Unknown Exception Handling Tool Using Humans as Agents

In a typical workflow process, exceptions are the norm. Exceptions are defined as deviations from the normal sequence of activities and events. Exceptions can be divided into two broad categories: known exceptions (i.e., expected and predefined deviations) and unknown exceptions (i.e., unexpected and undefined deviations). Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) has become the de facto standard for executing business workflows with the use of web services. BPEL includes exception handling methods that are sufficient for known exception scenarios. Depending on the exception and the specifics of the exception handling tools, processes may either halt or move to completion. Instances of processes that are halted or left incomplete due to unhandled exceptions affect the performance of the workflow process, as they increase resource utilization and process completion time. However, designing efficient process handlers to avoid the issue of unhandled exceptions is not a simple task. This thesis provides a tool that handles unknown exceptions using provisions for exception handling with the involvement of human activities by using the BPEL4PEOPLE specification. BPEL4PEOPLE, an extension of BPEL, offers the ability to specify human activities within BPEL processes. The approach considered in this thesis involves humans in exception handling tools by providing an alternate sub process within a given business process. A prototype application has been developed implementing the tool that handles unknown exceptions. The prototype application monitors the progress of an automated workflow process and permits human involvement to reroute the course of a workflow process when an unknown exception occurs. The utility of the prototype and the tool using the Scenario Walkthrough and Inspection Methods (SWIMs) are demonstrated. We demonstrate the utility of the tool through loan application process scenarios, and offer a walkthrough of the system by using examples of instances with examples of known and unknown exceptions, as well as a claims analysis of process instances results

Situated agents and humans in social interaction for elderly healthcare: the case of COAALAS

Assistive Technologies (AT) are an application area where several Artificial Intelligence techniques and tools have been successfully applied to support elder or impeded people on their daily activities. However, approaches to AT tend to center in the user-tool interaction, neglecting the user's connection with its social environment (such as care-takers, relatives and health professionals) and the possibility to monitor undesired behaviour providing both adaptation to a dynamic environment and early response to potentially dangerous situations. In previous work we have presented Coaalas, an intelligent social and norm-aware device for elder people that is able to autonomously organize, reorganize and interact with the different actors involved in elder-care, either human actors or other devices. In this paper we put our work into context, by first examining what are the desirable properties of such a system, analysing the state of the art on the relevant topics, and verifying the validity of our proposal.Postprint (author’s final draft

An Agent-based Approach for Improving the Performance of Distributed Business Processes in Maritime Port Community

In the recent years, the concept of “port community” has been adopted by the maritime transport industry in order to achieve a higher degree of coordination and cooperation amongst organizations involved in the transfer of goods through the port area. The business processes of the port community supply chain form a complicated process which involves several process steps, multiple actors, and numerous information exchanges. One of the widely used applications of ICT in ports is the Port Community System (PCS) which is implemented in ports in order to reduce paperwork and to facilitate the information flow related to port operations and cargo clearance. However, existing PCSs are limited in functionalities that facilitate the management and coordination of material, financial, and information flows within the port community supply chain. This research programme addresses the use of agent technology to introduce business process management functionalities, which are vital for port communities, aiming to the enhancement of the performance of the port community supply chain. The investigation begins with an examination of the current state in view of the business perspective and the technical perspective. The business perspective focuses on understanding the nature of the port community, its main characteristics, and its problems. Accordingly, a number of requirements are identified as essential amendments to information systems in seaports. On the other hand, the technical perspective focuses on technologies that are convenient for solving problems in business process management within port communities. The research focuses on three technologies; the workflow technology, agent technology, and service orientation. An analysis of information systems across port communities enables an examination of the current PCSs with regard to their coordination and workflow management capabilities. The most important finding of this analysis is that the performance of the business processes, and in particular the performance of the port community supply chain, is not in the scope of the examined PCSs. Accordingly, the Agent-Based Middleware for Port Community Management (ABMPCM) is proposed as an approach for providing essential functionalities that would facilitate collaborative planning and business process management. As a core component of the ABMPCM, the Collaborative Planning Facility (CPF) is described in further details. A CPF prototype has been developed as an agent-based system for the domain of inland transport of containers to demonstrate its practical effectiveness. To evaluate the practical application of the CPF, a simulation environment is introduced in order to facilitate the evaluation process. The research started with the definition of a multi-agent simulation framework for port community supply chain. Then, a prototype has been implemented and employed for the evaluation of the CPF. The results of the simulation experiments demonstrate that our agent-based approach effectively enhances the performance of business process in the port community

Applying COAALAS to SPiDer

Artificial Intelligence techniques and tools have been applied to Assistive Technologies (AT) in order to support elder or impeded people on their daily activities. A common application are intelligent pill dispensers and reminders that help the patient comply with his medication. This has become even more important, as patients suffering from multiple pathologies are prescribed cocktails of drugs that require strict compliance in order to achieve a successful treatment. Existing intelligent pill dispensers tend to focus in the user-tool interaction, neglecting user’s connection with its social environment and the possibility to monitor patient’s behaviour, effectively adapting to a dynamic environment and providing early response to potentially dangerous situations by detecting unexpected or undesired patterns of behaviour. In previous work we have presented COAALAS, an intelligent social and norm-aware device for elder people that is able to autonomously organize, reorganize and interact with the different actors involved in elder-care, either human actors or other devices. In this paper, we present SPiDer an intelligent pill dispenser integrated with the COAALAS architecture.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Multi-process modelling approach to complex organisation design

Present day markets require manufacturing enterprises (MEs) to be designed and run in a flexibly structured yet optimised way. However, contemporary approaches to ME engineering do not enable this requirement to capture ME attributes such that suitable processes, resource systems and support services can be readily implemented and changed. This study has developed and prototyped a model-driven environment for the design, optimisation and control of MEs with an embedded capability to handle various types of change. This so called Enriched-Process Modelling (E-MPM) Environment can support the engineering of strategic, tactical and operational processes and comprises two parts: (1) an E-MPM Method that informs, structures, and guides modelling activities required at different stages of ME systems design; and (2) an E-MPM Modelling Framework that specifies interconnections between modelling concepts necessary for the design and run time operation of ME systems. [Continues.

CPPS-3D: a methodology to support cyber physical production systems design, development and deployment

Master’s dissertation in Production EngineeringCyber-Physical Production Systems are widely recognized as the key to unlock the full potential benefits of the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Cyber-Physical Production Systems Design, Development and Deployment methodology is a systematic approach in assessing necessities, identifying gaps and then designing, developing and deploying solutions to fill such gaps. It aims to support and drive enterprise’s evolution to the new working environment promoted by the availability of Industry 4.0 paradigms and technologies while challenged by the need to increment a continuous improvement culture. The proposed methodology considers the different dimensions within enterprises related with their levels of organization, competencies and technology. It is a two-phased sequentially-stepped process to enable discussion, reflection/reasoning, decision-making and action-taking towards evolution. The first phase assesses an enterprise across its Organizational, Technological and Human dimensions. The second phase establishes sequential tasks to successfully deploy solutions. Is was applied to a production section at a Portuguese enterprise with the development of a new visual management system to enable shop floor management. This development is presented as an example of Industry 4.0 technology and it promotes a faster decision-making, better production management, improved data availability as well as fosters more dynamic workplaces with enhanced reactivity to problems

Autonomic care platform for optimizing query performance

Background: As the amount of information in electronic health care systems increases, data operations get more complicated and time-consuming. Intensive Care platforms require a timely processing of data retrievals to guarantee the continuous display of recent data of patients. Physicians and nurses rely on this data for their decision making. Manual optimization of query executions has become difficult to handle due to the increased amount of queries across multiple sources. Hence, a more automated management is necessary to increase the performance of database queries. The autonomic computing paradigm promises an approach in which the system adapts itself and acts as self-managing entity, thereby limiting human interventions and taking actions. Despite the usage of autonomic control loops in network and software systems, this approach has not been applied so far for health information systems. Methods: We extend the COSARA architecture, an infection surveillance and antibiotic management service platform for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with self-managed components to increase the performance of data retrievals. We used real-life ICU COSARA queries to analyse slow performance and measure the impact of optimizations. Each day more than 2 million COSARA queries are executed. Three control loops, which monitor the executions and take action, have been proposed: reactive, deliberative and reflective control loops. We focus on improvements of the execution time of microbiology queries directly related to the visual displays of patients' data on the bedside screens. Results: The results show that autonomic control loops are beneficial for the optimizations in the data executions in the ICU. The application of reactive control loop results in a reduction of 8.61% of the average execution time of microbiology results. The combined application of the reactive and deliberative control loop results in an average query time reduction of 10.92% and the combination of reactive, deliberative and reflective control loops provides a reduction of 13.04%. Conclusions: We found that by controlled reduction of queries' executions the performance for the end-user can be improved. The implementation of autonomic control loops in an existing health platform, COSARA, has a positive effect on the timely data visualization for the physician and nurse