Data Communications Essay

Repairs by Return is a fortunate comp any(prenominal) and murderers a repair service for various electrical appliances including wash machines, dishwashers etc. The business is expanding, meaning taking on additional paying back aims who energy admit on-the-job learning.The aim of our convention is to advise the owner of Repairs by Return on the unsanded technology and research on how rise the technology endure make the company much efficient and the confabulation between the stave and owner better. We depart besides recommend an divert solution.MOBILE TECHNOlogarithmIESMobile tools and technologies have the capacity facilitate communication, keep employees communicate in real- time and reduce hours once spent bound to a desk. However, along with the liberating aspects of an increasingly versatile workplace, mobility pre displaces challenges for todays workers. Below ar short descriptions of quick technologies currently available.SMSShort Message Service (SMS) is a service available on most digital officious recollects that allows the direct of short centers, similarly known as text messages, or to a greater extent than commonly as SMS, texts or even txts) between smooth rings, a nonher(prenominal)wise handheld catchs and even landline tele speech sounds. Messages must be no lifelong than 160 alpha-numeric reference works and contain no images or graphics. bear witness MessagingPicture Messaging is a service, which allows users to send and pose messages that combine pictures with text and sounds from their phones.WAPradio receiver Application Protocol is an open international standard for coatings that use radio set communication allowing users to approach shot information instantly via handheld wireless device e.g. internet approach path from a mobile phone, smart phones, two vogue radios etc.MMSMultimedia Message Service is the evolution of SMS. With MMS, a mobile device is no longer restricted to text-only messages. It asshole send and receive multimedia messages such as graphics, sound files, video clips or any combination of the above, within certain size limits.GPRSGeneral Packet tuner Service is a protocol for passing info over a mobile phone network. With GPRS connection, the phone is always on and can depute entropy immediately, and at higher speeds.3G3G is the generic term for third extension mobile phone technologies. It offers high speed connections enabling video convention treation and other applications which posit broadband connectivity to the Internet.PDAPersonal Digital Assistants ar handheld devices that combine computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking features. Originally designed as personal organisers but have now become much more versatile over the years.FEASIBILITY STUDYThe feasibility study is aimed at viewing the estimations given to us by the owner and assessing whether they volition stand by the company communicate effectively.We bequeath similarly look at the limitations of the cerebrations.* scholar engineers asking for table service silently to senior engineersGPRS allows instant connectivity (as long as there is radio coverage), meaning information can be sent/ original immediately. Engineers can take picture(s) of the enigma they cannot fix, write a half-size note with it, send it as an MMS to senior engineers, and receive an immediate respond without the customers realising.The problem with this leave alone be that the engineer on the other spot might be with a client and therefore, will not be able to reply immediately. Another problem could be that the reply received from the engineer may be inaccurate and unclear.Drawback of GPRS is the limited bandwidth and is particularly meet for sending and receiving small bursts of data. So when engineers do send pictures, the size of the message and picture will be limited.* Web access to manuals and diagramsGPRS also aims to cease remote access type applications via a mobile network for businesses including data uploads and synchronisation, document sharing and collaboration, email and clear browsing. Ideally, a wide novelty of information can be delivered via a mobile device, overcoming the 160 character limitations of SMS.It is usually impossible to directly port a desktop application to a wireless to a handheld device therefore, directly access most websites using a handheld device is difficult.Another problem the engineers might face is that typing on a cell phones tiny keys can be difficult and time go through and the size of the screen is limited too. This could be a problem when an engineer is trying to download diagrams, as there will be problems with its clarity.* FAQs deftness stored on mobilesOne of the drawbacks on using GPRS is that it has slow data depute rates.Although rates of 115 kbs (or more) have been quoted, the realistic speeds are 20 to 30 kbs can be expected.Applications can be used in a shared environment, and data s haring is made easier effectively like organism connected to a Local Area Network (LAN).An important functionality of PDAs is the contingency of synchronising data with a contact database, such as MS Outlook hosted on corporate servers or a personal computer.The synchronized data ensures that the PDA has an accurate list of contacts, appointments and email. Critical to shared data access, synchronisation allows multiple clients to access, edit, and remove data records that a particular separate of users may regularly use.As well as that, data arousal is a lot quicker on a personal computer. Therefore, transferring data to a PDA via the computer is a lot quicker than having to manually input it all on the handheld device.POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF unite MOBILE PHONES/PDAS, IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS BUSINESSWe will now discuss the benefits of mobilisation to the business.* PDA from for capturing progress madeA form can be created for the use on the PDA which will enable the engineers to enrapture progress while they are with clients, which could accordingly be distributed over the network, noting the problems that they could not fix or if any additional parts are required. individually time the engineer collects heir PDA, it is pre-loaded with weeks progress form. formerly the form is completed, the engineer can synchronise it when they get back to the speckle or using GPRS whilst out with the clients. The data can then be fed into a progress database, collecting the data from all the engineers. This will enable you to generate a project progress report automatically.The emf usefulness with mobile phones and PDAThere are various other ways the business can use the technology to help their staff. As the workers are apprentices, they can use the technology by using i.e. the intranet to access the help guide. This is a redeeming(prenominal) idea as the staff can learn while on duty and in their free time. It is also a good cost saver as they will not get hold of to pay for a teacher and a class room, and it is also less time consuming.The PDA or several(prenominal) mobiles phones have a satellite navigation system built in to help the staff if they are travelling to any location which they have difficulty recalling. It will give them clear directions and pinpoint the location to save time.RECOMMENDATIONSHaving considered the ideas that have been brought anterior by you, the technology would help to build a better kind with the staff and also improved customer service.Before purchasing new technology, Repairs by Return will need to invest in training the staff to use the hand held device.We recommend using a mobile phone called the Treo 650 Smart phone this is a combined technology of some of the features of a PDA and also most of the features of a mobile phone. Of the trey ideas, we think that the best idea would be having a server or the intranet to access the manuals and diagrams from the mobile phone. This will give the staff the knowledge to pass any problems and also gives some secrecy as the customer will not realise that the engineer is asking for help.The idea of using the mobile phone to contact other experienced engineers is a good idea but may distract the other staff that may also be with a customer.The idea of having a FAQ database maybe a heavy(a) idea as the staff may not always find the most accurate answers to there questions. The database will have answers of the problems that have arose in the past but may not have new problems, this will mean that the information would have to be updated frequently so that it is up to date.The information will have to be stored so will take up the hard drive space which the staff may need to use for other information. This will mean that the business would need to corrupt higher mega byte remembrance cards. This is an additional cost for the business.The intranet would be a good idea as the all the information is there you do not need to store the infor mation as it is on the intranet saving memory space. Although the information maybe hard to find as the staff would need to go through the manual to find what they are looking for. The technology of the smart phone will help the staff as the phone has the features of browser to search for any words or phrases on the web to located information much faster and have less time consumed looking through the whole manual.BIBLIOGRAPHYBOOKS USED1) Panko. R., Business information communications and Networking, Prentice Hall, 3rd Edition (2000)WEBSITES USED1) http//www.voiceanddata.com.au/feature_article/item_022003a.asp2) http//www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones/treo650/web.epl3) http//web.ukonline.co.uk/p.boughton/wap.htm4) http//www.my-xda.com/xda2_closer.html5) http//www.reviewcentre.com/reviews90293.htmlGROUP LOGGroup Names* 21 February 2006ALLOCATION OF GROUPS1) Manik Maih2) Bijal Pandit3) Ime UdohAll fellow members exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses. We allocated tasks and said that we should research on mobile phones and PDA. time allocated for research onlyManik Miah 7 daysBijal Pandit 7 daysIme Udoh 7 days* 28 February 2006All the conference members conducted sufficient research requisite to write the report, within the time given. There were plenty of books and internet score outs.All members looked and read through the research found and separate into files. We divided 3 ideas between us.Manik idea 1Bijal idea 2Ime idea 3We then allocated the tasks of the report and the internet website.Bijal Part 1 and 2Manik Part 3 and 4Ime website, contents page, group logWe met up every 3 days to check the progress of the report and to help any group members that are having difficulties.* 7 March 2006All group members attended, and arrived on time. At this stage majority of the work was completed. Each member rotated the work around to ensure there were no more mistakes. We all contributed equally and suggested that the work was fine and additional work that demand to be done should.* 13 March 2006The group had finished off all there tasks and got together to check over all the work. We then edited the website. Once the final touches were made, we printed out the work.GROUP AGREEMENT 4BIM504 Data CommunicationsWe, the undersigned members of this group, undertake to be bound by the following organisation1. to attend all group meetings on time, except when agreed by other group members in advance, or where a documented exempt is provided2. to be well prepared for each meeting, ensuring that all relevant stuff is adequately researched and presented3. to be actively involved in the work of the group, by contributing to the best of our abilities4. to participate in the editing and preparation of the final reportWe agree that if a group member breaches these undertakings, then the group has the right to recommend a reduced photographic print for the individual concern of up to 30% below the group grade. In this eventuality the gro up would submit reasons in writing to the seminar leader.We accept that the seminar tutor may require further information before making any penalty mark adjustments. We accept that the seminar tutors decision is final in these matters.