A Functional Architecture Approach to Neural Systems

The technology for the design of systems to perform extremely complex combinations of real-time functionality has developed over a long period. This technology is based on the use of a hardware architecture with a physical separation into memory and processing, and a software architecture which divides functionality into a disciplined hierarchy of software components which exchange unambiguous information. This technology experiences difficulty in design of systems to perform parallel processing, and extreme difficulty in design of systems which can heuristically change their own functionality. These limitations derive from the approach to information exchange between functional components. A design approach in which functional components can exchange ambiguous information leads to systems with the recommendation architecture which are less subject to these limitations. Biological brains have been constrained by natural pressures to adopt functional architectures with this different information exchange approach. Neural networks have not made a complete shift to use of ambiguous information, and do not address adequate management of context for ambiguous information exchange between modules. As a result such networks cannot be scaled to complex functionality. Simulations of systems with the recommendation architecture demonstrate the capability to heuristically organize to perform complex functionality

Design and management of image processing pipelines within CPS: Acquired experience towards the end of the FitOptiVis ECSEL Project

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) are dynamic and reactive systems interacting with processes, environment and, sometimes, humans. They are often distributed with sensors and actuators, characterized for being smart, adaptive, predictive and react in real-time. Indeed, image- and video-processing pipelines are a prime source for environmental information for systems allowing them to take better decisions according to what they see. Therefore, in FitOptiVis, we are developing novel methods and tools to integrate complex image- and video-processing pipelines. FitOptiVis aims to deliver a reference architecture for describing and optimizing quality and resource management for imaging and video pipelines in CPSs both at design- and run-time. The architecture is concretized in low-power, high-performance, smart components, and in methods and tools for combined design-time and run-time multi-objective optimization and adaptation within system and environment constraints

Microservice-based Reference Architecture for Semantics-aware Measurement Systems

Cloud technologies have become more important than ever with the rising need for scalable and distributed software systems. A pattern that is used in many such systems is a microservice-based architecture (MSA). MSAs have become a blueprint for many large companies and big software systems. In many scientific fields like energy and environmental informatics, efficient and scalable software systems with a primary focus on measurement data are a core requirement. Nowadays, there are many ways to solve research questions using data-driven approaches. Most of them have a need for large amounts of measurement data and according metadata. However, many measurement systems still follow deprecated guidelines such as monolithic architectures, classic relational database principles and are missing semantic awareness and interpretation of data. These problems and the resulting requirements are tackled by the introduction of a reference architecture with a focus on measurement systems that utilizes the principles of microservices. The thesis first presents the systematic design of the reference architecture by using the principles of Domain-driven Design (DDD). This process ensures that the reference architecture is defined in a modular and sustainable way in contrast to complex monolithic software systems. An extensive scientific analysis leads to the core parts of the concept consisting of the data management and semantics for measurement systems. Different data services define a concept for managing measurement data, according meta data and master data describing the business objects of the application implemented by using the reference architecture. Further concepts allow the reference architecture to define a way for the system to understand and interpret the data using semantic information. Lastly, the introduction of a frontend framework for dashboard applications represents an example for visualizing the data managed by the microservices

Framework Architecture Design for Emergency Response System

Emergency management is essential to mitigate the effects of unforeseen situations. However, this task is complex due to the large amount of information and complex procedures to be handled. To address these challenges, it is necessary to have tools that allow flexible responses to problems classified as knowledge-intensive procedures (KIP). In this sense, we propose the design of a framework for an Emergency Response System (ERS) based on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) that integrates Adaptive Case Management (ACM) and Business Process Modelling (BPM). This framework is characterised by its interoperability with devices and collaborative systems, which allows the creation and association of content related to emergency management, thus improving usability. In addition, it is designed to be scalable, allowing the incorporation of new modular functionalities. Once the development of the framework has been completed, future lines of research will be opened for its validation and comparison with other ERS

An Efficient Web Service Discovery Architecture for Static and Mobile Environments

The widely adopted and implemented core web servicesstandards SOAP and WSDL have achieved extraordinaryinteroperability across highly disparate software systems. The serviceoriented architecture SOA has become widely recognized for itsimportant role in information technology (IT) projects. A SOA is a styleof design that guides an organization during all aspects of creating andusing business services (including conception, modeling, design,development, deployment and management). SOA has been the idealcombination of architecture and technology for consistently deliveringrobust, reusable services that support today’s business needs and that canbe easily adapted to satisfy changing business requirements. As systemsbecome more complex, the overall system structure-or architecture---becomes a central design problem. A system's architecture provides amodel of the system that suppresses implementation detail.Unfortunately, current representations of SOA architecture are informaland ad hoc. Currently many state of the art formal methods have beenapplied into the modeling, interoperability, dependability andtrustworthiness of web services and this could have a significant impacton the ongoing standardization efforts for services and cloudtechnologies. This paper presents a formal verification of proposed x-SOA based architecture for UDDI based web service discoveryframework. The paper attempts to establish the proposed architecture forlocating services in mobile computing environment as well. Potentially,extending the state of art formal method techniques could have asignificant impact on the ongoing standardization efforts for web servicesand cloud technologies for both fixed and mobile networks

Generalise not specialise: design implications for a national assessment bank

Within the framework of the Assessment is for Learning (AifL) programme1, two systems of national assessment are currently operating in Scottish schools: on-demand 5-14 National Assessments and the sample-based Scottish Survey of Achievement. This paper will discuss issues surrounding the design of an assessment bank intended to support both systems.2 It focuses in particular on the considerations underlying decisions about the structure of the shared materials database, the complex definition of an “item” that had to be adopted in order to accommodate a wide range of assessment types, the overall architecture of the wider information system, with its component databases (one being the bank) and information management subsystems, and the tensions arising from the need to accommodate the requirements of different systems of assessment while avoiding the dangers involved in data repetition and redundancy

Establishment of Kerala Agricultural University Campus Wide Information System and Network: Feasibility Report

A Feasibility Report prepared by Centre for Agricultural Informatics in 1995 on establishing a Campus Network for Kerala Agricultural University’s (KAU) main campus (at Vellanikkara, Thrissur) and a state-of-the art Electronic Data Complex in its University Library premises. For the dissemination of topical awareness and global information to those in agricultural sector of the State, KAU needs to build a Campus LAN and state-of-the art Agricultural Digital Library and Data Complex within its central library. This can become a show case of the electronic age in agriculture and allied disciplines and will promote, propagate and catalogue the agricultural economy that India is so dependent on. The data complex will be a cached repository of agricultural information available worldwide, besides acting as a data silo for research forums, concurrent research, electronic publishing and global bulletin boards. The scattered campuses of KAU and allied institutions also need to be linked through electronic bridges that enable spontaneous exchange of information between the agricultural Diaspora of students, faculties, researchers, extension workers and administrators. The report covers mandate of the proposed system, detailed discussion on computer and communication stack that KAU Campus Wide Information System and Network needs, the architecture prescription, network design, MultiStack and DEChub 900 options available, host environment, financial terms, implementation methodology, installation support continuum, network synthesis and integration, systems engineering support, time frames and the administrative arrangements required. Open Network, with Protocol Switching and Networked Systems Management based on Digital's enVISN Networking Architecture and Enterprise Management Solutions is recommended. Detailed Technical literature and specifications of each and every item of computer and communication stack and solution recommended is appended to the report. Even though the report was prepared in 1995 it can be of interest for critical studies on history of ICT development in India especially in agricultural sector and for comparison of quality of systems and recommendations of a specific time in the past

A Review of the Digital Twin Technology in the AEC-FM Industry

The Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Facility Management (AEC-FM) industry is increasingly affected by digital technologies that monitor sensor network data and control automation systems. Advances in digital technologies like Digital Twin offer a high-level representation of buildings and their assets by integrating the physical and digital world. This paper examines patterns, gaps, and trends in the AEC-FM sector and contributes to digitalization and automation solutions for building management. This work covers a broad range of research topics, from intelligent information management of complex models to building information management and the interaction of building systems, where researchers are increasingly interested in using the Digital Twin to manage their information and in developing new research lines focused on data interchange and the interoperability of building information modeling (BIM) and facility management (FM). After a complete bibliometric search of several databases and following selection criteria, 77 academic publications about the Digital Twin application in the AEC-FM industry were labeled and clustered accordingly. This study analyzed in detail the concept of key technologies, including “Digital Twin in Facility Lifecycle Management,” “Digital Twin-Information Integration Standards,” “Digital Twin-Based Occupants Centric Building Design,” “Digital Twin-Based Predictive Maintenance,” “Semantic Digital Twin for Facility Maintenance,” and “Digital Twin-Based Human Knowledge.” The findings show that information standardization is the first major hurdle that must be overcome before the actual use of Digital Twin can be realized in the AEC-FM industry. Based on that, this paper provides a conceptual framework of Digital Twin for building management as a starting point for future research.publishedVersio