Quantifying requirements volatility effects

In an organization operating in the bancassurance sector we identified a low-risk IT subportfolio of 84 IT projects comprising together 16,500 function points, each project varying in size and duration, for which we were able to quantify its requirements volatility. This representative portfolio stems from a much larger portfolio of IT projects. We calculated the volatility from the function point countings that were available to us. These figures were aggregated into a requirements volatility benchmark. We found that maximum requirements volatility rates depend on size and duration, which refutes currently known industrial averages. For instance, a monthly growth rate of 5% is considered a critical failure factor, but in our low-risk portfolio we found more than 21% of successful projects with a volatility larger than 5%. We proposed a mathematical model taking size and duration into account that provides a maximum healthy volatility rate that is more in line with the reality of low-risk IT portfolios. Based on the model, we proposed a tolerance factor expressing the maximal volatility tolerance for a project or portfolio. For a low-risk portfolio its empirically found tolerance is apparently acceptable, and values exceeding this tolerance are used to trigger IT decision makers. We derived two volatility ratios from this model, the π-ratio and the ρ-ratio. These ratios express how close the volatility of a project has approached the danger zone when requirements volatility reaches a critical failure rate. The volatility data of a governmental IT portfolio were juxtaposed to our bancassurance benchmark, immediately exposing a problematic project, which was corroborated by its actual failure. When function points are less common, e.g. in the embedded industry, we used daily source code size measures and illustrated how to govern the volatility of a software product line of a hardware manufacturer. With the three real-world portfolios we illustrated that our results serve the purpose of an early warning system for projects that are bound to fail due to excessive volatility. Moreover, we developed essential requirements volatility metrics that belong on an IT governance dashboard and presented such a volatility dashboard.     

An LMI approach to synthesis subject to almost asymptotic regulation constraints

A multi-objective controller synthesis problem is considered in which an output is to be regulated approximately by assuring a bound on the steady-state peak amplification in response to an infinite-energy disturbance, while also guaranteeing a desired level of performance measured in terms of the worst-case energy gain from a finite-energy input to a performance output. Relying on a characterization of the controllers with which almost asymptotic regulation is accomplished, the problem of guaranteeing the desired level of performance is reduced to solving a system of linear matrix inequalities subject to a set of linear equality constraints. Based on the solution of this system, a procedure is outlined for the construction of a suitable controller whose order is equal to the order of the plant plus the order of the exogenous system.     

control with limited communication and message losses

We propose an H^∞ approach to a remote control problem where the communication is constrained due to the use of a shared channel. The controller employs a periodic time sequencing scheme for message transmissions from multiple sensors and to multiple actuators of the system. It further takes into account the information on the random message losses that occur in the channel. An exact characterization for controller synthesis is obtained and is stated in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, an analysis on the loss probabilities of the messages to accomplish stabilization is carried out. The results are illustrated through a numerical example.     

Stability of iterative processes with errors for a system of nonlinear -accretive variational inclusions in Banach spaces

In this paper, by using the concept of (A,η)-accretive mappings and the new resolvent operator technique associated with (A,η)-accretive mappings, we introduce and study a system of general mixed quasivariational inclusions involving (A,η)-accretive mappings in Banach spaces, and construct a new perturbed iterative algorithm with mixed errors for this system of nonlinear (A,η)-accretive variational inclusions in q-uniformly smooth Banach spaces. Our results improve and generalize the corresponding results of recent works.     

宽带无线移动接入网络中的切换方法

IEEE 802.16e是一种提供用户宽带无线移动接入的新技术。该文针对宽带无线移动通信的特点,在分析IEEE802.16e切换过程的基础上提出一种满足网络服务质量要求并可以在实际系统中工作的切换算法。解决切换中的两个主要问题：切换触发和目标选择。理论分析表明,该算法能够在保证MS良好移动性的同时满足网络中各业务对服务质量的要求。     

A less conservative method for designing H∞ filters for linear time‐delay systems

This paper focuses on H_∞ filtering for linear time‐delay systems. A new Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional (LKF) is constructed by uniformly dividing the delay interval into two subintervals, and choosing different Lyapunov matrices on each subinterval. Based on this new LKF, a less conservative delay‐dependent bounded real lemma (BRL) is established to ensure that the resulting filtering error system is asymptotically stable with a prescribed H_∞ performance. Then, this new BRL is equivalently converted into a set of linear matrix inequalities, which guarantee the existence of a suitable H_∞ filter. Compared with some existing filtering results, some imposed constraints on the Lyapunov matrices are removed through derivation of the sufficient condition for the existence of the filter. Numerical examples show that the results obtained in this paper significantly improve the H_∞ performance of the filtering error system over some existing results in the literature. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Robust stability and H∞ control for uncertain discrete Markovian jump singular systems with mode‐dependent time‐delay

The robust stochastic stability, stabilization and H_∞ control for mode‐dependent time‐delay discrete Markovian jump singular systems with parameter uncertainties are discussed. Based on the restricted system equivalent (r.s.e.) transformation and by introducing new state vectors, the singular system is transformed into a standard linear system, and delay‐dependent linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) conditions for the mode‐dependent time‐delay discrete Markovian jump singular systems to be regular, causal and stochastically stable, and stochastically stable with γ‐disturbance attenuation are obtained, respectively. With these conditions, robust stabilization problem and robust H_∞ control problem are solved, and the LMIs sufficient conditions are obtained. A numerical example illustrates the effectiveness of the method given in the paper. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Controller synthesis with guaranteed closed-loop phase constraints

In this paper, we present an analysis and synthesis approach for guaranteeing that the phase of a single-input, single-output closed-loop transfer function is contained in the interval [−α,α] for a given α>0 at all frequencies. Specifically, we first derive a sufficient condition involving a frequency domain inequality for guaranteeing a given phase constraint. Next, we use the Kalman–Yakubovich–Popov theorem to derive an equivalent time domain condition. In the case where , we show that frequency and time domain sufficient conditions specialize to the positivity theorem. Furthermore, using linear matrix inequalities, we develop a controller synthesis approach for guaranteeing a phase constraint on the closed-loop transfer function. Finally, we extend this synthesis approach to address mixed gain and phase constraints on the closed-loop transfer function.     

Controller certification

A modern problem from aerospace control involves the certification of a large set of potential controllers with either a single plant or a fleet of potential plant systems, with both plants and controllers being MIMO and, for the moment, linear. Experiments on a limited number of controller/plant pairs should establish the stability and a certain level of margin of the complete set. We consider this certification problem for a set of controllers and provide algorithms for selecting an efficient subset for testing. This is done for a finite set of candidate controllers and, at least for SISO plants, for compact infinite set. In doing this, the ν-gap metric will be the main tool. Computational examples are given, including one of certification of an aircraft engine controller. The overarching aim is to introduce truly MIMO margin calculations and to understand their efficacy in certifying stability over a set of controllers and in replacing legacy single-loop gain and phase margin calculations.     

A -based optimal finite-word-length controller design

A novel optimal Finite Word Length (FWL) controller design is proposed in the framework of μ theory. A computationally tractable close-loop stability measure with FWL implementation considerations of the controller is derived based on the μ theory, and the optimal FWL controller realizations are obtained by solving the resulting optimal FWL realization problem using linear matrix inequality techniques.