Mobile Computing

 Mobile Computing
Mobile (Moving)+ Computing ( using computer)

 Mobile Computing is an umbrella term used to

describe technologies that enable people to
access network services anyplace, anytime, and
anywhere
 Today, technological advances are shaping a new computing
environment where the user is free from the need to work at
a specific location, and is even enabled to work while on the
move.
 This new paradigm is often called MOBILE COMPUTING.

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 What Is Mobility ?
 A device that moves
 Between different geographical locations
 Between different networks
 Between different applications
 Such as Palm-top, laptop, Cell phones

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 Introduction to Mobile Systems
 mobility: user mobility and device portability.
 User mobility refers to a user who has access to the same or
similar telecommunication services at different places, i.e., the user
can be mobile, and the services will follow him or her.
e.g., the desktop looks the same no matter which computer a user
uses to log into the network

 With device portability, the communication device moves (with

or without a user).
e.g. mobile phone system, where the system itself hands the device
from one radio transmitter (also called a base station) to the next if
the signal becomes too weak .
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 A communication device can thus exhibit one of the
following characteristics:
 Fixed and wired: This configuration describes the typical desktop
computer in an office .
 Mobile and wired . Many of todays laptops fall into this category. We
carry the laptop from one hotel to the next, reconnecting to company’s
network via the telephone network and a modem.
 Fixed and wireless : This mode is used for installing networks, e.g., in
historical buildings to avoid damage by installing wires, or at trade shows
to ensure fast network setup.

 Mobile and wireless: This is the most interesting case. No cable

restricts the user, who can roam between different wireless networks.

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 Applications of mobile computing
 Vehicles
 transmission of news, road condition, weather, music .
 personal communication using GSM
 position via GPS
 local ad-hoc network with vehicles close-by to prevent accidents, guidance system,
redundancy
 vehicle data (e.g., from busses, high-speed trains) can be transmitted in advance for
maintenance
 Medical
 Nurses/Doctors in Medical offices are now using Wireless Tablet PCs/WLAN to
collect and share patient information.
 Sales
 Sales representatives are using Tablet PCs with Smart phones for presentation,
transmitting/access information among office, hotel, and customer location.
 Emergencies
 Early transmission of patient data to the hospital, current status, first diagnosis
 Provide mobile infrastructure in dealing with Natural Disaster (earthquake,
hurricane, fire), terrorist attacks, war, ...

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 Wireless Technology
 The term wireless networking refers to technology that enables
two or more computers to communicate using standard network
protocols but without network cabling.

Wireless Communication
 Transmitting/receiving voice and data using electromagnetic
waves in open space.

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 Why Wireless Communication?
 Freedom from wires
 Global Coverage
 Stay connected
 Flexibility
 services reach you wherever you go.

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 Challenges
 Efficient Hardware
 Low power transmitter, receiver
 Low power signal processing tools
 Efficiency use of finite radio spectrum.
 Integrated services
 Multimedia requirement

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 Fundamental Challenges in Mobile
Computing
 Mobile devices are resource-constrained.
 Mobile devices rely on batteries.
• Energy consumption due to:
– Computation (CPU, co-processors)
– Display
– Communication
– Sensing
• Energy-efficient algorithms are needed.
 Computational constraints
 Memory constraints

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 Mobile connectivity is highly variable in performance
and reliability.
 Various types of connectivity:
– Cellular (GSM, 3G, 4G, etc.)
– WiFi
– Bluetooth
 Constraints related to:
– Coverage issues
– Trade-offs: energy consumption, throughput, costs

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  Mobile Devices are Inherently Less Secure
 Wireless not wired communication:
– Eavesdropping.
– Need for encrypted communication.
 Devices can be stolen:
– Devices might also be accessible by everyone (for
example, sensors).

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 Wireless and Mobile Networks
 Number of wireless (mobile) phone subscribers now
exceeds number wired phone subscribers!
• Number of wireless Internet-connected devices soon
to exceed number of wired Internet-connected devices
– laptops, Internet-enabled phones promise anytime
Internet access
 Two important (but different) challenges
– wireless: communication over wireless link
– mobility: handling the mobile user who changes point of
attachment to network

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 Wireless
Transmission
Basics
Spectrum and bandwidth
• Electromagnetic signals are made up of many
frequencies
• Shown in the next example

s(t ) = (4 /  ) [sin( 2ft ) + 1 / 3(sin 2 (3 f )t )]

FIG 1
Spectrum and bandwidth

• The 2nd frequency is an integer multiple of the first

frequency
– When all of the frequency components of a signal
are integer multiples of one frequency, the latter
frequency is called fundamental frequency (f)
– period of the resultant signal is equal to the period
of the fundamental frequency
• Period of s(t) is T=1/f
Fourier Analysis

• Any signal is made up of components at various

frequencies, in which each component is a sinusoid.
– Adding enough sinusoidal signals with appropriate
amplitude, frequency and phase, any
electromagnetic signal can be constructed
Spectrum and bandwidth

• It is the range of frequencies that a signal contains (among

its components)
– In the example, spectrum is from f to 3f
– absolute bandwidth is the width of the spectrum
• 3f-f = 2f
Gain and Loss
 Ratio between power levels of two signals is referred to as
Gain
 gain (dB) = 10 log10 (Pout/Pin)
 loss (dB) = -10 log10 (Pout/Pin) = 10 log10 (Pin/Pout)
 Pout is output power level and Pin is input power level
 Signal of power 10mw transmitted over wireless channel,
and receiver receives the signal with 2mw power:
 gain (db) = 10 log10 (2/10) = -10 (0.698) = -6.98 dB
 loss (db) = 6.98 dB
dBW power
 dB-Watt
 power in dB transmitted with respect to a base power of 1 Watt
 dBW = 10 log10 P
 P is power transmitted in Watt
 if power transmitted is 1 Watt
 dBW = 10 log10 1 = 0 dBW
 1000 watt transmission is 30 dBW
dBm power
 dB-milliwatt
 better metric in wireless network
 power in dB transmitted with respect to a base power of 1
milliwatt
 dBm = 10 log10 P
 P is power transmitted in milliwatt
 if power transmitted is 1 milliwatt
 dBm = 10 log10 1 = 0 dBm
 10 milliwatt transmission is 10 dBm
 802.11b can transmit at a maximum power of 100mw = 20
dBm
Channel Capacity
Four concepts :
 Data Rate : rate (in bps) at which data can be
communicated
 Bandwidth: bandwidth of the transmitted signal as
constrained by the transmitter and the medium,
expressed in Hz
 Noise : interfering electromagnetic signal that tend to
reduce the integrity of data signal
 Error rate : rate at which receiver receives bits in error
i.e. it receives a 0 when actually a 1 was sent and vice-
versa
Nyquist Bandwidth
 Given a bandwidth of B, the highest signal rate that can be
carried is 2B (when signal transmitted is binary (two voltage
levels))
 When M voltage levels are used, then each signal level can
represent log2M bits. Hence the Nyquist bandwidth (capacity) is
given by
C = 2 B log2M
Shannon’s Capacity Formula
 When there is noise in the medium, capacity is given by
 C <= B log2 (1 + SNR)
 SNR = signal power/noise power
 SNRdB = 10 log10 SNR
Bandwidth Allocation
 Necessary to avoid interference between different radio
devices
 Microwave woven should not interfere with TV
transmission
 Generally a radio transmitter is limited to a certain
bandwidth
 802.11channel has 30MHz bandwidth
 Power and placement of transmitter are regulated by
authority
 Consumer devices are generally limited to less than 1W
power
ISM and UNII Band
 Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band
 902-928 MHz in the USA
 433 and 868 MHz in Europe
 2400 MHz – 2483.5 MHz (license-free almost
everywhere)
 Peak power 1W (30dBm)
 but most devices operate at 100mW or less
 802.11 uses the ISM band of 2.4GHz
 Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII)
bands
 5.725 – 5.875 GHz
Antenna
 An electrical conductor or system of conductors used for
radiating electromagnetic energy into space or for collecting
electromagnetic energy from the space
 An integral part of a wireless system
Radiation Patterns
 Antenna radiates power in all directions
 but typically does not radiate equally in all directions
 Ideal antenna is one that radiates equal power in all direction
 called an isotropic antenna
 all points with equal power are located on a sphere with the
antenna as its center
Omnidirectional Antenna
 Produces omnidirectional
radiation pattern of
A
equal strength in all
B
directions
 Vector A and B are
of equal length

Antenna location

Omnidirectional Antenna
Directional Antenna
 Radiates most power in one
axis (direction)
 radiates less in other
direction
A
 vector B is longer than B
vector A : more power X
radiated along B than A
 directional along X
 Signal Propagation
 Transmission range:
receiver receives signal with
an error rate low enough to
be able to communicate
 Detection range: transmitted
power is high enough to
detect the transmitter, but
sender
high error rate forbids
communication transmission
 Interference range: sender
interferes with other detection
transmissions by adding to the interference
noise
Signal Propagation
 Radio waves exhibit three fundamental propagation
behavior
 Ground wave (< 2 MHz) : waves with low frequency
follow earth’s surface
 can propagate long distances
 Used for submarine communication or AM radio
 Sky wave (2-30 MHz) : waves reflect at the ionosphere and
bounce back and forth between ionosphere and earth ,
travelling around the world
 Used by international broadcast and amateur radio
 Signal propagation

receiver
transmitter
earth

Ground wave propagation (< 2 MHz)

 ionosphere

Signal propagation

receiver
transmitter
earth

sky wave propagation (2 - 30MHz)

Signal Propagation
 Line of Sight (> 30 MHz) : emitted waves follow a straight line
of sight
 allows straight communication with satellites or microwave links on the
ground
 used by mobile phone system, satellite systems
 Signal propagation
receiver
transmitter

earth

Line of Sight (LOS) propagation (> 30 MHz)

Free Space loss
• Transmitted signal attenuates over distance because it
is spread over larger and larger area
– This is known as free space loss and for isotropic antennas
– An isotropic antenna is an ideal antenna that radiates its
power uniformly in all directions. There is no actual
physical isotropic antenna
Pt (4d ) 2 (4fd ) 2
= =
Pr 2
c2
Pt = power at the transmitting antenna
Pr = power at the receiving antenna
λ = carrier wavelength
d = propagation distance between the antennas
c = speed of light
Thermal Noise
 Thermal noise is introduced due to thermal agitation of electrons
 Present in all transmission media and all electronic devices
 a function of temperature
 uniformly distributed across the frequency spectrum and hence is often
referred to as white noise
 amount of noise found in a bandwidth of 1 Hz is
N0 = k T
N0 = noise power density in watts per 1 Hz of bandwidth
k = Boltzman’s constant = 1.3803 x 10-23 J/K
T = temperature, in Kelvins
N = thermal noise in watts present in a bandwidth of B
= kTB
Multipath Propagation
 Wireless signal can arrive at the receiver through different
paths
 LOS
 Reflections from objects
 Diffraction
 Occurs at the edge of an impenetrable body that is large compared to the
wavelength of the signal
Multipath Propagation (source: Stallings)
Effect of Multipath Propagation
 Multiple copies of the signal may arrive with different phases.
If the phases add destructively, the signal level reduces
relative to noise.
 Inter Symbol Interference (ISI)
Multiplexing
 A fundamental mechanism in communication system and
networks
 Enables multiple users to share a medium
 For wireless communication, multiplexing can be carried out
in four dimensions: time, frequency and code
Frequency Division Multiplexing
 Frequency domain is subdivided into several non-overlapping
frequency bands
 Each channel is assigned its own frequency band (with guard
spaces in between)
Frequency Division Multiplexing

Source : Schiller
Time Division Multiplexing
 A channel is given the whole bandwidth for a certain amount
of time
 All senders use the same frequency, but at different point of
time
Time Division Multiplexing

Source : Schiller
Frequency and time division
multiplexing
 A channel use a certain frequency for a certain amount of
time and then uses a different frequency at some other time
 Used in GSM systems
Frequency and time division
multiplexing

Source : Schiller
Code division multiplexing
 separation of channels achieved by assigning each channel
its own code
 guard spaces are realized by having distance in code space
(e.g. orthogonal codes)
 transmitter can transmit in the same frequency band at
the same time, but have to use different code
 Provides good protection against interference and
tapping
 but the receivers have relatively high complexity
 has to know the code and must separate the channel with
user data from the noise composed of other transmission
 has to be synchronized with the transmitter
Code division multiplexing

Source: Schiller
Modulation
 Process of combining input signal and a carrier frequency at
the transmitter
 Digital to analog modulation
 necessary if the medium only carries analog signal
 Analog to analog modulation
 needed to have effective transmission (otherwise the antenna
needed to transmit original signal could be large)
 permits frequency division multiplexing