Hybrid Cloud Model Checking Using the Interaction Layer of HARMS for Ambient Intelligent Systems

Soon, humans will be co-living and taking advantage of the help of multi-agent systems in a broader way than the present. Such systems will involve machines or devices of any variety, including robots. These kind of solutions will adapt to the special needs of each individual. However, to the concern of this research effort, systems like the ones mentioned above might encounter situations that will not be seen before execution time. It is understood that there are two possible outcomes that could materialize; either keep working without corrective measures, which could lead to an entirely different end or completely stop working. Both results should be avoided, specially in cases where the end user will depend on a high level guidance provided by the system, such as in ambient intelligence applications. This dissertation worked towards two specific goals. First, to assure that the system will always work, independently of which of the agents performs the different tasks needed to accomplish a bigger objective. Second, to provide initial steps towards autonomous survivable systems which can change their future actions in order to achieve the original final goals. Therefore, the use of the third layer of the HARMS model was proposed to insure the indistinguishability of the actors accomplishing each task and sub-task without regard of the intrinsic complexity of the activity. Additionally, a framework was proposed using model checking methodology during run-time for providing possible solutions to issues encountered in execution time, as a part of the survivability feature of the systems final goals

Privacy, security, and trust issues in smart environments

Recent advances in networking, handheld computing and sensor technologies have driven forward research towards the realisation of Mark Weiser's dream of calm and ubiquitous computing (variously called pervasive computing, ambient computing, active spaces, the disappearing computer or context-aware computing). In turn, this has led to the emergence of smart environments as one significant facet of research in this domain. A smart environment, or space, is a region of the real world that is extensively equipped with sensors, actuators and computing components [1]. In effect the smart space becomes a part of a larger information system: with all actions within the space potentially affecting the underlying computer applications, which may themselves affect the space through the actuators. Such smart environments have tremendous potential within many application areas to improve the utility of a space. Consider the potential offered by a smart environment that prolongs the time an elderly or infirm person can live an independent life or the potential offered by a smart environment that supports vicarious learning

Self-managed resources in network virtualisation environments

Network virtualisation is a promising technique for dealing with the resistance of the Internet to architectural changes, enabling a novel business model in which infrastructure management is decoupled from service provision. It allows infrastructure providers (InPs) who own substrate networks (SNs) to lease chunks of them out to service providers who then create virtual networks (VNs), which can then be re-leased out or used to provide services to end-users. However, the different VNs should be initialised, in which case virtual links and nodes must be mapped to substrate nodes and paths respectively. One of the challenges in the initialisation of VNs is the requirement of an efficient sharing of SN resources. Since the profitability of InPs depends on how many VNs are able to be allocated simultaneously onto the SN, the success of network virtualisation will depend, in part, on how efficiently VNs utilise physical network resources. This thesis contributes to efficient resource sharing in network virtualisation by dividing the problem into three sub-problems: (1) mapping virtual nodes and links to substrate nodes and paths i.e. virtual network embedding (VNE), (2) dynamic managing of the resources allocated to VNs throughout their lifetime (DRA), and (3) provisioning of backup resources to ensure survivability of the VNs. The constrained VNE problem is NP-Hard. As a result, to simplify the solution, many existing approaches propose heuristics that make assumptions (e.g. a SN with infinite resources), some of which would not apply in practical environments. This thesis proposes an improvement in VNE by proposing a one-shot VNE algorithm which is based on column generation (CG). The CG approach starts by solving a restricted version of the problem, and thereafter refines it to obtain a final solution. The objective of a one-shot mapping is to achieve better resource utilisation, while using CG significantly enhances the solution time complexity. In addition current approaches are static in the sense that after the VNE stage, the resources allocated are not altered for the entire lifetime of the VN. The few proposals that do allow for adjustments in original mappings allocate a fixed amount of node and link resources to VNs throughout their life time. Since network load varies with time due to changing user demands, allocating a fixed amount of resources based on peak load could lead to an inefficient utilisation of overall SN resources, whereby, during periods when some virtual nodes and/or links are lightly loaded, SN resources are still reserved for them, while possibly rejecting new VN requests. The second contribution of this thesis are a set of proposals that ensure that SN resources are efficiently utilised, while at the same making sure that the QoS requirements of VNs are met. For this purpose, we propose self-management algorithms in which the SN uses time-difference machine learning techniques to make autonomous decisions with respect to resource allocation. Finally, while some scientific research has already studied multi-domain VNE, the available approaches to survivable VNs have focused on the single InP environment. Since in the more practical situation a network virtualisation environment will involve multiple InPs, and because an extension of network survivability approaches from the single to multi domain environments is not trivial, this thesis proposes a distributed and dynamic approach to survivability in VNs. This is achieved by using a multi-agent-system that uses a multi-attribute negotiation protocol and a dynamic pricing model forming InPs coalitions supporting SNs resource backups. The ultimate objective is to ensure that virtual network operators maximise profitability by minimising penalties resulting from QoS violations.La virtualització de xarxes es una tècnica prometedora per afrontar la resistència d'Internet als canvis arquitectònics, que permet un nou model de negoci en el que la gestió de la infraestructura de xarxa es desacobla de la provisió del servei. Això permet als proveïdors de infraestructura (InPs), propietaris de la xarxa física substrat (SN), llogar segments d'aquesta als proveïdors dels serveis, que crearan xarxes virtuals (VNs) que a l'hora poden re-llogar-se o utilitzar-se per donar servei a usuaris finals. No obstant això, les diferents VNs s'han d'inicialitzar assignant els seus nodes i enllaços als del substrat. Un dels reptes d'aquest procés es el requisit de fer un ús eficient dels recursos de la SN. Donat que el benefici d'un InP depèn del nombre de xarxes virtuals que puguin allotjar-se simultàniament en la SN, l'èxit de la virtualització de xarxes depèn en part de quan eficient es l’ús dels recursos de la xarxa física per part de les VNs. Aquesta Tesi contribueix a la millora de l’eficiència en la compartició de recursos en la virtualització de xarxes dividint el problema en tres sots problemes: (1) assignació de nodes i enllaços virtuals a nodes i enllaços del substrat (VNE), (2) gestió dinàmica dels recursos assignats a les VNs al llarg de la seva vida útil (DRA) i (3) aprovisionament de recursos de backup per assegurar la supervivència de les VNs. La naturalesa del problema VNE el fa “NP-Hard". En conseqüència, per simplificar la solució, moltes de les propostes son heurístiques que es basen en hipòtesis (per exemple, SN amb recursos il•limitats) de difícil compliment en escenaris reals. Aquesta Tesi proposa una millora al problema VNE mitjan_cant un algorisme “one-shot VNE" basat en generació de columnes (CG). La solució CG comena resolent una versió restringida del problema, per tot seguit refinar-la i obtenir la solució final. L'objectiu del “one-shot VNE" es aconseguir millorar l’ús dels recursos, mentre que CG redueix significativament la complexitat temporal del procés. D'altre banda, les solucions actuals son estàtiques, ja que els recursos assignats en la fase VNE no es modifiquen durant tot el temps de vida útil de la VN. Les poques propostes que permeten reajustar l’assignació inicial, es basen en una assignació fixe de recursos a les VNs. No obstant això, degut a que la càrrega de la xarxa varia a conseqüència de la demanda canviant dels usuaris, assignar una quantitat fixe de recursos basada en situacions de càrrega màxima esdevé en ineficiència per infrautilització en períodes de baixa demanda, mentre que en tals períodes de demanda baixa, el tenir recursos reservats, pot originar rebutjos de noves VNs. La segona contribució d'aquesta Tesi es un conjunt de propostes que asseguren l’ús eficient dels recursos de la SN, garantint a la vegada els requeriments de qualitat de servei de totes les VNs. Amb aquesta finalitat es proposen algorismes d’autogestió en els que la SN utilitza tècniques d'aprenentatge de màquines per a materialitzar decisions autònomes en l’assignació dels recursos. Finalment, malgrat que diversos estudis han tractat ja el problema VNE en entorn multi-domini, les propostes actuals de supervivència de xarxes virtuals s'han limitat a contexts d'aprovisionament per part d'un sol InP. En canvi, a la pràctica, la virtualització de xarxes comportarà un entorn d'aprovisionament multi-domini, i com que l’extensió de solucions de supervivència d'un sol domini al multi-domini no es trivial, aquesta Tesi proposa una solució distribuïda i dinàmica per a la supervivència de VNs. Això s'aconsegueix amb un sistema multi-agent que utilitza un protocol de negociació multi-atribut i un model dinàmic de preus per formar coalicions d'InPs que proporcionaran backups als recursos de les SNs. L'objectiu últim es assegurar que els operadors de xarxes virtuals maximitzin beneficis minimitzant les penalitzacions per violació de la QoS.La virtualización de redes es una técnica prometedora para afrontar la resistencia de Internet a cambios arquitectónicos, que permite un nuevo modelo de negocio en el que la gestión de la infraestructura está desacoplada del aprovisionamiento del servicio. Esto permite a los proveedores de infraestructuras (InPs), propietarios de la red física subyacente (SN), alquilar segmentos de la misma a los proveedores de servicio, los cuales crearán redes virtuales (VNs), que a su vez pueden ser realquiladas o usadaspara proveer el servicio a usuarios finales. Sin embargo, las diferentes VNs deben inicializarse, mapeando sus nodos y enlaces en los del substrato. Uno de los retos de este proceso de inicialización es el requisito de hacer un uso eficiente de los recursos de la SN. Dado que el benecio de los InPs depende de cuantas VNs puedan alojarse simultáneamente en la SN, el éxito de la virtualización de redes depende, en parte, de cuan eficiente es el uso de los recursos de red físicos por parte de las VNs. Esta Tesis contribuye a la compartición eficiente de recursos para la virtualización de redes dividiendo el problema en tres sub-problemas: (1) mapeo de nodos y enlaces virtuales sobre nodos y enlaces del substrato (VNE), (2) gestión dinámica de los recursos asignados a las VNs a lo largo de su vida útil (DRA), y (3) aprovisionamiento de recursos de backup para asegurar la supervivencia de las VNs. La naturaleza del problema VNE lo hace “NP-Hard". En consecuencia, para simplificar la solución, muchas de las actuales propuestas son heurísticas que parten de unas suposiciones (por ejemplo, SN con recursos ilimitados) de difícil asumir en la práctica. Esta Tesis propone una mejora al problema VNE mediante un algoritmo “one-shot VNE" basado en generación de columnas (CG). La solución CG comienza resolviendo una versión restringida del problema, para después refinarla y obtener la solución final. El objetivo del “one-shot VNE" es mejorar el uso de los recursos, a la vez que con CG se reduce significativamente la complejidad temporal del proceso. Por otro lado,las propuestas actuales son estáticas, ya que los recursos asignados en la fase VNE no se alteran a lo largo de la vida útil de la VN. Las pocas propuestas que permiten reajustes del mapeado original ubican una cantidad fija de recursos a las VNs. Sin embargo, dado que la carga de red varía con el tiempo, debido a la demanda cambiante de los usuarios, ubicar una cantidad fija de recursos basada en situaciones de pico conduce a un uso ineficiente de los recursos por infrautilización de los mismos en periodos de baja demanda, mientras que en esta situación, al tener los recursos reservados, pueden rechazarse nuevas solicitudes de VNs. La segunda contribución de esta Tesis es un conjunto de propuestas para el uso eficiente de los recursos de la SN, asegurando al mismo tiempo la calidad de servicio de las VNs. Para ello se proponen algoritmos de auto-gestión en los que la SN usa técnicas de aprendizaje de máquinas para materializar decisiones autónomas en la asignación de recursos. Finalmente, aunque determinadas investigaciones ya han estudiado el problema multi-dominio VNE, las propuestas actuales de supervivencia de redes virtuales se han limitado a un entorno de provisión de infraestructura de un solo InP. Sin embargo, en la práctica, la virtualización de redes comportará un entorno de aprovisionamiento con múltiples InPs, y dado a que la extensión de las soluciones de supervivencia de un entorno único a uno multi-dominio no es trivial, esta Tesis propone una solución distribuida y dinámica a la supervivencia de VNs. Esto se consigue mediante un sistema multi-agente que usa un protocolo de negociación multi-atributo y un modelo dinámico de precios para conformar coaliciones de InPs para proporcionar backups a los recursos de las SNs. El objetivo último es asegurar que los operadores de VNs maximicen su beneficio minimizando la penalización por violación de la QoS

Competition and collaboration in supply chains: an agent-based modelling approach

Competition has been considered as an effective means to improve business and economic competitiveness. However, competition in supply chain management (SCM) can be viewed as a source of uncertainty. Most recommended collaboration strategies in SCM literature tend to avoid the emergence of competition inside the supply chain, but, in reality, these strategies do not lead all supply chains to success. In addition, from strategic management perspective, these collaboration strategies are not believed to encourage firms to improve their performance. Both competition and collaboration are critical issues in achieving business success, but the effect of both factors on the market has not been explored concurrently in the literature. The complexity of this issue should be investigated using a comprehensive perspective, and it is hard to undertake by using an empirical approach. [Continues.

Intelligent Autonomous Decision-Making and Cooperative Control Technology of High-Speed Vehicle Swarms

This book is a reprint of the Special Issue “Intelligent Autonomous Decision-Making and Cooperative Control Technology of High-Speed Vehicle Swarms”,which was published in Applied Sciences

Nature-inspired survivability: Prey-inspired survivability countermeasures for cloud computing security challenges

As cloud computing environments become complex, adversaries have become highly sophisticated and unpredictable. Moreover, they can easily increase attack power and persist longer before detection. Uncertain malicious actions, latent risks, Unobserved or Unobservable risks (UUURs) characterise this new threat domain. This thesis proposes prey-inspired survivability to address unpredictable security challenges borne out of UUURs. While survivability is a well-addressed phenomenon in non-extinct prey animals, applying prey survivability to cloud computing directly is challenging due to contradicting end goals. How to manage evolving survivability goals and requirements under contradicting environmental conditions adds to the challenges. To address these challenges, this thesis proposes a holistic taxonomy which integrate multiple and disparate perspectives of cloud security challenges. In addition, it proposes the TRIZ (Teorija Rezbenija Izobretatelskib Zadach) to derive prey-inspired solutions through resolving contradiction. First, it develops a 3-step process to facilitate interdomain transfer of concepts from nature to cloud. Moreover, TRIZ’s generic approach suggests specific solutions for cloud computing survivability. Then, the thesis presents the conceptual prey-inspired cloud computing survivability framework (Pi-CCSF), built upon TRIZ derived solutions. The framework run-time is pushed to the user-space to support evolving survivability design goals. Furthermore, a target-based decision-making technique (TBDM) is proposed to manage survivability decisions. To evaluate the prey-inspired survivability concept, Pi-CCSF simulator is developed and implemented. Evaluation results shows that escalating survivability actions improve the vitality of vulnerable and compromised virtual machines (VMs) by 5% and dramatically improve their overall survivability. Hypothesis testing conclusively supports the hypothesis that the escalation mechanisms can be applied to enhance the survivability of cloud computing systems. Numeric analysis of TBDM shows that by considering survivability preferences and attitudes (these directly impacts survivability actions), the TBDM method brings unpredictable survivability information closer to decision processes. This enables efficient execution of variable escalating survivability actions, which enables the Pi-CCSF’s decision system (DS) to focus upon decisions that achieve survivability outcomes under unpredictability imposed by UUUR

Immune System Based Control and Intelligent Agent Design for Power System Applications

The National Academy of Engineering has selected the US Electric Power Grid as the supreme engineering achievement of the 20th century. Yet, this same grid is struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for electricity, its quality and cost. A growing recognition of the need to modernize the grid to meet future challenges has found articulation in the vision of a Smart Grid in using new control strategies that are intelligent, distributed, and adaptive. The objective of this work is to develop smart control systems inspired from the biological Human Immune System to better manage the power grid at the both generation and distribution levels. The work is divided into three main sections. In the first section, we addressed the problem of Automatic Generation Control design. The Clonal Selection theory is successfully applied as an optimization technique to obtain decentralized control gains that minimize a performance index based on Area Control Errors. Then the Immune Network theory is used to design adaptive controllers in order to diminish the excess maneuvering of the units and help the control areas comply with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation\u27s standards set to insure good quality of service and equitable mutual assistance by the interconnected energy balancing areas. The second section of this work addresses the design and deployment of Multi Agent Systems on both terrestrial and shipboard power systems self-healing using a novel approach based on the Immune Multi-Agent System (IMAS). The Immune System is viewed as a highly organized and distributed Multi-Cell System that strives to heal the body by working together and communicating to get rid of the pathogens. In this work both simulation and hardware design and deployment of the MAS are addressed. The third section of this work consists in developing a small scale smart circuit by modifying and upgrading the existing Analog Power Simulator to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed technologies. We showed how to develop smart Agents hardware along with a wireless communication platform and the electronic switches. After putting together the different designed pieces, the resulting Multi Agent System is integrated into the Power Simulator Hardware. The multi Agent System developed is tested for fault isolation, reconfiguration, and restoration problems by simulating a permanent three phase fault on one of the feeder lines. The experimental results show that the Multi Agent System hardware developed performed effectively and in a timely manner which confirms that this technology is very promising and a very good candidate for Smart Grid control applications

Management of e-technology in China

"e" technology is bringing about many challenges for companies, in particular for their managers. This concerns a vast range of business processes in many sectors of the economy and in nearly every country of the world. In rapidly industrializing China, companies and other organizations are actively finding their way by adapting, developing and exploiting new e-technologies. The paper's focus is the identification of the management issues in implementing e-technology in China. The paper reports on research into difficulties of establishing and operating e-business in China. In particular, it discusses management related to e-technology sharing and application. A brief review of literature is followed by the analysis of three recent case studies: an international IT services alliance, a financial services provider and an international manufacturing joint venture. All case companies are applying e-technology in China, but the role of e-technology differs in the three cases: adding a service line to the existing business processes; developing a new business process; and increasing efficiency and effectiveness in business processes. The conclusions present the emerging management issues: cooperation is a key asset in networking; the choice of business models plays an important role; adequate management attention for details such as a training program is require