An Autonomic Framework for Mobile Cloud Computing

This thesis presents the formal definition of a novel Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) extension of the Networked Autonomic Machine (NAM) framework, a general-purpose conceptual tool which describes large-scale distributed autonomic systems. The introduction of autonomic policies in the MCC paradigm has proved to be an effective technique to increase the robustness and flexibility of MCC systems. In particular, autonomic policies based on continuous resource and connectivity monitoring help automate context-aware decisions for computation offloading. We have also provided NAM with a formalization in terms of a transformational operational semantics in order to fill the gap between its existing Java implementation NAM4J and its conceptual definition. Moreover, we have extended NAM4J by adding several components with the purpose of managing large scale autonomic distributed environments. In particular, the middleware allows for the implementation of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks of NAM nodes. Moreover, NAM mobility actions have been implemented to enable the migration of code, execution state and data. Within NAM4J, we have designed and developed a component, denoted as context bus, which is particularly useful in collaborative applications in that, if replicated on each peer, it instantiates a virtual shared channel allowing nodes to notify and get notified about context events. Regarding the autonomic policies management, we have provided NAM4J with a rule engine, whose purpose is to allow a system to autonomously determine when offloading is convenient. We have also provided NAM4J with trust and reputation management mechanisms to make the middleware suitable for applications in which such aspects are of great interest. To this purpose, we have designed and implemented a distributed framework, denoted as DARTSense, where no central server is required, as reputation values are stored and updated by participants in a subjective fashion. We have also investigated the literature regarding MCC systems. The analysis pointed out that all MCC models focus on mobile devices, and consider the Cloud as a system with unlimited resources. To contribute in filling this gap, we defined a modeling and simulation framework for the design and analysis of MCC systems, encompassing both their sides. We have also implemented a modular and reusable simulator of the model. We have applied the NAM principles to two different application scenarios. First, we have defined a hybrid P2P/cloud approach where components and protocols are autonomically configured according to specific target goals, such as cost-effectiveness, reliability and availability. Merging P2P and cloud paradigms brings together the advantages of both: high availability, provided by the Cloud presence, and low cost, by exploiting inexpensive peers resources. As an example, we have shown how the proposed approach can be used to design NAM-based collaborative storage systems based on an autonomic policy to decide how to distribute data chunks among peers and Cloud, according to cost minimization and data availability goals. As a second application, we have defined an autonomic architecture for decentralized urban participatory sensing (UPS) which bridges sensor networks and mobile systems to improve effectiveness and efficiency. The developed application allows users to retrieve and publish different types of sensed information by using the features provided by NAM4J's context bus. Trust and reputation is managed through the application of DARTSense mechanisms. Also, the application includes an autonomic policy that detects areas characterized by few contributors, and tries to recruit new providers by migrating code necessary to sensing, through NAM mobility actions.

Cloud Stratus: uma plataforma de middleware para desenvolvimento de aplicações em nuvem

Cloud Computing is a paradigm that enables the access, in a simple and pervasive way, through the network, to shared and configurable computing resources. Such resources can be offered on demand to users in a pay-per-use model. With the advance of this paradigm, a single service offered by a cloud platform might not be enough to meet all the requirements of clients. Ergo, it is needed to compose services provided by different cloud platforms. However, current cloud platforms are not implemented using common standards, each one has its own APIs and development tools, which is a barrier for composing different services. In this context, the Cloud Integrator, a service-oriented middleware platform, provides an environment to facilitate the development and execution of multi-cloud applications. The applications are compositions of services, from different cloud platforms and, represented by abstract workflows. However, Cloud Integrator has some limitations, such as: (i) applications are locally executed; (ii) users cannot specify the application in terms of its inputs and outputs, and; (iii) experienced users cannot directly determine the concrete Web services that will perform the workflow. In order to deal with such limitations, this work proposes Cloud Stratus, a middleware platform that extends Cloud Integrator and offers different ways to specify an application: as an abstract workflow or a complete/partial execution flow. The platform enables the application deployment in cloud virtual machines, so that several users can access it through the Internet. It also supports the access and management of virtual machines in different cloud platforms and provides services monitoring mechanisms and assessment of QoS parameters. Cloud Stratus was validated through a case study that consists of an application that uses different services provided by different cloud platforms. Cloud Stratus was also evaluated through computing experiments that analyze the performance of its processes.

Definizione e validazione di uno strumento per la misurazione dell'impatto delle variabili redazionali di un item matematico sulla performance degli studenti

Questa tesi descrive la ricerca condotta tra l'autunno e l'inverno di quest'anno da un gruppo di ricercatori in didattica della matematica relativamente all'influenza che le variazioni redazionali di un quesito matematico hanno sulle performance degli studenti. Lo scopo della ricerca è quella di strutturare e validare una metodologia e uno strumento che permettano di individuare e quantificare l'influenza delle variazioni del testo sulle prestazioni dello studente. Si è sentita l'esigenza di condurre uno studio di questo tipo poichè è sempre più evidente il profondo legame tra il linguaggio e l'apprendimento della matematica. La messa a punto di questo strumento aprirebbe le porte a una serie di ricerche più approfondite sulle varie tipologie di variazioni numeriche e/o linguistiche finora individuate. Nel primo capitolo è presentato il quadro teorico di riferimento relativo agli studi condotti fino ad ora nell'ambito della didattica della matematica, dai quali emerge la grossa influenza che la componente linguistica ha sulla comprensione e la trasmissione della matematica. Si farà quindi riferimento alle ricerche passate volte all'individuazione e alla schematizzazione delle variazioni redazionali dei Word Problems. Nel secondo capitolo, invece si passerà alla descrizione teorica relativa allo strumento statistico utilizzato. Si tratta del modello di Rasch appartenente alla famiglia dei modelli statistici dell'Item Response Theory, particolarmente utilizzato nella ricerca in didattica. Il terzo capitolo sarà dedicato alla descrizione dettagliata della sperimentazione svolta. Il quarto capitolo sarà il cuore di questa tesi; in esso infatti verrà descritta e validata la nuova metodologia utilizzata. Nel quinto sarà eseguita un analisi puntuale di come lo strumento ha messo in evidenza le differenze per ogni item variato. Infine verranno tratte le conclusioni complessive dello studio condotto.