I need to finish this editorial so I can get going on my other work.

Communication system for down-hole measurement tools based on real-time SNR characterization in coaxial cable used as communication channel

Down-hole oil and gas industries are important users of high temperature electronics. In these applications the operating temperature is function of the underground depth of the wells. Oil reservoirs in Mexico are located at mean depths of 6,000 m and the typical geothermal gradient is 25°C/km, however in some areas it is greater. Consequently, the requirements for measuring thermodynamic and geophysical parameters, for instance pressure, temperature, vibration and multiphase flow, are a challenging task. Accomplishing these necessities requires a complete signal communications chain of high-performance components and effective communication techniques to provide system reliability. Nevertheless, noise interference, cable attenuation and thermal drift of the front-end passive electronic elements can lead to poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and possibly loss of the communication link. This paper describes a bidirectional communication system that exchanges data from a down-hole high pressure and high temperature (HP/HT) measurement tool to the surface installation. The communication channel is a multi-conductor coaxial logging cable used also as a power supply transmission line. The system consists of a proprietary down-hole measurement tool, composed of a HP/HT sensor and a high temperature DSP-based electronic device; and located in the surface installation, a data acquisition equipment. The system employs a communication algorithm, based on the SNR characterization of the whole communication chain, which determines in real-time the optimal carrier frequency that is automatically implemented in the selected modulation/demodulation technique. The obtained laboratory tests results of the down-hole tool, using changes in temperature from 25 °C – 185 °C, provide a firm basis for testing and evaluating the system in the field.

Multi-level Modeling of Complex Socio-Technical Systems

The application of multi-level modeling approaches to enterprise systems modeling can support leadership decision making for transformation of defense department operations. In particular, this paper presents a framework for modeling enterprise transformation applied to complex analysis of defense in an era of technology globalization. Large-scale public-private enterprises can generally be described as complex adaptive systems. Multi-level modeling of complex adaptive systems is considered as an approach to inform leadership of actions and consequences of decisions addressing transformative change. An example is elaborated for the domain of secure defense communications. A framework for modeling the secure communications enterprise presents an interesting case for exploration of both multi-level modeling approaches and potential policy guidance at a global level. Finally, the use of these types of models to enable policy exploration is illustrated for the particular case of counterfeit parts in the supply chain of military communication systems.The paper concludes with recommendations for further work in validating the modeling approach and application of the approach to a sample policy flight simulator representing counterfeit parts policy in military systems.

Analysis of Edo State agricultural development agency characteristics and its extension workers’ commitment: Implications for Nigeria’s research- extension farmers- inputslinkage- system

Effective communication links among researchers, extension workers, input agencies and farmers will enable new technologies and management practices to be suitably adapted to local conditions. Thus, this study analyzed the organizational characteristics and organizational commitment of extension workers in the Edo State ADP. Specifically, the study examined the social and economic characteristics of extension workers and their commitment to Edo State ADP and described the organizational characteristics of the Edo State ADP. Data used in this study were obtained from 119 extension workers randomly selected from the various 6 units constituting the administrative structure of the Edo State ADP using structured questionnaire. Percentages, mean scores and correlation statistics were used to analyze data obtained in the course of the study. Results showed that most (84%) of the extension workers were married, indicating that the Edo State ADP extension workers were family men and women. About 60% of the respondents were holders of tertiary school certificate, occupying positions ranging from grade level 6 to 10 and some (33%) of them have been in the service of Edo State ADP between 16 and 20 years. More than half (53%) of the extension staff said that there was high intra- organizational relationship which implied that there was enhanced chain of communication among extension staff units in the Edo State ADP. Most (86%) of the extension workers in Edo State received either in-house or external training sponsored by the extension service. Majority (mean = 4.20) of the extension workers exhibited high commitment to the Edo State ADP extension service.

The maintenance of cultural stereotypes in the conversational retelling of narratives

Interpersonal communication plays a significant role in the maintenance of culturally shared stereotypes. This paper reports on two experiments in which two different stories were transmitted conversationally through communication chains. In both experiments, people tended to emphasize more stereotype consistent than stereotype inconsistent (SI) information, thus rendering the stories more confirming, rather than challenging, of the stereotypes. Although SI information sometimes attracted more attention in conversation, this did not translate into a greater likelihood of passing on SI information, thus keeping the story character's impression largely stereotypical even after a second retelling of the story.

How can a stereotype inconsistency bias be encouraged in communication?

This study aimed to investigate what conditions can lead to a bias for communicating stereotype inconsistent (SI) information, relative to stereotype consistent (SC) information. Sixty‐three undergraduate university students (22 males, 41 females; Mage = 21.25) read a story about an Arab man who exhibited characteristics consistent and inconsistent with the stereotype of Arab men. The story was transmitted through 21 three‐person communication chains; each participant rewrote the story from memory for the next person in the chain to read, with only the first participant in each chain reading the original story. As hypothesized, when a surprising category conjunction was formed by pairing the primary stereotype (Arab men) with a secondary stereotype of a contradictory nature (kindergarten teachers), SC information was circulated less than SI information. This was also the case when a causal explanation was provided that accounted for the unexpected SI information. Findings indicate the potential of techniques that elicit cognitive elaboration of SI information to encourage an SI bias in communication, and show promise for exploring ways to reduce the impact of negative stereotypical information in the long term.

Radiation oncology whiteboard: Data and workflow manager for enhanced communication and task management.

304 Background: Patient care within the radiation oncology clinic consists of several interdependent data driven procedures which must be executed in concert to ensure the best possible patient care. State of the art treatment in radiation oncology is largely computer driven, where patient care relies on the use of a typically vendor dependent, heterogeneous server environment. Traditional, peer-to-peer communication in such an environment introduces a fault intolerant workflow, where failed communication and data inconsistency issues may result in delayed or inappropriate patient treatment. Methods: The MGH Radiation Oncology Whiteboard is an intranet based application allowing for live monitoring of these patient care tasks available across the entire radiation oncology clinical domain. Patient events are recorded through interaction from various care-givers and data sources within the department, changing state as well as collecting event data from the accomplished task. Personnel may be alerted of state changes through automatic, customizable paging, email and live monitoring notification, triggering subsequent steps in the workflow chain. Currently the Whiteboard leverages data from multiple points in the clinic including: CT Simulation and data (4D), treatment planning written directive, dvh plan results, imrt and sbrt plan QA, daily and monthly linac QA, IORT coordination and calculation check, linear accelerator engineering log, patient treatment wait time (linac), remote treatment plan review. Results: Since introduction of the Whiteboard into the MGH clinic in 2008, task compliance in key areas, such as contour definition, radiation dose prescription, imrt QA measurement completion and pre-treatment plan checking has risen to levels well above 95%. Conclusions: Monitoring of patient care events improves QA by eliminating peer-to-peer communication and introducing complete transparency to the workflow communication chain. This approach enables all members of the staff to become active participants in the quality control process, every individual, through interaction with the Whiteboard, acting as an additional QC filter to improve patient care.

Critical success factors in industrial marketing supply chain management

Article history: Received May 20, 2012 Received in Revised form July, 29, 2012 Accepted 15 August 2012 Available online 21 August 2012 Implementation of better marketing strategies in industry plays an important role in increasing sales and profitability of industrial part suppliers. Understanding the weakness in each part of supply chain helps reduce different cost component and increases profitability. In this paper, we present an empirical study to find important factors influencing marketing strategies based on factor analysis. The study designs and distributes a questionnaire consists of 64 questions. The proposed study uses Skewness analysis to reduce the factors into 44 items and reports 8 important factors including business environment, communication chain technology, good organizational relationship, leadership cost strategy, performance risk, ecommerce strategy, encouraging strategy and consistency in organizational performance. © 2012 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interlink and coverage analysis for small satellite constellations

In this article, the use of both the well-known Walker constellations and a proposed Randomic one are studied focusing on the data exchange between small satellites and their coverage of the Earth. The term Randomic is adopted to define constellations that are composed of small satellites placed in orbits occasioned by ‘catching a ride’ on launchers intended for other payloads. Thus, if on the one hand this ‘piggyback’ configuration has the merit of saving launch costs, on the other hand the small satellites will generally end up in orbits not ideally suited to their intended mission. In any case, in order to ensure an appropriate communication chain between the satellites, Bit Error Rate has to be kept below certain levels and this in turn requires keeping satellites within appropriate limits of distance and relative velocity. Following a statistical analysis over the past decade of launches, aimed at establishing the most exploitable orbits for ‘piggyback’ configurations, an investigation into the use of this type of constellation has been conducted. The comparison with an optimal Walker configuration has highlighted the better performance of the Walker and the significant reduction of mission expenditure of the Randomic constellation.

Optimizing Cascaded Chains of Unmanned Aircraft Acting as Communication Relays

This work presents a decentralized mobility control algorithm for an optimal end-to-end communication chain using a team of unmanned aircraft acting solely as communication relays. The chaining controller drives the location of a virtual control point, using estimates of the communication objective function gradient calculated using stochastic approximation techniques, to locations of improved relaying for unmanned aircraft. The gradient estimate is derived from observation data of the communication objective function taken along a path generated by the aircraft orbiting about the control point. Flight experiments show that an unmanned aircraft can measure the signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio fields from IEEE 802.11b/g (WiFi) communication links; generate estimates of the field gradients using the least-squares gradient estimation method; and use the gradient estimates to drive a control point to a location that improves communication capacity.