Evan H. Magill

Bio: Evan H. Magill is an academic researcher from University of Stirling. The author has contributed to research in topics: Service (business) & Feature (computer vision). The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 56 publications receiving 1313 citations. Previous affiliations of Evan H. Magill include University of Strathclyde & University of Nottingham.

Feature Interactions in Telecommunications and Software Systems VI

Abstract: From the Publisher: Typically, telecommunications services are implemented in software. Feature Interaction is the term used to describe interference between services or features; most attention is given to cases where the interference is undesirable, i.e. there is an incompatibility. In telecommunications, control and data is distributed and of such a large scale that software development is by numerous disjoint teams; by its nature, therefore, this software experienced the feature interaction problem first. But, while the workshop focuses on communications services, the subject has relevance to any domain where separate software entities control a shared resource. An important aspect of this and past workshops is the mix of experts in the area. A synergy is obtained by mixing academics and industrialists, vendors and operators, engineers and computer scientists, practitioners with theorists. At Glasgow, the workshop tradition is maintained, so in addition to fully refereed papers, time is also devoted to invited speakers, discussion sessions, and posters. The afternoon discussion sessions and the posters have key roles. Both allow a degree of exchange that presentations cannot permit: the posters on a one-on-one basis, the discussion sessions on a broader platform. Of course the presentations are an important framework for the workshop by introducing novel ideas and reporting on experiences. In addition, three well-known workers within the field are invited to give their perspective on the problem. What better way to test out the offered approaches than by having a contest? This sixth workshop maintains the contest started at the last workshop in Sweden. Groups enter the contest during the months preceding the workshop, but the winner is kept secret and only announced during the workshop. We are entering an exciting new phase for feature interaction. New generation networks are offering huge opportunities for growth and change. For example, a momentum built upon CORBA and DCOM is accelerating as consortia such PARLAY and JAIN offer open public standards. No longer do we have isolated features and services unaware of each other controlling shared resources; the signalling limitations of POTS and IN are giving way to a regime where services may communicate directly and negotiate. Balancing this new paradigm will be the increased possibilities of interaction: simply consider an accelerating number of features and services across an increasingly disparate range of networks, within an increasingly deregulated market. Consequently, enormous, new possibilities for feature interaction detection, resolution, and of course avoidance will be revealed; never has feature interaction research been so necessary.

Compatibility issues between services supporting networked appliances

Abstract: In the near future general household appliances, such as televisions, refrigerators, alarm clocks, stoves, and even lights, will be supplemented with a network interface connecting them to the Internet. Homes are being equipped with such networked appliances to allow a more convenient way of living. Such extensive automatic control of appliances leads to the concept of the smart home. Behind such automation, there is a lot of software controlling the appliances. This software, often referred to as services, applications, or bundles, is supplied by a range of service provider businesses. Hence, in a single home, appliances may be controlled by a multitude of services offered by a wide variety of different providers. Moreover, some services may require the use of other services. Importantly, these businesses are completely independent and may not even be aware of one another or their products. Hence, appliances may be controlled by more than one service, and indeed these controlling services are often trying to achieve different goals. This causes compatibility issues that need to be resolved for networked appliances to be successful in the mass market. This problem is well known in telephony and historically is referred to as the feature interaction problem. This article discusses the issue of compatibility between services in a home environment. Reasons why and how services interact are discussed, and a taxonomy of interactions is presented. Finally, an approach is presented that prevents interactions. The approach presented uses accepted and known device and protocol interworking techniques. Throughout the article a number of example scenarios are used to illustrate the issues. However, the emphasis of the article is not only to present sample services for controlling home appliances or identify specific interactions between such services, but to find a general solution to the feature interaction problem that can automatically detect interactions between services in the home.

Services and Policies for Care At Home

Abstract: It is argued that various factors including the increasingly ageing population will require more care services to be delivered to users in their own homes. Desirable characteristics of such services are outlined. The Open Services Gateway initiative has been adopted as a widely accepted framework that is particularly suitable for developing home care services. Service discovery in this context is enhanced through ontologies that achieve greater flexibility and precision in service description. A service ontology stack allows common concepts to be extended for new services. The architecture of a policy system for home care is explained. This is used for flexible creation and control of new services. The core policy language and its extension for home care are introduced, and illustrated through typical examples. Future extensions of the approach are discussed.

此处“personality”译法探析

Abstract: 在翟象俊主编的《大学英语》第2册第5单元中，有这样一个句子：“As a boy and then as an adult, I never lost my wonder at the personality that was Einstein.”教参中指出“the personality that was Einstein”应理解为“the personality which was the most striking characteristic of Einstein”，该句译为“作为一个孩子，到后来作为一个成人，我一直对爱因斯坦的个性惊叹不已”。很明显，在这里译者把“personality”理解为“个性，人格”，但本人认为应译为“人物，名人”更妥。“personality”可作“个性，人格”讲，但它还有另外一个重要意思。在陆谷孙主编的《英汉大词典》（1993年版）中，“personality”第3条释义为：“个人，人物，名人”：“appoint a personality to lead a campaign，派一个人去领导一场运动”。“a personality in the news，新闻人物”。在...

Feature-Oriented Software Product Lines

Abstract: Inevitably, reading is one of the requirements to be undergone. To improve the performance and quality, someone needs to have something new every day. It will suggest you to have more inspirations, then. However, the needs of inspirations will make you searching for some sources. Even from the other people experience, internet, and many books. Books and internet are the recommended media to help you improving your quality and performance.

A Classification and Survey of Analysis Strategies for Software Product Lines

Abstract: Software-product-line engineering has gained considerable momentum in recent years, both in industry and in academia. A software product line is a family of software products that share a common set of features. Software product lines challenge traditional analysis techniques, such as type checking, model checking, and theorem proving, in their quest of ensuring correctness and reliability of software. Simply creating and analyzing all products of a product line is usually not feasible, due to the potentially exponential number of valid feature combinations. Recently, researchers began to develop analysis techniques that take the distinguishing properties of software product lines into account, for example, by checking feature-related code in isolation or by exploiting variability information during analysis. The emerging field of product-line analyses is both broad and diverse, so it is difficult for researchers and practitioners to understand their similarities and differences. We propose a classification of product-line analyses to enable systematic research and application. Based on our insights with classifying and comparing a corpus of 123 research articles, we develop a research agenda to guide future research on product-line analyses.

An Overview of Feature-Oriented Software Development.

Abstract: Feature-oriented software development (FOSD) is a paradigm for the construction, customization, and synthesis of large-scale software systems. In this survey, we give an overview and a personal perspective on the roots of FOSD, connections to other software development paradigms, and recent developments in this field. Our aim is to point to connections between different lines of research and to identify open issues.