Hierarchical Real Time Interapplication Communications

International audienceReal time interapplication communications are a key feature in musical multi-task operating systems. Independent applications can therefore be connected and collaborate by exchanging messages and data through communication channels. All these collaborating applications define a virtual network the user can dynamically configurate. The topology of such virtual network specifies the way applications can be connected together. This paper introduces a new hierarchical topology we recently implemented in our MidiShare multi-task operating system. This approach offers several advantages and particularly when a large number of applications are involved or in a multi-user context

Architecture for Mobile Heterogeneous Multi Domain Networks

Multi domain networks can be used in several scenarios including military, enterprize networks, emergency networks and many other cases. In such networks, each domain might be under its own administration. Therefore, the cooperation among domains is conditioned by individual domain policies regarding sharing information, such as network topology, connectivity, mobility, security, various service availability and so on. We propose a new architecture for Heterogeneous Multi Domain (HMD) networks, in which one the operations are subject to specific domain policies. We propose a hierarchical architecture, with an infrastructure of gateways at highest-control level that enables policy based interconnection, mobility and other services among domains. Gateways are responsible for translation among different communication protocols, including routing, signalling, and security. Besides the architecture, we discuss in more details the mobility and adaptive capacity of services in HMD. We discuss the HMD scalability and other advantages compared to existing architectural and mobility solutions. Furthermore, we analyze the dynamic availability at the control level of the hierarchy

Evaluating Smartphone Application Security: A Case Study on Android

Currently, smart phones are becoming indispensable for meeting the social expectation ofalways staying connected and the need for an increase inproductivity are the reasons for the increase in smartphone usage. One of the leaders of the smart phone evolution is Google2019;s Android operating system. It ishighly likely that Android is going to be installed in manymillions of cell phones during the near future. With thepopularity of Android smart phones everyone finds it convenient to make transactions through these smartphones because of the openness of Android applications. The malware attacks are also significant. Androidsecurity is complex and we evaluate an applicationdevelopment environment which is susceptible tomalware attacks. This paper evaluates Android securitywith the purpose of identifying a secure applicationdevelopment environment for performing securetransactions on Android-based smart phones

Intelligent spatial decision support systems

This thesis investigates the conceptual and methodological issues for the development of Intelligent Spatial Decision Support Systems (ISDSS). These are spatial decision support systems (SDSS) integrating intelligent systems techniques (Genetic Algorithms, Neural Networks, Expert Systems, Fuzzy Logic and Nonlinear methods) with traditional modelling and statistical methods for the analysis of spatial problems. The principal aim of this work is to verify the feasibility of heterogeneous systems for spatial decision support derived from a combination of traditional numerical techniques and intelligent techniques in order to provide superior performance and functionality to that achieved through the use of traditional methods alone. This thesis is composed of four distinct sections: (i) a taxonomy covering the employment of intelligent systems techniques in specific applications of geographical information systems and SDSS; (ii) the development of a prototype ISDSS; (iii) application of the prototype ISDSS to modelling the spatiotemporal dynamics of high technology industry in the South-East of England; and (iv) the development of ISDSS architectures utilising interapplication communication techniques. Existing approaches for implementing modelling tools within SDSS and GIS generally fall into one of two schemes - loose coupling or tight coupling - both of which involve a tradeoff between generality and speed of data interchange. In addition, these schemes offer little use of distributed processing resources. A prototype ISDSS was developed in collaboration with KPMG Peat Marwick's High Technology Practice as a general purpose spatiotemporal analysis tool with particular regard to modelling high technology industry. The GeoAnalyser system furnishes the user with animation and time plotting tools for observing spatiotemporal dynamics; such tools are typically not found in existing SDSS or GIS. Furthermore, GeoAnalyser employs the client/server model of distributed computing to link the front end client application with the back end modelling component contained within the server application. GeoAnalyser demonstrates a hybrid approach to spatial problem solving - the application utilises a nonlinear model for the temporal evolution of spatial variables and a genetic algorithm for calibrating the model in order to establish a good fit for the dataset under investigation. Several novel architectures are proposed for ISDSS based on existing distributed systems technologies. These architectures are assessed in terms of user interface, data and functional integration. Implementation issues are also discussed. The research contributions of this work are four-fold: (i) it lays the foundation for ISDSS as a distinct type of system for spatial decision support by examining the user interface, performance and methodological requirements of such systems; (ii) it explores a new approach for linking modelling techniques and SDSS; (iii) it investigates the possibility of modelling high technology industry; and (iv) it details novel architectures for ISDSS based on distributed systems

A Methodology to Develop a Communication Protocol for Visualizing Simulations in a Collaborative Virtual Reality Environment

In the technology field, simulations and collaborative virtual reality environments (CVREs) are not generally combined because it is complicated to develop large scale simulations within CVREs. The complexity of combining these two technologies in order to form a better form of visualization stems from the lack of a methodology to help derive these scalable simulations. Simulations require very complex calculations that the CVRE cannot perform as it is overloaded in calculations for the maintenance and stability of the environment itself. Since the simulation cannot be held within the CVRE, the solution is to move the simulation external to the CVRE and provide means for the CVRE and simulation to communicate so the scene within the CVRE can be updated. While this increases the performance of the simulation in the CVRE, another element is required to make the simulation scalable. Since the CVRE controls the interactions and the simulation controls the calculations and reactions, the basic structure of the this operations can be visualized as a state machine. By implementing the simulation as a state machine, if another element needs to be added to the simulation, it is a matter of implementing a new state and adding the transitions between the new state and all preexisting states. Implementing the simulation as a state machine leaves the CVRE responsible for the visualization of the simulation and provides means for the simulation and CVRE to communicate, which leads to the idea of a new developmental methodology for the visualization of large scale simulations in CVRE. This methodology will result in the ability to provide simulations in need of a visualization to be quickly and cost effectively implemented in a CVRE so that single users can visualize and interact. This methodology will not only impact those in need of simulations in the result of more simulation and training software, but also provide a better workforce equipped with decision-making tools and more widely available simulation and training software

Space Station Freedom data management system growth and evolution report

The Information Sciences Division at the NASA Ames Research Center has completed a 6-month study of portions of the Space Station Freedom Data Management System (DMS). This study looked at the present capabilities and future growth potential of the DMS, and the results are documented in this report. Issues have been raised that were discussed with the appropriate Johnson Space Center (JSC) management and Work Package-2 contractor organizations. Areas requiring additional study have been identified and suggestions for long-term upgrades have been proposed. This activity has allowed the Ames personnel to develop a rapport with the JSC civil service and contractor teams that does permit an independent check and balance technique for the DMS

A technology reference model for client/server software development

In today's highly competitive global economy, information resources representing enterprise-wide information are essential to the survival of an organization. The development of and increase in the use of personal computers and data communication networks are supporting or, in many cases, replacing the traditional computer mainstay of corporations. The client/server model incorporates mainframe programming with desktop applications on personal computers. The aim of the research is to compile a technology model for the development of client/server software. A comprehensive overview of the individual components of the client/server system is given. The different methodologies, tools and techniques that can be used are reviewed, as well as client/server-specific design issues. The research is intended to create a road map in the form of a Technology Reference Model for Client/Server Software Development.ComputingM. Sc. (Information Systems

QoS-Driven Reconfigurable Parallel Computing for NoC-Based Clustered MPSoCs

Reconfigurable parallel computing is required to provide high-performance embedded computing, hide hardware complexity, boost software development, and manage multiple workloads when multiple applications are running simultaneously on the emerging network-on-chip (NoC)-based multiprocessor systems-on-chip (MPSoCs) platforms. In these type of systems, the overall system performance may be affected due to congestion, and therefore parallel programming stacks must be assisted by quality-of-service (QoS) support to meet application requirements and to deal with application dynamism. In this paper, we present a hardware-software QoS-driven reconfigurable parallel computing framework, i.e., the NoC services, the runtime QoS middleware API and our ocMPI library and its tracing support which has been tailored for a distributed-shared memory ARM clustered NoC-based MPSoC platform. The experimental results show the efficiency of our software stack under a broad range of parallel kernels and benchmarks, in terms of low-latency interprocess communication, good application scalability, and most important, they demonstrate the ability to enable runtime reconfiguration to manage workloads in message-passing parallel applications

Who will leave the company?: A large-scale industry study of developer turnover by mining monthly work report

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