Communication Solutions Research Articles

Strategic Communication and Socio-Ecological Imperatives for Re-Marketing the Nigerian Brand

The thrust of this paper is to examine select factors within the social and ecological realms that are attributed to the image crises of Nigeria and to proffer sustainable strategic communication solutions to re-marketing the nation as a brand. The de-marketing process of the brand Nigeria is a function of some obvious factors like corruption, bribery, ethnicity, communal and ethno-religious clashes. Consequently, almost everything ‘Nigerian’, whether human beings or products, is questioned or received with greater comparative scepticism, especially within the international community. Nigeria is no doubt in dire need of a corporate reformation and a review of the nation’s socio-ecological posture and experience will offer a headway for the re-marketing of the brand. This paper adopts the analytical methods for the review of strategic communication and the Socio-Ecological Model, using selected scenarios in Nigeria as units of analysis. Findings reveal that Nigeria’s albatross as an unattractive brand is the moral decadence of her citizens occasioned by a lack of adequate information of citizens, absence of motivation and ability to act, and the inherent norms that the people live with. This has thwarted the nation’s (re)branding management efforts. This paper recommends that the Federal government of Nigeria should re-orient her citizens from the now youngest generation and re-order her communication architecture to communicate a renewed Nigerian brand that will help the nation’s image to be attractive for a convincing patronage within the international market.

Implementation of AES-256 Algorithm for Encryption on Chatting Platforms

This research aims to design and build a web-based corporate chat media using prototype methodology and AES (Advanced et al.) algorithm for data encryption. The platform has been developed with MERN technology (MongoDB et al.), which allows the application to be dynamic and responsive. Prototype methodology is used for iterative development based on user feedback, ensuring the application meets user needs. The AES algorithm is applied to maintain the confidentiality and security of each message sent and received. The results show that the application effectively provides efficient and secure communication for the company, with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Implementing MERN technology provides flexibility in the development and maintenance of the application, making it the right solution for corporate communication needs.

DMPC-based control solution for mobile robots platoon based on ZigBee communication

The integration of mobile robots into various applications, operating collaboratively in groups known as platoons, presents challenges in communication, control, and synchronization. This paper introduces a control solution for mobile robot platoons based on a DMPC algorithm and the ZigBee protocol for V2V communication. This communication standard was selected for its low power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and reliable data transmission over short distances. Furthermore, a testbed and methodology for the experimental evaluation of the proposed control solution were developed. The results demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of the proposed control and communication solutions.

Non-coherent short-packet communications: Novel z-domain user multiplexing

In the evolution of fifth generation (5G) and beyond wireless communication systems, non-coherent (NC) short packet communication (SPC) is crucial for achieving ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). Frame design, latency, and reliability are some of the challenges associated with short-packet communication. Recently, to address these challenges, a novel modulation scheme known as modulation on conjugate-reciprocal zeros (MOCZ) has been proposed. MOCZ modulates information on conjugate reciprocal zeros in the z-domain, thereby eliminating the need for channel estimation and providing a robust solution for NC communication. However, in multi-user MOCZ (MU-MOCZ) scheme, adding guard intervals to each short packet to mitigate channel impact remains an issue, as it increases the transmission time and consequently reduces efficiency. To address the aforementioned problem, this paper introduces a novel frame design approach called z-domain user multiplexing MOCZ (ZDUM-MOCZ or ZDM-MOCZ). Unlike traditional time division multiplexing (TDM), which serves users consecutively in the time domain, this method multiplexes users in the z-domain. In this approach, each user is allocated a specific set of zeros in the z-domain, which collectively form a unique sequence in the time domain. The findings illustrate the potential for reduced latency in downlink transmission, highlighting the benefits of this novel methodology over conventional MU-MOCZ method. The proposed ZDUM-MOCZ scheme not only addresses the existing issues in the frame design of the MU-MOCZ scheme but also facilitates more efficient and reliable short packet communication in 5G and beyond wireless systems.

Night time Surveillance in Communication Using YOLOv3

Nighttime surveillance presents significant challenges due to low visibility, varying lighting conditions, and interference from artificial light sources. Hence, this study proposed an effective object detection framework using the YOLOv3 model to enhance real-time monitoring in night surveillance applications, specifically within communication and security systems. YOLOv3's architecture, with its multi-scale detection and use of predefined anchor boxes, enables robust detection of objects under low-light environments and amidst light interference from vehicles and streetlights. The proposed system is tested on a night surveillance dataset, where it demonstrates high precision and speed in identifying objects, making it suitable for real-time applications. With Mean Average Precision (mAP) 87.9%, YOLOv3 effectively balances detection accuracy with inference time, ensuring minimal latency in live surveillance feeds. The results indicate that YOLOv3 outperforms traditional models such as Faster RCNN, particularly in detecting small objects under poor illumination. This approach offers a reliable solution for enhancing communication and security systems in nighttime surveillance scenarios.

A High-Gain, High-Efficiency Transparent and Flexible Antenna for Vehicular Communication

A high-gain high-efficiency flexible and transparent film antenna in millimeter-wave is proposed in this paper. Comb structure which can be regarded as developed from the grid array structure is employed to mitigate the loss of the feeding network caused by the lossy metal mesh. The gain of the antenna has low sensitivity to the sheet resistance, which is promising in developing large-scale and high-performance transparent antenna. A large-scale ([Formula: see text]@28[Formula: see text]GHz) antenna is designed and fabricated using transparent metal mesh film with sheet resistance of 0.1[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]/sq and a thin PET film substrate. Bending measurement shows the antenna has excellent mechanical flexibility. A peak gain of 15.92[Formula: see text]dBi, radiation efficiency of 65.1%, optical transparency of 84% and 1,000-times bending are obtained. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest gain and radiation efficiency flexible-transparent antenna reported thus far, which provides a glass-integrated antenna solution for vehicular communication.

A novel method for reducing the effect of doppler frequency shift in high-speed railway mobile communication using machine learning

Currently, high-speed railway systems are rapidly expanding worldwide, necessitating reliable and efficient mobile communication solutions. However, the Doppler frequency shift caused by the high speeds of trains presents significant challenges to communication systems, particularly those using OFDM in LTE. This paper presents a novel for Doppler frequency compensation in high-speed railway communication based on the results of estimating the train's velocity using machine learning algorithms. By leveraging advanced algorithm such as neural networks, our method dynamically predicts and compensates for Doppler shifts in real-time. In this proposed novel, the Doppler frequency value is calculated based on the actual train’s velocity and the scenario of a high-speed railway, then the Doppler frequency is used to compensate the carrier frequency offset (CFO) directly at the Access Point (AP) device on the train. We conduct simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed solution in a high-speed railway scenario. The results demonstrate a marked improvement in communication reliability and data integrity, highlighting the potential of machine learning to enhance the performance of mobile communication systems in high-speed railways. The results of the proposed model are evaluated based on the system’s bit error rate BER after the CFO compensation decreases and the ratio of average energy per bit (Eb) to noise power density (N0) (Eb/N0) increases. This shows that the proposed solution works effectively and reduces the system’s bit errors while improving the communication performance. This study opens new avenues for integrating intelligent systems in transportation networks, ensuring seamless connectivity, and improving passenger experience

WP6.12 - What the bleep? Have we finally found a solution to the bleep system?: Exploring the efficacy of a WhatsApp-style messaging system as an alternative to traditional bleeps in the healthcare setting

Abstract Aims Traditionally, bleeps have been integral to the role of a doctor. A pre-pandemic study estimated that more than 10% of the world’s bleeps are currently being used by the NHS. However, in response to the 2021 directive by the health secretary to phase out bleeps within NHS England, new approaches to communication in healthcare are being implemented. One of these is Alertive, a WhatsApp-style messaging system. This study utilises a quality improvement approach to determine the efficacy of Alertive in conveying messages as a replacement for bleeps, and to investigate the reasons behind its perceived poor uptake. Methods A ten-day evaluation of the uptake of 15 distinct Alertive roles within the surgical department, accompanied by a satisfaction survey circulated among departmental juniors. Results The survey findings revealed a prevailing consensus among users endorsing the efficacy and superiority of Alertive as a concept over the previous bleep system. However, user-reported constraints related to functionality and application logistics. These have been identified as sources of frustration and thereby impeding the broader utilisation and efficacy of Alertive. Conclusion Effective multi-disciplinary communication is imperative in a hospital setting. While Alertive presents a potential alternative to traditional bleeps, challenges such as poor role uptake and communication appropriateness persist and represent significant barriers to full integration and staff satisfaction. Role uptake is variable with some surgical teams having better compliance than others. While users report that the concept of Alertive is beneficial, no single communication system has been identified as being superior, emphasising the ongoing need for solutions in healthcare communication.

Advanced error correction method for quantum key distribution in IoT systems

The secure distribution of keys is essential to ensuring the privacy and integrity of data in Internet of Things (IoT) systems. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols, such as BB84, use principles from quantum mechanics to establish secure communication channels. However, errors that occur during the transmission of qubits can compromise the reliability of the shared key. This paper presents a new method for error correction that integrates Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) into the BB84 protocol for QKD in IoT systems. By harnessing the exceptional pattern recognition capabilities of CNNs, our approach learns hierarchical representations from preprocessed quantum channel data to effectively identify and correct errors. Extensive simulations demonstrate the high performance of our CNN-based method in reducing the Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER). This contribution significantly enhances the security and reliability of key distribution, offering a promising solution for robust quantum communication in IoT environments.

An Energy Efficient Transmission Mechanism based on Optimal Relay Distance for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

Abstract Due to the limited resources and energy of communication in underwater acoustic sensor network (UASN), there are many challenges in designing energy-efficient and reliable media access control (MAC) protocols for UASN. This paper proposes an energy-efficient media access control (MAC) protocol with dynamic transmission range control (TRC), referred to as TRA-MAC. The protocol provides an adaptive, multi-hop and energy-saving solution for underwater sensor network communication. The protocol dynamically adjusts the transmission power of the node according to the distance between the source node and the destination node, and has the ability to adapt to network conditions. Simulation results show that compared with Slotted Aloha, the proposed adaptive relay node selection mechanism increases the energy efficiency by 43.07%, the network throughput by 46.6%, and the end-to-end delay is greatly reduced. Compared with Slotted FAMA, it has more significant advantages.

Chaos-based audio encryption: Efficacy of 2D and 3D hyperchaotic systems

Secure communication in the digital age is necessary; securing audio data becomes very critical since this is normally transmitted across susceptible networks. Traditional approaches to encryption, like Advanced Encryption Standard and Rivest–Shamir–Adleman, are pretty solid but mostly too computationally intensive for real-time audio applications. This paper presents a new audio encryption scheme using chaotic systems, characterized by high sensitivity to initial conditions, pseudo-randomness, and determinism. These properties make chaotic systems ideal for generating keys for cryptographic purposes. Indeed, complex keys that would be nearly impossible to reverse-engineer without exact initial parameters can be obtained with them. This methodology first digitizes the audio signal and subsequently encrypts each sample according to chaotic sequences from multiple systems, like 2D Memristive Hyperchaotic Maps and 3D Hyperchaotic Quadratic Maps. The encryption processes enormously increase the randomness of the encrypted audio and blind the original data, demonstrating the strength of the chaotic systems in securing audio information.Simulation of this encryption approach confirms its effectuality in providing strong security for audio data while maintaining efficiency, thus being suitable for real-time applications. The developed encryption schemes show high resistance to differential attacks, while the quality of the encrypted audio remains acceptable after transformation. This result can demonstrate chaotic systems’ potential to provide a secure and efficient solution for audio communications, which has broad applications in telecommunications, military communications, and confidential conferencing systems. This work, described in the paper, thus satisfies the growing demand for robust security in digital communications and opens up avenues of future research toward chaotic parameter optimization and an extension to other forms of data, enhancing the security features in all types of digital communication channels.

Research on extremely low frequency electromagnetic wave model and simulation in wellbore communication

Over recent years, as digitalization and intelligence in oil wellbore have increased, so have the stricter requirements for wireless communication technology in terms of distance, accuracy, and portability. As a result, it’s necessary to rely on more advanced and efficient wireless communication technologies to meet the industry’s needs. However, traditional communication technologies such as cables and optical fibers have inherent shortcomings in construction, data interpretation, and cost. ELF electromagnetic waves are an ideal solution for communication in complex wellbore conditions due to long-distance communication and strong penetration capabilities, making it a highly effective option. Based on the theory of network splitting, this paper establishes a polygonal multiple-delays uncertainty coupled complex network model of ELF electromagnetic waves propagating through the casing in layered media and designs a controller, including expressions for the intensity of the magnetic and electric fields in different directions, and the propagation and distribution characteristics in different media. We determined that the optimal transmitting frequency of ELF electromagnetic waves under general conditions is 12.7 Hz. Based on field experiments, we verified that ELF electromagnetic waves can enable wireless wellbore communication within 1500 m without relays. We also analyzed the impact of casing thread deformation on ELF electromagnetic wave propagation due to high-temperature and high-pressure environments. We used simulation experiments to solve the distribution relationship between the electric and magnetic fields of the solenoids through casing and strata, as well as the coupling coefficients between the transmitting and receiving solenoids, and explore how different transmitting frequencies affect the efficiency of signal propagation. Both theories and experiments have verified the correctness of the model, and have also demonstrated the reliability and continuity of using ELF electromagnetic waves to achieve wireless wellbore communication, which provides a theoretical basis and feasibility for subsequent engineering applications.

IoT IP Overlay Network Security PerformanceAnalysis with Open Source Infrastructure Deployment

Some of the most deployed infrastructures nowadays are Overlay Networks (ONs). They consist of hardware and software components designed to establish private and secure communication channels, typically over the Internet. ONs are among the most reliable technologies for achieving this objective and represent the next-generation solution for secure communication. In this paper, we analyze important network performance metrics (RTT, bandwidth) while varying the type of Overlay Network used for interconnecting traffic between two or more hosts (within the same data center, in different data centers in the same building, or over the Internet). These networks establish connections between KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) instances rather than the typical Docker/LXC/Podman containers. The first analysis will assess network performance as it is, without any overlay channels. The second will establish various types of channels without encryption, and the final one will encapsulate overlay traffic via IPsec (Transport mode), where encrypted channels like VTI are not already available for use. The obtained performance is demonstrated through a comprehensive set of traffic-simulation campaigns.

Channel Characteristics of Hybrid Power Line Communication and Visible Light Communication Based on Distinct Optical Beam Configurations for 6G IoT Network

In the envisioned 6G internet of things (IoT), visible light communication (VLC) has emerged as one promising candidate to mitigate the frequency spectrum crisis. However, when working as the access point, VLC has to be connected with the backbone network via other wire communication solutions. Typically, power line communication (PLC) is viewed as an excellent match to VLC, which is capable of providing both a power supply and backbone network connection. Generally, the integration of PLC and VLC is taken into consideration for the above hybrid system for channel characteristics analysis. However, almost all current works focus on hybrid PLC and VLC, based on a conventional Lambertian optical beam configuration, and fail to address the applications of hybrid PLC and VLC based on distinct optical beam configurations. To address this issue, in this paper, the channel characteristics of hybrid PLC and VLC, based on distinct optical beam configurations, are explored and illustrated. Numerical results show that, for a central position of the receiver, compared with an achievable rate of about 194 Mbps for hybrid PLC and VLC with a baseline Lambertian optical beam configuration, the counterparts of a hybrid channel based on Rebel and NSPW optical beams are about 173.4 Mbps and 222.4 Mbps. Moreover, the effect of azimuth rotation is constructed and estimated for hybrid PLC and VLC, adopting a typical rotating asymmetric beam configuration.

EAIA: An Efficient and Anonymous Identity-Authentication Scheme in 5G-V2V.

Vehicle Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) have experienced significant development in recent years, playing a crucial role in enhancing the driving experience by enabling safer and more efficient inter-vehicle interactions through information exchange. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication is particularly vital as it not only helps to prevent collisions and improve traffic efficiency but also provides essential situational awareness to drivers or autonomous driving systems. Communication is typically supported by roadside units (RSUs); however, in practical applications, vehicles may exceed the communication range of RSUs, thus exposing them to various malicious attacks. Additionally, considering the limited computational resources of onboard units (OBUs) in vehicles, there is a high demand for designing lightweight security protocols that support V2V communication. To address this issue, this paper proposes an efficient anonymous V2V identity-authentication protocol tailored for scenarios that lack RSU support. The proposed protocol was formally assessed using the Scyther tool, demonstrating its capability to withstand major typical malicious attacks. Performance evaluations indicate that the proposed protocol is efficient in terms of communication and computational overhead, making it a viable solution for V2V communication.

LLM-Twin: mini-giant model-driven beyond 5G digital twin networking framework with semantic secure communication and computation

Beyond 5G networks provide solutions for next-generation communications, especially digital twins networks (DTNs) have gained increasing popularity for bridging physical and digital space. However, current DTNs pose some challenges, especially when applied to scenarios that require efficient and multimodal data processing. Firstly, current DTNs are limited in communication and computational efficiency, since they require to transmit large amounts of raw data collected from physical sensors, as well as to ensure model synchronization through high-frequency computation. Second, current models of DTNs are domain-specific (e.g. E-health), making it difficult to handle DT scenarios with multimodal data processing requirements. Finally, current security schemes for DTNs introduce additional overheads that impair the efficiency. Against the above challenges, we propose a large language model (LLM) empowered DTNs framework, LLM-Twin. First, based on LLM, we propose digital twin semantic networks (DTSNs), which enable more efficient communication and computation. Second, we design a mini-giant model collaboration scheme, which enables efficient deployment of LLM in DTNs and is adapted to handle multimodal data. Then, we designed a native security policy for LLM-twin without compromising efficiency. Numerical experiments and case studies demonstrate the feasibility of LLM-Twin. To our knowledge, this is the first to propose an LLM-based semantic-level DTNs.

Novel highly dispersive soliton solutions in couplers for optical metamaterials: leveraging generalized Kudryashov’s Law of refractive index with eighth-order dispersion and multiplicative white noise

This article represents a significant advancement in the understanding of highly dispersive optical solitons within the context of optical metamaterials, leveraging a generalized form of Kudryashov’s law of refractive index. By integrating eighth-order dispersion and multiplicative white noise into the analysis, crucial elements in the development and optimization of sophisticated optical metamaterials are accounted for in this current paper for the first time. Through an improved direct algebraic method, a diverse range of soliton solutions are derived, encompassing bright, dark, singular, and straddled solitons. Moreover, the study goes beyond mere derivation by presenting exact solutions expressed using Jacobi and Weierstrass’s elliptic functions. This mathematical framework offers deeper insights into the dynamics of solitons within the investigated context. These findings substantially expand the theoretical underpinnings governing optical solitons in metamaterials, with direct implications for the design, and implementation of next-generation optical devices. The bridging of theoretical advancements with practical applications underscores the significance of this work. By elucidating precise control over soliton properties, it lays the groundwork for innovative solutions in optical communications and beyond. Also, this research serves as a crucial stepping stone towards realizing the full potential of optical metamaterials in shaping the future of optical technologies.

Analysis of patterns related to wildlife roadkill in the Humid Chaco of Paraguay

Paved roads are a solution for communication between human societies, but at the same time, their expansion is detrimental to wildlife. In this work, vertebrate mortality events due to traffic collisions on National Route N° 5, in a 50 km stretch from the town of Pozo Colorado to the east, are evaluated. Vehicle journeys were carried out at a constant speed of 40 km/h every two months, from November 2020 to May 2022. All findings of roadkill were recorded by photograph. To analyse spatial patterns, the Kernel density was estimated, assessing the randomness of Ripley's K collisions and standardised roadkill rates were assessed for each species. A total of 272 individuals were recorded, corresponding to 87 amphibians, 38 birds and 35 mammals. In terms of the number of species, the composition was as follows: reptiles with 20 species, birds with 13 species, mammals with 11 and amphibians with at least 12 species. The species with the highest number of dead individuals was the common toad (Rhinella diptycha), followed by snakes. According to the standardised roadkill rates, the most affected animals are Cerdocyon thous, Rhinella diptycha, Caiman yacare and Dryophylax hypoconia with more than 200 individuals per kilometre per year. A bat, Lasiurus ega, was identified for the first time for Paraguay. Climatic conditions seems to have no strong effect on the occurrence pattern of the different taxa, with the exception of birds that decrease with stronger winds. The greatest coincidences occurred in three sections: km 5–5.5, km 33.5–34.5 and km 40–43. There was a correlation with crossroads areas, watercourses and forest islands. In view of the road development policy in the region, it is necessary to carry out studies of its impacts in the longer term.

The Pope of the Rain: The Extraordinary Solitude in the Media

The COVID-19 pandemic produced substantial and sudden changes in the reality of everyday life and in the collective construction of meaning. Questions arose: how should events occurring within an empty reality be broadcast? And, even before that, what structure is needed to make these events transmissible and interpretable, coping with the fact that they happen within a framework of lack of relationships and absolute silence? By analysing the worldwide live recording broadcast on 27 March 2020, commonly known as “the pope alone in Saint Peter’s Square during the pandemic”, this paper identifies a series of communicative solutions adopted by television. These range from making visible what should be hidden, to variously filling the emptiness by modifying the spatial colocation of the event, to an even more extreme solution, in which the emptiness remains as it is, and a rare semantic case occurs in which the sign coincides with its meaning. The latter is what I label the “pope of the rain” solution.

EMAKAS: An efficient three-factor mutual authentication and key-agreement scheme for IoT environment

The adoption of IoT in healthcare revolutionizes remote patient monitoring and healthcare efficiency. Yet, it brings notable security and privacy challenges, particularly in resource-constrained environment. We propose a secure and efficient three-factor lightweight mutual authentication and key agreement scheme, designed for IoT-based smart healthcare systems, addressing these critical concerns. The scheme employs a fuzzy extractor, a one-way hash function, Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm and XOR operations for efficient cryptographic transformations, creating a robust framework for secure data handling. The scheme's design focuses on security and privacy while minimizing computational demands, making it ideal for resource-constrained IoT devices. We utilized both informal and formal security analyses to validate our scheme, employing the Random Oracle Model (ROM), Scyther tool and Burrows-Abadi-Needham (BAN) logic. The security and performance analysis showed that our scheme offers more security features across 15 defined criteria with minimal communication and computational costs compared to other related schemes. The scheme is not only robust against security threats but also practical for implementation in IoT healthcare environment, offering a solution for secure IoT communication by achieving mutual authentication and key agreement with minimized computational requirements.