was a problem. A very distant relative of mine that lives in Atlanta did the
computer network for the Olympics when it was there. He built it with three
redundant mobile vans using satellite connecting a Lotus Notes system IIRC.
-Kevin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harkins,Patrick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 3:39 PM
Subject: RE: Mobile Computing
> I would second most of what Kevin says except for the satellite part. When
> it comes to dynamic interfaces, satellite can be as slow or slower than
> modem due to the number of hops. Satellite providers use a proxy box with
> cached pages to reduce the challenge of bouncing back and forth from the
> satellite, but this does not work with many dynamic sites (speaking from
> experience).
>
> Another thing to consider is "What constitutes real time?" What you need
to
> ask is what is RTE? (Real Time Enough!) For example, you may want to
> consider using SQL Server Desktop with Merge Replication (a whole kettle
of
> worms there) with a scenario where replication is performed once daily.
Then
> you may be looking at a system administrator who handles problems with
> replication. Home-grown replication may seem attractive, but it requires a
> thorough knowledge of all business rules including arcane exceptions, and
> you can be almost sure that something will get overlooked.
> When it comes to real time, you may also be able to group your data into
> parts that have differing requirements, some needing daily or weekly and
> some needing up-to-the-minute "currency".
>
> Pat
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kevin Graeme [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: January 8, 2004 4:14 PM
> To: CF-Community
> Subject: Re: Mobile Computing
>
>
> We get asked this kind of question occasionally because we support agents
in
> rural counties. There isn't a really good answer, and it's probably not
> going to be easy.
>
> - Is the mobile blood drive being conducted from a truck or is it set up
at
> a local facility like a school, library, etc.?
>
> - How many computers/devices are you going to want to hook up at a
location?
>
> - Do your intranet apps work adequately over a slow modem connection or is
> broadband necessary?
>
> - Are the intranet apps designed as web service type apps that could allow
> for easy alternate interfaces, or are they pretty much the one app as-is?
>
> If it's a truck, then I would look into satellitite. If it's on-location,
> that's harder. I would start by doing an inventory of locations you will
be
> going into and what facilities they offer. If modem is okay, you might be
> fine, but if broadband is required you're going to either have to use what
> they provide or get contracted service beforehand and just work that into
> the operating costs. Even the modem route may require several service
> contracts for various areas. Cellular modems are generally slower than
56k,
> typically 19K or so.
>
> If you need multiple devices, consider setting up a mini-network with a
> central system connecting and using a gateway, either hardware or
software,
> to share that connection. If you can use the apps as web-services, I would
> consider writing a Flash Remoting app that can run on either a laptop or
> handheld. If you have to use the existing web app as-is, sharing a modem
> connection is going to get slow, but I used to do it on my home network
> before broadband was available.
>
> HIPPA is a can of worms. We've bumped into it here, but fortunately we've
> dodged the bullet so far in doing something as complicated as you are. I'm
> not sure the details of the top of my head, but it's certainly not to be
> taken lightly. Wireless has been notoriously insecure, but I'm not up to
> date on the effectiveness of the new WPA encryption. I did just see a
story
> though about hospitals adopting 802.11b.
> http://eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20040107S0014
> <http://eetimes.com/sys/news/OEG20040107S0014>
>
> Good luck.
>
> -Kevin
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ian Skinner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 2:11 PM
> Subject: Mobile Computing
>
> > We just got a requirement to research mobile laptop and/or handheld
> computer
> > access to some of our intranet applications. What are the different
> > combinations of technologies that might do this? We would be looking
for
> > something that is fairly wide ranging. This will be for our mobile
blood
> > drives where we go to different business and organizational locations
all
> > over the Central Northern California area to collect blood. We are
> > exploring the possibility of having our staff at these locations
connected
> > to our data and application resources so that they can have access to
data
> > such as a repeat donor's medical history as well as the ability to
update
> > and add new data in real time.
> >
> > I'm guessing that at this time public wireless (WLAN/WWAN) access points
> > could be very hit or miss, especially in the smaller communities and
rural
> > areas on whether the staff would have a connection at any given
location.
> > What about cellular modems or Satellite modems? Are either/both of
these
> > reliable and widely available? What are the security concerns we would
> need
> > to look into? The data being flown through the air would be under HIPPA
> > restrictions, and we would want to be very confidant in the security of
> the
> > transmission and the data, as well as not opening up holes in our
network
> > security that could allow breaches.
> >
> > I would really love any recommendations on any resource we can use to
> > research the pros, cons and requirements of various options. If there
are
> > any other technologies I haven't mentioned in my first brainstorm of
this
> > please chime in.
> >
> > I'm off to dive into Google to see what I can start to learn.
> >
> > Thank You
> >
> > --------------
> > Ian Skinner
> > Web Programmer
> > BloodSource
> > www.BloodSource.org
> > Sacramento, CA
> >
> >
> >
> > Confidentiality Notice: This message including any
> > attachments is for the sole use of the intended
> > recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged
> > information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or
> > distribution is prohibited. If you are not the
> > intended recipient, please contact the sender and
> > delete any copies of this message.
> >
> >
> _____
>
>
>
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