July 2012 Vol. 10 No. 7

Front-line Researchers

• Seishi Takamura, Distinguished Technical Member, NTT Media Intelligence Laboratories

  

  Aim for the "Only One" by Strengthening Advantages Rather Than Overcoming Disadvantages

  
  

  Abstract
  Seishi Takamura is a Distinguished Technical Member who has approached video encoding research with creative thinking and received remarkable attention from various fields. We asked him to give us an easy-to-understand explanation of video encoding and to give us some insight into the circumstances that give rise to his way of thinking and how he nurtures such thinking. We also asked for some specific suggestions on how to bring ideas to fruition.

Feature Articles on Technical Solutions to Real-world Problems

• IEEE802.11n Wireless Local Area Network Troubleshooting Tool with Electromagnetic-environment Monitoring Function

  

  Abstract
  NTT EAST Technical Assistance and Support Center has developed a wireless local area network (WLAN) troubleshooting tool equipped with an electromagnetic-environment monitoring function that can visualize the signal strength and electromagnetic interference conditions of IEEE802.11n WLANs.

• Case Studies of Faults and Countermeasures in a Passive Optical Network System

  

  Abstract
  This article reports faults unique to an optical access system based on passive optical networks (PONs). It presents (1) communication trouble caused by abnormal signal light emission from an uncontrolled optical network unit (ONU) and (2) facility trouble involving fatal damage to an optical fiber end surface of the connector used for video delivery services over a transmission line. It also describes appropriate countermeasures for these faults.

• Gigabit-compatible Protocol Checker

  

  Abstract
  NTT EAST Technical Assistance and Support Center has developed a protocol checker that has gigabit-per-second ports as a tool for troubleshooting IP-related faults within a customer's residence (IP: Internet protocol). This protocol checker, which can be easily installed inside the residence by a simple procedure, features remote login and straightforward protocol checking functions. It is a promising device for investigating the causes of IP-related phenomena that have low reproducibility.

• Case Study of Printed Circuit Board Corrosion and Countermeasures

  

  Abstract
  This article presents a case study of corrosion on a printed circuit board in an optical network unit operating in a hot-spring area and the results of investigating countermeasures to that corrosion.

Regular Articles

• Discriminative Training for Language Models

  

  Abstract
  After reviewing the discriminative approach to training language models in natural language processing and describing an example of its use in automatic speech recognition (ASR), this article introduces two techniques that overcome the problems with the conventional discriminative approach. One is to introduce a novel discriminative criterion; in short, a novel learning machine is presented and its relationship to and advantages over conventional learning machines for training a language model based on a discriminative criterion are described. The other is a model pruning method, which makes a model compact with less degradation of accuracy. This article also reports ASR experimental results that reveal the effectiveness of these two techniques.

• Small Satellite Earth Stations for Disaster Recover Operations

  

  Abstract
  NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories has developed small satellite earth stations for satellite communications to provide communication links for specially installed public phones and Internet connection in evacuation and disaster response centers in the event of communications being disrupted by disasters and other emergencies. These earth stations are compact and lightweight and use antenna reflectors that can be dismantled and reassembled, so that they can be packed inside carrying cases. They are equipped with automatic satellite-capture and -tracking functions and with functions for remotely conducting uplink access tests, which enable rapid link provisioning and reduce the setup operations that must be done by field workers.

Global Standardization Activities

• Movement Toward Medical Information Standardization and NTT's Efforts Toward Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE)

  

  Abstract
  Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) is an initiative begun in the USA that has evolved as a guideline for sharing information systems within medical institutions. It is being further expanded to encompass sharing among different medical institutions as electronic health records are implemented at the national level in Europe and in western countries. IHE defines guidelines for efficiently dealing with a variety of standards for health information systems. In recent years, as standard guidelines for cooperation in information exchange between medical institutions, awareness of IHE has been increasing. This article describes IHE and NTT's own IHE initiative.

NTT around the World

• NTT DATA Global Technology Services Private Limited Company

  

  Abstract
  NTT DATA Global Technology Services Private Limited Company (formerly Vertex Software) is an information technology (IT) services company based in Pune, India. It has over 15 years of experience servicing customers across diverse geographical regions and over 650 employees spread across India, Japan, and the North America region. With a strong Japanese business association, it has invested in building a technically efficient bilingual (English & Japanese) resource pool that currently accounts for 33% of its overall employee strength. As part of the recent integration with NTT DATA, Vertex Software has officially become NTT DATA Global Technology Services Private Limited Company for better alignment with the global business.