This paper presents the main concepts of the IST Project FAIN "Future Active IP Networks" [10], a three-year collaborative research project, whose main task is to develop and validate an open, flexible, programmable and dependable network architecture based on a novel active node approach. This generic architecture for active networks is an innovative integration of active networking, distributed object and mobile agent technology.Starting from the definition of a business model that underlines the FAIN architecture, we identify three key working areas for contribution: the active node platform layer, the service programming environment and a build-in management system.The active node platform layer of the FAIN Active Node is comprised of the kernel OS, a node resource access control framework, and active components for management, security and service provision. These elements provide the foundations on which Execution Environments are deployed and operate in an independent manner.A novel service programming environment is envisaged enabling the dynamic creation or update and secure deployment and operation of protocols, and supports various role-specific ways of deployment, e.g. application-specific signalling or PNOgoverned network control signalling.The third aspect of FAIN is a management paradigm based on standardised API and autonomy of nodes. The paradigm enables the development of a fine-grained and more efficient management framework, which reduces needless traffic or information processing, e.g. by filtering and self-management of nodes which take care of the management of their own resources and states. Autonomous management of nodes enables the distribution of management intelligence. Loosely coupled management functions facilitates the traditional difficult tasks such as policy enforcement, and integration of new managing functions. Reusable components and interoperable operation can be achieved using the standard interface and an implementation using distributed objects and platforms.

MaritimeManet is a system concept for communication between maritime platforms like vessels, commercial ships or buoys. When such platforms are equipped with MaritimeManet capabilities, they can form a network on an ad-hoc basis, i.e., without the need for fixed communication infrastructure. MaritimeManet is based on multiple directive beams for transmission, which is a radical departure from the classical approach to ad-hoc networks that uses omni-directional transmissions. The need for this different approach is the desired much longer transmission range in the naval environment. Due to its specific approach, MaritimeManet unites the previously deemed incompatible features of high capacity, high flexibility, self-organising and self-healing communication.

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One of the numerous applications of wearable computers is providing safety in occupations where heat-related injuries are prevalent. Core temperature, as a parameter that cannot be measured by on-body sensors is a variable that is specifically interesting for realizing such applications. In the context of the design of a sensor-shirt that can be used by firefighters, in this paper we study the importance of different types of sensor measurements and their placement for estimating core temperature. We propose a model for inferring the dangerous states of core temperature. Our evaluation results show that our model can to a great extent estimate hazardous situations caused by heat accumulation.

I 1 ,o SAMPLE NUMBER Fig. 3. Measurements of the polarization dependence of transmission of two pigtailed optical isolators. The shaded areas indicate the manually measured values including H . 0 3 dB uncertainty. Ten singular value measurements of each isolator are plotted, each measured with different input and output birefringences (different settings of PTI and FT2 in Fig. 2).ranged from 0.08 to 0.18 dB, yielding a mean * standard deviation of 0.131 k 0.033 dB. Excellent agreement between the two methods is apparent, confirming the accuracy of this fast, deterministic technique. Measurement of a Jones matrix and calculation of its singular values took less than 2 s. SUMMARYA new technique has been demonstrated for measuring the variation in transmission of linear, time-invariant optical devices, over all SOP's, by measuring the polarization responses to three stimulus SOP's. For the first time, this technique provides a deterministic, analytically complete means to characterize the polarization sensitivity of devices such as isolators or directional couplers. By eliminating the search over polarization space it allows a completely specified test suitable for comparisons and standards. The measurements were performed in less than 2 s, and resulted in the same values of polarization dependence obtained by tedious manual measurement. REFERENCESH. C. LeFevre, "Single-mode fibre fractional wave devices and polarization controllers,"Abstract-A measurement procedure is presented for the determination of mode splitting (or mode sorting) in asymmetric Y-junctions. This procedure avoids measurement errors introduced by bends, tapers, small damages in the waveguides outside the coupling region, variation in fiber-chip coupling etc. It is based on the analysis of the normalized coupled power in an optical coupler in which a mode splitter is used. The method is illustrated with a mode splitter on lithium niobate. A value of 29.2 f 0.5 dB for the suppression of the unwanted mode is found, showing the applicability of the procedure.