Answer:
the UPS advanced network has three inter-connected design elements.
In the first, network- “wearable” computing and communication devices play a key role. A cordless optical scanner mounted on a finger ring captures tracking numbers from the packages. Then, the wireless ring scanner transmits the data to a package-tracking system carried on the hip of the package sorter. Bluetooth is used for this finger-to-hip communication. The hip-mounted tracking system runs on a Windows CE operating system-based terminal, code-named Emerald,and could process 60 scans per minute.
UPS has purchased more than 50,000 terminals as part of its distribution center project. In the second part of the network solution, the Emerald terminal re-transmits the data received from the ring scanner to a wireless access point via WiFi. In the third and final part of the network solution, the wireless access point transmits the data across an Ethernet LAN in the distribution center to a server-based application that ships the data across UPS’ WAN via a network server running in conjunction with either point-to-point fixed lines (a.k.a. leased lines) or over the more flexible cost structure of its telecommunication partner’s public switched digital network (PSDN). The data then flows via this WAN network to UPS’ centralized package-tracking application running on servers in New Jersey.
To address security concerns,UPS requires password-protected logins from all users and has implemented encryption technology on its networks.However, because most of the data transmitted over the wireless LAN consists of package-tracking numbers,transmission security is not as big an issue as it could be.In addition, UPS operates a massive worldwide package processing hub (called World port)at the Louisville International Airport in Kentucky. Here UPS handle 84 packages per second(or 416,000 per hour).Thus the UPS organization shares data over a private, secure network, running on its own privately-held wireless/wired network typologies, as well as those networking services (both wireless and wired) owned and operated by its telecommunication partners.
In addition,UPS maintains a public Internet site through which the public may track the status of their individual UPS shipments. UPS also maintains an Intranet to coordinate internal employee activities and enterprise business processes and to share corporate information and services with its employees worldwide.Lastly, with its larger global accounts and business partners,UPS collaborates through Extra net-based Web services.
