Process-Based Design and Integration of Wireless Sensor Network Applications

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.

A Framework for Executable Systems Modeling

Systems Modeling Language (SysML), like its parent language, the Unified Modeling Language (UML), consists of a number of independently derived model languages (i.e. state charts, activity models etc.) which have been co-opted into a single modeling framework. This, together with the lack of an overarching meta-model that supports uniform semantics across the various diagram types, has resulted in a large unwieldy and informal language schema. Additionally, SysML does not offer a built in framework for managing time and the scheduling of time based events in a simulation. In response to these challenges, a number of auxiliary standards have been offered by the Object Management Group (OMG); most pertinent here are the foundational UML subset (fUML), Action language for fUML (Alf), and the UML profile for Modeling and Analysis of Real Time and Embedded Systems (MARTE). However, there remains a lack of a similar treatment of SysML tailored towards precise and formal modeling in the systems engineering domain. This work addresses this gap by offering refined semantics for SysML akin to fUML and MARTE standards, aimed at primarily supporting the development of time based simulation models typically applied for model verification and validation in systems engineering. The result of this work offers an Executable Systems Modeling Language (ESysML) and a prototype modeling tool that serves as an implementation test bed for the ESysML language. Additionally a model development process is offered to guide user appropriation of the provided framework for model building

Evaluating the usability and usefulness of a digital library

Purpose - System usability and system usefulness are interdependent properties of system interaction, which in combination, determine system satisfaction and usage. Often approached separately, or in the case of digital libraries, often focused upon usability, there is emerging consensus among the research community for their unified treatment and research attention. However, a key challenge is to identify, both respectively and relatively, what to measure and how, compounded by concerns regarding common understanding of usability measures, and associated calls for more valid and complete measures within integrated and comprehensive models. The purpose of this paper is to address this challenge. Design/methodology/approach - Identified key usability and usefulness attributes and associated measures, compiled an integrated measurement framework, identified a suitable methodological approach for application of the framework, and conducted a pilot study on an interactive search system developed by a Health Service as part of their e-library service. Findings - Effectiveness, efficiency, aesthetic appearance, terminology, navigation, and learnability are key attributes of system usability; and relevance, reliability, and currency key attributes of system usefulness. There are shared aspects to several of these attributes, but each is also sufficiently unique to preserve its respective validity. They can be combined as part of a multi-method approach to system evaluation. Research limitations/implications - Pilot study has demonstrated that usability and usefulness can be readily combined, and that questionnaire and observation are valid multi-method approaches, but further research is called for under a variety of conditions, with further combinations of methods, and larger samples. Originality/value - This paper provides an integrated measurement framework, derived from the goal, question, metric paradigm, which provides a relatively comprehensive and representative set of system usability and system usefulness attributes and associated measures, which could be adapted and further refined on a case-by-case basis

AN INDUCTIVE METHOD FOR DISCOVERING DESIGN PATTERNS FROM OBJECT-ORIENTED SOFTWARE SYSTEMS

Object-Oriented Design Patterns (OODPs) have been proposed as a technique to encapsulate design experience and aid in design reuse. However, so far, there is very little empirical evidence about what we can expect from this emergent technology. For instance, to date little research has focused on the development of techniques for discovering workable patterns that can be captured, formalized, packaged, and quantitatively evaluated. Our work is a step in this direction. In this paper we present an inductive method aimed at helping us discover OODPs in existing OO software systems. It encompasses a set of procedures rigorously defined in order to be repeatable and usable by practitioners who are not acquainted with reverse architecting processes. Guidelines are provided and a case study is shown that demonstrates the usefulness of the approach. (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-96-10

Losing control:the case for emergent software systems using autonomous assembly, perception and learning

Architectural self-organisation, in which different configurations of software modules are dynamically assembled based on the current context, has been shown to be an effective way for software to self-optimise over time. Current approaches to this rely heavily on human-led definitions: models, policies and processes to control how self-organisation works. We present the case for a paradigm shift to fully emergent computer software which places the burden of understanding entirely into the hands of software itself. These systems are autonomously assembled at runtime from discovered constituent parts and their internal health and external deployment environment continually monitored. An online, unsupervised learning system then uses runtime adaptation to explore alternative system assemblies and locate optimal solutions. Based on our experience to date, we define the problem space of emergent software, and we present a working case study of an emergent web server. Our results demonstrate two aspects of the problem space for this case study: that different assemblies of behaviour are optimal in different deployment environment conditions; and that these assemblies can be autonomously learned from generalised perception data while the system is online

A Case For Designing Information Architecture Around Business Goals & Strategies

Enterprises that have a presence on the web can approach the user in a variety of ways.  However, beyond a flashy splash page, a site needs to provide the e-commerce user with an experience that is meaningful and successful with regard to completing the user’s intended mission. At the same time, a site needs to fulfill the business requirements of the company by providing a profitable center for transacting business. To illustrate the correlation between what the user sees and the structure that propels that vision forward, Morville’s iceberg analogy parallels real life in suggesting that the tip is the part that people tend to deal with (Morville 2002); the user interface and the graphics with which it is comprised. Largely ignored is the support below the surface that is the immense skeletal structure of the beast; the Information Architecture and wireframes that will support the branding and web positioning.  This structure, which when done successfully, is invisible to the user and ultimately plays an important role in providing the road map to each of the participant’s end needs

Enabling Analytics in the Cloud for Earth Science Data

The purpose of this workshop was to hold interactive discussions where providers, users, and other stakeholders could explore the convergence of three main elements in the rapidly developing world of technology: Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Analytics, [for earth science data]

Creating architecture for a digital information system leveraging virtual environments

Abstract. The topic of the thesis was the creation of a proof of concept digital information system, which utilizes virtual environments. The focus was finding a working design, which can then be expanded upon. The research was conducted using design science research, by creating the information system as the artifact. The research was conducted for Nokia Networks in Oulu, Finland; in this document referred to as “the target organization”. An information system is a collection of distributed computing components, which come together to create value for an organization. Information system architecture is generally derived from enterprise architecture, and consists of a data-, technical- and application architectures. Data architecture outlines the data that the system uses, and the policies related to its usage, manipulation and storage. Technical architecture relates to various technological areas, such as networking and protocols, as well as any environmental factors. The application architecture consists of deconstructing the applications that are used in the operations of the information system. Virtual reality is an experience, where the concepts of presence, autonomy and interaction come together to create an immersive alternative to a regular display-based computer environment. The most typical form of virtual reality consists of a headmounted device, controllers and movement-tracking base stations. The user’s head- and body movement can be tracked, which changes their position in the virtual environment. The proof-of-concept information system architecture used a multi-server -based solution, where one central physical server hosted multiple virtual servers. The system consisted of a website, which was the knowledge-center and where a client software could be downloaded. The client software was the authorization portal, which determined the virtual environments that were available to the user. The virtual reality application included functionalities, which enable co-operative, virtualized use of various Nokia products, in immersive environments. The system was tested in working situations, such as during exhibitions with customers. The proof-of-concept system fulfilled many of the functional requirements set for it, allowing for co-operation in the virtual reality. Additionally, a rudimentary model for access control was available in the designed system. The shortcomings of the system were related to areas such as security and scaling, which can be further developed by introducing a cloud-hosted environment to the architecture

An Empirical Methodology for Engineering Human Systems Integration

The systems engineering technical processes are not sufficiently supported by methods and tools that quantitatively integrate human considerations into early system design. Because of this, engineers must often rely on qualitative judgments or delay critical decisions until late in the system lifecycle. Studies reveal that this is likely to result in cost, schedule, and performance consequences. This dissertation presents a methodology to improve the application of systems engineering technical processes for design. This methodology is mathematically rigorous, is grounded in relevant theory, and applies extant human subjects data to critical systems development challenges. The methodology is expressed in four methods that support early systems engineering activities: a requirements elicitation method, a function allocation method, an input device design method, and a display layout design method. These form a coherent approach to early system development. Each method is separately discussed and demonstrated using a prototypical system development program. In total, this original and significant work has a broad range of systems engineer applicability to improve the engineering of human systems integration

A Model-Based System Engineering Approach to Support System Architecting Activities in Early Aircraft Design

The aviation industry aims to reduce its environmental footprint and meet ambitious environmental targets, prompting the exploration of novel aircraft concepts and systems, such as hybrid-electric or distributed propulsion. These emerging technologies introduce complexity to aircraft system architectures, requiring innovative approaches to design, optimization, and safety assessment, particularly for system architecting. Several aspects of system architecting specification and evaluation are typically performed separately, using different people and a mix of manual and model-based processes. Connecting these activities has the potential to make the design process more efficient and effective. This thesis explores how a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) specification environment can be structured and enriched to enable a better bridge to Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimization (MDAO) and Model-Based Safety Assessment (MBSA) activities. The proposed MBSE approach focuses on enhancing system specifications, particularly for unconventional system architectures, which typically feature greater variability in early design stages. Using the ARCADIA/Capella MBSE environment, a multi-level approach is proposed to structure the system architecture specification and the Property Value Management Tool (PVMT) add-on is used to facilitate the bridge to other system architecting activities. In addition, a catalogue of modeling artifacts is established to facilitate the development of various hybrid-electric system configurations. The MDAO link mechanism is demonstrated with an example from the collaborative AGILE4.0 project. Two test cases demonstrate the implementation of the approach: a hybrid-electric propulsion system and associated sub-systems for the overall approach and the landing gear braking system for the model-based Functional Hazard Analysis (FHA), as an example of an MBSA activity. Overall, this thesis helps improve the integration and collaboration between engineers working on MBSE, MDAO, and MBSA. This better integration will help to reduce the development time and risk. Therefore, the presented thesis contributes to a more efficient aircraft development process, enabling the industry to tackle the emerging needs of unconventional aircraft systems and their integration