Interoperability Features Research Articles

Interoperability provision in NGC: the case of Italian DTV

PurposeThe deployment of next generation communications (NGC) progresses unevenly, frequently suffering from insufficient interoperability. Interoperability remains a fundamental driver for NGC diffusion, but existing theories remain vague on how to ensure its provision. Since interoperability features increasing returns and public good regimes, its market provision may be hampered. At the same time, public efforts might be ineffective when colliding with private operators' incentives. Sometimes, the policy instruments used might even distort technological diffusion and competition in a way incompatible with a market‐neutral approach. This paper aims to investigate these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis paper first reviews the literature on the economics of standardisation, the provision of private and public goods and the regulation of NGC. Then, it illustrates the EU policy on interactive television. Finally, it presents a research case study, analysing the recent implementation of this policy in Italy.FindingsCoherently with the hypothesis of the literature, the case study confirms that the public‐private interplay for interoperability is complex, and that the public and subsidised provision of an open standard might be captured by private interests.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study is representative of the dilemmas affecting future policy‐making in NGC. More case studies will corroborate the above findings, better clarifying the available options to ensure a virtuous public private interplay.Practical implicationsPolicy should be carefully framed in a way to impose market‐neutral implementations. Further, open standards – although valuable – are not a panacea and can be useless when systemically tied to other proprietary intellectual property rights (IPRs).Originality/valueThis is a first case study in a new field of policy assessment. The evidence provided is valuable for scholars, practitioners and policy‐makers dealing with NGC.

Towards a generic real-time transport and adaptation protocol for IP networks

This paper presents a novel approach to enable Internet Protocol (IP) networks to transport real-time applications with a wide variety of Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. This is achieved by introducing the concept of a Generic Real-time transport and Adaptation Protocol (GRAP). GRAP provides real-time applications with a rich set of flexible and programmable network adaptation capabilities that can be tailored to the specific application requirements. The flexibility in performing network-level real-time adaptation with GRAP, while abstracting the transport network details from the application, is a key feature that simplifies code development and portability for real-time application developers. In this paper, we explain the protocol structure for GRAP and discuss the real-time adaptation functions provided by the protocol. We also show how these functions can be configured using GRAP profiles. We then describe our reference implementation for GRAP in the form of a socket Application Programming Interface. Our reference implementation enables application programmers to quickly develop multimedia applications that leverage GRAP real-time adaptation capabilities and achieve proper end-to-end QoS requirements. Finally, we discuss GRAP interoperability and backward compatibility features.

Evolving Interoperability with National Transportation Communication for Intelligent Transportation Systems Protocols

One of the most exciting developments in the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) industry—one that holds so much promise for the future—is the National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocols (NTCIP). NTCIP will help lead the way to achieve a cost-effective deployment and management of ITS applications. It will also influence the design and manufacturing process and should cause changes in the way system integrators do their work. The resulting interoperability of core functionality between transportation devices will be an enabling service for ITS deployment. Developmental efforts, the implications of NTCIP, and the resulting interoperability for transportation applications are reported. The framework of the NTCIP is described and device level interoperability is discussed. NTCIP makes an effort to fulfill the initial needs for interoperable and interchangeable field devices. Current developments of the NTCIP effort are described and interoperability features are identified.

IN-PACT: A Pragmatic Approach Leading to a Smooth Transition or a New Architecture for Distribution Control Centers

Abstract SIT-R is a project of EDF-GDF-Services for the renewal of their Distribution Centers. Two approaches: either EDF buys an off the shelf system from a major Vendor of Ems-Scada Systems or EDF remains technically in charge. At the moment the first option is in experimentation at Paris, Lyon and Versailles. For the second option, IN-PACT proposed in 1994 a step by step approach. This project has been divided into two phases. The first phase consists in preserving the actual EMS-Scada System (SIT3), by carrying over the SIT3 on a new hardware platform, through Object-Oriented Techniques. This phase has consisted in elaborating an object designed configurator, and by transcoding the Real Time system in C++ language. The second phase is to provide an architecture based on new interoperability features provided by a software bus like Corba. Through this new architecture, IN-PACT will connect new functionalities provided inside EDF or furnished by Vendors. The architecture and the concepts defined will guarantee reduction in the cost of specification, maintenance, and ameliorate the perennity of the overall system. In order to experiment the IN-PACT solution, a real site has been provided at the Distribution Center Gard-Cevennes located in the city of Nimes, in the south of France. The results: At the end of 1996, the new configurator is validated and operational at Nimes, the Real Time System will be fully operational in February 1997. In parallel, the architecture vision and concepts have been validated and defined. They have led to a specification of the future Human Machine Interface (HMI) and an International bid was made in December 1996. In 1997, the architectural concepts will be fully integrated by connecting the new HMI. The connection of internal functions will also begin. The configurator will be upgraded in order to be able to manage different kinds of network image representation, and last but not least, new kinds of data will be processed in order to increase the responsiveness of EDF to the internal and external market, opportunities and constraints.

Mobile packet data technology: an insight into MOBITEX architecture

Mobile data networks offer a cost-effective and efficient alternative for data communication. In order to present some aspects of mobile data technology, this article offers some insight into the basic networking layers of a popular and widely deployed network, MOBITEX. MOBITEX technology offers a versatile architecture to support wireless packet data service inside an extended geographical area with internetwork roaming and interoperability features. This technology has become quite popular, mainly due to its open architecture and its vast equipment/applications availability. The authors provide an overview of the MOBITEX architecture, services, and subscription types, and a detailed examination of the network, data link, and physical layers. The power-saving features of MOBITEX are also discussed.