Use of semiconductor optical amplifiers in signal processing applications

We describe a 42.6 Gbit/s all-optical pattern recognition system which uses semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). A circuit with three SOA-based logic gates is used to identify the presence of specific port numbers in an optical packet header

ITSM ProcessGuide – A longitudinal and multi-method field study for real-world DSR artifact evaluation

Process guidance supports users to increase their process model understanding, process execution effectiveness as well as efficiency, and process compliance performance. This paper presents a research in progress encompassing our ongoing DSR project on Process Guidance Systems and a field evaluation of the resulting artifact in cooperation with a company. Building on three theory-grounded design principles, a Process Guidance System artifact for the company’s IT service ticketing process is developed, deployed and used. Fol-lowing a multi-method approach, we plan to evaluate the artifact in a longitudinal field study. Thereby, we will not only gather self-reported but also real usage data. This article describes the development of the artifact and discusses an innovative evaluation approach

DC/DC converter 3D assembly for autonomous sensor nodes

This paper reports on the design and the manufacturing of an integrated DCDC converter, which respects the specificity of sensor node network: compactness, high efficiency in acquisition and transmission modes, and compatibility with miniature Lithium batteries. A novel integrated circuit (ASIC) has been designed and manufactured to provide regulated Voltage to the sensor node from miniaturized, thin film Lithium batteries. Then, a 3D integration technique has been used to integrate this ASIC in a 3 layers stack with high efficiency passives components, mixing the wafer level technologies from two different research institutions. Electrical results have demonstrated the feasibility of this integrated system and experiments have shown significant improvements in the case of oscillations in regulated voltage. However, stability of this output voltage toward the input voltage has still to be improved

Towards a situation-awareness-driven design of operational business intelligence & analytics systems

With the swamping and timeliness of data in the organizational con-text, the decision maker’s choice of an appropriate decision alternative in a given situation is defied. In particular, operational actors are facing the challenge to meet business-critical decisions in a short time and at high frequency. The con-struct of Situation Awareness (SA) has been established in cognitive psychology as a valid basis for understanding the behavior and decision making of human beings in complex and dynamic systems. SA gives decision makers the possibil-ity to make informed, time-critical decisions and thereby improve the perfor-mance of the respective business process. This research paper leverages SA as starting point for a design science project for Operational Business Intelligence and Analytics systems and suggests a first version of design principles

Long range LiDAR characterisation for obstacle detection for use by the visually impaired and blind

Obstacle detection and avoidance is a huge area of interest for autonomous vehicles and, as such, has become an important research topic. Detecting and identifying obstacles enables navigation through an ever changing environment. This work looks at the technology used in self-driving vehicles and examines whether the same technology could be used to aid in navigation for visually impaired and blind (VIB) people. For autonomous vehicles, obstacle detection relies on different sensor modalities to provide information on the vehicles surroundings. A combination of the same sensors placed on a white cane could be used to perform free-space assessment over the whole height of the user and provide additional environmental information not available from the cane alone. This provides its own challenges and advantages. The speeds are much slower when dealing with pedestrians and scanning can be achieved by the movement of the cane. However, the weight and size must be significantly reduced. The full system will be integrated into a smart cane and will consist of four main sensors as well as range sensors. The aim of this work is to report on the characterisation of a long range LiDAR (up to 10m) that will be integrated into a smart white cane developed as part of the INSPEX H2020 project

Energy harvesting embedded wireless sensor system for building environment applications

For many wireless sensor networks applications, indoor light energy is the only ambient energy source commonly available. Many advantages and constraints co-exist in this technology. However, relatively few indoor light powered harvesters have been presented and much research remains to be carried out on a variety of related design considerations and trade-offs. This work presents a solution using the Tyndall mote and an indoor light powered wireless sensor node. It analyses design considerations on several issues such as indoor light characteristics, solar panel component choice, maximum power point tracking, energy storage elements and the trade-offs and choices between them

Positioning living labs within action design research: preliminary findings from a systematic literature review

In recent years, Living Labs (LLs) are emerging as relevant design methodologies among IS researchers. Prior research leveraged Action Design Research (ADR) to position LLs within this discipline. Through a systematic literature review, this paper proposes the positioning of LLs’ methodologies within ADR. Based on preliminary findings of this study, we argue that, whilst LL’s offer an opportunity to advance learning in ADR in several ways, some critical divergences can be identified in the literature to-date between the two methodologies

ITSM ProcessGuide – A Process Guidance System for IT Service Management

Process Guidance aims at increasing the process model understanding and effective and efficient process execution. In this paper we present the context, design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of a Process Guidance System instantiation in an organizational setting. The system is used to support the IT Service Management processes within the case company. It is used productively in the case company of this research and this article describes how the system’s features are designed for the evaluation

Initial Design principles

This paper presents a design science approach to solving persistent problems in the international shipping eco system by creating the missing common information infrastructures. Specifically, this paper reports on an ongoing dialogue between stakeholders in the shipping industry and information systems researchers engaged in the design and development of a prototype for an innovative IT-artifact called Shipping Information Pipeline which is a kind of “an internet” for shipping information. The instrumental aim is to enable information seamlessly to cross the organizational boundaries and national borders within international shipping which is a rather complex domain. The intellectual objective is to generate and evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of design principles for inter-organizational information infrastructures in the international shipping domain that can have positive impacts on global trade and local economies