In this paper, a novel model of Gaussian pulse propagation in optical fiber is proposed to comprehensively analyze the impact of Group Velocity Dispersion (GVD) on the performance of two-dimensional wavelength hopping/time spreading optical code division multiple access (2-D WH/TS OCDMA) systems. In addition, many noise and interferences, including multiple access interference (MAI), optical beating interference (OBI), and receiver's noise are included in the analysis. Besides, we propose to use the heterodyne detection receiver so that the receiver's sensitivity can be improved. Analytical results show that, under the impact of GVD, the number of supportable users is extremely decreased and the maximum transmission length (i.e. the length at which BER 10-9 can be maintained) is remarkably shortened in the case of normal single mode fiber (ITU-T G.652) is used. The main factor that limits the system performance is time skewing. In addition, we show how the impact of GVD is relieved by dispersion-shifted fiber (ITU-T G.653). For example, a system with 321 Gbit/s users can achieve a maximum transmission length of 111 km when transmitted optical power per bit is -5 dBm.

Both spatial diversity and multihop relaying are considered to be effective methods for mitigating the impact of atmospheric turbulence-induced fading on the performance of free-space optical (FSO) systems. Multihop relaying can significantly reduce the impact of fading by relaying the information over a number of shorter hops. However, it is not feasible or economical to deploy relays in many practical scenarios. Spatial diversity could substantially reduce the fading variance by introducing additional degrees of freedom in the spatial domain. Nevertheless, its superiority is diminished when the fading sub-channels are correlated. In this paper, our aim is to study the fundamental performance limits of spatial diversity suffering from correlated Gamma-Gamma (G-G) fading channels in multihop coherent FSO systems. For the performance analysis, we propose to approximate the sum of correlated G-G random variables (RVs) as a G-G RV, which is then verified by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) goodness-of-fit statistical test. Performance metrics, including the outage probability and the ergodic capacity, are newly derived in closed-form expressions and thoroughly investigated. Monte-Carlo (M-C) simulations are also performed to validate the analytical results.

HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) has become a popular solution for media delivery over the mobile Internet. However, existing HAS systems are based on the pull-based HTTP/1.1 protocol, leading to high overheads (e.g., in terms of energy, processing, bandwidth) for clients, servers, as well as network nodes. The new HTTP/2 protocol provides a server push feature, which allows the client to receive more than one video segment for each request in order to reduce request-related overheads. In this study, we propose an adaptation method to leverage the push feature of HTTP/2. Our method takes into account not only the request-related overhead but also buffer stability and gradual transitions. The experimental results show that our proposed method performs well under strong throughput variations of mobile networks.

Deployment of machine-type communications (MTCs) over the current cellular network could lead to severe overloading of the radio access network of Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based systems. This paper proposes a slotted access-based solution, called the Slotted Access For Group Paging (SAFGP), to cope with the paging-induced MTC traffic. The proposed SAFGP splits paged devices into multiple access groups, and each group is then allocated separate radio resources on the LTE's Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) in a periodic manner during the paging interval. To support the proposed scheme, a new adaptive barring algorithm is proposed to stabilize the number of successful devices in each dedicated access slot. The objective is to let as few devices transmitting preambles in an access slot as possible while ensuring that the number of preambles selected by exactly one device approximates the maximum number of uplink grants that can be allocated by the eNB for an access slot. Analysis and simulation results demonstrate that, given the same amount of time-frequency resources, the proposed method significantly improves the access success and resource utilization rates at the cost of slightly increasing the access delay compared to state-of-the-art methods.

This paper proposes the concept of adaptive multi-rate (AMR), which jointly employs switching between two links and adaptive rate on each link, for hybrid free-space optical/radio-frequency (FSO/RF) systems. Moreover, we present the cross-layer design of AMR switching, which is based on both the physical and link layers with an automatic-repeat request (ARQ) scheme. We develop an analytical framework based on a Markov chain model for system performance analysis. System performance metrics, including frame-error rate, goodput and link switching probability, are analytically studied over fading channels. Numerical results quantitatively show how the proposal significantly outperforms conventional ones with physical layer-based design and/or fixed-rate switching operation.

It is crucial to provide Internet videos with the best possible content value (or quality) to users. To adapt to network fluctuations, existing solutions provide various client-based heuristics to change video versions without considering the actual quality. In this work, we present for the first time the use of a quality model in making adaptation decisions to improve the overall quality. The proposed method also estimates the buffer level in the near future to prevent the client from buffer underflows. Experiment results show that the proposed method is able to provide high and consistent video quality under strongly fluctuating bandwidths.

This paper proposes and theoretically evaluates two different schemes of code acquisition for pulse-position modulation (PPM) and overlapping PPM (OPPM) fiber-optic code-division multiple-access (CDMA) systems, namely threshold-based and demodulator-based code acquisition. Single-dwell detector and serial-search algorithm are employed for both schemes. Theoretical analysis is carried out for shot-noise-limited photon-counting receiver. Discussions upon effects of various parameter settings on the performance of code acquisition for PPM/OPPM fiber-optic CDMA systems, such as index of overlap, PPM/OPPM multiplicity, average photon counts per information nat, and darkcurrents, are presented. It is shown that when the threshold is properly selected, the threshold-based code acquisition system offers better performance, in terms of mean number of training frames, than the demodulator-based one.

This paper newly proposes and theoretically analyzes the performance of multi-hop free-space optical (FSO) systems employing optical amplify-and-forward (OAF) relaying technique and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). The proposed system can provide a low cost, low latency, high flexibility, and large bandwidth access network for multiple users in areas where installation of optical fiber is unfavorable. In WDM/FSO systems, WDM channels suffer from the interchannel crosstalk while FSO channels can be severely affected by the atmospheric turbulence. These impairments together with the accumulation of background and amplifying noises over multiple relays significantly degrade the overall system performance. To deal with this problem, the use of the M-ary pulse position modulation (M-PPM) together with the OAF relaying technique is advocated as a powerful remedy to mitigate the effects of atmospheric turbulence. For the performance analysis, we use a realistic model of Gaussian pulse propagation to investigate major atmospheric effects, including signal turbulence and pulse broadening. We qualitatively discuss the impact of various system parameters, including the required average transmitted powers per information bit corresponding to specific values of bit error rate (BER), transmission distance, number of relays, and turbulence strength. Our numerical results are also thoroughly validated by Monte-Carlo (M-C) simulations.

The present paper introduces a novel method for the construction of a class of sequences that have a zero-correlation zone. For the proposed sequence set, both the cross-correlation function and the side lobe of the auto-correlation function are zero for phase shifts within the zero-correlation zone. The proposed scheme can generate a set of sequences of length 8n2 from an arbitrary Hadamard matrix of order n and a set of 2n trigonometric-like function sequences of length 4n. The proposed sequence construction can generate an optimal zero-correlation zone sequence set that satisfies the theoretical bound on the number of members for the given zero-correlation zone and sequence period. The auto-correlation function of the proposed sequence is equal to zero for all nonzero phase shifts. The peak factor of the proposed sequence set is √2, and the peak factor of a single trigonometric function is equal to √2. Assigning the sequences of the proposed set to a synthetic aperture ultrasonic imaging system would improve the S/N of the obtained image. The proposed sequence set can also improve the performance of radar systems. The performance of the applications of the proposed sequence sets are evaluated.

We theoretically study the performance of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) free-space optical (FSO) systems using subcarrier quadrature modulation (SC-QAM) signaling. The system average symbol-error rate (ASER) is derived taking into account the atmospheric turbulence effects on the MIMO/FSO channel, which is modeled by log-normal and the gamma-gamma distributions for weak and moderate-to-strong turbulence conditions. We quantitatively discuss the influence of index of refraction structure parameter, link distance, and different MIMO configurations on the system ASER. We also analytically derive and discuss the MIMO/FSO average (ergodic) channel capacity (ACC), which is expressed in terms of average spectral efficiency (ASE), under the impact of various channel conditions. Monte Carlo simulations are also performed to validate the mathematical analysis, and a good agreement between numerical and simulation results is confirmed.

We propose Turbo-coded two-dimensional (2-D) free-space optical (FSO) CDMA systems for broadband access networks. The performance bound for the proposed system over atmospheric turbulence channels is obtained considering multiple-access interference (MAI) and receiver noise. The results show that the proposed system offers a better performance than that of previously proposed ones. Also, it has a better tolerance to the atmospheric turbulence and the increase in the number of users.

HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) has become a popular solution for multimedia delivery nowadays. Because of throughput variations, video quality fluctuates during a streaming session. Therefore, a main challenge in HAS is how to evaluate the overall video quality of a session. In this paper, we explore the impacts of quality values and quality variations in HAS. We propose to use the histogram of segment quality values and the histogram of quality gradients in a session to model the overall video quality. Subjective test results show that the proposed model has very high prediction performance for different videos. Especially, the proposed model provides insights into the influence factors of the overall quality, thus leading to suggestions to improve the quality of streaming video.

Designing a medium access control (MAC) protocol is a key for implementing any practical wireless network. In general, a MAC protocol is responsible for coordinating users in accessing spectrum resources. Given that a user in cognitive radio(CR) networks do not have priority in accessing spectrum resources, MAC protocols have to perform dynamic spectrum access (DSA) functions, including spectrum sensing, spectrum access, spectrum allocation, spectrum sharing and spectrum mobility, beside conventional control procedure. As a result, designing MAC protocols for CR networks requires more complicated consideration than that needed for conventional/primary wireless network. In this paper, we focus on two major perspectives related to the design of a CR-MAC protocol: dynamic spectrum access functions and network infrastructure. Five DSA functions are reviewed from the point of view of MAC protocol design. In addition, some important factors related to the infrastructure of a CR network including network architecture, control channel management, the number of radios in the CR device and the number of transmission data channels are also discussed. The remaining challenges and open research issues are addressed for future research to aim at obtaining practical CR-MAC protocols.

This paper theoretically evaluates the performance of overlapping pulse-position modulation (OPPM) fiber-optic code-division multiple-access (FO-CDMA) systems in the presence of code synchronization errors. The analysis is carried out with a constraint on throughput-pulsewidth product. Discussions on effects of various system parameters, such as timing offset, index of overlap, number of users, are presented. The results show that the OPPM FO-CDMA systems with high index of overlaps have better resistance against imperfect synchronization. In fact, the acceptable performance could be maintained even with timing offsets of up to 30% of chip pulsewidth. On the other hand, strict code synchronization is necessarily required, preferably within a half code chip pulsewidth.

The study focuses on the adaptation problem for HTTP low-delay live streaming over mobile networks. In this context, the client's small buffer could be easily underflown due to throughput variations. To maintain seamless streaming, we present a probabilistic approach to adaptively decide the bitrate for each video segment by taking into account the instant buffer level. The experimental results show that the proposed method can significantly reduce buffer underflows while providing high video bitrates.

We propose a multiple dwell serial search (MDSS) code acquisition for optical code-division multiple-access (O-CDMA) systems and theoretically analyze its performance. The search/lock strategy (SLS) is used as verification scheme for the multiple dwell detector. The operation of SLS is modeled by finite Markov chain to analyze the performance of the proposed system. Effect of system parameters, such as number of users, threshold and mean photon count per chip, on the performance of the proposed system is investigated. The theoretical result shows that the performance of the proposed system is less sensitive to parameter settings than the conventional single dwell serial search (SDSS) code acquisition system is. In addition, the proposed MDSS code acquisition system offers shorter mean acquisition time than that of conventional SDSS system.

360 videos have recently become a popular virtual reality content type. However, a good quality metric for 360 videos is still an open issue. In this work, our goal is to identify appropriate objective quality metrics for 360 video communications. Especially, fourteen objective quality measures at different processing phases are considered. Also, a subjective test is conducted in this study. The relationship between objective quality and subjective quality is investigated. It is found that most of the PSNR-related quality measures are well correlated with subjective quality. However, for evaluating video quality across different contents, a content-based quality metric is needed.

The present paper introduces a novel type of structured ternary sequences having a zero-correlation zone (zcz) for both periodic and aperiodic correlation functions. The cross-correlation function and the side lobe of the auto-correlation function of the proposed sequence set are zero for phase shifts within the zcz. The proposed zcz sequence set can be generated from an arbitrary pair of an Hadamard matrix of order lh and a binary/ternary perfect sequence of length lp. The sequence set of order 0 is identical to the r-th row of the Hadamard matrix. For m ≥ 0, the sequence set of order (m+1) is constructed from the sequence set of order m by sequence concatenation and interleaving. The sequence set has lp subsets of size 2lh. The periodic correlation function and the aperiodic correlation function of the proposed sequence set have a zcz from -(2m+1-1) to 2m+1-1. The periodic correlation function and the aperiodic correlation function of the sequences of the i-th subset and k-th subset have a zcz from -2m+2-(lh+1)((j-k) mod lp) to -2m+2-(lh+1)((j-k) mod lp). The proposed sequence is suitable for a heterogeneous wireless network, which is one of the candidates for the fifth-generation mobile networks.

This paper proposes and theoretically analyzes the performance of amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying free-space optical (FSO) systems using avalanche photodiode (APD) over atmospheric turbulence channels. APD is used at each relay node and at the destination for optical signal conversion and amplification. Both serial and parallel relaying configurations are considered and the subcarrier binary phase-shift keying (SC-BPSK) signaling is employed. Closed-form expressions for the outage probability and the bit-error rate (BER) of the proposed system are analytically derived, taking into account the accumulating amplification noise as well as the receiver noise at the relay nodes and at the destination. Monte-Carlo simulations are used to validate the theoretical analysis, and an excellent agreement between the analytical and simulation results is confirmed.

We theoretically analyze the performance of free-space optical (FSO) systems using cooperative-ARQ (C-ARQ), a joint scheme of automatic-repeat-request (ARQ) and cooperative diversity, over atmospheric turbulence channels. We also propose a modified C-ARQ (M-C-ARQ) scheme that allows relay nodes to store a copy of frames for the more efficient response to transmission failure so that both transmission delay and energy consumption can be improved. Using Markov chain-based analytical models for both schemes, the system performance is analytically studied in terms of frame-error rate, goodput and energy efficiency, which directly reflect the transmission delay and energy consumption. Numerical results confirm that the proposed schemes outperform conventional ones. In addition, we discuss cross-layer design strategies for selecting parameters in both physical and link layers in order to optimize the performance of FSO systems over different atmospheric turbulence conditions and channel distances.