14053268
Data Synchronization Methods Based on ShuffleNet and Hypercube for Networked Information Systems
In contrast to a typical single source of data updates in Internet applications, data files in a networked information system are often distributed, replicated, accessed and updated by multiple nodes. Due to concurrent updates, replicated data files must be synchronized. For certain applications, stringent concurrency control must be employed to ensure data integrity, while for other applications, periodic data synchronization may enable very efficient data sharing. For the latter applications, this paper devises the ShuffleNet and hypercube schemes for data synchronization in such networked information systems. Their performance in terms of update delay, processing complexity, failure tolerance and growth complexity is examined. Our results reveal that the ShuffleNet and hypercube scheme provide identical maximum update delay and similar processing complexity. However, as the number of nodes in the system changes (e.g., due to failure or temporary out of service for maintenance), the hypercube scheme maintains all existing synchronization sessions and greatly simplifies system administration overhead such as moving files from node to node for the purpose of data synchronization. The ShuffleNet scheme does provide a higher degree of failure tolerance for global data files, but the hypercube scheme provides more than adequate failure tolerance. Lastly, a generalization of the hypercube scheme, based on the ideas of shift registers, is also proposed for systems where the number of nodes is a perfect power of 2.
34460188
Incorporating proxy services into wide area cellular IP networks
Performance enhancing proxies have drawn considerable interests from the network community as an effective approach to improve user experience in cellular networks. Previous research on this subject has been focusing on the design of proxy servers as well as the functions that these servers provide. In this paper, we study the placement of proxy servers, especially the approach of incorporating proxies into cellular networks, which allows better, faster, and more secure proxy services. We discuss various factors that must be considered when placing proxies inside cellular networks, including the information requirements of the proxies, the network requirements for supporting the proxy functions, and mobility management. Using GPRS as an example, we lay out a procedure for adding proxies into data transmission paths in cellular networks. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
2298581
Global Mobility Management by Replicated Databases in Personal Communication Networks
This paper explores the use of replicated databases for management of customer data (e.g., mobility data, call routing logic) in global, intelligent, and wireless networks. We propose and analyze two, full and partial, data replication schemes-which are compatible with industry protocol standards-and compare them with the traditional, centralized database scheme. By identifying a set of key teletraffic and mobility parameters, we develop a modeling framework based on queueing models and apply it to assess the relative performance and merits of these schemes. The paper also addresses some implementation issues. Numerical results reveal that the full replication scheme outperforms the centralized one over a wide range of the parameters considered in this study. Furthermore, if some customer data-such as location data for highly mobile customers in wireless networks-change frequently, and if each call launches multiple queries into the databases, the partial replication scheme offers further performance improvement. In general, however, the choice of the database design would depend on the specific characteristics of the service and user behavior under consideration.
5150797
Optimal Placements of Flexible Objects: Part I: Analytical Results for the Unbounded Case
The authors consider optimal placements of two-dimensional flexible (elastic, deformable) objects. The objects are discs of equal size placed within a rigid boundary. The paper is divided into two parts. In the first part, analytical results for three types of regular, periodic arrangements-the hexagonal, square, and triangular placements-are presented. The regular arrangements are analyzed for rectangular boundaries and radii of discs that are small compared to the area of the placement region, because, in this case, the influence of boundary conditions can be neglected. This situation is called the unbounded case. They show that, for the unbounded case among the three regular placements, the type of hexagonal arrangements provides the largest number of placed units for the same deformation depth. Furthermore, it can be proved that these regular placements are not too far from the truly optimal arrangements. For example, hexagonal placements differ at most by the factor of 1.1 from the largest possible number of generally shaped units in arbitrary arrangements. These analytical results are used as guidances for testing stochastic algorithms optimizing placements of flexible objects. In the second part, mainly two problems are considered: the underlying physical model and a simulated annealing algorithm maximizing the number of flexible discs in equilibrium placements. Along with the physical model, an approximate formula is derived, reflecting the deformation/force relationship for a large range of deformations.
8573033
Co-evolutionary Rule-Chaining Genetic Programming
A novel Genetic Programming (GP) paradigm called Co-evolutionary Rule-Chaining Genetic Programming (CRGP) has been proposed to learn the relationships among attributes represented by a set of classification rules for multi-class problems. It employs backward chaining inference to carry out classification based on the acquired acyclic rule set. Its main advantages are: 1) it can handle more than one class at a time; 2) it avoids cyclic result; 3) unlike Bayesian Network (BN), the CRGP can handle input attributes with continuous values directly; and 4) with the flexibility of GP, CRGP can learn complex relationship. We have demonstrated its better performance on one synthetic and one real-life medical data sets.
19552180
A Fuzzy Expert Database System
Abstract Fuzzy concepts always exist in much of human reasoning as well as decision making. This paper presents a fuzzy expert database system which is an integration of a fuzzy expert system building tool called SYSTEM Z-II and a database management system called Rdb/VMS. This system is able to extract fuzzy data and terms stored in a database and used in the fuzzy reasoning in an expert system. It can also retrieve information by fuzzy database-queries which are generated by the expert system automatically. Many expert systems in different domain areas such as decision making can be constructed. Sample applications are described to demonstrate the flexibility and power of this system. The fuzzy query language defined and used in the system can also be used independently as a fuzzy enquiry tool in database applications.
16120959
Scalable model-based clustering for large databases based on data summarization
The scalability problem in data mining involves the development of methods for handling large databases with limited computational resources such as memory and computation time. In this paper, two scalable clustering algorithms, bEMADS and gEMADS, are presented based on the Gaussian mixture model. Both summarize data into subclusters and then generate Gaussian mixtures from their data summaries. Their core algorithm, EMADS, is defined on data summaries and approximates the aggregate behavior of each subcluster of data under the Gaussian mixture model. EMADS is provably convergent. Experimental results substantiate that both algorithms can run several orders of magnitude faster than expectation-maximization with little loss of accuracy.
28609317
A fuzzy database-query language
Abstract Selection conditions for conventional database-query languages are not natural enough to express criteria with fuzzy concepts. To choose some alternatives from a database requires the techniques of multicriteria decision making or conflict resolution. However, some traditional techniques in this area still have some drawbacks, such as inefficiency and independency of criteria. In this paper a fuzzy database-query language is presented and its position in the area of multicriteria decisions making in database applications is discussed and identified. The selection constraints of this query language can accept both crispy and fuzzy conditions.