Wireless data communications

In this section, those devices necessary for communication and integration of industrial chemical processing operations, such as electronic controllers, two-way radios, and wireless data communications are discussed. Typically, SCADA systems would also be discussed in this section however, SCADA was discussed in detail in chapter 7. 

Wireless data communications devices are used to enable transmission of data between computer systems and/or between a SCADA server and its sensing devices, without individual components being physically linked together via wires or cables. In industrial chemical processing systems, these devices are often used to link remote monitoring stations (i.e., SCADA components) or portable computers (i.e., laptops) to computer networks without using physical wiring connections. 

WAP. The WAP provides the wireless data communication service. It usually consists of a housing (which is constructed from plastic or metal depending on the environment it will be used in) containing a circuit board, flash memory that holds software, one of two external ports to connect to existing wired networks, a wireless radio transmitter/receiver, and one or more antenna connections. Typically, the WAP requires a one-time user configuration to allow the device to interact with the local area network (LAN). This configuration is usually done via a Web-driven software application which is accessed via a computer. 

Two of the primary applications for wireless data communications systems are to enable mobile or remote connections to a LAN, and to establish wireless communications links between SCADA remote telemetry units (RTUs) and sensors in the field. Wireless card connections are usually used for LAN access from mobile computers. Wireless cards can also be incorporated into RTUs to allow them to communicate with sensing devices that are located remotely. 

Also an onboard electrical power supply, e.g., by photovoltaic cells or thermogenerators coimected to a lab-frame irradiation source, would introduce additional, frequency-independent degrees of freedom, enabling a multi-force manipulation of the processed liquids. Another extension of present centrifugal systems is the (wireless) data communication with the lab-frame workstation for an improved process control and analysis. 

Wireless radios broadcast these voice or data communications over the airwaves from the transmitter to the receiver. While this can be an advantage in that the signal emanates in all directions and does not need a direct physical connection to be received at the receiver, it can also make the communications vulnerable to being blocked, intercepted, or otherwise altered. However, security features are available to ensure that the communications are not tampered with. 

Wireless Device Devices, usually handheld, used for wireless data acquisition and communications. Examples include mobile phones and pagers. These devices can connect to intranet and internet services as well as facilitating dedicated communication links to host computer systems. [Defined for this book.]... 

The new generation of silicon technology imaging transducers combined with ongoing electronic miniaturization and the availability of extremely fast and powerful portable laptop computers will lead to the development of portable or even wearable high-resolution scanners affording wireless data transfer. This technology will help to make communication with remote locations and advanced medical applications more affordable. 

Wesel, E. K. (1998), Wireless Multimedia Communications Networking Video, Voice and Data, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA. 

Cryptography Databases Information Theory Networks for Data Communication Software Engineering Software Maintenance and Evolution Wireless Communications... 

Other Applied Sciences. There has been a dramatic rise in the power of computation and information technology. With it have come vast amounts of data in various fields of applied science and engineering. The challenge of understanding the data has led to new tools and approaches, such as data mining. Applied mathematics includes the use of mathematical models and control theory that fe-cihtate the study of epidemics, pharmacokinetics, and physiologic systems in the medical industry. In telematics, models are developed and used in the enhancement of wireless mobile communications. 

Wireless technology comprises the hardware, software, and systems that support the transfer of signals, over long or short distances, without the use of electrical conductors or wires. Communications is the transfer of information between a sender and receiver and wireless communications use wireless technology. Telecommunications, the transfer of messages between a sender and receiver and data communications, the transfer of data between a sender and receiver, are the two most popular forms of wireless communications. 

While wireless connectivity has improved the ability to communicate, it has also introduced some serious privacy and security issues. Wireless data is easily intercepted and unless encrypted, it is easy for hackers to read and misuse the data. Mobile computing also supports storing data in the cloud on remote servers, and even when the data is encrypted, issues are raised with tlie owners as to its safety. 

Donovan, W. 1993. A pain-free approach to SNA internetworking. Data Communications 22(16) 99. Gasparro, D. 1994. Putting wireless to work. Data Communications 23(5) 57-58. 

Jander, M. and Johnson, J. 1993. Managing high speed WANs Just wait. Data Communications 22(7) 83. Johnson, J. 1993. LAN modems The missing hnk for remote connectivity. Data Communications22(A) Q. Johnson, J. 1994. Wireless data Welcome to the enterprise. Data Communications 23(5) 42-55. 

Testing a local area network (LAN)—whether copper, fiber optic, or wireless—presents special challenges to the design engines or maintenance technician. The protocol analyzer is commonly used to service LANs and other communications systems. The protocol analyzer performs data monitoring, terminal simulation, and bit error rate tests (BERTs). Sophisticated analyzers provide high-level decide capability. This ability refers to the open system interconnection (OSI) network seven layer model. These functions enable the engineer to observe activity of a communications Hnk and to exercise the facility to verily proper operation. Simulation capability is usually available to emulate almost any data terminal or data communications equipment. 

An innovative wireless thermometer (Vallan et al., 2005a) that can manage one or more measurement modules equipped with 14 thermocouples each it sends the results to a reader placed outside the vacuum chamber and connected by means of a serial interface to a PC that schedules, acquires and collects the measurements. The reader powers the thermometer and the modules through the same radio-frequency link that is employed for data communication, so that the modules can work without batteries. 

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