The implementation and use of Ada on distributed systems with high reliability requirements

The use and implementation of Ada in distributed environments in which reliability is the primary concern were investigated. In particular, the concept that a distributed system may be programmed entirely in Ada so that the individual tasks of the system are unconcerned with which processors they are executing on, and that failures may occur in the software or underlying hardware was examined. Progress is discussed for the following areas: continued development and testing of the fault-tolerant Ada testbed; development of suggested changes to Ada so that it might more easily cope with the failure of interest; and design of new approaches to fault-tolerant software in real-time systems, and integration of these ideas into Ada

Systems And Methods For Detecting Call Provenance From Call Audio

Various embodiments of the invention are detection systems and methods for detecting call provenance based on call audio. An exemplary embodiment of the detection system can comprise a characterization unit, a labeling unit, and an identification unit. The characterization unit can extract various characteristics of networks through which a call traversed, based on call audio. The labeling unit can be trained on prior call data and can identify one or more codecs used to encode the call, based on the call audio. The identification unit can utilize the characteristics of traversed networks and the identified codecs, and based on this information, the identification unit can provide a provenance fingerprint for the call. Based on the call provenance fingerprint, the detection system can identify, verify, or provide forensic information about a call audio source.Georgia Tech Research Corporatio

Distributed Snapshot algorithm for multi-active object-based applications

International audienceThis paper exposes an adaptation of the classic algorithm for consistent snapshot in distributed systems with asynchronous processes due to Chandy&Lamport. A snapshot in this context is described as the consistent set of states of all involved communicating processes that allows recovering the whole system after a crash. The reconstructed system state is consistent, even if messages injected into the system from the outside while the snapshot was ongoing may have been lost (if such messages can not be replayed). We expose how to adapt this algorithm to a particular distributed programming model, the Active Object model (in its multi-active version). We applied it successfully to a non trivial distributed application programmed using Active Objects serving as a publish/subscribe and storage of events middleware, dubbed the EventCloud

Training of Crisis Mappers and Map Production from Multi-sensor Data: Vernazza Case Study (Cinque Terre National Park, Italy)

This aim of paper is to presents the development of a multidisciplinary project carried out by the cooperation between Politecnico di Torino and ITHACA (Information Technology for Humanitarian Assistance, Cooperation and Action). The goal of the project was the training in geospatial data acquiring and processing for students attending Architecture and Engineering Courses, in order to start up a team of "volunteer mappers". Indeed, the project is aimed to document the environmental and built heritage subject to disaster; the purpose is to improve the capabilities of the actors involved in the activities connected in geospatial data collection, integration and sharing. The proposed area for testing the training activities is the Cinque Terre National Park, registered in the World Heritage List since 1997. The area was affected by flood on the 25th of October 2011. According to other international experiences, the group is expected to be active after emergencies in order to upgrade maps, using data acquired by typical geomatic methods and techniques such as terrestrial and aerial Lidar, close-range and aerial photogrammetry, topographic and GNSS instruments etc.; or by non conventional systems and instruments such us UAV, mobile mapping etc. The ultimate goal is to implement a WebGIS platform to share all the data collected with local authorities and the Civil Protectio

Extensions to the self protecting object model to facilitate integrity in stationary and mobile hosts

M.Sc. (Computer Science)In this dissertation we propose extensions to the Self Protecting Object (SPO) model to facilitate the sharing of information in a more effective manner. We see the sharing ofinformation as the sharing of objects that provide services. Sharing objects effectively is allowing the objects to be used in a secure environment, independent of their location, in a manner usage was intended. The SPO model proposed by Olivier [32] allows for objects in a federated database to be moved from one site to another and ensures that the security policy of the object will always be respected and implemented, regardless of its location. Although the SPO model does indeed allow for objects (information) to be shared effectively, it fails to address issues of maintaining integrity within objects. We therefore define the notion of maintaining integrity within the spa model and propose a model to achieve it. We argue that ensuring an SPO is only used in a way usage was intended does not suffice to ensure integrity. The model we propose is based on ensuring that modifications to an SPO are only executed if the modification does not violate the constraints defined for the Sf'O, The model" allows for an spa to maintain its unique identity in addition to maintaining its integrity. The SPO model is designed to be used in a federated database on sites that are stationary. Therefore, having addressed the issue of maintaining integrity within SPOs on stationary sites in the federated database, we then introduce the notion of a mobile site: a site that will eventually disconnect from the federated database and become unreachable for some time. Introducing the mobile site into the federated database allows us to propose the Mobile Self Protecting Object (MSPO) and its associated architecture. Because of the nature of mobile sites, the original model for maintaining integrity can not be applied to the MSPO architecture. We therefore propose a mechanism (to be implemented in unison with the original model) to ensure the integrity of MSPOs on mobile sites. We then discuss the JASPO prototype. The aim of the prototype was to determine if the Self Protecting Object model was feasible using current development technologies. We examine the requirements identified in order for the prototype to be successful and discuss how these were satisfied. Several modifications were made to the original spa model, including the addition of a new module and the exclusion of others, we discuss these modifications and examine why they were necessary

Virtual Reality Games for Motor Rehabilitation

This paper presents a fuzzy logic based method to track user satisfaction without the need for devices to monitor users physiological conditions. User satisfaction is the key to any product’s acceptance; computer applications and video games provide a unique opportunity to provide a tailored environment for each user to better suit their needs. We have implemented a non-adaptive fuzzy logic model of emotion, based on the emotional component of the Fuzzy Logic Adaptive Model of Emotion (FLAME) proposed by El-Nasr, to estimate player emotion in UnrealTournament 2004. In this paper we describe the implementation of this system and present the results of one of several play tests. Our research contradicts the current literature that suggests physiological measurements are needed. We show that it is possible to use a software only method to estimate user emotion

A Guide to Distributed Digital Preservation

This volume is devoted to the broad topic of distributed digital preservation, a still-emerging field of practice for the cultural memory arena. Replication and distribution hold out the promise of indefinite preservation of materials without degradation, but establishing effective organizational and technical processes to enable this form of digital preservation is daunting. Institutions need practical examples of how this task can be accomplished in manageable, low-cost ways."--P. [4] of cove

The implementation and use of Ada on distributed systems with high reliability requirements

The use and implementation of Ada in distributed environments in which reliability is the primary concern were investigted. A distributed system, programmed entirely in Ada, was studied to assess the use of individual tasks without concern for the processor used. Continued development and testing of the fault tolerant Ada testbed; development of suggested changes to Ada to cope with the failures of interest; design of approaches to fault tolerant software in real time systems, and the integration of these ideas into Ada; and the preparation of various papers and presentations were discussed