gcs-ma: a group communication system for mobile agents

Reliable messaging is a key component necessary for mobile agent systems. Current researches focus on reliable one-to-one message delivery to mobile agents. But how to implement a group communication system for mobile agents remains an open issue, which is a powerful block that facilitates the development of fault-tolerant mobile agent systems. In this paper, we propose a group communication system for mobile agents (GCS-MA), which includes totally ordered multicast and membership management functions. We divide a group of mobile agents into several agent clusters,and each agent cluster consists of all mobile agents residing in the same sub-network and is managed by a special module, named coordinator. Then, all coordinators form a ring-based overlay for interchanging messages between clusters. We present a token-based algorithm, an intra-cluster messaging algorithm and an inter-cluster migration algorithm to achieve atomicity and total ordering properties of multicast messages, by building a membership protocol on top of the clustering and failure detection mechanisms. Performance issues of the proposed system have been analysed through simulations. We also describe the application of the proposed system in the context of the service cooperation middleware (SCM) project.

Web应用服务器的适应性失效检测

失效检测是分布式系统的基本可靠性保障技术，它对运行时系统的存活状态进行及时检测．作为网络分布计算环境中的主流中间件，Web应用服务器（Web application server简称WAS）需要提供良好的检测机制，并且要能满足适应性的需求．适应性失效检测要求失效检测器能够根据应用需求和系统环境的变化而动态地改变检测的质量．首先给出了WAS的多层失效检测模型，然后基于失效检测器的服务质量规约，提出了适应性失效检测算法，并设计了一个WAS的适应性失效检测框架．它能够满足动态调整失效检测质量和灵活集成失效检测器的要求．该工作在OnceAS应用服务器中进行了实现，并给出了OnceAS平台上的实验及数据．

具有随机机器故障的制造过程建模与性能分析

为研究机器故障和维修活动对制造过程性能的影响,提出一种基于广义随机Petri网的制造过程建模与性能分析方法。分析了随机机器故障特征;定义了两种故障发现模式和两种中断作业处理策略;给出具有随机机器故障的制造过程的不同模型方法;通过对模型结构特征的分析,证明了其有效性。针对不同策略和参数设置进行了性能仿真。分别以平均产量和平均过程流时间等性能指标,分析了单个工作站的性能;采用平均产量,分析了具有两个工作站的流水线的性能。仿真结果表明,故障率、平均维修时间、缓存数量配置、维修工人数量、故障发现模式和中断作业处理策略是影响具有随机机器故障的制造过程性能的主要因素。

基于时间Petri网的制造过程模型研究

分析了时间Petri网的激发规则、托肯可用时间和抑制弧等特性,以及制造过程中随机故障的特征。提出不同的时间关联方式对应的多种建模方法,考虑不同的故障发现模式、不同的作业处理策略,建立相应的单机制造过程模型。在此基础上采用模块化和层次化方法可以构建复杂制造过程的时间着色Petri网模型,并可以转换成仿真模型,进一步分析随机机器故障对制造过程性能的影响。

Fabrication of integrated microelectrodes for electrochemical detection on electrophoresis microchip by electroless deposition and micromolding in capillary technique

A new method for the fabrication of an integrated microelectrode for electrochemical detection (ECD) on an electrophoresis microchip is described. The pattern of the microelectrode was directly made on the surface of a microscope slide through an electroless deposition procedure. The surface of the slide was first selectively coated with a thin layer of sodium silicate through a micromolding in capillary technique provided by a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannel; this left a rough patterned area for the anchoring of catalytic particles. A metal layer was deposited on the pattern guided by these catalytic particles and was used as the working electrode. Factors influencing the fabrication procedure were discussed. The whole chip was built by reversibly sealing the slide to another PDMS layer with electrophoresis microchannels at room temperature. This approach eliminates the need of clean room facilities and expensive apparatus such as for vacuum deposition or sputtering and makes it possible to produce patterned electrodes suitable for ECD on microchip under ordinary chemistry laboratory conditions. Also once the micropattern is ready, it allows the researchers to rebuild the electrode in a short period of time when an electrode failure occurs. Copper and gold microelectrodes were fabricated by this technique. Glucose, dopamine, and catechol as model analytes were tested.