November 2013 Vol. 11 No. 11

View from the Top

• Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi, Senior Vice President, Director of Technology Planning Department, Director of Strategic Business Development Division, NTT

  

  Overview
  Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi, Senior Vice President and Director of the Technology Planning Department of NTT, says that we need to adopt a new corporate mindset that places importance on the new inter-service era and the challenges that this market brings. We asked him about NTT’s Medium-Term Management Strategy and how he is preparing to work in a telecommunications industry that demands speed and new value creation.

Front-line Researchers

• Naonori Ueda, Director of Machine Learning Data Science Center, Senior Distinguished Scientist, NTT Communication Science Laboratories

  

  Abstract
  Big data has been attracting a great deal of attention in recent years, but there is still no real sense of the role it can play in society. NTT is now taking a giant step toward the widespread, practical application of big data analysis. Senior Distinguished Scientist Dr. Naonori Ueda is an active pioneer in the research of machine learning. We asked him about his career in research and about the Machine Learning Data Science Center that he directs.

Feature Articles: Applications of Big Data Analytics Technologies for Traffic and Network Management Data

• Applications of Big Data Analytics Technologies for Traffic and Network Management Data—Gaining Useful Insights from Big Data of Traffic and Network Management

  

  Abstract
  The complexity of telecommunication networks continues to increase. Likewise, the complexity of traffic carried over these networks is also increasing. A data-driven approach is a promising technique for handling those complexities. We have been conducting research and development (R&D) on data analytics for traffic and network management by applying big data technologies. This article introduces the R&D activities involving applications of big-data analytics technologies for traffic and network management.

• Analyzing Internet Traffic Structure through Big Data Technology

  

  Abstract
  The volume of Internet traffic consisting of content delivered by large content providers continues to increase. Moreover, the traffic control measures used by those content providers make the dynamics of Internet traffic more complex. In this article, we introduce a method of analyzing the complex dynamics of Internet traffic and present some results obtained after applying the method.

• Traffic Management of Video Streaming Services

  

  Abstract
  The use of video streaming services is becoming more widespread, and as a consequence, the traffic volume of these services is rapidly increasing over the broadband communication network. It sometimes happens as a rare event that many users will start using video streaming services almost simultaneously. This results in an explosive increase in the volume of traffic, which is observed in the network data. Users strongly desire video streaming services that provide clear and high-resolution images for the entire duration of the programs they are viewing. Thus, special attention must be paid to these services in the task of traffic management. In this article, we characterize the variation in the traffic volume of video streaming services based on the viewing activities of users, and we explain what knowledge is necessary to manage the traffic.

• Network Failure Detection and Diagnosis by Analyzing Syslog and SNS data: Applying Big Data Analysis to Network Operations

  

  Abstract
  We introduce two big data analysis methods for diagnosing the causes of network failures and for detecting network failures early. Syslogs contain log data generated by the system. We analyzed syslogs and succeeded in detecting the cause of a network failure by automatically learning over 100 million logs without needing any previous knowledge of log data. Analysis of the data of a social networking service (namely, Twitter) enabled us to detect possible network failures by extracting network-failure related tweets, which account for less than 1% of all tweets, in real time and with high accuracy.

• Analyzing Macroscopic Demand Structure Based on New Model of S-shaped Growth

  

  Abstract
  We tackle the issue of quantitatively evaluating the impact competitors have on a market. In this article, we introduce a method for estimating this impact based on a new theory of S-shaped growth in innovation diffusion.

Regular Articles

• Fiber-mounted Electro-optic Probe for Microwave Electric-field Measurement in Plasma Environment

  

  Abstract
  The demand for greater precision in electric-field measurements is increasing. To meet this demand, NTT Microsystem Integration Laboratories has developed an electro-optic (EO) probe that is mounted on the tip of an optical fiber and has no metal components. This article describes the basic principles and improvements in sensitivity stability and thermal and magnetic resistance of the EO probe. It also presents the results of microwave electric-field measurements conducted in an electron cyclotron resonance ion engine installed on an asteroid explorer under the collaboration of NTT and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Global Standardization Activities

• International Standardization Trends in China

  

  Abstract
  In China, independent technological innovations are progressing in accordance with the National Guideline for Medium and Long-term Plan for Science and Technology Development, announced by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China in 2006. In the context of such innovation, standardization activities are under way in various industrial fields, with specific goals set for each area of technology. Standardization in the communications industry is being implemented by the China Communication Standards Association (CCSA). This article reviews recent developments in the CCSA’s standardization activities and explains the structure of the Chinese standardization system and recent trends in the communications industry.

External Awards

• External Awards