Abstract
The paper presents an end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) architecture suitable for IP communications scenarios that include UMTS access networks. The rationale for the architecture is justified and its main features are described, notably the QoS management functions on the terminal equipment, the mapping between IP and UMTS QoS parameters and the negotiation of these parameters.

Abstract
The paper presents the architecture of an UNITS terminal equipment optimised for IP based communications and describes the traffic control mechanisms required for supporting emerging 3G services.

Abstract
We report the use of the electric arc technique to apodise Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG). Electric arc discharges applied at the ends of the grating produce a smoothing of the refractive index modulation profile which reduces the side lobes at longer wavelengths. Using this technique, a FBG was apodised with a side lobe reduction of 17 dB.

Abstract
A new scheme is presented for simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature using a sampled fibre Bragg grating based on a long period structure written using the electric are technique. The temperature and strain measurement resolutions are estimated to be +/-0.50degreesC/rootHz and +/-3.38 muepsilon/rootHz, respectively.

Abstract
We present and demonstrate a 20 nm tunable L-band fiber ring laser. Tunability is achieved by curving a simple taper which controls the intra-cavity loss.

Abstract
A new DSP laboratory course has been included in the Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum at the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, in Portugal, since the school year of 1999/2000. This paper addresses the context and motivation underlying this new course, outlines its structure and methodology, highlights the design and goals of all DSP experiments currently proposed for the 13 weeks of the semester, and reports on the receptivity students have expressed to this elective course. The course is based on the TI C31 Starter Kit and tries to combine full use of its resources with a representative diversity of efficient digital signal processing techniques and associated application scenarios. A perspective is also given on current plans to reinforce DSP expertise at the graduate level.