Engineering Commons^™

Leading Firms As Knowledge Gatekeepers In A Networked Environment, Deogratias Harorimana Mr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

This chapter introduces the role of the knowledge gatekeeper as a mechanism by which knowledge is created and transferred in a networked environment. Knowledge creation and transfer are essential for building a knowledge based economy. The chapter considers obstacles that inhibit this process and argues that leading firms create a shared socio-cultural context that enables the condivision of tacit meanings and codification of knowledge. Leading firms act as gatekeepers of knowledge through the creation of shared virtual platforms. There will be a leading firm that connects several networks of clients and suppliers may not interact directly with one another, but …

A Heuristic Scheduling Scheme In Multiuser Ofdma Networks, Zheng Sun, Zhiqiang He, Ruochen Wang, Kai Niu

Zheng Sun

Conventional heterogeneous-traffic scheduling schemes utilize zero-delay constraint for real-time services, which aims to minimize the average packet delay among real-time users. However, in light or moderate load networks this strategy is unnecessary and leads to low data throughput for non-real-time users. In this paper, we propose a heuristic scheduling scheme to solve this problem. The scheme measures and assigns scheduling priorities to both real-time and non-real-time users, and schedules the radio resources for the two user classes simultaneously. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme efficiently handles the heterogeneous-traffic scheduling with diverse QoS requirements and alleviates the unfairness between real-time …

Using Bayesian Networks For Candidate Generation In Consistency-Based Diagnosis, Sriram Narasimhan, Ole J. Mengshoel

Ole J Mengshoel

Consistency-based diagnosis relies on the computation of discrepancies between model predictions and sensor observations. The traditional assumption that these discrepancies can be detected accurately (by means of thresholding for example) is in many cases reasonable and leads to strong performance. However, in situations of substantial uncertainty (due, for example, to sensor noise or model abstraction), more robust schemes need to be designed to make a binary decision on whether predictions are consistent with observations or not. However, if an accurate binary decision is not made, there are risks of occurrence of false alarms and missed alarms. Moreover when multiple sensors …

Modeling Of Fermentation Processes Using Online Kernel Learning Algorithm, Yi Liu

Dr. Yi Liu

No abstract provided.

Adaptive Control Of A Class Of Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems With Online Kernel Learning, Yi Liu

Dr. Yi Liu

No abstract provided.

Report Of The Commission To Assess The Threat To The United States From Emp Attack: Critical National Infrastructures, William R. Graham

George H Baker

The physical and social fabric of the United States is sustained by a system of systems; a complex and dynamic network of interlocking and interdependent infrastructures (“critical national infrastructures”) whose harmonious functioning enables the myriad actions, transactions, and information flow that undergird the orderly conduct of civil society in this country. The vulnerability of these frastructures to threats — deliberate, accidental, and acts of nature — is the focus of greatly heightened concern in the current era, a process accelerated by the events of 9/11 and recent hurricanes, including Katrina and Rita. This report presents the results of the Commission’s …

Modeling Of Fermentation Processes Using Online Kernel Learning Algorithm, Yi Liu, Haiqing Wang, Ping Li

Dr. Yi Liu

A novel online identification method is developed for nonlinear multi-input multi-output process modeling issue, which is based on kernel learning framework and named as online kernel learning (OKL) algorithm in this paper. This proposed approach can adaptively control its complexity and thus acquire controlled generalization ability. The OKL algorithm performs first a forward increasing for incorporating a “new” online sample and then a backward decreasing for pruning an “old” one, both in a recursive manner. Furthermore, the prior knowledge about process can be easily integrated into the OKL scheme to improve its performance. Numerical simulations on a fed-batch penicillin fermentation …

Verifying Semantic Business Process Models In Inter-Operation, George Koliadis, Aditya Ghose

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Process inter-operation is characterized as cooperative interactions among loosely coupled autonomous constituents to adaptively fulfill system-wide purpose. Issues of inconsistency can be anticipated in inter-operating processes given their independent management and design. To reduce inconsistency (that may contribute to failures) effective methods for statically verifying behavioral interoperability are required. This paper contributes a method for practical, semantic verification of interoperating processes (as represented with BPMN models). We provide methods to evaluate consistency during process design where annotation of the immediate effect of tasks and sub-processes has been provided. Furthermore, some guidelines are defined against common models of inter-operation for scoping …

Barriers To Rfid Adoption In The Supply Chain, Nick Huber, Katina Michael, Luke Mccathie

Professor Katina Michael

This paper explores the current barriers to adoption of radio-frequency identification (RFID) for supply chain applications, and documents the perceptions of key players in the Australian RFID market. The paper contains data collected from interviews of both technology providers (e.g. RFID vendors), and prospective business customer (i.e. a large retailer). Data collected is analyzed using qualitative content analysis, and supported with figures and tables. The findings show that the three main barriers to RFID adoption are: the cost of RFID implementation (especially ongoing tag costs), lack of customer awareness and education, and a technology which is only at the beginning …

Vendor Perceptions Of How Rfid Can Minimize Product Shrinkage In The Retail Supply Chain, N. Huber, Katina Michael

Professor Katina Michael

The objective of this paper is to investigate product shrinkage in the retail supply chain, and to consider how radio frequency identification (RFID) could act as a partial solution toward a retailer’s loss prevention strategy. The research uses semi-structured interviews to collect data, and a qualitative content analysis to present the results. Given that the number of RFID deployments in the retail supply chain is limited, RFID vendors, resellers, and associations are instead used to gather the current value propositions. Representatives from nine Australian RFID vendors and associations were interviewed in August and September of 2006. The results indicate that …

Verifying Semantic Business Process Models In Inter-Operation, George Koliadis, Aditya K. Ghose

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Process inter-operation is characterized as cooperative interactions among loosely coupled autonomous constituents to adaptively fulfill system-wide purpose. Issues of inconsistency can be anticipated in inter-operating processes given their independent management and design. To reduce inconsistency (that may contribute to failures) effective methods for statically verifying behavioral interoperability are required. This paper contributes a method for practical, semantic verification of interoperating processes (as represented with BPMN models). We provide methods to evaluate consistency during process design where annotation of the immediate effect of tasks and sub-processes has been provided. Furthermore, some guidelines are defined against common models of inter-operation for scoping …

Hclp Based Service Composition, Ying Guan, Aditya K. Ghose, Zheng Lu

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

A key impediment to the widespread adoption of web services is the relatively limited set of tools available to deal with Quality-of-Service (QoS) factors. QoS factors pose several difficult challenges in how they may be articulated. While the functional requirements of a service can be represented as predicates to be satisfied by the target system, QoS factors are effectively statements of objectives to be maximized or minimized. QoS requirements occur naturally as local specifications of preference. Dealing with QoS factors is therefore a multi-objective optimization problem. In effect, these objectives are never fully satisfied, but satisficed to varying degrees. In …

Auditing Business Process Compliance, Aditya K. Ghose, George Koliadis

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Compliance issues impose significant management and reporting requirements upon organizations.We present an approach to enhance business process modeling notations with the capability to detect and resolve many broad compliance related issues. We provide a semantic characterization of a minimal revision strategy that helps us obtain compliant process models from models that might be initially non-compliant, in a manner that accommodates the structural and semantic dimensions of parsimoniously annotated process models. We also provide a heuristic approach to compliance resolution using a notion of compliance patterns. This allows us to partially automate compliance resolution, leading to reduced levels of analyst involvement …

Using Constraint Hierarchies To Support Qos-Guided Service Composition, Ying Guan, Aditya K. Ghose, Zheng Lu

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

A key impediment to the widespread adoption of web services is the is the relatively limited set of tools available to deal with Quality-of-Service (QoS) factors [12]. QoS factors pose several difficult challenges in how they may be articulated. While the functional requirements of a service can be represented as predicates to be satisfied by the target system, QoS factors are effectively statements of objectives to be maximized or minimized. QoS requirements occur naturally as local specifications of preference. Dealing with QoS factors is therefore a multi-objective optimization problem. In effect, these objectives are never fully satisfied, but satisficed to …

Process Discovery From Model And Text Artefacts, Aditya K. Ghose, George Koliadis, Arthur Cheung

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Modeling is an important and time consuming part of the Business Process Management life-cycle. An analyst reviews existing documentation and queries relevant domain experts to construct both mental and concrete models of the domain. To aid this exercise, we propose the Rapid Business Process Discovery (R-BPD) framework and prototype tool that can query heterogeneous information resources (e.g. corporate documentation, web-content, code e.t.c.) and rapidly construct proto-models to be incrementally adjusted to correctness by an analyst. This constitutes a departure from building and constructing models toward just editing them. We believe this rapid mixed-initiative modeling will increase analyst productivity by significant …

Combining Agent-Oriented Conceptual Modelling With Formal Methods, S. A. Vilkomir, Aditya K. Ghose, A. Krishna

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Agent-oriented conceptual modelling notations such as i* have received considerable recent attention as a useful approach to early-phase requirements engineering. Agent-oriented conceptual modelling notations are highly effective in representing requirements from an intentional stance and answering questions such as what goals exist, how key actors depend on each other and what alternatives must be considered. Formal methods such as those based on the Z notation offer a complementary set of representational facilities. We explore how these two otherwise disparate approaches might be used in a synergistic fashion.

Executable Specifications For Agent Oriented Conceptual Modelling, Y. Guan, Aditya K. Ghose

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Agent-oriented conceptual modelling (AoCM) notations such as i* have received considerable recent attention as a useful approach to early-phase requirements engineering. AoCM notations are useful in modeling organizational context and in offering high-level anthropomorphic abstractions as modeling constructs. AoCM notations such as i* help answer questions such as what goals exist, how key actors depend on each other and what alternatives must be considered. In this paper, we suggest an approach to executing i* models by translating these into set of interacting agents implemented in the 3APL language. In addition, we suggest a hybrid modeling, or co-evolution, approach in which …

Hierarchic Decomposition In Agent Oriented Conceptual Modelling, R. B. Brown, Aditya K. Ghose

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Software development processes requires a thorough understanding of stakeholder objectives and requirements. Product-centrism is an insufficient stance from which to achieve greater efficiencies and reduce reengineering. Stakeholder requirement elicitation is thus worthy of formalization. A suite of tools, notably the i* model, provides a framework for early-phase requirements capture. These tools currently are at best only semiautomated and essentially consist of a notational glossary and sets of mark-up symbols. Increasing formalization may lead to greater automation of the process in the future, but currently there is a degree of flexibility that presents pitfalls for the unwary practitioner. A notion of …

Co-Evolution Of Agent Oriented Conceptual Models And Use Case Diagrams, Moshiur Bhuiyan, M. M. Zahidul Islam, Aneesh Krishna, Aditya K. Ghose

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Agent--oriented conceptual modeling notations such as i* represents an interesting approach for modeling early phase requirements which includes organizational contexts, stakeholder intentions and rationale. On the other hand Use Case diagram is used for capturing functional requirements of the system. The integration of i* model and Use Case diagram closes the gap of capturing organizational requirements and system requirements. But in both contexts the requirements might change at any time. Any change made in one model must be reflected in the other. This paper proposes a methodology supporting the co-evolution of these two otherwise disparate approaches in a synergistic fashion.

Co-Evolution Of Agent-Oriented Conceptual Models And Caso Agent Programs, A. Dasgupta, Aneesh Krishna, Aditya K. Ghose

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Agent-Oriented conceptual modelling notations are highly effective in representing requirements from an intentional stance and answering questions such as what goals exist, how key actors depend on each other and what alternatives must be considered. In this paper, we suggest an approach to executing i* models by translating these into set of interacting agents implemented in the CASO language. In addition, we suggest a hybrid modelling, or co-evolution, approach in which i* models and CASO agent programs are concurrently maintained and updated, while retaining some modicum of loose consistency between the two. This allows us to benefit from the complementary …

A Combined Approach For Supporting The Business Process Model Lifecycle, George Koliadis, Aleksander Vranesevic, Moshiur Bhuiyan, Aneesh Krishna, Aditya K. Ghose

Professor Aditya K. Ghose

Business processes evolve throughout their lifecycle of change. Business Process Modeling (BPM2) notations such as BPMN are used to effectively conceptualize and communicate important process characteristics to relevant stakeholders. Agent-oriented conceptual modeling notations, such as i*, effectively capture and communicate organizational context. In this paper we argue that the management of change throughout the business process model lifecycle can be more effectively supported by combining notations. In particular, we identify two potential sources of process change, one occurring within the organizational context and the other within the operational context. As such the focus in this paper is on the co-evolution …

Criteria On Utility Designing Of Convex Optimization In Fdma Networks, Zheng Sun, Wenjun Xu, Zhiqiang He, Kai Niu

Zheng Sun

In this paper, we investigate the network utility maximization problem in FDMA systems. We summarize with a suite of criteria on designing utility functions so as to achieve the global optimization convex. After proposing the general form of the utility functions, we present examples of commonly used utility function forms that are consistent with the criteria proposed in this paper, which include the well-known proportional fairness function and the sigmoidal-like functions. In the second part of this paper, we use numerical results to demonstrate a case study based on the criteria mentioned above, which deals with the subcarrier scheduling problem …

Understanding The Role Of Noise In Stochastic Local Search: Analysis And Experiments, Ole J. Mengshoel

Ole J Mengshoel

Stochastic local search (SLS) algorithms have recently been proven to be among the best approaches to solving computationally hard problems. SLS algorithms typically have a number of parameters, optimized empirically, that characterize and determine their performance. In this article, we focus on the noise parameter. The theoretical foundation of SLS, including an understanding of how to the optimal noise varies with problem difficulty, is lagging compared to the strong empirical results obtained using these algorithms. A purely empirical approach to understanding and optimizing SLS noise, as problem instances vary, can be very computationally intensive. To complement existing experimental results, we …

Google Android Masses (Android), Chien Hsun Chen, Flow Lin

Chien Hsun Chen

Google Android Masses is a web2.0 social network application based on mobile, made by Chien-Hsun Chen and Flow. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1939321648198893927&hl=en http://www.slideshare.net/lucemia/gam-documentation/

Genetic Algorithms For Synthesis Design Of Metamaterials. (In Chinese), Chien Hsun Chen, P. Y. Chen

Chien Hsun Chen

No abstract provided.

Three-Dimensional Data Merging Using Holoimage, Song Zhang, Shing-Tung Yau

Song Zhang

Three-dimensional data merging is vital for full-field three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement. All 3D range data patches, acquired from either different sensors or the same sensor in different viewing angles, have to be merged into a single piece to facilitate future data analysis. A novel method for 3D data merging using Holoimage is proposed. Similar to the 3D shape measurement system using a phase-shifting method, Holoimage is a phase-shifting–based computer synthesized fringe image. The 3D information is retrieved from Holoimage using a phase-shifting method. If two patches of 3D data with overlapping areas are rendered by OpenGL, the overlapping areas are …

A Hybrid Approach To Projects In Gaming Courses, Amber Settle, Joe Linhoff, André Berthiaume

Amber Settle

Sensor Validation Using Bayesian Networks, Ole J. Mengshoel, Adnan Darwiche, Serdar Uckun

Ole J Mengshoel

One of NASA’s key mission requirements is robust state estimation. Sensing, using a wide range of sensors and sensor fusion approaches, plays a central role in robust state estimation, and there is a need to diagnose sensor failure as well as component failure. Sensor validation techniques address this problem: given a vector of sensor readings, decide whether sensors have failed, therefore producing bad data. We take in this paper a probabilistic approach, using Bayesian networks, to diagnosis and sensor validation, and investigate several relevant but slightly different Bayesian network queries. We emphasize that onboard inference can be performed on a …

Three-Dimensional Shape Measurement Using A Structured Light System With Dual Cameras, Song Zhang, Shing-Tung Yau

Song Zhang

A structured light system for three-dimensional shape measurement with single camera has the shortcoming of camera occlusion. To alleviate this problem, this paper introduces a structured light system with dual cameras for three-dimensional shape measurement. We discuss (1) system description, (2) system calibration, (3) three-dimensional data registration using the iterative closest-point (ICP) algorithm, and (4) three-dimensional data merging using holoimage. The principle of the system is introduced, and experiments are presented to verify its performance.

Tagtoo, Chien Hsun Chen

Chien Hsun Chen

Tagtoo is a web2.0 based image share and search framework. It is small now, but It would be the most important and famous work at all.