NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: Calculating Data Network's Total Capacity Notoriously Difficult, but Theorists Making Some Headway
The paper calculates the bit capacity of a highly constrained definition of
a network as a kind of channel but the claims imply direct applicability to
real world applications. The problem is in the use of the word "data"
without defining the term. In the narrow context of the paper it's a synonym
for Claude Shannon's abstract measure of "information".
But later in the paper the authors say "A typical data network consists of
an array of nodes -- which could be routers on the Internet ..." which
implies they are talking about information in the everyday sense as in the
content of web pages. But that's an entirely different sense of the term and
doesn't have a simple mapping into Shannon's abstract measure.
We must be wary of, and even critical of, researchers who may do meticulous
research but then blithely ignore the difference between their technical use
of the terms and the common use. Such reports often become the basis for
public policy as when channel limits are used to justify claims of "spectrum
scarcity".
-----Original Message-----
From: nnsquad-bounces+nnsquad=bobf.frankston.com@nnsquad.org
[mailto:nnsquad-bounces+nnsquad=bobf.frankston.com@nnsquad.org] On Behalf Of
Lauren Weinstein
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 19:12
To: nnsquad@nnsquad.org
Subject: [ NNSquad ] Calculating Data Network's Total Capacity Notoriously
Difficult, but Theorists Making Some Headway
Calculating Data Network's Total Capacity Notoriously Difficult, but
Theorists Making Some Headway
http://j.mp/KdH3ya (Science Daily)
"For information theorists, it was natural to ask how these two types
of coding might be combined: If you want to both minimize error and
maximize capacity, which kind of coding do you apply where, and when
do you do the decoding?"
- - -
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Data Wisdom Explorers League: http://www.dwel.org
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance:
http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren / Twitter: http://vortex.com/t-lauren
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com
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