Qualitative relations between moving objects in a network changing its topological relations

The Qualitative Trajectory Calculus on Networks (QTC_N) defines qualitative relations between two continuously moving point objects (MPOs) moving along a network. As prevailing in other research, this network is presumed static in QTC_N. Actually, in many cases, networks are dynamic entities. For example in a road network, the opening of a bridge can temporarily close the connection between two junctions; traffic jams and traffic lights increase the time needed to travel from A to B. Therefore, it is interesting to examine what happens with qualitative relations between two continuously moving point objects if there are changes in the network. In this paper, we introduce QTC_DN^′, being the Qualitative Trajectory Calculus on Changing Networks able to handle topological network changes. Potential applications of the calculus in transportation are highlighted, clearly illustrating the usefulness of the calculus.     

3D Z-string: A new knowledge structure to represent spatio-temporal relations between objects in a video

In this paper, we propose a new knowledge structure called 3D Z-string, extended from the 2D Z-string, to represent the spatial and temporal relations between objects in a video and to keep track of the motions and size changes of the objects. Since there are no cuttings between objects in the 3D Z-string, the integrity of objects is preserved. The string generation and video reconstruction algorithms for the 3D Z-string representation of video objects are also developed. The string generated by the string generation algorithm is unique for a given video and the video reconstructed from a given 3D Z-string is unique too. The experimental results show that the 3D Z-string is more compact and efficient than the 3D C-string in terms of storage space and execution time.     

Estimeetings: development estimates and a front-end process for alarge project

A method for estimating software development effort in the early phases of a large software-intensive project and a front-end process incorporating this method are presented. The application of this methodology to the domestic US 5ESS Switch project (a large multiyear continuing effort, with new features incorporated into yearly releases) is described. For each feature to be estimated, a feature team generates a detailed feature definition with high-level functionality requirements and a high-level design proposal. These are used in a formal working meeting of estimators from affected parts of the project. The meeting produces a development estimate for use in deciding which features to include in the next release. The benefits of this methodology include well-defined milestones (high-level features requirements, high-level designs and estimates), and less tangible benefits like better working relationships between parts of the project, interorganizational synergy and increased confidence in the front-end process     

AutoMed: an automated mediator for multi-issue bilateral negotiations

In this paper, we present AutoMed, an automated mediator for multi-issue bilateral negotiation under time constraints. AutoMed elicits the negotiators preferences and analyzes them. It monitors the negotiations and proposes possible solutions for resolving the conflict. We conducted experiments in a simulated environment. The results show that negotiations mediated by AutoMed are concluded significantly faster than non-mediated ones and without any of the negotiators opting out. Furthermore, the subjects in the mediated negotiations are more satisfied with the resolutions than the subjects in the non-mediated negotiations.     

Simulation with active objects: an approach to combined modelling

This paper concerns the combined modelling approach developed for evaluation of performability of large scale computer systems. It presents how to combine queuing networks and Generalised Stochastic Petri Nets in a single model, taking advantages of common abstract features. The main objective of this paper is to present a solution concept involving simulation with active objects that clearly reflects the logic of the simulated objects. Therefore an initial outline of the active objects and their properties, services and structures, which together serve to provide a combined modelling, is given.     

A form-based natural language front-end to a CIM database

The paper presents a methodology for developing a user interface that combines fourth generation interface tools (SQL forms) with a natural language processor for a database management system. The natural language processor consists of an index, a lexicon and a parser. The index is used to uniquely identify each form in the system through a conceptual representation of its purpose. The form fields specify database or nondatabase fields whose values are either entered by the user (user-defined) or are derived by the form (system-defined) in response to user input. A set of grammar rules are associated with each form. The lexicon consists of all words recognized by the system, their grammatical categories, roots, their associations (if any) with database objects and forms. The parser scans, a natural language query to identify a form in a bottom-up fashion. The information requested in the user query is determined in a top-down manner by parsing, through the grammar rules associated with the identified form. Extragrammatical inputs with limited deviations from the grammar rules are supported. Combining a natural language processor with SQL forms allows processing data modification tasks without violating any database integrity constraint, having duplicate records, or entering invalid data. A prototype natural language interface is described as a front-end to an ORACLE database for a computer integrated manufacturing system     

EDGeS: Bridging EGEE to BOINC and XtremWeb

Desktop Grids, such as XtremWeb and BOINC, and Service Grids, such as EGEE, are two different approaches for science communities to gather computing power from a large number of computing resources. Nevertheless, little work has been done to combine these two Grid technologies in order to establish a seamless and vast Grid resource pool. In this paper we present the EGEE Service Grid, the BOINC and XtremWeb Desktop Grids. Then, we present the EDGeS solution to bridge the EGEE Service Grid with the BOINC and XtremWeb Desktop Grids.     

From objects to services: toward a stepwise migration approach for Java applications

Migrating legacy applications toward service-oriented systems is a hard task complicated by the lack of appropriate approaches and tools. In this paper, a stepwise approach is proposed to migrate a Java application into an equivalent application composed of a set of Web services invoked by an orchestrator. In each migration step, a portion of the target application is identified and migrated into a Web service. In this approach, the role of testing is central since after each migration step the new service-oriented application is tested with the aim of checking “its equivalence” with the original version. An experiment based on four Java applications has been conducted to tune the approach and evaluate applicability and effort involved in the migration process. The obtained results confirm the viability of the proposed approach and highlight some encountered SOA migration difficulties.     

The strategic mediator: a paradoxical role for a collaborative e-marketplace

The last 10 years have witnessed the emergence of electronic marketplaces as players that leverage new technologies to facilitate B2B internet-mediated collaborative business. Nowadays these players are augmenting their services from simple intermediation to include new inter-organizational relationships. The interest of this paper is to investigate the shift in the role and evolution of services proposed by e-marketplaces in response to the demands of the market participants. We carried out a longitudinal qualitative field study of an e-marketplace providing the outsourcing of the procurement process. Through the study of services evolving over time we show that, as marketplaces support increasingly complex business processes, the market participants begin to privilege the well connected small number to the convenience of the openness to the entire market. The participants see the marketplace as an exclusive club, the belonging to which provides a strategic advantage. The technology brought forth by the marketplace participates in shaping the strategic demands of the participants which in turn request the marketplace to redesign its own strategy. Profiting from this unintended demand, the e-marketplace assumes the paradoxical role of a strategic mediator: an agent who upholds and heightens the fences of the transactions instead of leveling them. The results have implication in shaping how we see the role of technology as strategic or commoditized.

ALOCOM: a generic content model for learning objects

e-Learning organizations are focusing heavily on learning content reusability. The ultimate objective is a learning object economy characterized by searchable digital libraries of reusable learning objects that can be exchanged and reused across various learning systems. To enable such approach, basic questions of learning content interoperability need to be addressed. This paper investigates the interoperation of learning content defined according to different specifications. A number of content models are reviewed that define learning objects and their components. On the basis of a comparative analysis, the content models are mapped to a generic model for learning objects to address interoperability questions and to enable share and reuse on a global scale.     

A structured visual language for a knowledge-based front-end to statistical analysis systems in biomedical research

Within the last few years, several knowledge-based systems for statistical analysis systems have been proposed (see Refs. 1-4 for references). Most of these systems provide so-called 'natural-language' interfaces for acquisition and application of meta-data. Since graphics have been very efficient in displaying results (e.g., as scatter, QQ and residual plots), some attempts have been made (cf. Refs. 5,6) to use graphics also to display knowledge of the statistical strategy. In the present paper I will concentrate on the visualization of knowledge of the experimental design and its impacts on the design of a structured visual syntax language for acquisition and application of this knowledge in the field of biomedical research.     

HGeoHashBase: an optimized storage model of spatial objects for location-based services

Many location-based services need to query objects existing in a specific space,such as location-based tourism resource recommendation.Both a large number of spatial objects and the real-time object access requirements of location-based services pose a big challenge for spatial object storage and query management.In this paper,we propose HGeoHashBase,an improved storage model by integrating GeoHash with key-value structure,to organize spatial objects for efficient range queries.GeoHash is responsible for spatial encoding and key-value structure as underlying data storage.Both the similarity of the encodings for objects in the close geographical locations and the multi-version data mechanism are blended into the proposed model well.Considering the tradeoff between encoding precision and query performance,a theoretical proof is presented.Extensive experiments are designed and conducted,whose results show that the proposed model can gain significant performance improvement.     

Container loading for nonorthogonal objects: an approximation using local search and simulated annealing

Container loading problems consist of finding an appropriate way to load objects into a container. A few alternative algorithms have been defined based on different optimization approaches. Different algorithms also depend on the types of objects considered. In most of the cases, however, the shape of the objects is restricted to be orthogonal (i.e., standard boxes). In this paper, we consider the case where the shape of the objects can be any polyhedron. We propose an algorithm using local search and simulated annealing, and we show that for standard boxes, it has a similar performance than previously established methods.     

面向对象耦合性度量工具的设计与实现

软件度量是保障软件质量的重要手段。结合软件度量技术，设计并实现一个面向对象耦合性度量工具，用于全面度量面向对象系统的耦合性。给出了此度量工具的体系结构，详细讲述了该工具各个模块的设计与实现方法，其中着重讲述了中间信息库的设计，给出了度量结果示例。最后介绍了该度量工具的特点。     

CLARANS: a method for clustering objects for spatial data mining

Spatial data mining is the discovery of interesting relationships and characteristics that may exist implicitly in spatial databases. To this end, this paper has three main contributions. First, it proposes a new clustering method called CLARANS, whose aim is to identify spatial structures that may be present in the data. Experimental results indicate that, when compared with existing clustering methods, CLARANS is very efficient and effective. Second, the paper investigates how CLARANS can handle not only point objects, but also polygon objects efficiently. One of the methods considered, called the IR-approximation, is very efficient in clustering convex and nonconvex polygon objects. Third, building on top of CLARANS, the paper develops two spatial data mining algorithms that aim to discover relationships between spatial and nonspatial attributes. Both algorithms can discover knowledge that is difficult to find with existing spatial data mining algorithms.