Case Study: Ubiquitous Learning in Edith Cowan University

Essay by ccyangtUniversity, Master'sA+, April 2007

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Case Study: Ubiquitous Learning in Edith Cowan University

As part of a cohesive IT strategy, wireless mesh networking offers cost-effective coverage well-suited to any widely distributed campus environment. Enabling staff and students to communicate in real time can speed up administrative processes and facilitate collaborative activities.

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Wireless mesh networking: The Basics

Wireless mesh networking is mesh networking implemented over a Wireless LAN.

Whereas the Internet is mostly a wired based, co-operative electronic communication infrastructure similar to the international postal agreement, in that messages are mutually delivered and relayed within their separate domains free of charge (i.e. if you relay my messages within your domain I'll relay yours within mine), Mesh is a wireless co-operative communication infrastructure between a massive amount of individual wireless transceivers (i.e. a wireless mesh). This cooperative wireless array concept was first proposed in 1995 under a Canadian patent called Massive Array Cellular System (MACS).

The inventor, Victor Pierobon, designed it solely as a disruptive technology to replace all chargeable communication services, such as landline telephones, cellular phones, and cable TV with an entirely free service, a user based, user solely owned communication infrastructure. To enable this, MACS route messages using GPS or longitude/latitude location, navigation between other MACS to the destined geo-location. Each MACS device is a multi-channel repeater/transceiver.

The ECU mesh network access radios use standard 802.11 b/g protocols, while the transit radios connecting the access points use IPsec line-of-sight 802.11a, effective up to 200 to 300 meters depending on local conditions. Meshing protocols have not yet been standardized. The Nortel product uses open shortest path first (OSPF)-based protocols for discovery of adjacent access points. An IEEE working group is expecting submissions for standardized meshing protocols in the first quarter of 2006.

Problem

Edith Cowan University (ECU) is spread across four sprawling...