373,782 research outputs found

    An architecture and execution environment for component integration rules

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    The Integration Rules (IRules) project at Arizona State University (http://www.eas.asu.edu/~irules) is developing a declarative event-based approach to component integration. Integration rules are based on the concept of active database rules, providing an active approach for specifying event- driven activity in a distributed environment. The IRules project consists of a knowledge model that specifies the IRules Definition Language and an execution model that supports integration rule execution. This research focuses on the execution model and the architectural design parts of the IRules project. The main objective of this research is to develop a distributed execution environment for using integration rules in the integration of black-box components. In particular, this research will investigate the design of an architecture that supports the IRules semantic framework, the development of an execution model for rule and transaction processing, and the design of a rule processing algorithm for coordinating the execution of integration rules. This research will combine the distributed computing framework of Jini, the asynchronous event notification mechanism of the Java Message Service (JMS), and the distributed blocking access functionality of JavaSpaces to support active rule processing in a distributed environment. The limitations of the underlying Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) component model pose transaction processing challenges for the integration process. This research will develop a suitable transaction model and processing logic to overcome the limitations of the underlying EJB component model. Furthermore, the architectural design will allow an easy extension of the system to accommodate other component models. This research is expected to contribute to nested rule and transaction processing for active rules that have not been previously addressed in distributed rule processing environments. The development of the IRules execution environment will also contribute to the use of distributed rule- based techniques for eventdriven component integration

    The importance of key supplier relationship management in supply chains

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    Purpose: This paper investigates the impact of key supplier relationship management (KSRM) – understood as an aggregated supply chain management (SCM) process in the upstream direction – on the overall level of the execution of SCM within organizations. Methodology: A conceptual model is developed from a theoretical framework and proposes the capability to do KSRM as a mediator between internal and external SCM resources and SCM execution. A survey of 174 managers representing different supply chain stages is used to test the model through variance-based structural equation modelling. Findings: The findings reveal that external SCM resources directly affect the capability to do KSRM. Nevertheless, internal resources show a considerable indirect impact through external resources and can thus be considered an indirect determinant. The capability to do KSRM in turn impacts upon the level of SCM execution, measured in terms of the integration of business processes, directly and substantially, as well as mediating the effect between SCM resources and the level of SCM execution. Value: The main contribution of this paper is to empirically demonstrate the potential of KSRM for enhancing the level of SCM execution within organizations and consequently the level of integration in supply chains, leading to higher customer and shareholder value

    A petri net formalization of a publish-subscribe process system.

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    Publish/subscribe systems are getting more and more integrated into the execution of business processes in process aware information systems. This integration enables the distribution of the process logic and increases the scalability and adaptability of the process enactment infrastructure. A consequence is however that the original specified process model doesn't accurately represent the actual running process anymore, as the publish/subscribe specific operations are not incorporated into the original model. In this paper we propose a formal model of a publish/subscribe system that can be integrated into a business process model, creating in this way an accurate representation of the actual runtime process. The resulting model can be used for model checking the executable process: inspect system properties, discover problems and validate changes.

    NL4Py: Agent-Based Modeling in Python with Parallelizable NetLogo Workspaces

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    NL4Py is a NetLogo controller software for Python, for the rapid, parallel execution of NetLogo models. NL4Py provides both headless (no graphical user interface) and GUI NetLogo workspace control through Python. Spurred on by the increasing availability of open-source computation and machine learning libraries on the Python package index, there is an increasing demand for such rapid, parallel execution of agent-based models through Python. NetLogo, being the language of choice for a majority of agent-based modeling driven research projects, requires an integration to Python for researchers looking to perform statistical analyses of agent-based model output using these libraries. Unfortunately, until the recent introduction of PyNetLogo, and now NL4Py, such a controller was unavailable. This article provides a detailed introduction into the usage of NL4Py and explains its client-server software architecture, highlighting architectural differences to PyNetLogo. A step-by-step demonstration of global sensitivity analysis and parameter calibration of the Wolf Sheep Predation model is then performed through NL4Py. Finally, NL4Py's performance is benchmarked against PyNetLogo and its combination with IPyParallel, and shown to provide significant savings in execution time over both configurations

    Model Integration Using Ontology Input-Output Matching

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    This paper introduces ontology controlled model integration framework using inputoutput matching in the domain of biorefining. The framework builds upon the existing framework and replaces the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) object bus with more flexible semantic repository. Semantic Web Services Description Ontologies (OWL-S) are used to describe model inputs, outputs, preconditions, operating environment and its functionality. The OWL-S enables the automation of model integration through (i) discovery, (ii) selection, (iii) composition, and (iv) execution stages. This concept has been verified with a small scale model integration to demonstrate the flexibility of model integration through all four stages of the process

    Model of Vertical Marketing System in Retail Distribution

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    Fierce market competition among leading retailers asserts different models of market appearance and cooperation with suppliers. Vertical integration, as a kind of cooperation could range from one-hand transactions to mutual investments in specific assets. From a theoretical point of view the stages of integration at the end of distribution channel reflect on retailer's power and his need for resources. The importance of the paper is set by contemplation on integration factors by the modeling method. The factors like costs, responsibility, risk, margin, and function performance in the channel will be examined. The position of the partner that can be settled in the model could range from conventional contracting to full vertical integration, depending on the volume of the execution of marketing activities. The contribution of descriptive model could be a kind of recommendation to leading retailers in a way to introduce more proper forms of cooperation with suppliers.distribution channel, vertical marketing system (VMS), retailer, channel power, cooperation

    Process-Based Design and Integration of Wireless Sensor Network Applications

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    Abstract Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSNs) are distributed sensor and actuator networks that monitor and control real-world phenomena, enabling the integration of the physical with the virtual world. They are used in domains like building automation, control systems, remote healthcare, etc., which are all highly process-driven. Today, tools and insights of Business Process Modeling (BPM) are not used to model WSN logic, as BPM focuses mostly on the coordination of people and IT systems and neglects the integration of embedded IT. WSN development still requires significant special-purpose, low-level, and manual coding of process logic. By exploiting similarities between WSN applications and business processes, this work aims to create a holistic system enabling the modeling and execution of executable processes that integrate, coordinate, and control WSNs. Concretely, we present a WSNspecific extension for Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and a compiler that transforms the extended BPMN models into WSN-specific code to distribute process execution over both a WSN and a standard business process engine. The developed tool-chain allows modeling of an independent control loop for the WSN.
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