CHAPTER 14 FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

14.1 Mobile Softswitch

What is Softswitch? Softswitch is the software based telephone system or exchange, (PABX) that allows the transfer of voice over the Internet Protocol [131], i.e. Voice over IP. It is a PC-based switchboard that uses Internet Protocol This means that telephone calls are made through the IP networks.

Currently, all the softswitches available enable call routing or forwarding only to fixed telephone lines. There is no functionality that enables call forwarding to mobile or cell phones. I am intending to investigate possibilities to extend the available softswitches to offer the call forwarding functionality to cell phones. That is the functionality that is not available with the current PABX s and Softswitches.

The following section discusses mobile CCTV.

14.2 Mobile Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Security System

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is a security system that enables monitoring of a particular area under the surveillance of a camera. Normally, there is more than one camera used to observe and watch the area. Most developments of these CCTVs are advanced and use digitized video images and use the desktop workstations to display the video content.

Such systems do not make it possible for the security personnel to move around whilst watching the computer, for example. The moment he moves in front of the desktop workstation he would miss lots of happenings from the video; otherwise, he would have to playback the video. I am intending to investigate the possibilities to develop a system that allows surveillance over cell phones. With systems like mobile TV s begin developed, I do see a possibility of using the same types of technologies and devices that are used in such systems to develop a mobile CCTV. This CCTV I am having in mind would be developed such that someone can view content from several cameras but one at a time. But, there would be an ability to between several cameras instantly. This is due to the screen size of the cell phone which does not enable to view the video content from different cameras at the same time.

These are the future visions and development that I am willing research about.

The following section summarizes and concludes the chapter.

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14.3 Summary and Conclusion

In summary, I am intending to investigate ways of adding mobility to the two sectors stated above, i.e. the two afore-mentioned developments. I do see a need for the capability and functionality that enables forwarding from a or fixed telephone to a cell phone and from a cell phone to the other. From my own point if view, it never is a nice thing, when calling someone in his office and find that he is not there and, the next thing, the call gets answered by someone else, who would give you the cell numbers of this person you are looking for. Why can t he just forward the call to the cell phone (number) of the person you want to speak to? This is the question I will be trying to find answers for.

Also, the stationed security systems need to get mobility. It could be better for security personnel to monitor the area whilst able to move around.

In conclusion, I have the belief that these developments might be good for the production of the company, i.e. increase production of the company. Workers, in the case of the call forwarding feature, cannot miss any calls, as their calls would be forwarded to their cell phones on the fly. It could also be nice to have a call hopping from one cell phone to the other. This is the feature that is still missing with cell phones.

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