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User-oriented seamless service handoff is prosperous in the ubiquitous computing environment. This paper aims to present an open architecture for the user-oriented seamless service handoff across heterogeneous platforms. The migration of service environment is the key to implement the user-oriented service handoff. A distributed service handoff scheme based on the binary sensor network and context-aware middleware has been proposed.

To validate this scheme, a test-bed has been constructed in the lab environment.

The experimental results show that the proposed scheme can reduce the service handoff delay compared to the centralized scheme.

The experimental results show that the scheme can reduce the delay of service handoff compared to the traditional centralized scheme.

In code‐division multiple‐access (CDMA) systems, the number of mobile users that each cell can support is limited by the total received power or interference received at each base station (BS) and can vary with time. The total received power can be used as an indicator of traffic load in call admission control. In this paper, we propose a call admission control (CAC) scheme based on the total received power for CDMA systems supporting integrated voice/data services. Based on the current measure of the received power, we develop an algorithm to estimate the updated total received power due to a new incoming call. We analyze the optimal admission threshold for both power limited cells and interference limited cells. We model the system by a multi‐dimensional Markov chain and compute the system performance in terms of new call blocking probability, forced termination probability of voice calls, average transmission delay of data calls and outage probability. We compare our results with an existing degradation scheme.

Heterogeneous network is mainly focused to enrich the demands of network's traffic and data rate. Heterogeneous network is an integrated system composed of diverse radio access technologies such as Wi-Fi, UMTS and WiMAX soon. To exchange the packets among these different wireless technologies, an adoptable vertical handoff (VHO) is required.

Various types of techniques have been proposed in line with VHO. However these algorithms lead to the threat of high dropping rate and poor Quality of Service (QoS). We modulate a new methodology by integrating Convolutional Neural Network with Fuzzy Logic (CNN-FL) for an optimum vertical handoff decision process (VHDP). The CNN-FL–based VHDP is very effective because of nonlinearity and generalization capability with uncertain data inputs.

The performance results exhibit that proposed methods show efficient for selecting the appropriate network with maximum throughput. At the same time, the proposed method reduces computational complexity and dropping rate considerably.

This paper proposes a novel CNN model along with a FL model for achieving a vertical hand off.

Vertical handoff mechanism (VHO) becomes very popular because of the improvements in the mobility models. These developments are less to certain circumstances and thus do not provide support in generic mobility, but the vertical handover management providing in the heterogeneous wireless networks (HWNs) is crucial and challenging. Hence, this paper introduces the vertical handoff management approach based on an effective network selection scheme.

This paper aims to improve the working principle of previous methods and make VHO more efficient and reliable for the HWN.Initially, the handover triggering techniques is modelled for identifying an appropriate place to initiate handover based on the computed coverage area of cellular base station or wireless local area network (WLAN) access point. Then, inappropriate networks are eliminated for determining the better network to perform handover. Accordingly, a network selection approach is introduced on the basis ofthe Fractional-dolphin echolocation-based support vector neural network (Fractional-DE-based SVNN). The Fractional-DE is designed by integrating Fractional calculus (FC) in Dolphin echolocation (DE), and thereby, modifying the update rule of the DE algorithm based on the location of the solutions in past iterations. The proposed Fractional-DE algorithm is used to train Support vector neural network (SVNN) for selecting the best weights. Several parameters, like Bit error rate (BER), End to end delay (EED), jitter, packet loss, and energy consumption are considered for choosing the best network.

The performance of the proposed VHO mechanism based on Fractional-DE is evaluated based on delay, energy consumption, staytime, and throughput. The proposed Fractional-DE method achieves the minimal delay of 0.0100 sec, the minimal energy consumption of 0.348, maximal staytime of 4.373 sec, and the maximal throughput of 109.20 kbps.

In this paper, a network selection approach is introduced on the basis of the Fractional-Dolphin Echolocation-based Support vector neural network (Fractional-DE-based SVNN). The Fractional-DE is designed by integrating Fractional calculus (FC) in Dolphin echolocation (DE), and thereby, modifying the update rule of the DE algorithm based on the location of the solutions in past iterations. The proposed Fractional-DE algorithm is used to train SVNN for selecting the best weights. Several parameters, like Bit error rate (BER), End to end delay (EED), jitter, packet loss, and energy consumption are considered for choosing the best network.The performance of the proposed VHO mechanism based on Fractional-DE is evaluated based on delay, energy consumption, staytime, and throughput, in which the proposed method offers the best performance.

Notes that cellular is the inevitable future architecture for the personal communication service system (PCS). This is important for wireless mobile communications and will eventually be integrated with the Internet. Recent initiatives to add mobility to the Internet and packet data services for the next generation cellular systems are being considered by many mobile service providers, and providing a seamless support for IP‐based packet switched services is an important issue. Mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (Ipv6) is a new version of the Internet Protocol that was standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It supports mobility and is presently being standardized by the IETF Mobile IP Working Group. Discusses the current cellular support based on Ipv6 and points out the shortfalls of using Mobile IP. Highlights protocols especially for mobile management schemes which can optimize a high speed mobile station moving among small wireless cells.

Given the complexity and difficulties of the health sector, the question that this study attempts to answer is as follows: what are the main results of studies on business process management (BPM) and lean in the health sector? The purpose of this paper is to analyze the results of studies that address the promotion of BPM and lean in the health sector.

To conduct a survey of published studies using the BPM and lean approach in healthcare, a search was performed in the Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases in two steps. The first step consisted of the collection and analysis of data related to the BPM approach in the health sector, based on a survey of published articles on this topic. The second step consisted of the collection and analysis of data related to the use of lean in the same sector, based on the survey of systematic reviews published in major databases.

The main results of the studies that address the promotion of BPM and lean in the health sector are as follows: a reduced length of hospitalization, increased patient satisfaction, increased patient efficiency and safety, a reduction in the time of notification of infection, help with organizational change, understanding the end-to-end process, increased motivation, understanding the importance of some handoffs for patient safety, improvements in quality indicators in the emergency department, and improvements in the organization’s focus on high-level processes. By contrast, a single study showed difficulties in promoting management focused on processes in which decisions are unique and difficult to model.

The results may help in the identification of research gaps in the promotion of BPM and lean healthcare and in the development of relevant research. In addition, by understanding how health organizations are promoting management focused on processes and the results obtained with this approach, managers from other organizations, especially in this sector, can reflect and develop similar actions that seek to improve the quality of services offered, increase productivity and customer satisfaction, and reduce costs, errors, and waiting times.

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to provide insight into the management of an internal service system derived from a perspective of Lean management. These internal service systems would exist within professional service units of development, engineering, information technology, human resources, and consumer affairs.

A meta‐analysis of approximately 60 internal service systems was performed. The objectives of the meta‐analysis were: identification of structural similarities; categorization of wasteful activities; tabulation of typical problems; and synthesis and exploration.

Internal service systems have numerous common structural characteristics, including the importance of information, process flows across functions, many hand‐offs of information, hidden costs and benefits, and no explicit motivation for urgency. The wasteful activities can be classified into seven groups: delays, reviews, mistakes, duplication, movement, processing inefficiencies, and resource inefficiencies. The most common problems included a lack of standard procedures, long service times, communication breakdowns, and poor personnel management.

Critical insights valuable to a manager of an internal service system are: it is likely that the main service provided is information; it is likely that cross‐functional coordination is required; and it is likely that people play a critical role in the system's performance. These insights can form the basis of cross‐function cooperative improvement efforts.

The paper presents the first known large‐scale assessment of problems and opportunities in applying Lean principles to internal service systems.

The aim is to determine, from the patient's perspective, what constitutes a good hand-off procedure in the emergency department (ED). The secondary purpose is to evaluate what impact a formalized hand-off had on patient knowledge, throughput and customer service

This study used a randomized controlled clinical trial involving two unique hand-off approaches and a convenience sample. The study alternated between the current hand-off process that documented the process but not specific elements (referred to as the informal process) to one using the IPASS the BATON process (considered the formal process). Consenting patients completed a 12-question validated questionnaire on how the process was perceived by patients and about their understanding why they waited in the ED. Statistical analysis using SPSS calculated descriptive frequencies and t-tests.

In total 107 patients were enrolled: 50 in the informal and 57 in the formal group. Most patients had positive answers to the customer survey. There were significant differences between formal and informal groups: recalling the oncoming and outgoing physician coming to the patient's bed (p=0.000), with more formal group recalling that than informal group patients; the oncoming physician introducing him/herself (p=0.01), with more from the formal group answering yes and the physician discussing tests and implications with formal group patients (p=0.02).

This study was done at an urban inner city ED, a fact that may have skewed its results. A comparison of suburban and rural EDs would make the results stronger. It also reflected a very high level of customer satisfaction within the ED. This lack of variance may have meant that the correlation between customer service and handoffs was missed or underrepresented. There was no codified observation of either those using the IPASS the BATON script or those using informal procedures, so no comparison of level and types of information given between the two groups was done. There could have been a bias of those attending who had internalized the IPASS the BATON procedures and used them even when they were assigned to the informal group.

A hand off from one physician to the next in the emergency department is best done using a formalized process. IPASS the BATON is a useful tool for hand off in the ED in part because it involved the patient in the process. The formal hand off increased communication between patient and doctor as its use increased the patient's opportunity to ask and respond to questions.

The researchers evaluated an ED physician specific hand-off process and illustrate the value and impact of involving patients in the hand-off process.

This paper explores the enablers of modular healthcare services.

A survey-based approach was adopted with specialised hospitals as the unit of analysis. A structural model was developed based on a literature review and assessed using a cross-sectional research design. A 23-indicator questionnaire was circulated among service providers in the healthcare system across India, and 286 valid responses were received. The data were analysed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

The results reveal that professional competence, technological versatility, clear division of tasks, channelised flow of information and professional autonomy act as enablers that may drive modular service delivery.

By examining service providers' perspectives, this paper highlights the influence of the identified enablers on modular service delivery in healthcare organisations.

For practitioners, the study provides suggestions for designing patient-centric healthcare services via modular healthcare delivery. The identified structural relationships can facilitate immediate corrective actions and the formulation of future policies. The findings will help practitioners foresee opportunities for patient participation in value co-creation, meet patients' varying needs, decompose service offerings, mix and match components develop sets of rules as interfaces between service modules and design service packages on an ongoing basis.

This study underscores the emergence of patient-centric care and may aid the design of processes that deliver health to the patient as a person.

This paper identifies and empirically validates relationships between healthcare service delivery processes and modular service delivery.

Numerous services involve the processing of individual customer cases. These cases require a service provider to accomplish several tasks, many of which involve precedence relationships and sequence‐dependent setup times. In addition, time lags may be required between certain tasks to permit processing external to the service provider. Finally, satisfaction of customer demand is typically constrained by the availability of the service provider, who seeks to accomplish tasks with an eye toward several dynamic objectives. This problem, designated the service case scheduling problem, is logically described in terms of its objectives, constraints, and characteristics. A simulation study is then used to produce general recommendations for the problem's solution in practice.