6152126
QoS-aware dynamic service composition in ambient intelligence environments
Due to the large success of wireless networks and handheld devices, the ambient intelligence (AmI) paradigm is becoming a reality. One of the most challenging objectives to achieve in AmI environments is to enable a user to perform a task by composing on the fly networked services available at a specific time and place. Towards this goal, we propose a solution based on semantic Web services, and we show how service capabilities described as conversations can be integrated to perform a user task that is also described as a conversation, further meeting the QoS requirements of the user task. Experimental results show that the runtime overhead of our algorithm is reasonable, and further, that QoS-awareness improves its performance.
407371
Service Allocation in Selfish Mobile Ad Hoc Networks Using Vickrey Auction
Incentive scheme for stimulating service provision in Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANET) has been under intensive investigation due to its significance to the operation of MANET This paper applies distributed algorithmic mechanism design and utilizes Vickrey auction for service allocation in mobile ad hoc networks We show that our method stimulates service provision and achieves desired system-wide service allocation in spite of each agent's selfish behavior, while introducing challenges from the inherent shortcomings of Vickrey auction and characteristics of MANET We discuss the challenges, the existing solutions for wireline networks and propose a system model for service allocation in MANET.
14806639
A unified framework for resource discovery and QoS-aware provider selection in ad hoc networks
With the rising popularity of network-based applications and the potential use of mobile ad hoc networks in civilian life, an efficient resource discovery service is needed in such networks for quickly locating resource providers. In addition, to improve user experience, QoS awareness is also crucial. In this paper, we identify the challenges when basic resource discovery techniques for the Internet are used in mobile ad hoc networks. We then propose a framework that provides a unified solution to the discovery of resources and QoS-aware selection of resource providers. The key entities of this framework are a set of self-organized discovery agents. These agents manage the directory information of resources using hash indexing. They also dynamically partition the network into domains and collect intra- and inter-domain QoS information to select appropriate providers. Simulation results show that our framework improves the QoS delivered to the clients, while the cost and response time are kept at a low level.
14761696
Towards autonomous service composition in a grid environment
Web services are becoming important in applications from electronic commerce to application interoperation. While numerous efforts have focused on service composition, service selection among similar services from multiple providers has not been addressed. Such issue is more serious when services are embraced in Grid platforms, which are usually resource-conscious. Experimental results show that our considerations are valid and our preliminary solution works well in our Globus grid network.
1755728
An evolutionary autonomous agents approach to image feature extraction
This paper presents a new approach to image feature extraction which utilizes evolutionary autonomous agents. Image features are often mathematically defined in terms of the gray-level intensity at image pixels. The optimality of image feature extraction is to find all the feature pixels from the image. In the proposed approach, the autonomous agents, being distributed computational entities, operate directly in the 2-D lattice of a digital image and exhibit a number of reactive behaviors. To effectively locate the feature pixels, individual agents sense the local stimuli from their image environment by means of evaluating the gray-level intensity of locally connected pixels, and accordingly activate their behaviors. The behavioral repository of the agents consists of: 1) feature-marking at local pixels and self-reproduction of offspring agents in the neighboring regions if the local stimuli are found to satisfy feature conditions, 2) diffusion to adjacent image regions if the feature conditions are not held, or 3) death if the agents exceed their life span. As part of the behavior evolution, the directions in which the agents self-reproduce and/or diffuse are inherited from the directions of their selected high-fitness parents. Here the fitness of a parent agent is defined according to the steps that the agent takes to locate an image feature pixel.
13586161
Shape from regularities for interactive 3D reconstruction of piecewise planar objects from single images
3D object reconstruction from single 2D images has many applications in multimedia. This paper proposes an approach based on image regularities such as connectivity, parallelism, and orthogonality possessed by the objects with simple user interactions. It is assumed that the objects are piecewise planar. By representing the 3D objects as a shape vector consisting of the normals of the faces of the objects, we impose geometric constraints on this shape vector using the regularities of the objects. We derive a system of equations in terms of the shape vector and the focal length, which we can solve for the shape vector optimally. Experimental results on real images are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.
10834714
Safety analysis of software product lines using state-based modeling
The analysis and management of variations (such as optional features) are central to the development of safety-critical, software product lines. However, the difficulty of managing variations, and the potential interactions among them, across an entire product line currently hinders safety analysis in such systems. The work described here contributes to a solution by integrating safety analysis of a product line with model-based development. This approach provides a structured way to construct a state-based model of a product line having significant, safety-related variations. The process described here uses and extends previous work on product-line software fault tree analysis to explore hazard-prone variation points. The process then uses scenario-guided executions to exercise the state model over the variations as a means of validating the product-line safety properties. Using an available tool, relationships between behavioral variations and potentially hazardous states are systematically explored and mitigation steps are identified. The paper uses a product line of embedded medical devices to demonstrate and evaluate the process and results