Automatic self-configuration of the logical network using distributed software agents

We present a system for dynamic network resource configuration in environments with bandwidth reservation. The proposed system is completely distributed and automates the mechanisms for adapting the logical network to the offered load. The system is able to manage dynamically a logical network such as a virtual path network in ATM or a label switched path network in MPLS or GMPLS. The system design and implementation is based on a multi-agent system (MAS) which make the decisions of when and how to change a logical path. Despite the lack of a centralised global network view, results show that MAS manages the network resources effectively, reducing the connection blocking probability and, therefore, achieving better utilisation of network resources. We also include details of its architecture and implementation

I-SS: integrated supervision systems approach based on interactive components

Process supervision is the activity focused on monitoring the process operation in order to deduce conditions to maintain the normality including when faults are present Depending on the number/distribution/heterogeneity of variables, behaviour situations, sub-processes, etc. from processes, human operators and engineers do not easily manipulate the information. This leads to the necessity of automation of supervision activities. Nevertheless, the difficulty to deal with the information complicates the design and development of software applications. We present an approach called "integrated supervision systems". It proposes multiple supervisors coordination to supervise multiple sub-processes whose interactions permit one to supervise the global process

Interacting software-agents to support a kind of expert supervision systems

Expert supervision systems are software applications specially designed to automate process monitoring. The goal is to reduce the dependency on human operators to assure the correct operation of a process including faulty situations. Construction of this kind of application involves an important task of design and development in order to represent and to manipulate process data and behaviour at different degrees of abstraction for interfacing with data acquisition systems connected to the process. This is an open problem that becomes more complex with the number of variables, parameters and relations to account for the complexity of the process. Multiple specialised modules tuned to solve simpler tasks that operate under a co-ordination provide a solution. A modular architecture based on concepts of software agents, taking advantage of the integration of diverse knowledge-based techniques, is proposed for this purpose. The components (software agents, communication mechanisms and perception/action mechanisms) are based on ICa (Intelligent Control architecture), software middleware supporting the build-up of applications with software agent features

Aplicació de gestió de rutes d'operari i incidències d'instal·lacions sobre PDA amb sincronització remota

Una empresa destinada al sector de la informàtica vol crear un nou producte basat en PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), per tal d’oferir noves prestacions als clients actuals, així com poder ampliar la cartera de clients. El producte està destinat a clients de servei tècnic d’instal·lacions (gas, llum, aigua...), els quals tenen diferents tècnics que, basant-se en una ruta establerta, realitzen tasques de manteniment i reparació de les diferents instal·lacions dels clients. Utilitzant la tecnologia .NET amb l’entorn de desenvolupament Visual Studio 2005 i base de dades SQL Server 2005, s’ha creat una aplicació per a PDA que permeti la informatització de tots els processos de gestió de rutes per part dels tècnics

Embedding objects into Matlab/Simulink for process supervision

This paper introduces how artificial intelligence technologies can be integrated into a known computer aided control system design (CACSD) framework, Matlab/Simulink, using an object oriented approach. The aim is to build a framework to aid supervisory systems analysis, design and implementation. The idea is to take advantage of an existing CACSD framework, Matlab/Simulink, so that engineers can proceed: first to design a control system, and then to design a straightforward supervisory system of the control system in the same framework. Thus, expert systems and qualitative reasoning tools are incorporated into this popular CACSD framework to develop a computer aided supervisory system design (CASSD) framework. Object-variables an introduced into Matlab/Simulink for sharing information between tools

De-hyping transmit diversity in modern MIMO cellular systems

A contemporary perspective on the tradeoff between transmit antenna diversity and spatial multi-plexing is provided. It is argued that, in the context of modern cellular systems and for the operating points of interest, transmission techniques that utilize all available spatial degrees of freedom for multiplexingoutperform techniques that explicitly sacrifice spatialmultiplexing for diversity. Reaching this conclusion, however, requires that the channel and some key system features be adequately modeled; failure to do so may bring about starkly different conclusions. As a specific example, this contrast is illustrated using the 3GPP Long-Term Evolution system design.

Diseño de libros para dispositivos de tinta electrónica

Las tecnologías multiplataforma y multicanal permiten la movilidad de la información, cosa que tiene una incidencia directa sobre la evolución del libro electrónico. El cambio viene dado por la aparición de una nueva generación de dispositivos de tinta electrónica, así como por los propios modelos de gestión de la información. En el presente trabajo se revisa el concepto de libro electrónico y se presentan las características básicas de los dispositivos que se pueden encontrar en el mercado, para a continuación exponer los elementos necesarios para la ejecución de proyectos de producción de obras para dispositivos de tinta electrónica.

How to redesign a virtual library website: a case study

This abstract presents how we redesigned, with user-centred design methods, the way we organize and present the content on the UOC Virtual Library website. The content is now offered in a way that is more intuitive, usable and easy to understand, based on criteria of customization, transparency and proximity.The techniques used to achieve these objectives included benchmarking, interviews and focus groups during the user requirement capture phase and user tests to assess the process and results.

Hybrid turbo FEC/ARQ systems and distributed space-time coding for cooperative transmission

Cooperative transmission can be seen as a "virtual" MIMO system, where themultiple transmit antennas are in fact implemented distributed by the antennas both at the source and the relay terminal. Depending on the system design, diversity/multiplexing gainsare achievable. This design involves the definition of the type of retransmission (incrementalredundancy, repetition coding), the design of the distributed space-time codes, the errorcorrecting scheme, the operation of the relay (decode&forward or amplify&forward) and thenumber of antennas at each terminal. Proposed schemes are evaluated in different conditionsin combination with forward error correcting codes (FEC), both for linear and near-optimum(sphere decoder) receivers, for its possible implementation in downlink high speed packetservices of cellular networks. Results show the benefits of coded cooperation over directtransmission in terms of increased throughput. It is shown that multiplexing gains areobserved even if the mobile station features a single antenna, provided that cell wide reuse of the relay radio resource is possible.

How to redesign a virtual library website: a case study

This abstract presents how we redesigned, with user-centred design methods, the way we organize and present the content on the UOC Virtual Library website. The content is now offered in a way that is more intuitive, usable and easy to understand, based on criteria of customization, transparency and proximity.The techniques used to achieve these objectives included benchmarking, interviews and focus groups during the user requirement capture phase and user tests to assess the process and results.

El nou web de la Biblioteca Virtual de la UOC: Jornada Tècnica

Presentació del projecte de disseny i desenvolupament del nou web de la Biblioteca Virtual, a la Jornada Tècnica de UOC.

How to redesign a virtual library website: a case study

This abstract presents how we redesigned, with user-centred design methods, the way we organize and present the content on the UOC Virtual Library website. The content is now offered in a way that is more intuitive, usable and easy to understand, based on criteria of customization, transparency and proximity.The techniques used to achieve these objectives included benchmarking, interviews and focus groups during the user requirement capture phase and user tests to assess the process and results.

Effect of dripline flushing on subsurface drip irrigation systems

The velocity of dripline flushing in subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems affects system design, cost, management, performance, and longevity. A 30‐day field study was conducted at Kansas State University to analyze the effect of four targeted flushing velocities (0.23, 0.30, 0.46, and 0.61 m/s) for a fixed 15 min duration of flushing and three flushing frequencies (no flushing or flushing every 15 or 30 days) on SDI emitter discharge and sediments within the dripline and removed in the flushing water. At the end of the field experiment (371 h), the amount of solids carried away by the flushing water and retained in every lateral were determined as well as laboratory determination of emitter discharge for every single emitter within each dripline. Greater dripline flushing velocities, which also resulted in greater flushing volumes, tended to result in greater amounts of solids in the flushing water, but the differences were not always statistically significant. Neither the frequency of flushing nor the interaction of flushing frequency and velocity significantly affected the amount of solids in the flushing water. There was a greater concentration of solids in the beginning one‐third of the 90 m laterals, particularly for treatments with no flushing or with slower dripline flushing velocities. As flushing velocity and concurrently flushing volume increased, there was a tendency for greater solids removal and/or more equal distribution within the dripline. At the end of the field study, the average emitter discharge as measured in the laboratory for a total of 3970 emitters was 0.64 L/h. which was significantly less (approximately 2.5%) than the discharge for new and unused emitters. Only six emitters were nearly or fully clogged, with discharges between 0% and 5% of new and unused emitters. Flushing velocity and flushing frequency did not have consistent significant effects on emitter discharge, and those numerical differences that did exist were small (<3%). Emitter discharge was approximately 3% less for the distal ends of the driplines (last 20% of the dripline). Although not a specific factor in the study, the results of solids removals during flushing and solids retention within the different dripline sections suggest that duration of flushing may be a more cost‐effective management option than increasing the dripline flushing velocity through SDI system design. Finally, although microirrigation system components have been improved over the years, the need for flushing to remove solids and reduce clogging potential has not been eliminated

Avaluació de webs acadèmiques científiques

En aquest TFC s'intenta mostrar la necessitat d'implementar la usabilitat per a la millora de les webs, sobretot de les orientades als serveis, com ara una web educativa.

Usabilitat i disseny centrat en l'usuari : Pàgina web i intranet per serveis de manteniment d'equips mèdics

L'objectiu d'aquest projecte és millorar la situació actual del servei tècnic de reparació i manteniment d'equipament mèdic de l'Hospital Verge de la Cinta i dels centres d'atenció primària de Tortosa i crear unes interfícies clares, ordenades, fàcils i intuïtives per als usuaris, ja siguin els clients o els propis empleats, i que serviran de pont de comunicació amb el servidor central de l'organització on estarà tota la seva informació. Per crear les interfícies s'utilitzarà la metodologia del disseny centrat en l'usuari (DCU) i, a través d'un prototip, s'avaluaran les tasques que han de realitzar els usuaris (clients i empleats).