Topic Code : AJ1

Title: Wireless LAN connection for MZ104 Microcomputer, 2 students

     

    Summary: In this project, the hardware and software required to connect MZ104 to wireless LAN will be developed. The hardware design part is minimal but you need to install an appropriate version of Linux OS on this computer and then design a driver software to connect the computer to the wireless LAN. Good background in computer architecture and software design is essential to carry out the project.

     

Topic Code : AJ2

Title: Ethernet versus ATM in Long-Delay Communications Channels, 1 student

     

    Summary: Ethernet and ATM provide different characteristics in wired networks and both are widely used. In this project, we will consider the performance of these two leading technologies when they are used in networks that suffer from high propagation delays, such in long-distance communications or in a satellite wireless network. The project requires good programming skills in C++ or MATLAB and requires some initial mathematical analysis and readings in the beginning of the project. The student working on this project will need some initial literature survey and reading on Ethernet and ATM networks and then find performance measures that are necessary to be considered in this performance comparison. Knowledge on digital communications is not necessary for performing the project but would be helpful.

     

Topic Code : AJ3

Title: Performance Study of TCP and Modifications in Wireless Networks, 2 student

     

    Summary: TCP is the most widely used protocol at transport layer of the network stack. Its flow control mechanism is based on time out and window-size adjustment that can work with high utilization in wired network with low bit error rates (BER) in the order of 10-8. However, in the case of wireless channel in which the BER is in the order of 10-3 or more, it cannot work efficiently. The reason is that in those wireless channels the main cause for the packet loss is the high BER and not the congestion as we have in wired network. The low efficiency of the TCP on wireless channel comes as a result of this fact that the TCP cannot distinguish between the packet loss because of high error rate and that of congestion. In both cases, after time out the TCP decrease its window size, which results in low throughput in the network. In this project, the student will compare the performance of TCP over channels with high BER and tries to develop a method to improve the performance of TCP. The project requires sufficient background in data networking and the skill in writing computer programs on C++ or MATLAB.

     

Topic Code : AJ4

Title: Modification of RTP and RTCP for Wireless Channels, 2 students

     

    Summary: Real time protocol (RTP) and real time control protocol (RTCP) are sublayers added to the network stack in order to transmit traffic generated from real time applications such as voice and video over the Internet. In this project, you will study the two protocols in details and will work to modify them for wireless channel with high error rate and latency. You will need to develop simulation platform for evaluating the performance of RTP and RTCP in wired and wireless networks and design new ideas for efficient transport of real time traffic over the wireless channel. Good background on software design will be essential to carry out the project tasks.

     

Topic Code : AJ5

Title: Study the M16C micro-controller and Development, 2 students

     

    Summary: M16C micro-controller boards are 16-bit machines, programmed in C. The boards have an M16C/62 with 256KB Flash ROM & 20KB RAM, A/D, D/A, two 7-segment LEDs, 16MHz main clock & 32KHz subclock, reset IC, switches, 5V regulator, RS232 driver chip, 96-pin DIN connector for application board interface, KD30 Debugger via PC serial port, and Flash ROM programming software. They come with development system software. In this project, you will review the specification of these boards and relevant development software and then plan and design a computerized control system using this board. The plan will be based on your research on capability of the board and your ideas to be consulted by the supervisor. Good background in computer architecture and software design is essential to carry out the project. You might be eligible to enter into a competition organized by Mitsubishi this year.

     

Topic Code : AJ6

Title: Study on 3G Network Harmonization, 1 students

     

    Summary: Third generation wireless networks basically have two different approaches: wideband CDMA UMTS and cdma2000. Third generation partnership project (3GPP) and third generation partnership project 2 (3GPP2) have been set up to standardize these two directions, respectively. Recently, new organizations such as global 3G (G3G) and mobile wireless Internet forum (MWIF) are working to harmonize the two directions so that in future mobile Internet can be realized in a global form and with a single standard. In this project, you will investigate the activities toward this harmonization and document all relevant materials. A student keen to search and read technical papers is essential for this project. Nonetheless, the student must have good background in basic digital communications.

     

Topic Code : AJ7

Title: Admission and Congestion Control Algorithms for Cellular Networks, 1 student

     

    Summary: In order to handle the ever-increasing traffic on cellular networks sophisticated traffic management techniques are essential. Admission and congestion controls are among most important traffic management techniques. In this project, you will investigate admission and congestion control schemes used in cellular networks such as GSM in the past and find out their deficiencies for being used in 3G networks. You need to have a strong background in digital communications, keen to search for and read many technical papers, and be able to perform computer simulation to evaluate traffic management schemes.

     

Topic Code : AJ8

Title: Simulation Platforms for Wireless Networks, 1 student

 

Summary: Telecommunication network researchers are using simulation packages like Opnet, NS2, Glomosim, etc. to evaluate the performance of communication networks. Every simulation package has its own advantages and disadvantages and therefore, every researcher uses the one that fits some specific requirements. In this project, you will investigate and find all simulation packages and compare their abilities to be used for research in communication networks. Simulation packages are included the above mentioned ones but not limited to those. You will need to perform small simulation on each package in order to compare their performance.