Software Engineering Commons^™

Icodes: A Ship Load-Planning System, Stephen Goodman, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

The Integrated Computerized Deployment System (ICODES) is a logistic software application of ship load-planning tools that utilizes intelligent software agents in a human-computer collaborative mode. As an example of a new generation of ‘information-centric’ military decision-support systems, ICODES includes expert agents with automatic reasoning and analysis capabilities. This is made possible by an internal virtual representation of the load-planning environment, in terms of ship and cargo characteristics and the complex relationships that constitute the context within which load-planning operations are performed. ICODES agents monitor the principal determinants of cargo stowage, including: the placement and segregation requirements for hazardous cargo items; …

Sils Mrat: A Shipboard Integration Of Logistics Systems And Mission Readiness Analysis Tool, Michael A. Zang, Chris K. Neff, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

SILS (Shipboard Integration of Logistics Systems) is an umbrella program initiated and sponsored by Dr. Phillip Abraham in the Logistics Directorate of the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR). The SILS vision is a system of systems that brings together shipboard and shore based data and information sources in a single integrated environment. SILS MRAT (Mission Readiness Analysis Tool) is a high-level shipboard component of SILS, which applies intelligent agent technology to the near real time decision support needs of commanding officers, department heads, and key operations & maintenance personnel. This tool demonstrates the capability of a system architecture to …

Decision-Support Systems: Notions, Prototypes, And In-Use Applications With Emphasis On Military Applications, Jens G. Pohl, Arthur Chapman, Kym Jason Pohl, Jonathan Primrose, Adam Wozniak

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

This report describes work performed by the Collaborative Agent Design Research Center (CADRC) over the past several years in the design and implementation of collaborative, computer-based, decision-support systems, mostly for military applications. In these systems multiple components, either program modules or separate processes (i.e., software agents), cooperate with each other and human decision makers to solve complex problems. The components are essentially of two types: knowledge-based narrow domain experts that provide services to other agents (i.e., service-agents); and, more autonomous agents (i.e., object-agents) that represent the interests of selected objects in high level information representation schemas.

Based on the notion …

A Brief History Of The Object-Oriented Approach, Luiz Fernando Capretz

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Unlike other fads, the object-oriented paradigm is here to stay. The road towards an object-oriented approach is described and several object-oriented programming languages are reviewed. Since the object-oriented paradigm promised to revolutionize software development, in the 1990s, demand for object-oriented software systems increased dramatically; consequently, several methodologies have been proposed to support software development based on thatparadigm. Also presented are a survey and a classification schemefor object-oriented methodologies.

Energy-Efficient Broadcast And Multicast Trees For Reliable Wireless Communication, Suman Banerjee, Archan Misra, Jihwang Yeo, Ashok Agrawala

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We define energy-efficient broadband and multicast schemes for reliable communication in multi-hop wireless networks. Unlike previous techniques, the choice of neighbors in the broadband and multicast trees in these schemes, are based not only on the link distance, but also on the error rates associated with the link. Our schemes can be implemented using both positive and negative acknowledgement based reliable broadcast techniques in the link layer. Through simulations, we show that our scheme achieves up to 45% improvement over previous schemes on realistic 100-node network topologies. A positive acknowledgment based implementation is preferred. Our simulations show that the additional …

The Generalizability Of Private Sector Research On Software Project Management In Two Usaf Organizations: An Exploratory Study, Michael R. Garman

Theses and Dissertations

Project managers typically set three success criteria for their projects: meet specifications, be on time, and be on budget. However, software projects frequently fail to meet these criteria. Software engineers, acquisition officers, and project managers have all studied this issue and made recommendations for achieving success. But most of this research in peer reviewed journals has focused on the private sector. Researchers have also identified software acquisitions as one of the major differences between the private sector and public sector MIS. This indicates that the elements for a successful software project in the public sector may be different from the …

Inquisitive Pattern Recognition, Amy L. Magnus

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense and the Department of the Air Force have funded automatic target recognition for several decades with varied success. The foundation of automatic target recognition is based upon pattern recognition. In this work, we present new pattern recognition concepts specifically in the area of classification and propose new techniques that will allow one to determine when a classifier is being arrogant. Clearly arrogance in classification is an undesirable attribute. A human is being arrogant when their expressed conviction in a decision overstates their actual experience in making similar decisions. Likewise given an input feature vector, we say …

Adaptive Transmission Power For Optimal Energy Reliable Multi-Hop Wireless Communication, Suman Banerjee, Archan Misra

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We define a transmission power adaptation-based routing technique that finds optimal paths for minimum energy reliable data transfer in multi-hop wireless networks. This optimal choice of the transmission power depends on the link distance between the two nodes and the channel characteristics. Typical energy efficient routing techniques use a transmission power such that the received signal power at the destination minimally exceeds a desired threshold signal strength level. In this paper we argue that such a choice of the transmission power does not always lead to optimal energy routes, since it does not consider differences in the receiver noise levels. …

Maca-P: A Mac For Concurrent Transmissions In Multi-Hop Wireless Networks, Arup Acharya, Archan Misra, Sorav Bansal

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper presents the initial design and performance study of MACA-P, a RTS/CTS based MAC protocol that enables simultaneous transmissions in multihop ad-hoc wireless networks. Providing such low-cost multihop and high performance wireless access networks is an important enabler of pervasive computing. MACA-P is a set of enhancements to the 802.11 DCF that allows parallel transmissions in many situations when two neighboring nodes are either both receivers or both transmitters, but a receiver and a transmitter are not neighbors. Like 802.11, MACA-P contains a contention-based reservation phase prior to data transmission. However, the data transmission is delayed by a control …

Comparing The Routing Energy Overheads Of Ad-Hoc Routing Protocols, Sorav Bansal, Rajeev Shorey, Archan Misra

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We use simulations to study the comparative routing overheads of three ad-hoc routing protocols, namely AODV, DSDV and DSR. In contrast to earlier studies, we focus exclusively on the energy consumption and not on other metrics such as the number of routing packets. In particular, we study the `range effects' of the three protocols, i.e., how changes to the transmission power and transmission radius affect the overall energy consumed by routing-related packets. Due to the broadcast nature of the wireless medium, the energy spent in packet receptions is almost as important as the transmission power; using the number of transmissions …

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process: Quarterly Progress Report 11/16/02- 2/15/03, Yitung Chen, Randy Clarksean, Darrell Pepper

Separations Campaign (TRP)

Two activities are proposed in this Phase I task: the development of a systems engineering model and the refinement of the Argonne code AMUSE (Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction). The detailed systems engineering model is the start of an integrated approach to the analysis of the materials separations associated with the TRP Program. A second portion of the project is to streamline and improve an integral part of the overall systems model, which is the software package AMUSE. AMUSE analyzes the UREX process and other related solvent extraction processes and defines many of the process streams that are integral …

Personality Types In Software Engineering, Luiz Fernando Capretz

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

No abstract provided.

Meeting The Software Engineering Challenges Of Adaptive Mobile Applications, Rajesh Krishna Balan, Joao Pedro Sousa, Mahadev Satyanarayanan

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

A critical factor for the commercial success of mobile and task-specific devices is the fast turnaround time of software development. However, developing software for mobile devices is especially hard since applications need to be aware of and adapt to changing resources such as bandwidth and battery.

Enterprise Integration With Erp And Eai, Jinyoul Lee, Keng Siau, Soongoo Hong

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The Integration of enterprise with the ERP (enterprise resource planning) and EAI (enterprise application integration) is discussed. The ERP supports the centralized business strategy while EAI accomodates the decentralized business processes. The changes brought in by the internet technology led the internalization and extrenalization to move together. The agility and the flexibility in the organizations would be achieved by a greater degree of communication, coordination and cooperation in human factors and information technologies. The enterprise integration fulfills the needs of both internal business processes and external customer by internalization and externalization.

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process, Lijian Sun, Haritha Royyuru, Yitung Chen, Randy Clarksean, Darrell Pepper, George Vandegrift, James Laidler

Separations Campaign (TRP)

Project Overview:

• Two Components

– Refine AMUSE Code

– Develop Systems Engineering Model

• Research Objectives

– Develop a framework and environment for a systems engineering analysis of the chemical separations system for the AAA program.

– Establish a baseline systems engineering model from which modifications and improvements can be made.

– Refine the existing AMUSE program that gives a detailed examination of the UREX process, a critical component of the overall separation scheme.

Common Data Administration, Data Management, And Data Alignment As A Necessary Requirement For Coupling C4isr Systems And M&S Systems, Andreas Tolk

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

Within the application domain of military simulation systems, training and exercises as well as support to real operations require the coupling of the simulation system delivering the needed functionality with the Command, Control, Computing, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) system providing the necessary data. The solution to this challenge is to build appropriate interfaces. Although in long term a more integrated approach will be necessary, in short and mid term, gateways and interfaces are likely to remain the standard. However, in order to succeed with the respective efforts, at least on the data level of interoperability, a common solution …

Entertainics, Jesus Mario Torres Garza

Theses Digitization Project

Entertainics is a web-based software application used to gather information about DVD players from several web-sites on the internet. The purpose of this software is to help users search for DVD players in a faster and easier way, by avoiding the navigation on every web-site that contains this product.

Prescription Express System, Chia-Yu Tsai

Theses Digitization Project

The Prescription Express System is a software program that was developed with express service of health care in mind. The purpose was to provide easy access for doctors to check on upcoming appointments with patients and send prescriptions via wireless network directly to the pharmacy to provide faster service.

Littlebee: User's Online Interactive Design Of Baby's Wear, Yan Hai

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to develop a web-based application called Littlebee that allows customers to do online design of babies' wear. The online designing options include combining appliques with clothing styles and changing fabric colors; it utilizes images pre-stored in the database.

Website Developer: Web Application, Venkata Krishna Reddy Tummeti

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the project is to use Java Server Page (JSP) technology to create a web application that could be used by any person who has the basic knowledge of browsing through the Web. There are many programs on the market that aid users in creating web pages, but the process involved in creating web pages using the available software and hosting their website is fairly complex for general people.

Research Strategy And Scoping Survey On Spreadsheet Practices, Thomas A. Grossman Jr., O Ozluk

Business Analytics and Information Systems

We propose a research strategy for creating and deploying prescriptive recommendations for spreadsheet practice. Empirical data on usage can be used to create a taxonomy of spreadsheet classes. Within each class, existing practices and ideal practices can he combined into proposed best practices for deployment. As a first step we propose a scoping survey to gather non-anecdotal data on spreadsheet usage. The scoping survey will interview people who develop spreadsheets. We will investigate the determinants of spreadsheet importance, identify current industry practices, and document existing standards for creation and use of spreadsheets. The survey will provide insight into user attributes, …

Accuracy In Spreadsheet Modelling Systems, Thomas A. Grossman Jr.

Business Analytics and Information Systems

Accuracy in spreadsheet modelling systems can be reduced due to difficulties with the inputs, the model itself, or the spreadsheet implementation of the model. When the "true" outputs from the system are unknowable, accuracy is evaluated subjectively. Less than perfect accuracy can be acceptable depending on the purpose of the model, problems with inputs, or resource constraints. Users build modelling systems iteratively, and choose to allocate limited resources to the inputs, the model, the spreadsheet implementation, and to employing the system for business analysis. When making these choices, users can suffer from expectation bias and diagnosis bias. Existing research results …

Thesis Digest: Mathematical Interpretation Of Political Power And The Arkansas State Government, Andrew King

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

On the whole, political power can he very difficult to quantify. A person may be powerful due to his or her personal charm, wealth, fame, credibility, or influential connections. Political bodies do not account for these qualities when creating voting procedures; they only assign voting rules to specific positions. For example, most would say that in the United States government that a Senator is more powerful than a Representative, but less powerful than the President, without knowing any way to quantify or verify those differences. Since the 1950's, mathematicians and political scientists have attempted to create mathematical models that partially …

A Deception Based Framework For The Application Of Deceptive Countermeasures In 802.11b Wireless Networks, Suen Yek

Theses : Honours

The advance of 802.11 b wireless networking has been beset by inherent and in-built security problems. Network security tools that are freely available may intercept network transmissions readily and stealthily, making organisations highly vulnerable to attack. Therefore, it is incumbent upon defending organisations to take initiative and implement proactive defences against common network attacks. Deception is an essential element of effective security that has been widely used in networks to understand attack methods and intrusions. However, little thought has been given to the type and the effectiveness of the deception. Deceptions deployed in nature, the military and in cyberspace were …

Jade Software: Getting Ready To Tackle America, Sir Gilbert Simpson, Laurence Weinstein

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Interview by Laurence Weinstein of Sir Gilbert Simpson, founder and CEO of Jade Software in New Zealand.

Sir Gil Simpson is one of New Zealand’s pioneers in software development, having started in the field in 1967. He holds steadfast to his dream that one day his approach to software programming will take hold around the world. Simpson has just opened up the company’s first office in the United States; he expects his first significant foray into this country will be a successful one.

Measuring Software Size For Continuous Process Improvement, Claire O'Sullivan

Theses

This thesis looks at how the size of a software product can be measured. It looks at current software sizing methods (LOC and FPA) and shows that they are not sufficient in today’s rapidly changing environment. The COSMIC-FFP method is introduced and an overview of how it works is given. The hypothesis to be tested in this thesis is whether COSMIC-FFP is an accurate, repeatable sizing method that when applied to any type of software project produces a size measure that can be used to predict the effort required to complete the project.

This thesis investigates the use of the …

The Staging Transformation Approach To Mixing Initiative, Robert Capra, Michael Narayan, Saverio Perugini, Naren Ramakrishnan, Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Mixed-initiative interaction is an important facet of many conversational interfaces, flexible planning architectures, intelligent tutoring systems, and interactive information retrieval systems. Software systems for mixed-initiative interaction must enable us to both operationalize the mixing of initiative (i.e., support the creation of practical dialogs) and to reason in real-time about how a flexible mode of interaction can be supported (e.g., from a meta-dialog standpoint). In this paper, we present the staging transformation approach to mixing initiative, where a dialog script captures the structure of the dialog and dialog control processes are realized through generous use of program transformation techniques (e.g., partial …

Personalizing Interactions With Information Systems, Saverio Perugini, Naren Ramakrishnan

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Personalization constitutes the mechanisms and technologies necessary to customize information access to the end-user. It can be defined as the automatic adjustment of information content, structure, and presentation tailored to the individual. In this chapter, we study personalization from the viewpoint of personalizing interaction. The survey covers mechanisms for information-finding on the web, advanced information retrieval systems, dialog-based applications, and mobile access paradigms. Specific emphasis is placed on studying how users interact with an information system and how the system can encourage and foster interaction. This helps bring out the role of the personalization system as a facilitator which reconciles …

Jsb Composability And Web Services Interoperability Via Extensible Modeling & Simulation Framework (Xmsf), Model Driven Architecture (Mda), Component Repositories, And Web-Based Visualization, Don Brutzman, Andreas Tolk

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

"Study Report prepared for the U. S. Air Force, Joint Synthetic Battlespace Analysis of Technical Approaches (ATA) Studies & Prototyping"

Overview: This paper summarizes research work conducted by organizations concerned with interoperable distributed information technology (IT) applications, in particular the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and Old Dominion University (ODU). Although the application focus is distributed modeling & simulation (M&S) the results and findings are in general easily applicable to other distributed concepts as well, in particular the support of operations by M&S applications, such as distributed mission operations. The core idea of this work is to show the necessity of …

Crafting A Research Paper, Ronan Fitzpatrick, Kevin O'Donnell

Conference papers

Writing research papers presents numerous different challenges, which vary from how to layout the various pages and format the text to what to include in the different sections that make up the paper. In order to clarify these issues this paper sets out guidelines and best practice approaches and demonstrates their use in the style of this paper.