CS8803D Course Reading Summaries

Paper #:5.2.21
Title: Indexing Techniques for Wireless Data Broadcast Under Data Clustering and 
Scheduling.


(1) Problems
This paper surveys methods used in wireless broadcast that conserve power.  It 
describes the advantages of clustered data.  It also explains different 
techniques for broadcasting including data organizing, index trees, and 
signatures.

(2) New Idea and Strengths
The new idea introduced is the use of a hybrid-indexing scheme that has the 
advantages of index trees, and signatures.  Index trees are good at conserving 
power when accessing frames non-sequentially. Signatures are optimized for 
sequential access. The hybrid method has good qualities from both methods.


Evaluation of the new techniques:
The writers developed cost models for flat broadcasting, index trees, signatures 
and hybrid.  The results showed that hybrid performed well under varying 
conditions.


(3) Weaknesses and Extensions
There is no field research done with physical devices.  Although the paper shows 
the theory to be sound, there may be factors in the field that might show 
weaknesses of the hybrid scheme.