Digital Commons Network^™

Multi-Quality Data Replication In Multimedia Databases, Yi-Cheng Tu, Sunil Prabhakar, Jingfeng Yan, Gang Shen

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Simulator For Undergraduate Multi-Agent Systems, Charles Smith

Computer Science Honors Theses

In recent years, Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) have for the first time begun to be accepted in mainstream computing. Software companies haave been founded focusing purely on MAS software, telecommunications companies now use agent-based technologies in cell phones, and there have even been two successful DARPA funded, military-grade defense projects in the past ten years. The growth in demand development tools available. The various development platforms focus on mobile devices, large-scale distributed systems, and specific research applications; however, these tools leave an important facet of MAS development unsatisfied--undergraduate research and teaching. Each of the solutions available is either too complex, too …

Distributed Computation In An Interactive Entertainment Environment, Robert Zinchak

Computer Science Honors Theses

The proliferation of multiplayer games has led to an increase in the total network capacity for processing power in games; this capacity, however, is seldom fully utilized or balanced. One prominent problem of distributed processing in a gaming environment is increased latency time-- which causes player disinterest in the game, potentially causing poor sales as well as the termination of future commercial development of this technology. Existing distributed techniques such as OpenMP, MPI or VMPI are not well suited to gaming applications and may introduce additional overhead. This thesis describes a simple, yet effective technique (based on existing ideas in …

Artificial Societies, Virtual Worlds, And Their Meaningful Integration, Andrew Krausnick

Computer Science Honors Theses

Artificial societies and virtual worlds are two areas of interest to modern social scientists that are distinctly separate in modern academic study, and are yet undeniably related. Artificial societies are multi-agent systems comprised of autonomous social agents, programmed with their own set of rules and behavior. While virtual worlds are occupied in large part by human controlled agents participating in a collective virtual experience and space. Within both types of virtual environments there can be found a scarcity of resources and intricate cross-entity interaction. This often results in the development and evolution of complex economic and cultural structures. In addition, …

Trust Negotiation For Open Database Access Control, Paul A. Porter

Theses and Dissertations

Hippocratic databases are designed to protect the privacy of the individuals whose personal information they contain. This thesis presents a model for providing and enforcing access control in an open Hippocratic database system. Previously unknown individuals can gain access to information in the database by authenticating to roles through trust negotiation. Allowing qualified strangers to access the database increases the usefulness of the system without compromising privacy. This thesis presents the design and implementation of two methods for filtering information from database queries. First, we extend a query modification method for use in an open database system. Second, we introduce …

Semantic Analytics Visualization, Leonidas Deligiannidis, Amit P. Sheth, Boanerges Aleman-Meza

Kno.e.sis Publications

In this paper we present a new tool for semantic analytics through 3D visualization called “Semantic Analytics Visualization” (SAV). It has the capability for visualizing ontologies and meta-data including annotated web-documents, images, and digital media such as audio and video clips in a synthetic three-dimensional semi-immersive environment. More importantly, SAV supports visual semantic analytics, whereby an analyst can interactively investigate complex relationships between heterogeneous information. The tool is built using Virtual Reality technology which makes SAV a highly interactive system. The backend of SAV consists of a Semantic Analytics system that supports query processing and semantic association discovery. Using a …

Mutual Knowledge And Its Impact On Virtual Team Performance, Alanah Davis, Deepak Khazanchi

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

This paper describes the notion of mutual knowledge and its potential impact on virtual team performance. Based on a review of the literature, including proponents and opponents for the concept of mutual knowledge in group interaction, we suggest that there is a gap in our understanding of what is known about mutual knowledge as it impacts team dynamics and ultimately virtual team performance. We conclude the paper by discussing the importance of mutual knowledge for virtual team performance and the research issues that need to be addressed in this domain.

Gestalt-Based Feature Similarity Measure In Trademark Database, Hui Jiang, Chong-Wah Ngo, Hung-Khoon Tan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Motivated by the studies in Gestalt principle, this paper describes a novel approach on the adaptive selection of visual features for trademark retrieval. We consider five kinds of visual saliencies: symmetry, continuity, proximity, parallelism and closure property. The first saliency is based on Zernike moments, while the others are modeled by geometric elements extracted illusively as a whole from a trademark. Given a query trademark, we adaptively determine the features appropriate for retrieval by investigating its visual saliencies. We show that in most cases, either geometric or symmetric features can give us good enough accuracy. To measure the similarity of …

No Free Lunch, Bayesian Inference, And Utility: A Decision-Theoretic Approach To Optimization, Christopher Kenneth Monson

Theses and Dissertations

Existing approaches to continuous optimization are essentially mechanisms for deciding which locations should be sampled in order to obtain information about a target function's global optimum. These methods, while often effective in particular domains, generally base their decisions on heuristics developed in consideration of ill-defined desiderata rather than on explicitly defined goals or models of the available information that may be used to achieve them. The problem of numerical optimization is essentially one of deciding what information to gather, then using that information to infer the location of the global optimum. That being the case, it makes sense to model …

The All Squirrel Band, Gennetta E. Lovelady

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Business Problem Science is a crucial part of our educational curriculum. It has become vitally important for children to be introduced to science at an earlier age to insure their interest is cultivated throughout the rest of their education. The dilemma is finding interesting ways to engage grade school aged children in learning about science. Technical Solution "The All Squirrel Band" is a web based phrase completion game hosted by a rock band made up entirely of squirrels. The object of the game is to collect enough "nuts" for the band to go on tour this winter. Each "nut" represents …

The Automation Of Obtaining Customer Billing Data, Jonathan Seashore

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

XYZ Telecom received bi-monthly customer PDF billing data (identical to the paper customer invoices) from the print vendor Gilmore, Inc via CD media shipped by FedEx. Upon receipt, this data would then be posted to the CD/DVD media server through a manual entry process. The Billing Disputes Team often required immediate access to this data to deal with customer inquiries for telephone dispute calls regarding current or previous billing periods. Through the use of a dedicated VPN connection, VBScript and Windows Server technology an automated solution was put into place which ultimately saved XYZ Telecom approximately 20 hours of IT …

Paper Session V: Steganography And Terrorist Communications - Current Information And Trends - Tools, Analysis And Future Directions In Steganalysis In Context With Terrorists And Other Criminals, William Eyre, Marcus Rogers

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

In ancient times, users communicated using steganography, “…derived from the Greek words steganos, meaning ‘covered’, and graphein, meaning ‘to write.’” (Singh, 1999, p.5) Steganography facilitates secret, undetected communication. In modern times, in the context of the Global War on Terror, national intelligence and law enforcement agencies need tools to detect hidden information (steganography) in various types of media, most specifically to uncover the placement of hidden information in images. This paper will look at steganography in general terms, presenting the theory of some common steganographic techniques and touching on some theoretical work in steganography. Then a discussion of how to …

Paper Session V: Forensic Software Tools For Cell Phone Subscriber Identity Modules, Wayne Jansen, Rick Ayers

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

Cell phones and other handheld devices incorporating cell phone capabilities (e.g., smart phones) are ubiquitous. Besides placing calls, cell phones allow users to perform other tasks such as text messaging and phonebook entry management. When cell phones and cellular devices are involved in a crime or other incident, forensic specialists require tools that allow the proper retrieval and speedy examination of data present on the device. For devices conforming to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standards, certain data such as dialed numbers, text messages, and phonebook entries are maintained on a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). This paper gives …

Database Creation And Implementation Using Open Source Software, Shelby Patru

Honors Theses

This project is designed to investigate the use of open source software and utilize this software to create a database for GNP Acoustical. This honors thesis will focus on the history of open source software, the pros and cons of using this software, a brief look at open source vs. proprietary software, the open source maturity model and the specifics of major software packages in the open source field that could be used to complete this project. Open source software was chosen as the subject for this project because of its increasing popularity among worldwide corporations.

This project was going …

Paper Session Iv: Toward Understanding Digital Forensics As A Profession: Defining Curricular Needs (***Research In Process ***), Michelle Wolf, Alan Shafer, Michael Gendron

Annual ADFSL Conference on Digital Forensics, Security and Law

This research paper presents research in process which attempts to define the common body of knowledge (CBK) of digital forensics. Digital forensics is not well defined not does it have a generally accepted CBK. The first three phases of completed research, in a four-phase research process are discussed. The early results have created a preliminary CBK, and final validation is underway.

Recommendation For An E-Commerce Implementation For A Small Business, Kelly A. Harr

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Small Business E-Commerce Solution With the prevalence of the Internet it is important for many small businesses to have a Web presence to remain competitive. For this professional project the author has researched and proposed what it would take to put together an end-to-end E-commerce solution for a small local fly-fishing company in Boulder, Colorado and made a recommendation for implementation. This included researching what was available both open source and commercially for each of the E-commerce web site components, studying the business needs, and making a recommendation for implementation. This allowed the author to pull together what has been …

Clustering Of Database Query Results, Kristine Jean Daniels

Theses and Dissertations

Increasingly more users are accessing database systems for interactive and exploratory data retrieval. While performing searches on these systems, users are required to use broad queries to get their desired results. Broad queries often result in too many items forcing the user to spend unnecessary time sifting through these items to find the relevant results. This problem, of finding a desired data item within many items, is referred to as "information overload". Most users experience information overload when viewing these database query results. This thesis shows that users information overload can be reduced by clustering database query results. …

Voice Over Ip: Forensic Computing Implications, Matthew Simon, Jill Slay

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

The issues faced by law enforcement authorities concerning VoIP are very different from that of traditional telephony. VoIP provides strong encryption and a decentralised databased network. Wiretapping is not applicable to VoIP calls and packet capturing is negated by encryption. New methods are required to collect evidence from systems running VoIP software. This paper presents work in progress and, based on a literature review of the field, explores a methodology that may be used to advance this research area.

Personal Firewalls - Testing Robustness, Patryk Szewczyk, Craig Valli

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

Consumers require personal firewalls that are highly secure, easy to use, configurable and uptodate with the latest signatures to detect malicious network activity. Robustness tests were performed on a selection of the ten most popular firewalls by market share. The test system used was a vanilla installation of Windows XP with SP2 and all the most recent updates and patches. Each firewall was installed with its default configuration following the didactic instructions given by the firewall. The investigation was carried out by performing an installation, penetration, performance and update test. A third party bitTorrent application was also installed mimicking a …

Considerations On Deception Techniques Used In Political And Product Marketing, Carlo Kopp

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

This paper explores three deception techniques which are widely used in political and product marketing. These techniques are ‘deception by omission’, ‘deception by saturation’ and the use of ‘deception by spin’. These techniques are newly analysed in the framework of the four canonical strategies of Information Warfare and Shannon’s capacity and entropy theorems, and their respective strengths and weaknesses established. Specific strategies for the defeat of these deception techniques are discussed.

2nd Annual Undergraduate Research Conference Abstract Book, University Of Missouri--Rolla

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

No abstract provided.

Information Terrorism In The New Security Environment, Ken Webb

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

Over the years there have been many interpretations of what constitutes Information Terrorism. This paper examines the correlation/relationship between Information Warfare and Terrorism, and describes what is considered to be Information Terrorism now. It achieves this by outlining the threat’s impact, advantage and capability. It then examines the positives that can be derived from such and, based on the literature available on the subject, provides a deduced interpretation of what Information Terrorism is. The paper concludes with remarks supporting the assertion that Information Terrorism is a major dynamic and asymmetric threat contributing to a new national security environment.

Mobile Handset Forensic Evidence: A Challenge For Law Enforcement, Marwan Al-Zarouni

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

Mobile phone proliferation in our societies is on the increase. Advances in semiconductor technologies related to mobile phones and the increase of computing power of mobile phones led to an increase of functionality of mobile phones while keeping the size of such devices small enough to fit in a pocket. This led mobile phones to become portable data carriers. This in turn increased the potential for data stored on mobile phone handsets to be used as evidence in civil or criminal cases. This paper examines the nature of some of the newer pieces of information that can become potential evidence …

A Methodology For The Examination Of The Effectiveness Of Secure Erasure Tools Running On Windows Xp - Research In Progress, Anthony Hadfield, Michael Ahern, Leo Sell, Andrew Woodward

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

Currently, there appears to be a lack of academic research in the area of testing the efficacy of secure erasure applications and utilities in regard to the activities of an average user in a home or small business context. This research in progress aims to develop a testing methodology that will provide a forensically sound base for which to analyse these tools. It involves the installation of various Internet related applications (for example browsers, instant messaging software and download clients), and the use of these applications for typical Internet activities (e.g. internet banking, instant messaging, web browsing and other activities …

Taxonomy Of Computer Forensics Methodologies And Procedures For Digital Evidence Seizure, Krishnun Sansurooah

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

The increase risk and incidence of computer misuse has raised awareness in public and private sectors of the need to develop defensive and offensives responses. Such increase in incidence of criminal, illegal and inappropriate computer behavior has resulted in organizations forming specialist teams to investigate these behaviors. There is now widespread recognition of the importance of specialised forensic computing investigation teams that are able to operate. Forensics analysis is the process of accurately documenting and interpreting information more precisely digital evidence for the presentation to an authoritative group and in most cases that group would be a court of law. …

Mediated Identification, D T. Shaw

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

Identity and identification are linked by variable meanings and applications and are essential in many remote transactions. Identification relying on mediation or third party intervention may be modified or withdrawn at will. Creating or reestablishing identity may require time and resources including artefacts such as the identity card usually sourced from a third party. The characteristics of the identification process and artefacts are discussed and the requirements of usermediated identification artefacts are explored. The implicit link between user identity and artefact identity may be broken under certain circumstances.

Electronic Records Management Criteria And Information Security, A Shaw, David T. Shaw

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

Records management practices are mandatory in many business and government operations. Records management is a mature discipline with extensive body of knowledge, professional associations and clearly defined Australian and international standards. Records systems encompass the hardware, software and people necessary for operation and include records generated by and for the system. The Australian legal system has clearly defined standards for admissible evidence in the Evidence Act. Relevant records may require substantial preparation for submission and yet be inadmissible in legal proceedings. The records and system may be challenged in both theoretical and practical senses and appropriate practices and associated records …

An Information Operation Model And Classification Scheme, D T. Shaw, S Cikara

Australian Information Warfare and Security Conference

Information systems are used in overt and covert conflict and information operations target an opponent’s ability to manage information in support of operations for political, commercial and military advantage. System level attacks are complicated by logistic problems that require resources, command and control. Node level attacks are practical but of limited value. Collocated equipment comprises a temporary node that may be feasibly attacked. Estimation of IW operation merits may founder on the difficulty of predicting the net benefit for the costs. Starting from with Shannon’s model, a simple costbenefit model is discussed. Existing models are extended by an IW attack …

Enterprise Computer Forensics: A Defensive And Offensive Strategy To Fight Computer Crime, Fahmid Imtiaz

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

As days pass and the cyber space grows, so does the number of computer crimes. The need for enterprise computer forensic capability is going to become a vital decision for the CEO’s of large or even medium sized corporations for information security and integrity over the next couple of years. Now days, most of the companies don’t have in house computer/digital forensic team to handle a specific incident or a corporate misconduct, but having digital forensic capability is very important and forensic auditing is very crucial even for small to medium sized organizations. Most of the corporations and organizations are …

Liars - Laptop Inspector And Recovery System, Andrew Woodward

Australian Digital Forensics Conference

Of the many notebook computers which are stolen, a large number are subsequently recovered. However, if the device is password protected, and the serial number has been removed, then it is difficult for police or other authorities to trace the legitimate owner. The squad dedicated to computer related crime do not have sufficient resources to conduct a thorough forensic examination of every laptop in order to determine its rightful owner. This project aims to produce a tool which can be used by virtually any police officer, or other person, which does not alter the hard drive in any fashion. This …