Computer Sciences Commons^™

Protecting The Infrastructure: 3rd Australian Information Warfare & Security Conference 2002, William Hutchinson (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

The conference is hosted by the We-B Centre (working with a-business) in the School of Management Information System, the School of Computer & Information Sciences at Edith Cowan University. This year's conference is being held at the Sheraton Perth Hotel in Adelaide Terrace, Perth. Papers for this conference have been written by a wide range of academics and industry specialists. We have attracted participation from both national and international authors and organisations.

The papers cover many topics, all within the field of information warfare and its applications, now and into the future.

The papers have been grouped into six streams: …

The Mediated Integration Arcitecture For Heterogeneous Data Integration, Chaiyaporn Chirathamjaree, Suvimol Mukviboonchai

Research outputs pre 2011

To interoperate data sources which differ structurally and semantically, particular problems occur, for example, problems of changing schemas in data sources will affect the integrated schema. In this paper, we propose the mediated integration architecture (MedInt), which employs mediation and wrapping techniques as the main components for the integration of heterogeneous systems. With MedInt, a mediator acts as an intermediate medium transforming queries to sub-queries, integrating result data and resolving conflicts. Wrappers then transform sub-queries to specific local queries so that each local system is able to understand the queries.

Evolving Crushers, Philip Hingston, Luigi Barone, Ronald While

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper describes the use of an evolutionary algorithm to solve an engineering design problem. The problem involves determining the geometry and operating settings for a crusher in a comminution circuit for ore processing. The intention is to provide a tool for consulting engineers that can be used to explore candidate designs for various scenarios. The algorithm has proved capable of deriving designs that are clearly superior to existing designs, promising significant financial benefits

If You Go Down The Internet Today - Deceptive Honeypots, Craig Valli, Suen Yek

Research outputs pre 2011

This is preliminary research into the effectiveness of deceptive defensive measures in particular honeypots that use deceit as a primary defensive and offensive mechanism. Initial research has been conducted using the Deception Tool Kit and its ability to fool commonly available network scanning tools such as Nessus and Nmap The preliminary research indicates that these deceptive tools have a place in modern network defence architecture.

With Speed The Hacker Cometh, Craig Valli

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper is an examination of six months of IDS reports and firewall logs for a small enterprise that has a new broadband ADSL connection. The paper examines the information contained in the logfiles and the implications of detected activities by would be attackers. An examination of the issues that the deployment of broadband has for home and small business users is also undertaken.

Firewall Or Folly - An Initial Investigation Into The Effectiveness Of Personal Firewalls In Securing Personal Computers From Attack, Jeshua Yee

Research outputs pre 2011

With the increase in the use of Personal Computer (PC) firewall, this study looks at the security features provided by eight PC firewall; they are BlackICE, Deerfield, Kirio, MacAfee, Outpost, Sygate, Tiny and Zonealarm. The Nessus network scanner was used to probe these systems in a variety of configurations. The paper discusses the results and their implications for users of this new range of software.

Cutting Hacking: Breaking From Tradition, Rick Duley, Stanislaw P. Maj

Research outputs pre 2011

Code construction is the one inescapable phase of the software development cycle yet educators seem unable to escape the mind-set which equates programming with syntax and semantics. Accumulated coding wisdom of more than four decades, now being codified in the SWEBOK, should smooth the process of learning to develop software if presented early in the student's career. Typically, however, it continues to be presented in advanced programming units rather than as fundamental understanding. As a consequence, code hacking is the norm in undergraduate years. This paper examines current practice and presents the view that what is needed is not a …

A Study Of The Influences Of Computer Interfaces And Training Approaches On End User Training Outcomes, Raj Gururajan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Effective and efficient training is a key factor in determining the success of end user computing (EUC) in organisations. This study examines the influences of two application interfaces, namely icons and menus, on training outcomes. The training outcomes are measured in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and perceived ease of use. Effectiveness includes the keystrokes used to accomplish tasks, the accuracy of correct keystrokes, backtracks and errors committed. Efficiency includes the time taken to accomplish the given tasks. Perceived ease of use rates the ease of the training environment including training materials, operating system, application software and associated resources provided to …

Meeting The Challenge Of Dynamic User Requirements Using Data-Driven Techniques On A 4gl-Database Environment, Christopher Bolan

Theses : Honours

Accompanying the ever-growing reliance on computers within contemporary organisations, the task of software maintenance is, increasingly, becoming a resource burden. The author has identified that there is a need for proven techniques to allow the modelling of flexible/changing user requirement, to enable systems to cope with requirements creep without suffering major code change and associated down-time from rebuilds of the database. This study ascertains the applicability of extension to current data modelling techniques that allows innate flexibility within the data model. The extension of the data model is analysed for potential benefits in the provision of such a dynamic/flexible base …

Video Compression Using Wavelets And Hierarchical Motion Estimation, Andrew Peter Byrne

Theses : Honours

This thesis investigates the benefits and the significant compression that can be obtained from data that has been decomposed using a wavelet transform. A video compression algorithm was developed that employs the wavelet transform and a hierarchical motion estimation algorithm which itself utilises benefits of the wavelet transform. Using MATLAB, a popular software tool for matrix based computation and analysis, several functions were developed which together formed the video compression algorithm. A variety of tests were conducted on a sample video sequence to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the techniques employed. The results, although not the same as the …

An Investigation Into The Use Of Software Code Metrics In The Industrial Software Development Environment, Tim Littlefair

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This work describes a project that investigates the use of software metrics based on measurement of source code in industrial software development. Literature is examined relating to considerations of quality in industry; to software engineering; to emergent technologies in the software industry including the object-oriented paradigm and software patterns; to software product and process metrics; and to cultural factors affecting workplaces in the software industry. It then expounds theoretical and practical work aimed at specifying, designing and implementing a source code analyzer for use in a typical industrial project setting. There is an explanation of the design and outcomes of …

The Design Of 3d Cyberspace As User Interface: Advantages And Limitations, Maria Borisovna Quick

Theses : Honours

Virtual reality propagandists, technologists and the Internet community have long debated the issue of the usability of online three-dimensional (3D) environments. A lot of work was published about the benefits of 3D spaces for human-computer interaction and information visualisation due to their realism (Anders, Kalawsky, Crossley, Davies, McGrath, Rejman-Greene, 1998, Hamit, 1993, Heim, 1992, Aukstakalnis, Blatner, Roth, 1992). This topic also receives continuous industry support including standardisation of Virtual Reality Modeling Language ( VRML, VRML Consortium, 1997) and the more recent Macromedia & Intel alliance "to bring web 3D to the mainstream" (200 1, Intel Corporation). The actual implementation …

Bluetooth Software On Linux, Wireless Hand-Held Devices, Teck Khoon Low

Theses : Honours

In order to enable existing computers (non-Bluetooth ready) to connect to a Bluetooth piconet, a Bluetooth hardware device comprising of the Radio antenna, the baseband and control circuit is used. The digital portion of this device is also known as a Host Controller, HC. In the traditional communication lingo, the Bluetooth Hardware functions, as the Data Communication Equipment (DCE) while the Host is the Data terminal Equipment (DTE). This report discusses the theory and implementation of the communication protocol between the Host and the Host Controller, enabling communication between the computer and the Bluetooth hardware

Storage Free Terrain Simulation, Warren Creemers

Theses : Honours

Landscape visualisation is the process of recreating a natural environment and displaying it in an interactive graphical simulation. To do this a terrain is displayed together with accompanying plant life and other objects. Present landscape visualisation software is capable in theory of displaying very detailed and large landscapes. The software is also in theory capable of simulating environments with thousands if not millions of individually structured plants. In practice though, the simulation of such landscapes requires such a large amount of storage space that it is not achievable on personal computers. Even storing small landscapes with a moderate amount plant …

Working For Excellence In The E-Conomy: 2nd International We-B Conference, Sue Stoney (Ed.)

Research outputs pre 2011

Welcome to Perth, Western Australia, and to the 2nd International We-B Conference 2001 "working for excellence in the e-conomy" hosted by the We-B Centre, School of Management Information Systems at Edith Cowan University.

This is an international conference for academics and industry specialists in e-business, e-government and related fields. The conference has drawn participants from national and international organisations.

All submitted papers were subjected to an anonymous peer review process managed by the Conference Committee.

A Case For Systems Thinking And System Dynamics, Craig William Caulfield, Stanislaw P. Maj

Research outputs pre 2011

Systems thinking is a way of thinking that focuses on the relationships between the parts forming a purposeful whole. System dynamics is concerned with building computer models of complex problem situations and then experimenting with and studying the behaviour of these models over time. This paper is a review of systems thinking that considers its unique history and influences, paradigms and methodologies, and presents a case for the system dynamics methodology as the best tool for the most diverse range of problem situations

B-Nodes: A New Scalable High Level Abstraction Model, Stanislaw P. Maj, Craig William Caulfield

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper proposes a new modeling technique called B-Nodes. B-Nodes represent a new, high-level abstraction that allows technical detail to be controlled using top-down recursive decomposition. This abstraction. is independent of architectural detail and can therefore accommodate rapid changes in technology. The use of recursive decomposition allows B-Nodes to be used not only for entire e-commerce system but also sub-modules within this system. The use of fundamental units allows the performance of heterogeneous technologies to be compared and other units to be derived. Results to date indicate no comparable model exists. Should further work validate this technique the authors recommend …

Clustering Of Web Users Using Session-Based Similarity Measures, Jitian Xiao, Yanchun Zhang

Research outputs pre 2011

One important research topic in web usage mining is the clustering of web users based on their common properties. Informative knowledge obtained from web user clusters were used for many applications, such as the prefetching of pages between web clients and proxies. This paper presents an approach for measuring similarity of interests among web users from their past access behaviors. The similarity measures are based on the user sessions extracted from the user's access logs. A multi-level scheme for clustering a large number of web users is proposed, as an extension to the method proposed in our previous work (2001). …

Educating Professional Software Engineers: Pathways And Progress In The Australian Experience, Rick Duley, David Veal, Stanislaw P. Maj

Research outputs pre 2011

Australia has seized the international initiative in the recognition of software engineers as professionals. Of the 37 universities in Australia offering undergraduate courses in computing, eleven offer courses in software engineering which are accredited by the Institute of Engineers, Australia (IEAust) and which may lead the graduate to membership of the Institute. In this way, the Institute has plausible claim to being the first national professional engineering body in the world to have accredited four-year undergraduate software engineering degrees as professional qualifications. The paper traces the development of the relationship between the Institute of Engineers and the computing industry and …

Inference Of Regular Languages Using Model Simplicity, Philip Hingston

Research outputs pre 2011

We describe an approach that is related to a number of existing algorithms for the inference of a regular language from a set of positive (and optionally also negative) examples. Variations on this approach provide a family of algorithms that attempt to minimise the complexity of a description of the example data in terms of a finite state automaton model. Experiments using a standard set of small problems show that this approach produces satisfactory results when positive examples only are given, and can be helpful when only a limited number of negative examples is available. The results also suggest that …

Depth-First Search Embedded Wavelet Algorithm For Hardware Implementation, Li-Minn Ang

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The emerging technology of image communication over wireless transmission channels requires several new challenges to be simultaneously met at the algorithm and architecture levels. At the algorithm level, desirable features include high coding performance, bit stream scalability, robustness to transmission errors and suitability for content-based coding schemes. At the architecture level, we require efficient architectures for construction of portable devices with small size and low power consumption. An important question is to ask if a single coding algorithm can be designed to meet the diverse requirements. Recently, researchers working on improving different features have converged on a set of coding …

Sicnn Optimisation, Two Dimensional Implementation And Comparison, Grant Walker

Theses : Honours

The study investigates the process of optimisation, implementation and comparison of a Shunting Inhibitory Cellular Neural Network (SICNN) for Edge Detection. Shunting inhibition is lateral inhibition where the inhibition function is nonlinear. Cellular Neural Networks are locally interconnected nonlinear, parallel networks which can exist as either discrete time or continuous networks. The name given to Cellular Neural Networks that use shunting inhibition as their nonlinear cell interactions are called Shunting Inhibitory Cellular Neural Networks. This project report examines some existing edge detectors and thresholding techniques. Then it describes the optimisation of the connection weight matrix for SICNN with Complementary Output …

Mapcast : Real-Time Collaboration With Concept Maps, Brett Greay

Theses : Honours

This thesis describes the development of the application mapCAST, a computer-based concept-mapping tool that allows synchronous collaboration via TCP/IP networks, such as the Internet The useability and feasibility of mapCAST as a computer-based tool was examined and analysed in a real world situation. Results indicate that mapCAST is successful as a collaborative tool in a situations involving knowledge organisation, but lacks certain functionality that many Macintosh users are accustomed to.

Virtual Reality And The Modern Ideology Of Order And Control, Craig I. Murrihy

Theses : Honours

In this thesis I will examine the construction of the concept of Virtual Reality. I argue that rather than a technology of liberation as it is often perceived, virtual realities' conception has been influenced significantly by a discourse of control and order. I examine books, articles and films concerning Virtual Reality to support this claim. Furthermore this discourse of control and order is born out of a larger ideology of Western culture that values order and control. Throughout modernity this ideology has manifested itself through techniques and technologies of social and environmental control. I provide a brief historical outline highlighting …

Vhdl Design And Simulation For Embedded Zerotree Wavelet Quantisation, Hung Huynh

Theses : Honours

This thesis discusses a highly effective still image compression algorithm – The Embedded Zerotree Wavelets coding technique, as it is called. This technique is simple but achieves a remarkable result. The image is wavelet-transformed, symbolically coded and successive quantised, therefore the compression and transmission/storage saving can be achieved by utilising the structure of zerotree. The algorithm was first proposed by Jerome M. Shapiro in 1993, however to minimise the memory usage and speeding up the EZW processor, a Depth First Search method is used to transverse across the image rather than Breadth First Search method as initially discussed in Shapiro's …

An Investigation On Sun Microsystems Jini Technology, Ferdina D. Soeyadi

Theses : Honours

Sun Microsystems introduced the Jini^TM Technology as its vision of the future in networking, where services can be registered dynamically and he used easily regardless of their location in the network. This is an investigation of feasibility on such claims made by Sun regarding Jini^TM and comparisons with the directly similar Universal Plug and Play from Microsoft. The aim is to implement a simple application of the Jini^TM Technology in order to demonstrate its capabilities as a contribution to the distributed computing research.

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Organisational Size And Industry Type With The Development And Use Of Executive Information Systems In The Manufacturing Sector, Nigel Warne

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this investigative research is to provide quantitative detail to better understand the development and use of Executive Information Sysytems (EIS) in the Australian Manufacturing sector. This investigation is an extension of previous research done on EIS in Australia (Prevan, 1992; Pervan and Phua, 1997) and looks more closely at the independent variables of organisation size and industry type in their relationaship with the development and use of EIS. A broad literature review provides a descriptive model that gives some insight into the development and use of EIS over more than fifteen years. Over eighty per cent of …

Development Of A Model For Smart Card Based Access Control In Multi-User, Multi-Resource, Multi-Level Access Systems, David Shaw

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The primary focus of this research is an examination of the issues involved in the granting of access in an environment characterised by multiple users, multiple resources and multiple levels of access permission. Increasing levels of complexity in automotive systems provides opportunities for improving the integration and efficiency of the services provided to the operator. The vehicle lease / hire environment provided a basis for evaluating conditional access to distributed, mobile assets where the principal medium for operating in this environment is the Smart Card. The application of Smart Cards to existing vehicle management systems requires control of access to …

Training Methods For Shunting Inhibitory Artificial Neural Networks, Son Lam Phung

Theses : Honours

This project investigates a new class of high-order neural networks called shunting inhibitory artificial neural networks (SIANN's) and their training methods. SIANN's are biologically inspired neural networks whose dynamics are governed by a set of coupled nonlinear differential equations. The interactions among neurons are mediated via a nonlinear mechanism called shunting inhibition, which allows the neurons to operate as adaptive nonlinear filters. The project's main objective is to devise training methods, based on error backpropagation type of algorithms, which would allow SIANNs to be trained to perform feature extraction for classification and nonlinear regression tasks. The training algorithms developed will …

Software Quality Function Deployment : A Method For Building Better Software, Dean Carruthers

Theses : Honours

In recent years it is becoming increasingly more apparent that quality even more than productivity is emerging as the key issue in the development of software. The quality systems currently employed by most software companies however arc simply not up to the task, traditional quality systems focus upon conformance to company standards, automation to eliminate human error and in some cases quality improvement teams. These traditional quality assurance methods lead to quality as defined from the organizations point of view, all work performed is done to their standards, however a what it is that makes a quality product is defined …