Remote control of devices using an 8-bit embedded XML & dynamic web-server in a SmartHouse environment : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering at Massey University

This paper focuses on an Embedded System known as "TCP/IC" and its role in the "house of the future" - the SmartHouse. Overall, the aim of the TCP/IC was to design a device which could interact with a user (or AI control system) and allow for the control of various attached peripherals remotely. Although such a device could well be used as a standalone device to aid in home-automation, this paper focuses on its use in a SmartHouse environment - one where a number of these devices are networked and controlled by a central AI. The different technologies and protocols involved in the implementation of the TCP/IC, along with its two primary interfaces, namely HTML (used for user interaction) and XML (used for machine interaction) are also discussed. The reader will also be introduced to Embedded Systems and the various design principles involved in the creation of quality Embedded Systems. Core-concepts of home-automation and its logical extension, the SmartHouse are also covered in detail. Various additional interfaces (e.g. Web, XML, custom-formatted text) are also discussed and compared, as are the result of my work and some ideas for future implementations

From FPGA to ASIC: A RISC-V processor experience

This work document a correct design flow using these tools in the Lagarto RISC- V Processor and the RTL design considerations that must be taken into account, to move from a design for FPGA to design for ASIC

IC-Service: A Service-Oriented Approach to the Development of Recommendation Systems

Recommendation systems have proven to be useful in various application domains. However, current solutions are usually ad-hoc systems which are tightly-coupled with the application domain. We present the IC-Service, a recommendation service that can be included in any system in a loosely coupled way. The implementation follows the principles of service oriented computing and provides a solution to various problems arising in recommendation systems, e.g. to the problem of meta-recommendation systems development. Moreover, when properly configured, the IC-Service can be used by different applications (clients), and several independent instances of the IC-Service can collaborate to produce better recommendations. Service architecture and communication protocols are presented. The paper describes also ongoing work and applications based on the IC-Service

Instrumenting gait with an accelerometer: A system and algorithm examination

Gait is an important clinical assessment tool since changes in gait may reflect changes in general health. Measurement of gait is a complex process which has been restricted to the laboratory until relatively recently. The application of an inexpensive body worn sensor with appropriate gait algorithms (BWM) is an attractive alternative and offers the potential to assess gait in any setting. In this study we investigated the use of a low-cost BWM, compared to laboratory reference using a robust testing protocol in both younger and older adults. We observed that the BWM is a valid tool for estimating total step count and mean spatio-temporal gait characteristics however agreement for variability and asymmetry results was poor. We conducted a detailed investigation to explain the poor agreement between systems and determined it was due to inherent differences between the systems rather than inability of the sensor to measure the gait characteristics. The results highlight caution in the choice of reference system for validation studies. The BWM used in this study has the potential to gather longitudinal (real-world) spatio-temporal gait data that could be readily used in large lifestyle-based intervention studies, but further refinement of the algorithm(s) is required

Enforcing International Law: Implications for an Effective Global Warming Regime

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka den antibakteriella effekten hos ett polyestertyg med tunna invävda koppartrådar. Frågeställningen som skulle besvaras var ifall koppartyget hade en baktericid eller bakteristatisk effekt. Koppartyget är ännu i prototypstadie och om det visar sig ha antibakteriella egenskaper är det tänkt att användas inom klinisk verksamhet för att förhindra bakterietillväxt i sår och andra känsliga lokaler. Koppar är ett essentiellt spårämne, men har också antimikrobiella egenskaper som utövas genom ett brett spektra av mekanismer där skador på cellmembranet är en av de viktigare. Metoderna som användes för att inokulera bakterier på tyget var absorptionsmetoden, där en näringsbuljong innehållande Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 pipetterades på tygproverna, och transfermetoden där tygproverna trycktes mot en agar som racklats med peptonsaltlösning innehållande S. aureus. Totalantalet viabla bakterier per tygprov beräknades efter kort kontakt (<1min) och inkubering (18-24 h vid 37±2°C) genom att räkna viable count. Resultaten efter inkubering visade signifikant skillnad i totalantal bakterier mellan koppartyget och negativ kontroll i tre av fyra försök. Kort kontakt visade tendens till viss antibakteriell effekt. Slutsatsen är att koppartyget skadade och dödade bakterier då de fick inkubera på tyget, medan fler försök behövs för att säkerställa effekten av kort kontakt med koppartyget. The purpose of this study was to test the antibacterial effect of thin copper treads woven into a polyester fabric. The investigation was done by inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus strain ATCC 6538 to the fabric and evaluation of the number of viable cells post exposure by viable count. The issue to be answered was whether the copper fabric had a bactericide or bacteriostatic effect? The fabric is still in prototype stage, and if proven to have antibacterial properties the aim is to use it to prevent bacterial growth in wounds and other vulnerable locations in clinical care. Copper is an essential trace element, but also has antimicrobial properties through a wide range of mechanisms where cell membrane damage is one of the more important. Methods used for inoculation was the absorption method, where a nutrient broth containing S. aureus was pipetted on to the fabric specimens, and the transfer method where the fabric specimens were pressed onto an agar plate that had previously been spread with peptone salt solution containing S. aureus. Total number of bacteria per fabric specimen after short contact (<1 min) and incubation (18-24 h at 37±2°C) was calculated. Incubation showed significant difference in total number of bacteria between the copper fabric and negative control in three of four tests. Short contact showed a tendency of antibacterial effect. The conclusion was that the copper fabric harmed and killed bacteria during incubation but that more records would be needed to be sure about the effects of short contact on bacteria

Instrumenting gait with an accelerometer: A system and algorithm examination

Gait is an important clinical assessment tool since changes in gait may reflect changes in general health. Measurement of gait is a complex process which has been restricted to the laboratory until relatively recently. The application of an inexpensive body worn sensor with appropriate gait algorithms (BWM) is an attractive alternative and offers the potential to assess gait in any setting. In this study we investigated the use of a low-cost BWM, compared to laboratory reference using a robust testing protocol in both younger and older adults. We observed that the BWM is a valid tool for estimating total step count and mean spatio-temporal gait characteristics however agreement for variability and asymmetry results was poor. We conducted a detailed investigation to explain the poor agreement between systems and determined it was due to inherent differences between the systems rather than inability of the sensor to measure the gait characteristics. The results highlight caution in the choice of reference system for validation studies. The BWM used in this study has the potential to gather longitudinal (real-world) spatio-temporal gait data that could be readily used in large lifestyle-based intervention studies, but further refinement of the algorithm(s) is required

Better abstractions for reusable components & architectures

Software architecture (SA) is a crucial component of Model Driven Engineering (MDE), since it eases the communication and reuse of designs and components. However, existing languages (e.g., UML, AADL, SysML) are lacking many needed features. In particular, they provide rudimentary support for connectors, a first-class element in the components and connectors (C&C) architectural view and one of the most reusable architectural elements. This is unfortunate, since the difficult properties that need to be guaranteed for complex systems are mainly the non-functional properties, like throughput, security and dependability, which are greatly influenced by the employed connectors. This work reviews the basic abstractions of the C&C view of SA and examines extra architectural elements which can support the detailed, explicit and separate description of behaviour, interaction and control logic