CAREER: Mobile Network Support for Collaborative Environments

随着移动设备的普及和接受度的提高，各种新的应用程序正在出现。一个值得注意的趋势是对富媒体内容的渴望。富媒体内容的传递将改变计算。将从这种新内容中获益的一个特定领域是在线协作。这项工作的重点是在线协作的协作服务的移动网络支持，目标应用程序是协作学习环境。对该环境的要求包括集成使用实时多媒体流、存储媒体流和语音流，以及对嵌入环境中的业务进行自动检测。为了支持协作环境，正在解决以下挑战：(i)设计和分析针对移动无线环境特性进行优化的先进媒体的网络支持；（ii）订明资源监察和主动联网的机制，以便根据网络和终端设备资源向用户提供最优质的服务；以及（iii）开发自动检测和提供服务，以便移动用户可以发现和利用其当前位置附近的服务，并向其他移动用户提供服务。这项工作将导致支持移动网络内协作服务的技术的发展。灾难控制、行政管理、教育和公共安全等许多应用都可能从中受益。这项工作的直接影响是通过参与这项研究对本科生和研究生的教育。

As the ubiquity and acceptance of mobile devices increases, a variety of new applications are emerging. One noticeable trend is the desire for media-rich content. The delivery of media-rich content is poised to transform computing. One specific area that will reap significant benefit from this new content is on-line collaboration. The focus of this work is the mobile network support of collaboration services for on-line collaborations, and the target application is a Collaborative Learning Environment. The requirements for this environment include the integrated use of real-time multimedia streaming, stored media streaming and voice streams, as well as automatic detection of services embedded in the environment. To support the collaborative environment, the following challenges are being addressed: (i) the design and analysis of network support for advanced media that is optimized for the characteristics of mobile wireless environments; (ii) the specification of mechanisms for resource monitoring and proactive networking, whereby the optimal service quality can be delivered to users based on the network and end device resources; and (iii) the development of automatic detection and provisioning of services, such that mobile users can discover and utilize services near their current location, as well as offer services to other mobile users. This work will result in the development of techniques for supporting collaboration services within mobile networks. Numerous applications, such as disaster control, administration, education, and public safety are likely to benefit. An immediate impact of this work is the education of undergraduate and graduate students through participation in this research.