Toshihiko Kitano

Elevation Angle of Quasi-Zenith Satellite to Exceed Limit of Satellite Visibility of Space Diversity which consisted of Two Geostationary Satellites

The paramedic in the moving ambulance sends the moving picture data to the doctor in the hospital via the communications satellite. However, when an ambulance runs inside a city, a radio wave to the communication satellite is blocked and as a result the moving picture data sometimes freeze. A value of the satellite visibility by the space diversity which consists of two geostationary satellites was acquired by simulation based on the hemispherical urban space data measured by a fish-eye camera in each city of Japan. From these simulation results, it was found that there was a limit in the satellite visibility by the space diversity. It is known that the satellite visibility is more improved by the quasi-zenith satellite. The elevation angle condition of the quasi-zenith satellite which exceeds the limit of the satellite visibility of two geostationary satellites was acquired. This elevation angle was compared between each city of Japan. It became clear that more than 68 deg of an elevation angle of the quasi- zenith satellite is necessary to exceed the limit of satellite visibility of two geostationary satellites.

ITU e-Health Training Program for Pacific Island Community with the Support of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Tokai University School of Medicine provided a short-term e-Health training program for persons from Pacific Island Nations from 2006 until 2008 supported by funds from the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. There were lectures on software, hardware and topics relating to e-Health. We could assess the current medical situation in the Pacific Islands through this training course, and also obtain relevant material to analyze appropriate measures deemed necessary to improve the situation.

Patent issues on telemedicine in eHealth

This paper intends to specifically verify what patent issues may be encountered in the telemedicine, using 2007 International Property Rights Index (IPRI) which is the first international comparative study that measures the significance of both physical and intellectual property rights and their protection for economic well-being. Where ldquotelemedicinerdquo is defined as ldquo the use of electronic information and communication technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participantsrdquo, the technologies are concerned, when discussing the ldquotelemedicinerdquo, and we cannot avoid thinking about ldquopatentrdquo that serves to protect the ldquotechnologiesrdquo as rights. This patent issues acts as a hindrance factor against spreading and promoting the telemedicine. To solve this hindrance factor, i.e. the patent issues, and for the purpose of spreading and promoting the telemedicine so that the benefit of medicine may reach everybody, including the people living in the developing countries, to improve the health of people all over the world, it seems extremely important to recognize the presence of ldquopatent issuesrdquo in the field of ldquotelemedicinerdquo.

Required EMS channels via satellite communications after major disaster

We calculate the number of channels necessary for satellite communications to support the early-stage telemedicine after major disasters. Medical data acquired from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (Kobe Earthquake) is used for the calculations of Erlang B formula The minimum 29 channel shall be necessary to cover nationwide after major disaster. In case of big tsunami such as East Japan earthquake, we shall consider a smaller EIRP equipment on the ground, with charging by the solar cells. So the big G/T antenna of the spacecraft shall be required and designed to support disaster communication after a big tsunami attack.

Expected Communications Technology to Track Avian Influenza and Related the Statement of Appeal by ITU-D SG2 Q14

This paper points out some problems of telemetry for wild birds and future technical expectations to prevent Avian Influenza. For medium to large migratory birds, the data collection system aboard the NOAA meteorological satellites the ARGOS system has been able to map their migratory routes. However, recommended C/No for Doppler shift will be 54dBHz, while calculated required C/No for 400 bps data uplink is 36dBHz. The gap between navigation function and data communication will be almost 18 dB. The bird has to pay this overload. The authors provide a summary of the Statement that was adopted at the Rapporteurs meeting of the ITU-D SG2 Q14 telecommunications for eHealth in July 2008 and an account of anticipated developments in telecommunication technologies satellite and RFID based on meeting discussions, and strongly recommend the space agency to consider the importance of the advanced data collection satellite to track small birds.

Patent issues in eHealth, especially of North and South problems on telemedicine

This paper intends to specifically verify what patent issues may be encountered in the telemedicine, using 2007, 2008 and 2009 International Property Rights Index (IPRI) which is the first international comparative study that measures the significance of both physical and intellectual property rights and their protection for economic well-being. Where “telemedicine” is defined as “the use of electronic information and communication technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants”, the technologies are concerned, when discussing the “telemedicine”, and we cannot avoid thinking about “patent” that serves to protect the “technologies” as rights. This patent issues acts as a hindrance factor against spreading and promoting the telemedicine. To solve this hindrance factor, i.e. the patent issues, and for the purpose of spreading and promoting the telemedicine so that the benefit of medicine may reach everybody, including the people living in the developing countries, to improve the health of people all over the world, it seems important to recognize the presence of “patent issues” in the field of “telemedicine”.

ICT for the prevention of Avian Influenza

This paper intends to point out some problem of telemetry for wild birds and future technical expectations to prevent Avian Influenza. The ITU-D(International Telecommunications Union, Development Sector ) SG2(Study Group) Q14(Question) Rapporteurs Meeting hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan started in Tokyo on July 3–4, 2008. The Q14 deals with application of information and telecommunication technologies in health care. Meeting participants discussed the application of the information and communications technologies to help resolve some issues related to the improvement of access to medical treatment of people living in rural and remote areas of developing countries. The participants have also raised the question about the threat of avian influenza and what could be done with the ultimate goal of preventing and containing this disease. There were considerable deliberation on this emerging disease threat. Therefore, it was recommended that the ITU has to initiate the discussion at appropriate international level on how to set up the Integrated Information and Communications Network for Avian Influenza by using advanced information and telecommunication technologies for tracking of migratory birds. The participants concur in adopting the results of their work as the Statement of Appeal.

Apply biologically-inspired topology to disaster communications

A simulation of the animal and the insect (metaheuristics) is a set of concepts that can be used to define heuristic methods that can be applied to a wide set of different problems. In other words, Metaheuristics can be seen as a general algorithmic framework which can be applied to different optimization problems with relatively few modifications to make them adapted to a specific problem. We apply the antpsilas metaheuristics for search and rescue system with WINDS satellite.

Study of Vehicle Vibration for High-Performance Land Mobile Satellite Tracking System for Telemedicine

The land mobile satellite service (LMSS) is a key component of telemedicine and an important technology for grasping the status of a patient in an ambulance. However, rough road surfaces can destabilize satellite tracking and disturb data communications with the ambulance carrying the patient. Nevertheless, accurate estimates of the location of the vehicle at any given time and rapid reconfiguration of the tracking antenna based on past data can allow stable and effective data communications. This study examined positions characterized by large vibration amplitudes from past data on vehicle vibrations due to rough road surfaces as feature points to provide the vehicle system in advance with reference pitch angle vibration data. Drawing on reference vibration data for convolution and a cost function, The authors synchronized past data with real-time vibration data and accurately estimated the point at which the ambulance or other vehicle passes on the road. They also discuss limits on the range of vibrations that can be used for data synchronization. This study demonstrates that the present method enables high-precision estimates of vehicle location.

Ultra-compact bird-borne s-band transceiver aiming to search low pathogenic avian influenza

We produced an ultra-compact bird-borne transceiver unit (weight of circuit board(5g) excluding solar battery and rechargeable battery system, harness of the crate) for S-band packet radio communications based on the CC2500 transceiver, a device manufactured by Texas Instruments (TI). We performed assessments to determine optimal parameters required to achieve successful bird-to-center communication over a distance of 18 km and bird-to-bird communication over a distance of 200 m, including optimal modulation method, transmission rates, and antenna. We equipped the transceiver unit with a modified dipole antenna (collinear antenna), which we tested in a 10-m anechoic chamber. Our experimental assessments and circuit design review pointed to the following parameters: 2FSK modulation method; 14.28 kHz frequency shift; 101.56 kHz IF reception bandwidth; and Manchester encoding(+). Our assessments showed bird-to-bird communications could be achieved over a distance of 200 m assuming MSK, FEC(+), and 500 kbps.