Month: February 2013

The Role of the Multiservice Processor in Your Business

Leave a reply Nancy Evans

Technology plays a key role in growth of businesses. Every business wants a platform that’s effective for both clients and customers. The cost of media gateways and wireless controllers are some of the considerations business owners need to look into.

For reducing costs of inventory and speeding up delivery to the market, companies need to integrate the latest solutions such as multiservice processors. Multiservice processors are devices that are compatible with softwares provided by industry leaders, allowing businesses to combine several line cards.

They link to an external communication processor provided by different companies, enabling optimal networking to reduce costs and speed up delivery time. The processors rely on cost-effective solutions which are based on internet protocol (IP), and allows for TMD migration.

A multiservice processor makes space for IP-cards and allows for more connections (SONET/SDH) without requiring additional boards. This allows businesses to take advantage of the most cost-effective TDM or IP lines. Multiple and propriety protocols are supported by these processors including ML/MC-PPP, PWE3, HDLC and ATM. Backward integration is also possible with programming for a connection with non-standard devices.

An ARM processor chipThese processors are flexible and can be used with existing hardware and software platforms. They increase the existing bandwidth, which is important for a growing business, and allows customer to reduce costs by providing support for extra connections. With these processors, the bi-directional bandwidth data of a device can be share by three different protocols at a single time. Ethernets ports and latest ARM processors are integrated as well.

The latest generations of multiservice processors are available for businesses to implement in their ongoing operations. Many different companies specialize in the software that connects to the processor like LSI.

Multiservice processor versions feature IPsec data-encryption for different keys including 128 and 192, and can go up to 256. Different chips offer a set of resources which are able to meet the requirements of different operating systems. Addressing muxponders and transponders along with switching (OTN) requirement is also a feature of multiservice processors.

There’s integration of Ethernet which is carrier based allows to overcome challenges presented by the backhaul of mobile and packet data. Some models also include mapping and SDH framing that makes a cross connection with the carriers, allowing them to transition packet transport (SDH/SONET).

Advanced processors can provide compatibility for UNI links or beyond 80 IMA groups. They also feature packet processing and HDLC. As a result, businesses can take advantage of performance monitoring and synchronous clocking.

This aggregated service is assisting businesses in an increasingly gadget-dominated world. Businesses in different industries are now able to switch from traditional to new IP networks with minimal costs and downtime. Another advantage for businesses is the use of a common platform from switching of TDM to ATM.

For base station controllers and media gateways, the processors provide a state-of the art solution system. Businesses can also use them for multiservice applications such as 4G/LTE wireless access, taking advantage of the high bandwidth.

Businesses making use of multiservice processors will benefit from low costs, increased bandwidth and durable digital storage.

Hackathon Season is Upon Us

2 Replies Jonny Hankins

The use of the term hacker used to be derogatory, conjuring up images of someone cackling like a Witch, hunched over a computer as they steal some poor unsuspecting fool’s bank details. This is changing though, and the present use of the word is much broader and less critical.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about Aaron Swartz, and many see him as “a hacker for good”. He was greatly revered and respected in the Internet world and considered a programming genius by many.

Also today many Internet companies offer prizes to hackers who can break their security systems, so that they can then repair the weaknesses, all done more or less in secrecy obviously.

Here last week in Cambridge Massachusetts MIT held a Hackathon. The prize for the best “hack” was $1500 dollars, with plenty of runner’s up prizes too. And it is sponsored by Techfair, who organize a large business fair.

People from tech companies are invited to the hackathon to meet the ‘contestants’. It is in fact a job fair too, but as the website says don’t bring a CV, we just watch to see what you can do. There are tech talks and mini lectures, all above board as you can see from the website here.

A Hackathon

Inside a Hackathon

And this 20 hour marathon is neither the only nor the biggest hackathon in the USA. In January the Foursquare hackathon took place in New York City. The website has a link to all of the submitted hacks, and they are possibly nothing like you imagine. They are websites that can tell you how long you might have to wait in a certain restaurant, tell you NASDAQ values or help you influence the choice in music played around you, and that is to name just a few.

All this is organized with the help of Hacker League, as they say on the website you can “trust Hacker League to handle hackathon planning and organization” because they “power Hackathons”.

The biggest is in Pensylvania and is called PennApps (presumably after the University). Their January event attracted more than 450 students from 40 universities from all over the world, their prize being $4000 and a visit to Google HQ to demonstrate their work.

So the use of the word “hack” has clearly taken on a different meaning.

As many of you might know my work at the Bassetti Foundation is all about responsible innovation.  If we take case 1, writing code to steal bank details or destroy somebody’s reputation by getting into their email account, we might see this as irresponsible. But case 2, improving security, breeding entrepreneurs and innovation using the same skills and through the same actions by the same people, might be seen as much more responsible and in fact is promoted by organizations, businesses and universities.

It doesn’t look much like hacking to me though.

What Not To Share on Social Media

9 Replies Henry Conrad

The point of social media is sharing, along with openness and at least trying to be yourself over the internet. While there are a lot of things worth sharing and airing to the world, there are some things that are best unsaid – or in this case un-tweeted, un-Facebooked, and just kept to yourself.

Photos of credit cards or other financials

You might be thinking “nobody is stupid enough to do that,” but the truth is, there are people who have already done it. Some people have posted photos of their credit cards – account numbers and all, leading to some nasty comments. Clearly, this is not a wise thing to do. Others post photos of bills, leaving their names and addresses unblurred. This is a big risk that can easily be avoided. You are nullifying a section of Facebook’s Community Standards that state:

“We take the safety of our members seriously and work to prevent attempts to compromise their privacy or security, including those that use fraud or deception. Additionally, we ask that you respect our members by not contacting them for commercial purposes without their consent.”

Pranks

If you post a link that is seemingly interesting, make sure it really does lead to a worthwhile page. Otherwise, you are just wasting people’s time. Rickrolling, where linking people to a YouTube video of Rick Astley singing “Never Gonna Give You Up” was very popular, is now an annoyance. Show some maturity. This may be in violation of this section from Facebook:

“Before sharing content on Facebook, please be sure you have the right to do so. We ask that you respect copyrights, trademarks, and other legal rights.”

As well as Twitter, from their Twitter Rules:

“Copyright: We will respond to clear and complete notices of alleged copyright infringement. Our copyright procedures are set forth in the Terms of Service.”

It was said that Rick Astley asked the video to be taken down. When you Rickroll, you are committing a violation.

Vague updates

If you are being vague, you are most likely asking people for attention. You want them to ask you what it is about but the truth is, nobody really cares about your vague status updates.

Crass photographs – of yourself, no less

We are not all blessed with bodies of Greek gods and goddesses so it might be in everyone’s best interests to avoid uploading that self-portrait you took when you were fresh out of the shower. Besides, the terms of Facebook say that:

“Facebook has a strict policy against the sharing of pornographic content and any explicitly sexual content where a minor is involved. We also impose limitations on the display of nudity. We aspire to respect people’s right to share content of personal importance, whether those are photos of a sculpture like Michelangelo’s David or family photos of a child breastfeeding.”

Your contact details or anyone else’s

Your phone number is a very sacred thing that should only be given out to people you know and trust. There are lots of people on the internet that will take great pleasure in making your life miserable if you happen to post your contact details on any social media websites.

Social media privacy

Your address, photos of your home, and vacation dates

These are all a combination of ways to say “I will be gone on these days but hey, look where I live and see the nice things that will be left unattended”, which, in a nutshell, is an open invitation for people with less than noble intentions.

Threats and bullying

There is nothing worse than a bully who does their dirty work online. It is also a clear violation of Twitter and Facebook’s policies:

“Safety is Facebook’s top priority. We remove content and may escalate to law enforcement when we perceive a genuine risk of physical harm, or a direct threat to public safety. You may not credibly threaten others, or organize acts of real-world violence. Organizations with a record of terrorist or violent criminal activity are not allowed to maintain a presence on our site. We also prohibit promoting, planning or celebrating any of your actions if they have, or could, result in financial harm to others, including theft and vandalism.”

“Facebook does not tolerate bullying or harassment. We allow users to speak freely on matters and people of public interest, but take action on all reports of abusive behavior directed at private individuals. Repeatedly targeting other users with unwanted friend requests or messages is a form of harassment.”

“Facebook does not permit hate speech, but distinguishes between serious and humorous speech. While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition.”

“Violence and Threats: You may not publish or post direct, specific threats of violence against others.”

Rules are there for a reason and following them will make social media sites a better place for everyone involved.