Virtualizing Network and Service Functions: Impact on ICT Transformation and Standardization

Virtualization of network/service functions means time sharing network/service（and affiliated）resources in a hyper speed manner.The concept of time sharing was popularized in the 1970s with mainframe computing.The same concept has recently resurfaced under the guise of cloud computing and virtualized computing.Although cloud computing was originally used in IT for server virtualization,the ICT industry is taking a new look at virtualization.This paradigm shift is shaking up the computing,storage,networking,and ser vice industries.The hope is that virtualizing and automating configuration and service management/orchestration will save both capes and opex for network transformation.A complimentary trend is the separation（over an open interface）of control and transmission.This is commonly referred to as software defined networking（SDN）.This paper reviews trends in network/service functions,efforts to standardize these functions,and required management and orchestration.

Real-time virtual reference service based on applicable artificial intelligence technologies:The début of the robot Xiaotu at Tsinghua University Library

The adoption of applicable artificial intelligence technologies to library real-time virtual reference services is an innovative experimentation in one of the key areas of library services. Based on the open source software Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity(A.L.I.C.E.) and a combined application of several other relevant supporting technologies for facilitating the use of the current existing library resources, Tsinghua University Library has recently developed a real-time smart talking robot, named Xiaotu,for the enhancement of its various service functions, such as reference services, book searching, Baidu Baike searching, self-directed learning, etc. The operation of Xiaotu is programmed into Renren website(a social networking website), which adds significantly an innovative feature to the modus operandi of the real-time virtual reference service at Tsinghua University Library.

Network Virtualization Based Seamless Networking Scheme for Fiber-Wireless （FiWi） Networks

In order to reduce cost and complexity,fiber-wireless(FiWi) networks emerge,combining the huge amount of available bandwidth of fiber networks and the flexibility,mobility of wireless networks.However,there is still a long way to go before taking fiber and wireless systems as fully integrated networks.In this paper,we propose a network visualization based seamless networking scheme for FiWi networks,including hierarchical model,service model,service implementation and dynamic bandwidth assignment(DBA).Then,we evaluate the performance changes after network virtualization is introduced.Throughput for nodes,bandwidth for links and overheads leaded by network virtualization are analyzed.The performance of our proposed networking scheme is evaluated by simulation and real implementations,respectively.The results show that,compared to traditional networking scheme,our scheme has a better performance.

Study of Construction of Personalized Service Oriented Government Virtual Information Service Center

In this paper, we proposed the idea of personalized information service for enterprises and customers through government visual information service center (GVISC). It discusses an extensible, reusable, reconstructive and integrated framework of GVISC with new techniques, such as XML, agent, data mining and information portal. They include the design and analysis of the logical structure, the design of the data layer, and the description of the function application. We show an example of personalized information service for forest fire prevention in the government virtual information service center.

SERVICE VALUE NETWORKS: VALUE, PERFORMANCE AND STRATEGY FOR THE SERVICES INDUSTRY

Services may be investigated from many perspectives. They encapsulate over 65% of global business, yet many gaps in the services knowledge base exist – particularly from areas including information technology, operational, customer targeting, and services provision. This research investigates an emerging and truly disruptive business scenario – the service value network, from a marketing, an operations and services approach. The service value network is defined as the flexible, dynamic, delivery of a service, or product, by a business’s coordinated value chains (supply chains and demand chains working in harmony), such that a value-adding, specific, service solution is effectively, and efficiently, delivered to the individual customer. The ‘physical and virtual service value network customer – business encounter model’ is developed. Impediments to the development of a service value networks are investigated. Eight key areas related to website customer encounters are offered as investigation areas. The customer ‘touch-points’ across the virtual service encounter offers a raft of new research possibilities and possible new pathways to competitive advantage. Approaches to measure service network encounter effectors are explained. Current and future areas of business research are described. This paper frames the research agenda for service value networks.