Andreas Spichiger

Interoperability and information brokers in public safety: an approach toward seamless emergency communications

When a disaster occurs, the rapid gathering and sharing of crucial information among public safety agencies, emergency response units, and the public can save lives and reduce the scope of the problem; yet, this is seldom achieved. The lack of interoperability hinders effective collaboration across organizational and jurisdictional boundaries. In this article, we propose a general architecture for emergency communications that incorporates (1) an information broker, (2) events and event-driven processes, and (3) interoperability. This general architecture addresses the question of how an information broker can overcome obstacles, breach boundaries for seamless communication, and empower the public to become active participants in emergency communications. Our research is based on qualitative case studies on emergency communications, workshops with public safety agencies, and a comparative analysis of interoperability issues in the European public sector. This article features a conceptual approach toward proposing a way in which public safety agencies can achieve optimal interoperability and thereby enable seamless communication and crowdsourcing in emergency prevention and response.

Communication protocols and concurrency: an Occam implementation of X.25

Experience with the use of the current software and hardware offerings is presented and discussed in relation to practical implementation of the CCITT recommendation X-25. An implementation of X.25 is made using the concurrent programming language Occam and its associated hardware, the transputer. Their suitability in such an application is investigated. In particular, the simplicity of software design of communication systems based on concurrent implementation methods is reported. The implementation and its consequences are discussed, and conclusions regarding this approach are drawn.<<ETX>>

Test Case Specification Based on MSCs and ASN.1

Informal test specifications are formalized by means of MSCs. Message definitions and constraints are included. For this purpose a new concept for the reference and modification of constraints is introduced. The formalized test specifications can be implemented automatically. Our approach is explained by means of a test case for a layer 3 ISDN protocol (ITU-T Rec. Q.931). The method is implemented in a set of prototype tools.

Ergebnisse einer Studie in den Ländern Deutschland, Schweiz und Österreich

Die vorliegende Studie zu den „Wirkungen von E-Government“ basiert auf einer Web-Befragung in den Monaten Oktober/November 2015 und verfolgte folgende funf Ziele.

Sensor data meets social networks: reflecting on benefits in the case of a patient room

The poster illustrates the idea of integrating digital social media with sensor networks (SoSeMe). In order to achieve tangible, specific results, we concentrate on the scenario of a patient room.

Sensor Data Meets Social Networks Reflecting on Benefits in the Case of a Patient Room

In a hospital, information exchange is essential to save lives and to prevent life-endangering mistakes. Information exchange is supported by a hospital information system (HIS). From a theoretical perspective, the deployment of an HIS is promising because it reduces errors and duplication of information. In practice, however, there are some major problems concerning the usage of such a system. One way to deal with these problems is introduced in this paper: the integration of sensor data into social media. The paper concentrates on the conceptual benefits and risks such an integration may generate. It focuses on the case of a patient room.