Factors influencing knowledge contribution:An empirical investigation of social networking website users

Purpose: In the Web 2.0 era,leveraging the collective power of user knowledge contributions has become an important part of the study of collective intelligence. This research aims to investigate the factors which influence knowledge contribution behavior of social networking sites(SNS) users.Design/methodology/approach: The data were obtained from an online survey of 251 social networking sites users. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to validate the proposed model.Findings: Our survey shows that the individuals' motivation for knowledge contribution,their capability of contributing knowledge,interpersonal trust and their own habits positively influence their knowledge contribution behavior,but reward does not significantly influence knowledge contribution in the online virtual community.Research limitations: Respondents of our online survey are mainly undergraduate and graduate students. A limited sample group cannot represent all of the population. A larger survey involving more SNS users may be useful.Practical implications: The results have provided some theoretical basis for promoting knowledge contribution and user viscosity.Originality/value: Few studies have investigated the impact of social influence and user habits on knowledge contribution behavior of SNS users. This study can make a theoretical contribution by examining how the social influence processes and habits affect one's knowledge contribution behavior using online communities.

Context-Oriented Multi-RAT User Association and Resource Allocation with Triple Decision in 5G Heterogeneous Networks

In the upcoming 5 G heterogeneous networks, leveraging multiple radio access technologies(RATs) shows to be a crucial issue in achieving RAT multiplexing gain to meet the explosive traffic demand. For always best connection(ABC), users tend to activate parallel transmission across all available RATs. However from a system-wide perspective, this might not be optimal given the context of network load, interference and diverse service requirements. To intelligently determine how to use these multi-RAT access resources concurrently, this paper proposes a joint multi-RAT user association and resource allocation strategy with triple decision and integrated context awareness of users and networks. A dynamic game based ant colony algorithm(GACA) is designed to simultaneously maximize the system utility and the fairness of resource allocation. Simulation results show that it's more reasonable to make multi-RAT association decision from a system-wide viewpoint than from an individual one. Compared to max-SNR based and ABC based strategies, the proposed method alleviates network congestion and optimizes resource allocation. It obtains 39%~70% performance improvement.

Delay-Based User Association in Heterogeneous Networks with Backhaul

The Internet of things(IoT) as an important application of future communication networks puts a high premium on delay issues. Thus when Io T applications meet heterogeneous networks(HetNets) where macro cells are overlaid with small cells, some traditional problems need rethinking. In this paper, we investigate the delay-addressed association problem in two-tier Het Nets considering different backhaul technologies. Specifically, millimeter wave and fiber links are used to provide high-capacity backhaul for small cells. We first formulate the user association problem to minimize the total delay which depends on the probability of successful transmission, the number of user terminals(UTs), and the number of base stations(BSs). And then two algorithms for active mode and mixed mode are proposed to minimize the network delay. Simulation results show that algorithms based on mutual selection between UTs and BSs have better performance than those based on distance. And algorithms for mixed modes have less delay than those for active mode when the number of BSs is large enough, compared to the number of UTs.

Energy-Efficient Architecture and Technologies for Device to Device(D2D) Based Proximity Service

Considering that modern mobile terminals possess the capability to detect users' proximity,and offer means to directly communicate and share content with the people in close area,Device-to-Device(D2D) based Proximity Services(ProSe) have recently witnessed great development,which enable users to seek for and utilize relevant value in their physical proximity,and are capable to create numerous new mobile service opportunities.However,without a breakthrough in battery technology,the energy will be the biggest limitation for ProSe.Through incorporating the features of ProSe(D2D communication technologies,abundant built-in sensors,localization-dependent,and context-aware,etc.),this paper thoroughly investigates the energy-efficient architecture and technologies for ProSe from the following four aspects:underlying networking technology,localization,application and architecture features,context-aware and user interactions.Besides exploring specific energy-efficient schemes pertaining to each aspect,this paper offers a perspective for research and applications.In brief,through classifying,summarizing and optimizing the multiple efforts on studying,modeling and reducing energy consumption for ProSe on mobile devices,the paper would provide guide for developers to build energy-efficient ProSe.

Special issue on future network:software-defined networking

Computer networks have to support an everincreasing array of applications,ranging from cloud computing in datacenters to Internet access for users.In order to meet the various demands,a large number of network devices running different protocols are designed and deployed in networks.

User activities and the heteroseneity of urban space:The case of Dahiyat Al Hussein park

Urban researchers have maintained a constant interest in the complexity and continuity of urban space usage.Some have applied actor-network theory(ANT)to investigate the heterogeneity of spaces and present them through the networks of their users'activities.However,these accounts are predominantly limited in examining the extent to which these spaces may be heterogeneous when exploring such networks.This paper draws on recent ANT scholarship,which employs an ethnographic research conducted in a main park in a housing project at Dahiyat Al Hussein in Amman,Jordan.The findings describe the complex and unpredictable negotiations that occur with in spaces by documenting the varieties and in terrelations among user activity networks within this common and shared urban space.This research reveals the extent to which spaces,parks in this case,may be heterogeneous by unpacking their usage.The conclusions and in sights assert then ecessity of paying attention to design detail and creating designs that are responsive to evolving user activities.