Seamless semantic enrichment of services in assistive environments

The paper proposes a methodology and a tool-based support for the development of semantic services in ambient-assisted living (AAL)-oriented assistive environments. A review of existing approaches in this area is conducted. The review covers a variety of AAL platforms from which universAAL has been chosen for the experimental implementation. The paper presented the iterative development methodology of service semantics, which facilitates the efficient creation of error-free services in AAL platforms. The features needed for the realization of the methodology are implemented as a universAAL platform extension named the annotation-based semantic enrichment. The proposed approach is assessed in the context of a sample scenario in which the services promoting universal access for elderly people or otherwise impaired persons are developed. The assessment results are used to highlight the added value of the presented work and to identify potential areas of future improvement.     

Self-configuring agents for ambient assisted living applications

Ambient assisted living (AAL) is advocated as the technological solution that will enable the elderly population to maintain their independence for a longer period of time than would otherwise be the case. The inherently heterogeneous nature of AmI environments and special requirements of the elderly population pose new challenges for the design and implementation of AAL systems. Thus, the development of these systems demands a context-aware, open, scalable, and distributed software technology that incorporates both intelligent and autonomic reconfiguration techniques. In this contribution, we focus on the design and implementation challenges of an agent-based AAL system that incorporates self-configuring tasks, by means of applying autonomic computing to software agents’ internal architecture. We use an agent-based system for tracking elderly people’s activity using common commercially available electronic devices as case study. We have validated our approach focusing on response time (a main concern in AAL) using different tests and the results are satisfactory.     

Intelligent Control for Robotic Rehabilitation after Stroke

The paper presents a new control approach to robot-assisted rehabilitation for stroke patients. The control architecture is represented in terms of a hybrid system model combining a high-level and a low-level assistive controller. The high-level controller is designed to monitor the progress and safety of the rehabilitation task. The high-level controller also makes decisions on the modification of the task that might be needed for the therapy. A design of a low-level assistive controller that provides robotic assistance for an upper arm rehabilitation task and works in coordination with the proposed high-level controller is discussed. Experimental results on unimpaired participants are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of both the high-level and low-level assistive controllers.     

Extending Ecological Interface Design principles: A manufacturing case study

Identifying information requirements is a well-understood activity, but the practice of converting data into visual form based on these requirements is less defined. The Ecological Interface Design (EID) framework attempts to bridge this design gap by offering a set of visual design principles. While these principles supply high-level goals to be achieved by the display, they do not describe the design process per se. EID case studies tend to report the work domain analysis, the design solution and the relationship between these two artefacts. Unfortunately, the presentation of a final solution does not reveal the rationale for decisions made during the design process. This, coupled with the complexity of the systems involved, can make it difficult to transfer design knowledge to other work domains. Here a methodology is proposed to guide the design of visual interface components that make up an ecological display. A structured approach for matching requirements to visual form based on work domain analysis, task analysis, scale matching, and data transformations is presented. A case study reveals the rationale behind the redesign of a process control health reporting system using this methodology.     

Handling advanced scheduling heuristics under a hardware compiler generation environment

The complexity of modern digital systems requires complex design entry methods and thus, language based designs are often an appealing alternative for schematics. Language based design entry, supports high-level design transformations through formal and executable traditional compiler construction problem specifications, their main advantages being modularity and declarative notation. In this paper, this idea is exploited under a powerful compiler construction system and a methodology is given to design formal and executable high-level hardware manipulators. In effect, this methodology stands as a meta-level between hardware transformations and their implementation and can be valuable in fast evaluation of new ideas and techniques.     

Expert tutoring system for teaching mechanical engineering

This paper describes the work undertaken, at the Higher Technical School of Industrial Engineers of Gijón, for the development of computer aided systems, in the line of expert systems, concentrating research, and development in the field of mechanical design. We are using this software as an integrated tool in our work for teaching machine design. Models to develop the software of several components are defined, and their application methodology is also presented.

An application which tackles the problem of configuration design, applied to mechanical transmission is also described in this article. The failure of machine elements in mechanical design, frequently occurs due to poorly detailed projects.

The developed work is applied to the design of configurations for mechanical systems, by means of an intelligent program which incorporates the process of geometric design, the calculation of mechanical elements, the selection in electronic databases and the output of CAD plans.

Configuration design is a type of design problem where the different elements (which make up the system, mechanism or machine project object), are selected from databases and connected in order to complete the requirements (functionality, specifications, and established restrictions) outlined in the problem.     

A SysML-based methodology for mechatronic systems architectural design

Mechatronic systems are characterized by the synergic interaction between their components from different technological domains. These interactions enable the system to achieve more functionalities than the sum of the functionalities of its components considered independently. Traditional design approaches are no longer adequate and there is a need for new synergic and multidisciplinary design approaches with close cooperation between specialists from different disciplines.SysML is a general purpose multi-view language for systems modeling and is identified as a support to this work.In this paper, a SysML-based methodology is proposed. This methodology consists of two phases: a black box analysis with an external point of view that provides a comprehensive and consistent set requirements, and a white box analysis that progressively leads to the internal architecture and behavior of the system.     

The SDL pattern approach – a reuse-driven SDL design methodology

There are several SDL methodologies that offer full system life-cycle support. Only few of them consider software reuse, not to mention high-level reuse of architecture and design. However, software reuse is a proven software engineering paradigm leading to high quality and reduced development effort. Experience made it apparent that – beyond the more traditional reuse of code – especially high-level reuse of architecture and design (as in the case of design patterns or frameworks) has the potential of achieving more systematic and widespread reuse. This paper presents the SDL pattern approach, a design methodology for distributed systems which integrates SDL-based system development with the pattern paradigm. It supports reuse of design knowledge modeled as SDL patterns and concentrates on the design phase of SDL-based system development. In order to get full life-cycle support, the pattern-based design process can be integrated within existing SDL methodologies.     

Enabling fuzzy technologies in high performance networking via an open FPGA-based development platform

Soft computing techniques and particularly fuzzy inference systems are gaining momentum as tools for network traffic modeling, analysis and control. Efficient hardware implementations of these techniques that can achieve real-time operation in high-speed networking equipment as well as other highly time-constrained application fields is however an open problem. We introduce a development platform for fuzzy inference systems with applications to network traffic analysis and control. The platform addresses the current requirements and constraints of high performance networking equipment. For the development process, we set up a methodology and a CAD tool chain that span the entire design process from initial specification in a high-level language to implementation on FPGA devices. An FPGA development board with PCI/PCIe interface is employed to support an open platform that comprises CAD tools as well as IP cores. PCI compatible fuzzy inference modules are implemented as System-on-Programmable-Chip (SoPC). We present satisfactory experimental results from the implementation of fuzzy systems for a number of applications in analysis and control of Internet traffic. These systems are shown to satisfy operational and architectural requirements of current and future high performance routing equipment. The platform proposed allows for the development of prototypes while avoiding large investments and complicated management procedures which constrain the testing and adoption of soft computing techniques in high performance networking.     

Identifying competences for the design of systems supporting complex decision-making tasks: a managerial planning application

The work presented in this paper is addressed to the front-end phases of the development of a system supporting a complex decision-making task: high-level managerial planning in small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). It attempts to identify characteristics of the competences possessed by experienced managers and used when taking high-level managerial planning decisions, and to assess their potential implications for system design. The work is based on the assumption that the design of effective systems supporting complex decision-making tasks in a specific domain, would require elicitation of competences possessed by experienced persons in the domain, especially those related to the mental processes followed when confronting the cognitive constraints involved in the specific decision-making environment. Such an investigation would lead to the development of systems improving decision making since they would (1) respond to the difficulties met by potential users in performing complex decision-making tasks; (2) reduce possible negative consequences of users' decision-making competences; and (3) at the same time they would achieve the required compatibility with users' mental processes. The research methodology was based on a planning scenario and on an analysis of verbal protocols obtained from a sample of small-enterprise managers confronted with this scenario. Results provide evidence about (1) the type of decisions and actions taken by experienced managers when confronted with the cognitive constraints involved in managerial planning situations; (2) phases and sequence of the process of arriving at planning decisions; and (3) data used and types of analyses performed. Some general implications are drawn from these results with respect to the configuration of a system aiming at supporting managerial planning. These refer to the type of support to be provided at various phases of the planning process, possible features of the human-computer interface, and generic or task/user specific aspects of the system.     

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     

The application of the methodology for secure cyber–physical systems design to improve the semi-natural model of the railway infrastructure

The paper suggests a new methodology for secure cyber–physical systems design. The proposed methodology consists of two main cycles. The main goal of the first cycle is in design of the system model, while the second one is about development of the system prototype. The key idea of the methodology is in providing of the most rational solutions that are improving the security of cyber–physical systems. Such solutions are called alternatives and built according to functional requirements and non-functional limitations to the system. Each cycle of the methodology consists of the verification process and seven stages that are associated with the used cyber–physical system model. The objective of the verification process is in checking of constructed models and prototypes in terms of their correctness and compatibility. The model represents cyber–physical systems as sets of building blocks with network between them, takes elements internal structure into account and allows direct and reverse transformations. The novelty of the suggested methodology is in the combination of design, development and verification techniques within a single approach. To provide an example of the design methodology application, in this paper it is used to improve the semi-natural model of the railway infrastructure.     

Key Concepts of the INCAS Multicomputer Project

This paper gives an overview of the INCAS (INCremental Architecture for distributed Systems) multicomputer project, which aims at the development of a comprehensive methodology for the design and implementation of locally distributed systems. A structuring concept for distributed operating systems has been developed and integrated into the system implementation language LADY. The concurrent high-level programming language CSSA, based on the actor model, has been designed for the implementation of distributed applications. A substantial effort in the INCAS project is directed towards the development of a distributed test methodology. An experimental system has been implemented on a network of ten MC68000 microcomputers. Preliminary experience with the methodology has been gained from a small number of prototype applications.     

支持可执行定义的进化式软件开发模型

根据MHSC(methodology for high-level specification construction)方法论,提出一种 支持可执行定义的进化式软件开发模型MHSC/DM(MHSC/development model).详细介绍了模型 的各组成角色及其相互关系,并对变换类型、系统生成与配置以及系统结构进行了论述.此模 型较好地实现了从需求到原型系统的进化式开发的自动支持和一致性保证.     

NoC synthesis flow for customized domain specific multiprocessor systems-on-chip

The growing complexity of customizable single-chip multiprocessors is requiring communication resources that can only be provided by a highly-scalable communication infrastructure. This trend is exemplified by the growing number of network-on-chip (NoC) architectures that have been proposed recently for system-on-chip (SoC) integration. Developing NoC-based systems tailored to a particular application domain is crucial for achieving high-performance, energy-efficient customized solutions. The effectiveness of this approach largely depends on the availability of an ad hoc design methodology that, starting from a high-level application specification, derives an optimized NoC configuration with respect to different design objectives and instantiates the selected application specific on-chip micronetwork. Automatic execution of these design steps is highly desirable to increase SoC design productivity. This work illustrates a complete synthesis flow, called Netchip, for customized NoC architectures, that partitions the development work into major steps (topology mapping, selection, and generation) and provides proper tools for their automatic execution (SUNMAP, xpipescompiler). The entire flow leverages the flexibility of a fully reusable and scalable network components library called xpipes, consisting of highly-parameterizable network building blocks (network interface, switches, switch-to-switch links) that are design-time tunable and composable to achieve arbitrary topologies and customized domain-specific NoC architectures. Several experimental case studies are presented In the work, showing the powerful design space exploration capabilities of the proposed methodology and tools.     

RFID breadcrumbs for enhanced care data management and dissemination

Conventionally, RFID tags are used to identify uniquely objects whose data can then be accessed over the network. This implies that the data storage capacity (up to 4K) of HF RFID has usually been neglected. In contrast, this work follows the data-on-tag approach, combining RFID and NFC technologies, with the aim of improving care data management in assistive environments. It analyzes the potential and feasibility of writing and reading small breadcrumbs of information at/from residents’ RFID wristbands, as a solution to the inherent difficulties of gathering, processing and disseminating data within a multi-user, multi-stakeholder assistive environment such as a residence or a caring home. As a result of this, an AAL platform is extended to deploy what we have termed as the “RFID breadcrumbing” interaction metaphor.     

Design verification in model-based?��-controller development using an abstract component

Component-based software development is a promising approach for controlling the complexity and quality of software systems. Nevertheless, recent advances in quality control techniques do not seem to keep up with the growing complexity of embedded software; embedded systems often consist of dozens to hundreds of software/hardware components that exhibit complex interaction behavior. Unanticipated quality defects in a component can be a major source of system failure. To address this issue, this paper suggests a design verification approach integrated into the model-driven, component-based development methodology Marmot. The notion of abstract components—the basic building blocks of Marmot—helps to lift the level of abstraction, facilitates high-level reuse, and reduces verification complexity by localizing verification problems between abstract components before refinement and after refinement. This enables the identification of unanticipated design errors in the early stages of development. This work introduces the Marmot methodology, presents a design verification approach in Marmot, and demonstrates its application on the development of a μ-controller-based abstraction of a car mirror control system. An application on TinyOS shows that the approach helps to reuse models as well as their verification results in the development process.     

Progressive design methodology for complex engineering systems based on multiobjective genetic algorithms and linguistic decision making

This work focuses on a design methodology that aids in design and development of complex engineering systems. This design methodology consists of simulation, optimization and decision making. Within this work a framework is presented in which modelling, multi-objective optimization and multi criteria decision making techniques are used to design an engineering system. Due to the complexity of the designed system a three-step design process is suggested. In the first step multi-objective optimization using genetic algorithm is used. In the second step a multi attribute decision making process based on linguistic variables is suggested in order to facilitate the designer to express the preferences. In the last step the fine tuning of selected few variants are performed. This methodology is named as progressive design methodology. The method is applied as a case study to design a permanent magnet brushless DC motor drive and the results are compared with experimental values.