Coordination components for collaborative virtual environments

This paper deals with the behavior of virtual environments from the collaboration point-of-view, in which actors (human or virtual beings) interact and collaborate by means of interdependent tasks. In this sense, actors may realize tasks that are dependent on tasks performed by other actors, while the interdependencies between tasks (through resource management and temporal relations) delineate the overall behavior of a virtual environment. Our main goal is to propose an approach for the coordination of those behaviors. Initially a generic study of possible interdependencies between collaborative tasks is presented, followed by the formal modeling (using Petri Nets) of coordination mechanisms for those dependencies. In order to implement such mechanisms, an architecture of reusable and pluggable coordination components is also introduced. These components are used in an implementation of a multi-user videogame. The presented approach is a concrete step to create virtual societies of actors that collaborate to reach common goals without the risk of getting involved in conflicting or repetitive tasks.     

Parallel Implementation of a Class of Adaptive Signal Processing Applications

Recently, High Performance Computing (HPC) platforms have been employed to realize many computationally demanding applications in signal and image processing. These applications require real-time performance constraints to be met. These constraints include latency as well as throughput. In order to meet these performance requirements, efficient parallel algorithms are needed. These algorithms must be engineered to exploit the computational characteristics of such applications. In this paper we present a methodology for mapping a class of adaptive signal processing applications onto HPC platforms such that the throughput performance is optimized. We first define a new task model using the salient computational characteristics of a class of adaptive signal processing applications. Based on this task model, we propose a new execution model. In the earlier linear pipelined execution model, the task mapping choices were restricted. The new model permits flexible task mapping choices, leading to improved throughput performance compared with the previous model. Using the new model, a three-step task mapping methodology is developed. It consists of (1) a data remapping step, (2) a coarse resource allocation step, and (3) a fine performance tuning step. The methodology is demonstrated by designing parallel algorithms for modern radar and sonar signal processing applications. These are implemented on IBM SP2 and Cray T3E, state-of-the-art HPC platforms, to show the effectiveness of our approach. Experimental results show significant performance improvement over those obtained by previous approaches. Our code is written using C and the Message Passing Interface (MPI). Thus, it is portable across various HPC platforms. Received April 8, 1998; revised February 2, 1999.     

An Efficient Output-Size Sensitive Parallel Algorithm for Hidden-Surface Removal for Terrains

We describe an efficient parallel algorithm for hidden-surface removal for terrain maps. The algorithm runs in O(log ⁴ n) steps on the CREW PRAM model with a work bound of O((n+k) \polylog ( n)) where n and k are the input and output sizes, respectively. In order to achieve the work bound we use a number of techniques, among which our use of persistent data structures is somewhat novel in the context of parallel algorithms. Received July 29, 1998; revised October 5, 1999.     

Haptic Cooperative Virtual Workspace: Architecture and evaluation

The Haptic Cooperative Virtual Workspace (HCVW), where users can simultaneously manipulate and haptically feel the same object, is beneficial and in some cases indispensable for training a team of surgeons, or in application areas in telerobotics and entertainment. In this paper we propose an architecture for the haptic cooperative workspace where the participants can kinesthetically interact, feel and push each other simultaneously while moving in the simulation. This involves the ability to manipulate the same virtual object at the same time. A set of experiments carried out to investigate the haptic cooperative workspace is reported. A new approach to quantitatively evaluate the cooperative haptic system is proposed, which can be extended to evaluate haptic systems in general.     

Dynamics of Flexible Multibody Systems Using Virtual Work and Linear Graph Theory

By combining linear graph theory with the principle of virtualwork, a dynamic formulation is obtained that extends graph-theoreticmodelling methods to the analysis of flexible multibody systems. Thesystem is represented by a linear graph, in which nodes representreference frames on rigid and flexible bodies, and edges representcomponents that connect these frames. By selecting a spanning tree forthe graph, the analyst can choose the set of coordinates appearing inthe final system of equations. This set can include absolute, joint, orelastic coordinates, or some combination thereof. If desired, allnon-working constraint forces and torques can be automaticallyeliminated from the dynamic equations by exploiting the properties ofvirtual work. The formulation has been implemented in a computerprogram, DynaFlex, that generates the equations of motion in symbolicform. Three examples are presented to demonstrate the application of theformulation, and to validate the symbolic computer implementation.     

A study of replacement rules for a parallel fleet replacement problem based on user preference utilization pattern and alternative fuel considerations

Parallel fleet replacement problems deal with determining an optimal replacement schedule that results in a minimal total cost of owning and operating a fleet within a finite planning horizon. In this paper, the fleet consists of service vehicles, varying in age and cumulative mileage, commonly owned by government agencies or private business organizations. The paper focuses on three main aspects of the problem, including the effects of some widely used replacement rules, consideration of alternative fuel vehicles for replacement, and a new “user preference” utilization pattern. The vehicle replacement rules under study include purchase-new-vehicles-only, no-splitting-in-selling, one-purchase-choice, older-vehicles-selling, and all-or-none rules. The initial fleet consists of gasoline vehicles, while alternative-fuel vehicles using either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are included as challengers in every replacement decision period. The user preference utilization pattern denotes a pattern in which yearly usage of vehicles declines as the vehicles grow older or have higher cumulative mileage. Integer programming formulation of the defined problem that incorporates these new factors is provided. Small numerical examples under various scenarios and a large problem instance with model parameters estimated from actual data are solved to optimality to gain some insights about the replacement rules and other considered factors.     

Note on “Unrelated parallel-machine scheduling with deteriorating maintenance activities”

In this note, we prove that both problems studied by Cheng et al. [Cheng, T. C. E., Hsu, C.-J., & Yang, D.-L. (2011). Unrelated parallel-machine scheduling with deteriorating maintenance activities. Computers and Industrial Engineering, 60, 602–605] can be solved in O(n^m+3) time no matter what the processing time of a job after a maintenance activity is greater or less than its processing time before the maintenance activity, where m is the number of machines and n is the number of jobs.     

Automatic parallelisation for LTI MIMO state space systems using FPGAs. An optimisation for cost & performance

The parallelism attained by the use of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) has shown remarkable potential for accelerating control systems applications. This comes at a time when well established methods based on inherited serial Central Processor Units (CPUs) cannot guarantee solutions for the increasing execution speed demands. However, the transition from serial to parallel architectures represents a tremendous challenge due to overwhelming numbers of unexplored options and conflicting factors. The work presented achieves a parallelisation characterisation for generic MIMO systems using stand-alone FPGA implementations. The main contribution is that a very fine subset of possible serial/parallel implementations is obtained. This is used to achieve a flexible trade-off between cost and performance. Automatic optimisation of latency, occupied FPGA area and execution speed is attained and justified in respect to most of the feasible scenarios.     

Livelocks in parallel programs

This paper is the second of a two-part series exploring the subtle correctness criterion of the absence of livelocks in parallel programs. In this paper we are concerned with the issue of proving this correctness criterion. It is shown that livelocks are not preserved by reduction, implying that reduction cannot be used directly in proving the absence of livelocks. Two applicable proof techniques are also presented. One is based on the notion of establishing sufficient conditions for livelock-freedom; the other is an extension of the well-founded set method for proving termination in sequential programs.     

基于虚拟实训基地（车间）的工学结合人才培养模式研究

为了寻求适合自身的人才培养模式,分析了当前国内高等职业教育人才培养模式的现状,提出了基于虚拟实训基地（车间）的工学结合人才培养模式;从校内实训基地建设、课程体系与学习领域开发、教学模式和＂双师型＂教师培养等四个方面阐述了该人才培养模式的具体内容和切实可行性。