Malan: a mapping language for the data manipulation

Malan is a MApping LANguage that allows the generation of transformation programs by specifying a schema mapping between a source and target data schema. By working at the schema level, Malan remains independent of any transformation process; it also naturally guarantees the correctness of the transformation target relative to its schema. Moreover, by expressing schemas as UML class diagrams, Malan schema mappings can be written on top of UML modellers. This paper describes the overall approach by focusing on the Malan language itself, and its use within a transformation process

Un tour d'horizon des approches pour la manipulation des données du web

Le passage au web 2.0 a renforcé le principe selon lequel les données doivent être séparées de leurs présentations. En même temps, le nombre des formats de documents XML a largement évolué sur le web. Les bases de données sont également utilisées pour le fonctionnement des sites. Ces constats impliquent la mise en œuvre d’approches et d’outils associés dédiés à la manipulation des données du web. Certaines de ces approches travaillent directement sur les données, tandis que d’autres se basent sur les schémas de ces mêmes données. L’ingénierie dirigée par les modèles (IDM) forme également une approche candidate à la manipulation des données du web. Dans cet article, nous présentons et comparons les différentes techniques majeures de manipulation de données afin de mettre en exergue leurs avantages et leurs inconvénients pour le problème des données du web

Model-based engineering of widgets, user applications and servers compliant with ARINC 661 specification

International audienceThe purpose of ARINC 661 specification [1] is to define interfaces to a Cockpit Display System (CDS) used in any types of aircraft installations. ARINC 661 provides precise information for communication protocol between application (called User Applications) and user interface components (called widgets) as well as precise information about the widgets themselves. However, in ARINC 661, no information is given about the behaviour of these widgets and about the behaviour of an application made up of a set of such widgets. This paper presents the results of the application of a formal description technique to the various elements of ARINC 661 specification within an industrial project. This formal description technique called Interactive Cooperative Objects defines in a precise and non-ambiguous way all the elements of ARINC 661 specification. The application of the formal description techniques is shown on an interactive application called MPIA (Multi Purpose Interactive Application). Within this application, we present how ICO are used for describing interactive widgets, User Applications and User Interface servers (in charge of interaction techniques). The emphasis is put on the model-based management of the feel of the applications allowing rapid prototyping of the external presentation and the interaction techniques. Lastly, we present the CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) tool supporting the formal description technique and its new extensions in order to deal with large scale applications as the ones targeted at by ARINC 661 specification

Emission of photon echoes in a strongly scattering medium

We observe the two- and three-pulse photon echo emission from a scattering powder, obtained by grinding a Pr$^{3+}$:Y$_2$SiO$_5$ rare earth doped single crystal. We show that the collective emission is coherently constructed over several grains. A well defined atomic coherence can therefore be created between randomly placed particles. Observation of photon echo on powders as opposed to bulk materials opens the way to faster material development. More generally, time-domain resonant four-wave mixing offers an attractive approach to investigate coherent propagation in scattering media

Toward the design of a generic model of interoperability for Siec

International audienceFaced with the need to take into account environmental impacts, life cycle analysis (LCA) should emerge as an engine for innovation and eco-design. It is clear that there are many barriers to their deployment. There is thus a need for tools to facilitate their integration in business projects. These LCA tools must be compatible with different existing information systems. In addition, it is also necessary that the coupling of the different data sources helps to make decisions. This article shows the requirements of the company ACV Plus in terms of interoperability and HCI (Human-computer Interaction) in order to make its Siec software easily adaptable to various business sectors. Different peripheral tools have been developed to define data exchange formats and meet specific needs. This research aims to develop a generic bus in order to have easier process maintenance and avoid costly development for each new situation. Two PhD thesis have focused on the HCI aspects and on interoperability aspects. More generally, our project aims to develop a new system with interoperable design and management tools that can help any customer in the definition of its environmental projects and eco-design

Towards Functional Model Transformations with OCL

International audienceSeveral model transformation approaches such as QVT and ATL use OCL as expression language for its model-querying capabilities. However, they need to add specific and incompatible syntactic constructs for pattern matching as well as model element creation and mutation.In this paper, we present an exploratory approach to enable the expression of whole model transformations in OCL. This approach leverages some OCL extensions proposed for inclusion in the upcoming OCL 2.5: pattern matching and shadow objects. It also relies on a specific execution layer to enable traceability and side effects on models.With model transformations as OCL functions, it becomes possible to use a single, standard, well-known, functional, and formalized model querying language to perform tasks traditionally assigned to model transformation languages. Thus, functional techniques such as function composition and higher-order become directly applicable to model transformations

Direct observation of rare-earth-host interactions inEr:Y2SiO5

International audienceWe report the direct observation of Er-Y and Er-Si interactions in Er:Y2SiO5 by spin-echo measurements. Modulations in the spin-echo decay of Er3+ ions are due to magnetic interactions between the rare earth and the host nuclear spins. The closest yttrium ions were found to be out of resonance compared to the yttrium ions farther away from the rare earth. This strong “frozen core” effect around the Er3+ ions suggests that the influence of Y3+ ions on the decoherence processes of erbium is weaker than what can be deduced from the yttrium in the bulk

Hyperfine structure and hyperfine coherent properties of praseodymium in single-crystalline La-2(WO4)(3) by hole-burning and photon-echo techniques

We studied the hyperfine structure and hyperfine coherent properties of the H-3(4)(0)-> D-1(2)(0) transition of Pr3+ ions in a tungstate single crystal La-2(WO4)(3) by hole-burning and photon-echo techniques. This work is motivated by the search of an efficient three level Lambda system in this new compound with which we could build up a quantum memory. By nonconventional hole-burning experiments, the ordering of the hyperfine splittings in the H-3(4)(0) ground state and in the D-1(2)(0) excited state is obtained. The hyperfine splittings are thus ordered: 24.6 and 14.9 MHz for the H-3(4)(0) level and 5.0 and 7.3 MHz for the D-1(2)(0) level. The relative and absolute transition strengths of individual hyperfine transitions are determined by comparing absorption strengths and by measuring the Rabi flopping frequency as the transition is coherently driven. Free induction and Raman echo decays give inhomogeneous and homogeneous hyperfine linewidths of 57 +/- 2 and 1.25 +/- 0.1 kHz, respectively

Long coherence lifetime and electromagnetically induced transparency in a highly-spin-concentrated solid

We have studied a rare-earth-doped crystal, Pr3+:La-2(WO4)(3), which exhibits a high magnetic-moment density. Although the latter favors rare-earth dephasing, a nuclear-spin coherence lifetime of 250 mu s has been observed, as well as electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). This suggests that a broad range of materials could be considered for quantum information applications such as quantum memories for light, where solids are especially attractive. Absorption and dispersion curves are independently in very good agreement with EIT theory. Fano-like profiles have also been observed