Armistice Day Sunday 11th November 2018

It is said "Lest We Forget".

I now say "How We Remember"

 

As this is a telecommunications technical blog readers might find it useful to remember the different forms of communications techniques used during World War 1. An excellent website for this information and also displays of wireless devices that played an important part during WW1 can be found here:

The Royal Signals Museum
https://www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/ww1-ww2-communications/

See also: Victorian Texting https://trewmte.blogspot.com/2010/01/victorian-texting.html

Related Remembrance Day Posts:
https://trewmte.blogspot.com/2011/11/11th-hour-of-11th-day-of-11th-month.html
https://trewmte.blogspot.com/2014/06/d-day-6th-june.html
https://trewmte.blogspot.com/2011/06/d-day-6th-june.html
https://trewmte.blogspot.com/2017/11/100-years-remembrance-day-11112017.html
https://trewmte.blogspot.com/2010/11/field-of-remembrance.html

First case using wireless communications - history

First case using wireless communications - history

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Photo courtesy of executedtoday.com

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At the first UK MTEB Mobile Forensics Conference 2009, last week (25th/26th Nov), the speaker Adam Gersch (Barrister 23 Essex Street) provided the audience with a refreshing reminder of the first case in the UK that made use of wireless telegraphy communication evidence in criminal proceedings noted in the landmark case of Dr (Hawley Harvey) Crippen. Dr Crippen was caught whilst escaping onboard a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean by the eagle-eyed Ship's Captain who suspected two passengers travelling under the name of 'John Robinson' to be Crippen and his girlfriend (dressed as a boy) as the ‘cellar-murder fugitive and his friend’ wanted by the Police and on the run.

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In the nick of time the Ship's Captain sent a wireless telegram to the authorities before the ship would be out of radio range for ship-to-shore wireless communications to let them know of their presence on board his ship. Dr Crippen was found guilty at trial and was executed at Pentonville Prison on the 23rd November 1910.

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Links to background of Dr Crippen Case:

http://www.executedtoday.com/2007/11/23/1910-hawley-harvey-crippen/
http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/crime-museum-uk/episode-guide/dr-crippen/

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As an analogy, perhaps a wireless telegram back then would most probably equate today as a wireless telegraphy SMS text message (in terms of mobile telephones). This case is a useful reminder of the importance radio provided back then and still today mobile communications new and exciting evolution continues to provide important communication services, infrastructure and networks, nationally and internationally.

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Mobile Communications Science History:

Of course, the mobile telephone's use of wireless telegraphy has its roots in scientific history long before the hybrid computer was even dreamt about:

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- 1868: James Clerk Maxwell postulates EM wave phenomenon ethereal wind theory

- 1886: Heinrich Rudolf Hertz establishes proof of EM wave (Hertz cycle)

- 1893:Gugliemo Marconi first use of wireless and first patent of wireless communications

- 1905: Reginald Fessenden first transmission of speech and music via a wireless link

- 1908: Nathan B. Stubblefield invented and patented the first mobile telephone over 100-years ago

- etc

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http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2009/01/mobile-forensics-and-evidence-degrees.html

http://www.forensicfocus.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3388

Mobile Telephone Forensics

Mobile Telephone Forensics

Mobile telephones are small devices and commonly, due to misunderstanding and lack of appreciation of the brilliant work that goes into making a mobile telephone and SIM Card operate, are relegated to a lower standard of investigation. Yet, with mobile telephones primary radio capability, with solid-state electronics to back it up, enables them to punch, pound for pound, way above their weight when measured in terms of multifunctional computers or laptops.

This makes mobile telephone forensics an exciting branch of forensic science, but it does mean taking time and a dedication to comprehend. Consider the wireless and connectivity of a mobile telephone and it may surprise many what is incorporated into these mobile devices.

We commonly think of mobiles defined by their wireless service they use, such as GSM GPRS 3G etc, which are of course very important to mobile 'phone forensics. However, behind that sits a myriad of connectivity from which data can be generated and provide equally importance evidence. A footprint, if you will, that needs to be considered. For instance, what impact it has in relation to how data got to be there, what affect and effect it has regarding evidence and whether the proposition of what the evidence means can be correlated to the connectivity in question.

If SMS text messages were the only evidence to be considered then it would be understandable that connectivity would be rather a moot point. But given the fact mobile telephones have come on leaps and bounds with the introduction of Symbian based systems and java technology etc isolating SMS text messages is no longer an option. EMS and MMS play an important part in evidence, as do emails, videos etc. Indeed, transporting data wirelessly between devices through close-range communications equally means that connectivity cannot be ignored within the forensic investigation. The possible paths how data are populated in mobile device requires identification, in order to be able to comprehend the overall picture how the devices have or can be used.

- WAP 1.0, 2.0
- Bluetooth v.1.0, v.2.0
- GPRS class 10 EGPRS (Class B, Multislot class 11)
- E-mail protocols: SMTP, POP3, IMAP4 - attachments
- MMS
- Synchronization via Bluetooth or a cable SyncML
- SMIL
- USB 1.0, 2.0 via Pop-Port
- PoC or PTT
- Instant Messaging
- VideoCall
- WiFi (WLAN)

Above are just some of the connectivity technologies in use today in mobile telephones. Look, comprehend and consider is the name of the game with mobile 'phone forensics. For each heading shown above, each has its own subset standards and guidelines. It is not difficult to see why mobile telephones are very smart phones indeed.