Integrated Management of IaaS Resources

This paper proposes and reports the development of an open source solution for the integrated management of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud computing resources, through the use of a common API taxonomy, to incorporate open source and proprietary platforms. This research included two surveys on open source IaaS platforms (OpenNebula, OpenStack and CloudStack) and a proprietary platform (Parallels Automation for Cloud Infrastructure - PACI) as well as on IaaS abstraction solutions (jClouds, Libcloud and Deltacloud), followed by a thorough comparison to determine the best approach. The adopted implementation reuses the Apache Deltacloud open source abstraction framework, which relies on the development of software driver modules to interface with different IaaS platforms, and involved the development of a new Deltacloud driver for PACI. The resulting interoperable solution successfully incorporates OpenNebula, OpenStack (reuses pre-existing drivers) and PACI (includes the developed Deltacloud PACI driver) nodes and provides a Web dashboard and a Representational State Transfer (REST) interface library. The results of the exchanged data payload and time response tests performed are presented and discussed. The conclusions show that open source abstraction tools like Deltacloud allow the modular and integrated management of IaaS platforms (open source and proprietary), introduce relevant time and negligible data overheads and, as a result, can be adopted by Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) cloud providers to circumvent the vendor lock-in problem whenever service response time is not critical.

A survey of e-learning content aggregation standards

As e-learning gradually evolved many specialized and disparate systems appeared to fulfil the needs of teachers and students, such as repositories of learning objects, authoring tools, intelligent tutors and automatic evaluators. This heterogeneity raises interoperability issues giving the standardization of content an important role in e-learning. This article presents a survey on current e-learning content aggregation standards focusing on their internal organization and packaging. This study is part of an effort to choose the most suitable specifications and standards for an e-learning framework called Ensemble defined as a conceptual tool to organize a network of e-learning systems and services for domains with complex evaluation.

Multiple Roots of Systems of Equations by Repulsion Merit Functions

In this paper we address the problem of computing multiple roots of a system of nonlinear equations through the global optimization of an appropriate merit function. The search procedure for a global minimizer of the merit function is carried out by a metaheuristic, known as harmony search, which does not require any derivative information. The multiple roots of the system are sequentially determined along several iterations of a single run, where the merit function is accordingly modified by penalty terms that aim to create repulsion areas around previously computed minimizers. A repulsion algorithm based on a multiplicative kind penalty function is proposed. Preliminary numerical experiments with a benchmark set of problems show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Step count algorithm adapted to indoor localization

This paper presents a step count algorithm designed to work in real-time using low computational power. This proposal is our first step for the development of an indoor navigation system, based on Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR). We present two approaches to solve this problem and compare them based in their error on step counting, as well as, the capability of their use in a real time system.

Criador autom��tico de aplica����es nativas Android e iOS

Nos ��ltimos anos tem-se verificado um acentuado aumento na utiliza����o de dispositivos moveis a n��vel internacional, pelo que as aplica����es desenvolvidas para este tipo espec��fico de dispositivos, conhecidas por apps, tem vindo a ganhar uma enorme popularidade. S��o cada vez mais as empresas que procuram estar presentes nos mais diversos sistemas operativos m��veis, com o objectivo de suportar e desenvolver o seu neg��cio, alargando o seu leque de poss��veis consumidores. Neste sentido surgiram diversas ferramentas com a fun����o de facilitar o desenvolvimento de aplica����es m��veis, denominadas frameworks multi-plataforma. Estas frameworks conduziram ao aparecimento de plataformas web, que permitem criar aplica����es multi-plataforma sem ser obrigat��rio ter conhecimentos em programa����o. Assim, e a partir da an��lise de v��rios criadores online de aplica����es m��veis identificados e das diferentes estrat��gias de desenvolvimento de aplica����es m��veis existentes, foi proposta a implementa����o de uma plataforma web capaz de criar aplica����es nativas Android e iOS, dois dos sistemas operativos mais utilizados na actualidade. Apos desenvolvida a plataforma web, designada MobileAppBuilder, foi avaliada a sua Qualidade e as aplica����es criadas pela mesma, atrav��s do preenchimento de um question��rio por parte de 10 indiv��duos com forma����o em Engenharia Inform��tica, resultando numa classifica����o geral de ���excelente���. De modo a analisar o desempenho das aplica����es produzidas pela plataforma desenvolvida, foram realizados testes comparativos entre uma aplica����o da MobileAppBuilder e duas homologas de dois dos criadores online estudados, nomeadamente Andromo e Como. Os resultados destes testes revelaram que a MobileAppBuilder gera aplica����es menos pesadas, mais r��pidas e mais eficientes em alguns aspetos, nomeadamente no arranque.

Demonstration of the Multi-Agent Simulator of Competitive Electricity Markets

Electricity markets are complex environments with very particular characteristics. A critical issue concerns the constant changes they are subject to. This is a result of the electricity markets��� restructuring, performed so that the competitiveness could be increased, but with exponential implications in the increase of the complexity and unpredictability in those markets��� scope. The constant growth in markets unpredictability resulted in an amplified need for market intervenient entities in foreseeing market behavior. The need for understanding the market mechanisms and how the involved players��� interaction affects the outcomes of the markets, contributed to the growth of usage of simulation tools. Multi-agent based software is particularly well fitted to analyze dynamic and adaptive systems with complex interactions among its constituents, such as electricity markets. This paper presents the Multi-Agent System for Competitive Electricity Markets (MASCEM) ��� a simulator based on multi-agent technology that provides a realistic platform to simulate electricity markets, the numerous negotiation opportunities and the participating entities.

Automatic Electricity Markets Data Extraction for Realistic Multi-agent Simulations

Electricity markets worldwide suffered profound transformations. The privatization of previously nationally owned systems; the deregulation of privately owned systems that were regulated; and the strong interconnection of national systems, are some examples of such transformations [1, 2]. In general, competitive environments, as is the case of electricity markets, require good decision-support tools to assist players in their decisions. Relevant research is being undertaken in this field, namely concerning player modeling and simulation, strategic bidding and decision-support.

Classifica����o de sons card��acos usando Motifs: desenvolvimento de uma aplica����o m��vel

Este documento foi redigido no ��mbito da Tese, do Mestrado em Engenharia Inform��tica na ��rea de Tecnologias do Conhecimento e Decis��o, do Departamento de Engenharia Inform��tica, do ISEP, cujo tema �� classifica����o de sons card��acos usando motifs. Neste trabalho, apresenta-se um algoritmo de classifica����o de sons card��acos, capaz de identificar patologias card��acas. A classifica����o do som card��aco �� um trabalho desafiante dada a dificuldade em separar os sons ambiente (vozes, respira����o, contacto do microfone com superf��cies como pele ou tecidos) ou de ru��do dos batimentos card��acos. Esta abordagem seguiu a metodologia de descoberta de padr��es SAX (motifs) mais frequentes, em s��ries temporais relacionando-os com a ocorr��ncia sist��lica (S1) e a ocorr��ncia diast��lica (S2) do cora����o. A metodologia seguida mostrou-se eficaz a distinguir sons normais de sons correspondentes a patologia. Os resultados foram publicados na confer��ncia internacional IDEAS���14 [Oliveira, 2014], em Julho deste ano. Numa fase seguinte, desenvolveu-se uma aplica����o m��vel, capaz de captar os batimentos card��acos, de os tratar e os classificar. A classifica����o dos sons �� feita usando o m��todo referido no par��grafo anterior. A aplica����o m��vel, depois de tratar os sons, envia-os para um servidor, onde o programa de classifica����o �� executado, e recebe a resposta da classifica����o. �� tamb��m descrita a arquitetura aplicacional desenhada e as componentes que a constituem, as ferramentas e tecnologias utilizadas.

Brokerage Platform for Media Content Recommendation

Near real time media content personalisation is nowadays a major challenge involving media content sources, distributors and viewers. This paper describes an approach to seamless recommendation, negotiation and transaction of personalised media content. It adopts an integrated view of the problem by proposing, on the business-to-business (B2B) side, a brokerage platform to negotiate the media items on behalf of the media content distributors and sources, providing viewers, on the business-to-consumer (B2C) side, with a personalised electronic programme guide (EPG) containing the set of recommended items after negotiation. In this setup, when a viewer connects, the distributor looks up and invites sources to negotiate the contents of the viewer personal EPG. The proposed multi-agent brokerage platform is structured in four layers, modelling the registration, service agreement, partner lookup, invitation as well as item recommendation, negotiation and transaction stages of the B2B processes. The recommendation service is a rule-based switch hybrid filter, including six collaborative and two content-based filters. The rule-based system selects, at runtime, the filter(s) to apply as well as the final set of recommendations to present. The filter selection is based on the data available, ranging from the history of items watched to the ratings and/or tags assigned to the items by the viewer. Additionally, this module implements (i) a novel item stereotype to represent newly arrived items, (ii) a standard user stereotype for new users, (iii) a novel passive user tag cloud stereotype for socially passive users, and (iv) a new content-based filter named the collinearity and proximity similarity (CPS). At the end of the paper, we present off-line results and a case study describing how the recommendation service works. The proposed system provides, to our knowledge, an excellent holistic solution to the problem of recommending multimedia contents.

Characterization of the portuguese SSS into the Europe: a contribution

Nowadays, Short Sea Shipping (SSS) is an essential part in European multi-modal transport system, representing approximately thirty-seven per cent of intra-Community transactions in tonnes per kilometre (tkm). Since 2001, the European Shortsea Network (ESN) in partnership with the short-sea Promotion Centres (SPC) of each Member State of the European Union (EU) have managed to make significant progress in the promotion and development of this mode of transport. This paper aims to assess and analyse the SSS of containerised goods in Portugal and its articulation with other EU routes and also other transport modes. The current SSS infrastructure, how the sector is organized, as well as the future perspectives for the sector are also analysed for the case of Portugal. The analyses are based on a survey that was carried out on the logistics operators, navigation agents, freight forwarders, and the leading imports and exports manufacturers in Portugal.

A Real Time Vision System for Autonomous Systems: Characterization during a Middle Size Match

in RoboCup 2007: Robot Soccer World Cup XI

P-SOCRATES: A parallel software framework for time-critical many-core systems

Article in Press, Corrected Proof

Simulation Environment for Multi-Robot Cooperative 3D Target Perception

4th International Conference, SIMPAR 2014, Bergamo, Italy, October 20-23, 2014

Uncertainty based Multi-Robot Cooperative Triangulation

The paper presents a multi-robot cooperative framework to estimate the 3D position of dynamic targets, based on bearing-only vision measurements. The uncertainty of the observation provided by each robot equipped with a bearing-only vision system is effectively addressed for cooperative triangulation purposes by weighing the contribution of each monocular bearing ray in a probabilistic manner. The envisioned framework is evaluated in an outdoor scenario with a team of heterogeneous robots composed of an Unmanned Ground and Aerial Vehicle.

Estado da Arte da Computa����o Evolutiva Aplicada �� Eletr��nica

A Computa����o Evolutiva enquadra-se na ��rea da Intelig��ncia Artificial e �� um ramo das ci��ncias da computa����o que tem vindo a ser aplicado na resolu����o de problemas em diversas ��reas da Engenharia. Este trabalho apresenta o estado da arte da Computa����o Evolutiva, assim como algumas das suas aplica����es no ramo da eletr��nica, denominada Eletr��nica Evolutiva (ou Hardware Evolutivo), enfatizando a s��ntese de circuitos digitais combinat��rios. Em primeiro lugar apresenta-se a Intelig��ncia Artificial, passando �� Computa����o Evolutiva, nas suas principais vertentes: os Algoritmos Evolutivos baseados no processo da evolu����o das esp��cies de Charles Darwin e a Intelig��ncia dos Enxames baseada no comportamento coletivo de alguns animais. No que diz respeito aos Algoritmos Evolutivos, descrevem-se as estrat��gias evolutivas, a programa����o gen��tica, a programa����o evolutiva e com maior ��nfase, os Algoritmos Gen��ticos. Em rela����o �� Intelig��ncia dos Enxames, descreve-se a otimiza����o por col��nia de formigas e a otimiza����o por enxame de part��culas. Em simult��neo realizou-se tamb��m um estudo da Eletr��nica Evolutiva, explicando sucintamente algumas das ��reas de aplica����o, entre elas: a rob��tica, as FPGA, o roteamento de placas de circuito impresso, a s��ntese de circuitos digitais e anal��gicos, as telecomunica����es e os controladores. A t��tulo de concretizar o estudo efetuado, apresenta-se um caso de estudo da aplica����o dos algoritmos gen��ticos na s��ntese de circuitos digitais combinat��rios, com base na an��lise e compara����o de tr��s refer��ncias de autores distintos. Com este estudo foi poss��vel comparar, n��o s�� os resultados obtidos por cada um dos autores, mas tamb��m a forma como os algoritmos gen��ticos foram implementados, nomeadamente no que diz respeito aos par��metros, operadores gen��ticos utilizados, fun����o de avalia����o, implementa����o em hardware e tipo de codifica����o do circuito.