Decomposition techniques for policy refinement.

The automation of policy refinement, whilst promising great benefits for policy-based management, has hitherto received relatively little treatment in the literature, with few concrete approaches emerging. In this paper we present initial steps towards a framework for automated distributed policy refinement for both obligation and authorization policies. We present examples drawn from military scenarios, describe details of our formalism and methods for action decomposition, and discuss directions for future research. © 2010 IEEE.Accepted versio

Policy Refinement: Decomposition and Operationalization for Dynamic Domains

We describe a method for policy refinement. The refinement process involves stages of decomposition, operationalization, deployment and re-refinement, and operates on policies expressed in a logical language flexible enough to be translated into many different enforceable policy dialects. We illustrate with examples from a coalition scenario, and describe how the stages of decomposition and operationaliztion work internally, and fit together in an interleaved fashion. Domains are represented in a logical formalization of UML diagrams. Both authorization and obligation policies are supported. © 2011 IFIP.Accepted versio

Agronomy research co-authorship networks in agricultural innovation systems

Increasingly, Agricultural Innovation Systems, AIS, have been recognized as fundamentals pathways for agricultural science impact. This new thinking focuses on innovation, not as the end of pipe outcome of knowledge transfer, but as a continuous process of social, technical and scientific collaboration at regional and higherlevel systems that impacts on productivity and innovation performance. This paper surveys the agricultural innovation system in Colombia. We analyze collaboration between authors, institutions and countries from the perspective of social network analysis to introduce a descriptive review of the scientific collaboration in terms of links (discipline structure) and nodes (actors). A mixed methodology is implemented based on co-authorship bibliometric mapping using VOS VIEWER and social network analysis based on the software UCINET. Whereas exogenous authors and institutions are the most connected in terms of interaction, they have lower influence than endogenous authors.Cada vez más, los Sistemas de Innovación Agrícola, SIA, han sido reconocidos como vías fundamentales para el impacto de la ciencia agrícola. Este nuevo pensamiento se centra en la innovación, no como el resultado final de la transferencia de conocimientos, sino como un proceso continuo de colaboración social, técnica y científica en los sistemas regionales y de nivel superior que repercute en la productividad y el rendimiento de la innovación. En el presente documento se examinan los documentos de agronomía de Colombia como una rama de todo el sistema de innovación agrícola. Analizaremos la colaboración entre autores, instituciones y países desde la perspectiva del análisis de las redes sociales para introducir las principales características de los vínculos (estructura de la disciplina) y los nodos (actores). Se implementa una metodología mixta basada en la visualización de redes de co-autoría con Vos viewer y el análisis de redes sociales basado en el software UCINET. Si bien los autores e instituciones exógenas son los más conectados en términos de interacción, tienen una menor influencia que los autores endógenos

A Goal-Directed and Policy-Based Approach to System Management

This thesis presents a domain-independent approach to dynamic system management using goals and policies. A goal is a general, high-level aim a system must continually work toward achieving. A policy is a statement of how a system should behave for a given set of detectable events and conditions. Combined, goals may be realised through the selection and execution of policies that contribute to their aims. In this manner, a system may be managed using a goal-directed, policy-based approach. The approach is a collection of related techniques and tools: a policy language and policy system, goal definition and refinement via policy selection, and conflict filtering among policies. Central to these themes, ontologies are used to model application domains, and incorporate domain knowledge within the system. The ACCENT policy system (Advanced Component Control Enhancing Network Technologies, http://www.cs.stir.ac.uk/accent) is used as a base for the approach, while goals and policies are defined using an extension of APPEL (Adaptable and Programmable Policy Environment and Language, http://www.cs.stir.ac.uk/appel). The approach differs from existing work in that it reduces system state, goals and policies to a numerical rather than logical form. This is more user-friendly as the goal domain may be expressed without any knowledge of formal methods. All developed techniques and tools are entirely domain-independent, allowing for reuse with other event-driven systems. The ability to express a system aim as a goal provides more powerful and proactive high-level management than was previously possible using policies alone. The approach is demonstrated and evaluated within this thesis for the domains of Internet telephony and sensor network/wind turbine management

Technology 2002: the Third National Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition, Volume 1

The proceedings from the conference are presented. The topics covered include the following: computer technology, advanced manufacturing, materials science, biotechnology, and electronics