A contribution-based framework for the creation of semantically-enabled web applications

We present Fortunata, a wiki-based framework designed to simplify the creation of semantically-enabled web applications. This framework facilitates the management and publication of semantic data in web-based applications, to the extent that application developers do not need to be skilled in client-side technologies, and promotes application reuse by fostering collaboration among developers by means of wiki plugins. We illustrate the use of this framework with two Fortunata-based applications named OMEMO and VPOET, and we evaluate it with two experiments performed with usability evaluators and application developers respectively. These experiments show a good balance between the usability of the applications created with this framework and the effort and skills required by developers.     

WESONet: Applying semantic web technologies and collaborative tagging to multimedia web information systems

The publication of different media types, like images, audio and video in the World Wide Web is getting more importance each day. However, searching and locating content in multimedia sites is challenging. In this paper, we propose a platform for the development of multimedia web information systems. Our approach is based on the combination between semantic web technologies and collaborative tagging. Producers can add meta-data to multimedia content associating it with different domain-specific ontologies. At the same time, users can tag the content in a collaborative way. The proposed system uses a search engine that combines both kinds of meta-data to locate the desired content. It will also provide browsing capabilities through the ontology concepts and the developed tags.     

A knowledge-based system for developing retail location strategies

This paper proposes a knowledge-based system to support the analysis of problems and formulation of actions in the field of retail location planning. The decision table is used as a formalism for representing an exhaustive and exclusive set of decision rules typically used by Dutch planners and retailers. The proposed model is implemented in a knowledge-based system where it can be used interactively in combination with conventional spatial models for predicting and analysing retail system operations. A case study in the area of daily good facilities demonstrates the approach. The major conclusion is that the knowledge-based approach and in particular the decision table technique may assist planners/retailers to effectively structure complex retail location problems.     

Distributed multimedia information systems: an end-to-end perspective

Emerging Web-based applications require distributed multimedia information system (DMIS) infrastructures. Examples of such applications abound in the domains of medicine, entertainment, manufacturing, e-commerce, as well as military and critical national infrastructures. Development of DMIS for such applications need a broad range of technological solutions for organizing, storing, and delivering multimedia information in an integrated, secure and timely manner with guaranteed end-to-end (E2E) quality of presentation (QoP). DMIS are viewed as catalysts for new research in many areas, ranging from basic research to applied technology. This view is a result of the fact that no single monolithic end-to-end architecture for DMIS can meet the wide spectrum of characteristics and requirements of various Web-based multimedia applications. One size does not fit all in this medium of communication. Management of integrated end-to-end QoP and ensuring information security in DMIS, when viewed in conjunction with real world constraints and system-wide performance requirements, present formidable research and implementation challenges. These challenges encompass all the sub-system components of a DMIS. The ultimate objective of achieving a comprehensive end-to-end QoP management relies on the performance and allocation of resources of each of the DMIS sub-system components including networks, databases, and end-systems. In this paper, we elaborate on these challenges and present a high level distributed architecture aimed at providing the critical functionality for a DMIS.

ConKMeL: a contextual knowledge management framework to support multimedia e-Learning

As the latest stage of learning and training evolution, e-Learning is supposed to provide intelligent functionalities not only in processing multi-media education resources but also in supporting context-sensitive pedagogical education processes. Towards providing an integrated solution for intelligent multimedia e-Learning, this paper presents a context-aware knowledge management framework named ConKMeL. Proposed framework features a semantic context-based approach for representing and integrating information and knowledge in e-Learning. Requirement analysis in university e-Learning environments shows that knowledge communications are usually in a hybrid mode across different conceptual levels. Based on the fact, a multi-layer contextual knowledge representation model called KG (knowledge graph) is presented. Corresponding key issues in development such as context-based knowledge retrieval and logical knowledge interpretation are discussed. On the application side, a scenario-based learning case study is shown to demonstrate the concepts and techniques developed in the ConKMeL framework.

An open framework supporting multimedia web services

With the rapid emergence of Web services, more and more Web services are published on the Internet as resources for Web application development. There may exist some relationships among different Web services, such as exact match, plug-in match, and irrelevant. In this paper, we discuss a set of requirements related to multimedia Web services, and propose a three-tier framework to establish an open environment supporting multimedia Web services, while partially implementing the requirements. This paper focuses on the design of the service broker tier that is essential for future Web services-oriented system design and integration and enabling Web services more transparent, interoperable, and fault-tolerate.     

A framework for knowledge-based control

A framework for knowledge-based control is proposed. The approach presented is suitable for control systems and control support of systems which have no adequate mathematical models. Thus, the control is performed by using knowledge engineering methods rather than pure mathematical control methods. The domain expert's knowledge is assumed to be encoded in the form of simple statements (facts) and special reasoning rules, which form the core of the Knowledge-Based Control System (KBCS). The control system reads the input information, and on the basis of the current state of its knowledge base, together with the application of supplied inference rules updates the knowledge base and performs the required control actions. Moreover, some inference control knowledge, reflecting the expert's way of reasoning, is to be incorporated in the KBCS. The main idea of the system consists of selecting an appropriate set of actions to be executed, with regard to the current state specification and the control goal given. An abstract mathematical model of the control process is formulated and a suitable language for knowledge representation is proposed. The reasoning scheme is discussed and the structure of the control system is outlined. A representative application example is provided.     

A constraint-based operation sequencing for a knowledge-based process planning

Process planning is a decision-making process. Decisions on machining operations for a particular feature have to be made on various independent conditions such as which operation should be performed with which tools and under what cutting parameters. An integrated knowledge-based CAPP system called ProPlanner has been developed. The system has five modules namely information acquisition, feature recognition, machining operation planning and tool selection, set-up planning, and operation sequencing. Most process-planning systems do not produce alternative process plans. Usually, a fixed sequence created by a process plan is not necessarily the best possible sequence. Therefore, the aim should be to generate all possible operation sequences and use some optimality criteria to obtain the best sequence for the given operating environment. This paper presents an efficient heuristic algorithm, belongs to the system's operation sequencing module, for finding near-optimal operation sequences from all available process plans in a machining set-up. The costs of the various machining schemes are calculated and the machining scheme with the lowest cost is chosen. All feasible cutting tools are identified for each particular feature and the corresponding machining operations. This process is repeated for all the features in the machining set-up. All possible feature sequence combinations allowed by the current feature constraints are then generated. Appropriate cutting tools are identified and assigned to different operations. The feature sequence with the smallest number of tool changes is adopted.     

A framework of general instruments for multimedia art creation

In this paper, we propose a framework to develop general instruments for multimedia art creation. Recently, many attempts at creating multimedia art have been made with the aid of computer technology. However, a system for a certain artwork is usually dedicated to the artwork and cannot be applied to other artwork. After overviewing the prerequisites for a general multimedia instrument, we propose a framework for such a system. This framework is based on giving attention to common attributes among several multiple media. Moreover, we illustrate prototype instruments constructed in accordance with this framework. Finally, we show the results of an evaluative performance with the prototype instruments.     

A knowledge-based system for performing reverse engineering of relational databases

A knowledge-based system, called the Knowledge Extraction System (KES), is presented which performs the process of reverse engineering of relational databases. KES generates an extended entity-relationship (EER) model from a relational database. Within its extraction procedure, domain semantics are obtained by analyzing the data schema and data instances of an existing database, by using heuristics, or asking the user. Relations and attributes are classified into several categories and then converted into the corresponding modelling structures of the EER model. KES demonstrates how knowledge-based system technology can be applied to ease the work of database reverse engineering. It also illustrates that the reverse engineering process can be implemented at a high level of automation. To do so, KES is integrated with the target database management system so that data can be analyzed directly through dynamic SQL queries.     

A knowledge-based approach for managing urban infrastructures

This paper presents a knowledge e-based approach dedicated to the efficient management, regulation, interactive and dynamic monitoring of urban infrastructures. This approach identifies the data and related treatments common to several municipal activities and defines the requirements and functionalities of the computer tools developed to improve the delivery and coordination of municipal services to the population. The resulting cooperative system called SIGIU is composed of a set of integrated operating systems (SYDEX) and the global planning and coordination system (SYGEC). The objective is to integrate the set of SYDEX and the SYGEC into a single coherent system for all the SIGIU's users according to their tasks, their roles, and their responsibilities within the municipal administration. SIGIU is provided by different measurement and monitoring instruments installed on some system's elements to be supervised. In this context, the information can be presented in different forms: video, pictures, data and alarms. One of SIGIU's objectives is the real-time management of urban infrastructures' control mechanisms. To carry out this process, the alarm control agent creates a mobile agent associated with the alarm, which is sent to a mobile station and warns an operator. Preliminary implementation results show that SIGIU supports effectively and efficiently the decision making process related to managing urban infrastructures.     

A refinement framework to support validation and maintenance of knowledge-based systems

In this article, we argue that a refinement tool capable of assisting the maintainer of a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) with updating and upgrading of its knowledge base can substantially expand the scope of his activities and prolong the life of the system. We show that refinement tasks involved in KBS maintenance are similar to those taking place at the development stage, and thus a uniform refinement framework can be designed to support both activities. After defining refinement tasks expected to take place at different stages of a KBS's life cycle, we present a refinement framework capable of supporting them. It utilizes a small number of domain-independent heuristics to search for possible rule revisions which are expected to eliminate errors detected during KBS validation. An extended example is given to illustrate how different refinement tasks are carried out.     

Learning algorithms in a class of knowledge-based systems

A control system with a static plant described by knowledge representation in the forms of relations and of logical formulas is considered. The learning process consists in using successive knowledge validation and updating it to make current control decisions. Two approaches and algorithms are described: one for the validation and updating of knowledge about the plant, and one on the form of control. In both cases two versions are presented: the learning process in either an open-loop or a closed-loop control system. For a plant with logical knowledge representation, the logic-algebraic method is applied. This work was presented, in part, at the Fourth International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 19–22, 1999     

A knowledge-based approach to multiple query processing

The collective processing of multiple queries in a database system has recently received renewed attention due to its capability of improving the overall performance of a database system and its applicability to the design of knowledge-based expert systems and extensible database systems. A new multiple query processing strategy is presented which utilizes semantic knowledge on data integrity and information on predicate conditions of the access paths (plans) of queries. The processing of multiple queries is accomplished by the utilization of subset relationships between intermediate results of query executions, which are inferred employing both semantic and logical information. Given a set of fixed order access plans, the A^* algorithm is used to find the set of reformulated access plans which is optimal for a given collection of semantic knowledge.     

A framework for synchronous delivery of time-dependent multimedia data

Multimedia data often have time dependencies that must be satisfied at presentation time. To support a general purpose multimedia information system, these timing relationships must be managed to provide utility to both the data presentation system and the multimedia author. Timing management encompasses specification, data representation, temporal access control, playout scheduling, and run-time intermedia synchronization. In this paper we describe the components of our framework for supporting time-dependent multimedia data encompassing these areas and how they are assembled into a unified system.     

A knowledge-based system for maintenance planning of highway concrete bridges

This paper presents a knowledge-based system that is used for maintenance planning of highway concrete bridges. The system includes functions for maintenance priority setting among bridges, feasible treatment assessment in each case, and maintenance planning for a bridge stock. Maintenance priorities are set using a scoring model with decision parameters appropriately weighted. Feasible treatments are determined based on bridge condition and other factors that accelerate deterioration. Decisions for maintenance planning result from a linear programming model and are based on priority ranking, cost and effectiveness characteristics of feasible treatments, and existing budget constraints. The system has been successfully evaluated with actual and simulated data.     

A novel model of adaptation decision-taking engine in multimedia adaptation

In heterogeneous environments, universal multimedia access (UMA) is proposed to provide multimedia content services. Multimedia adaptation is one of technologies to perform UMA, in which adaptation decision-taking engine (ADTE) is a key component. Though there are many models of ADTE existing, it needs to be reconsidered for personalized content services. In this paper, a novel model of ADTE is proposed based on decision tree termed adaptation decision tree (ADT) in which adaptation decision is viewed as sequence decision: modality decision and format decision. Correspondingly, user preferences are divided into two types: user modality preferences and user format preferences. By utilizing user preferences, the ADT model is built up. Before making decision, an optimal multimedia variation set (OMVS) with respect to user modality preferences is constructed and any element here is with the shortest distance to user format preferences for every modality. Therefore, adaptation decision can be executed by letting the element in OMVS travel along the ADT one by one. Finally, the first element that reaches the leaf with the logical value true is the decision result, or the one with the smallest value in distance is the decision variation if no elements get to proper leaf. Quantitative analysis and experimental simulation prove that the model is effective and efficient to cope with adaptation decision in multimedia adaptation especially in dynamic user preferences and resource-limited cases.