Showing papers on "Component (UML) published in 1998"

The Grammars of Trust: A Model and General Implications

Abstract: In this article we contend that trust can be conceptualized as four distinct and ordered forms—shallow dependence, shallow interdependence, deep dependence, and deep interdependence—determined by the nature of the interdependence between trusting parties. We argue that both the risks that trusting parties assume and the mechanisms for mitigating those risks emerge as a function of the form of interdependence in the relationship. By reviewing research in which trust is a central component, we illustrate the elements of this model and examine its implications.

Integrating feature modeling with the RSEB

Abstract: We have integrated the feature modeling of Feature-Oriented Domain Analysis (FODA) into the processes and work products of the Reuse-Driven Software Engineering Business (RSEB). The RSEB is a use case driven systematic reuse process: architecture and reusable subsystems are first described by use cases and then transformed into object models that are traceable to these use cases. Variability in the RSEB is captured by structuring use case and object models using explicit variation points and variants. Traditional domain engineering steps have been distributed into the steps of the architectural and component system development methods of the RSEB. But the RSEB prescribes no explicit models of the essential features that characterize the different versions. Building on our experience in applying FODA and RSEB to the telecom domain, we have added explicit domain engineering steps and an explicit feature model to the RSEB to support domain engineering and component reuse. These additions provide an effective reuse oriented model as a 'catalog' capability to link use cases, variation points, reusable components and configured applications.

Apparatus and method for facilitating the implantation of artificial components in joints

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for determining an implant position for at least one artificial component in a joint and facilitating the implantation thereof. The apparatuses and methods include creating a joint model of a patient's joint into which an artificial component is to be implanted and creating a component model of the artificial component. The joint and artificial component models are used to simulate movement in the patient's joint with the artificial component in a test position. The component model and the joint model are used to calculate a range of motion in the joint for at least one test position based on the simulated motion. An implant position, including angular orientation, in the patient's joint is determined based on a predetermined range of motion and the calculated range of motion. In a preferred embodiment, the implant position can be identified in the joint model and the joint model aligned with the joint by registering positional data from discrete points on the joint with the joint model. Such registration also allows for tracking of the joint during surgical procedures. A current preferred application of the invention is for determining the implant position and sizing of an acetabular cup and femoral implant for use in total hip replacement surgery.

Specifying and Analyzing Dynamic Software Architectures

Abstract: A critical issue for complex component-based systems design is the modeling and analysis of architecture. One of the complicating factors in developing architectural models is accounting for systems whose architecture changes dynamically (during run time). This is because dynamic changes to architectural structure may interact in subtle ways with on-going computations of the system. In this paper we argue that it is possible and valuable to provide a modeling approach that accounts for the interactions between architectural reconfiguration and non-reconfiguration system functionality, while maintaining a separation of concerns between these two aspects of a system. The key to the approach is to use a uniform notation and semantic base for both reconfiguration and steady-state behavior, while at the same time providing syntactic separation between the two. As we will show, this permits us to view the architecture in terms of a set of possible architectural snapshots, each with its own steady-state behavior. Transitions between these snapshots are accounted for by special reconfiguration-triggering events.

Decision Procedures for BDI Logics

Abstract: The study of computational agents capable of rational behaviour has received increasing attention in recent years. A number of theoretical formalizations for such multi-agent systems have been proposed. However, most of these formalizations do not have a strong semantic basis nor a sound and complete axiomatization. Hence, it has not been clear as to how these formalizations could assist in building agents in practice. This paper explores a particular type of multi-agent system, in which each agent is viewed as having the three mental attitudes of belief (B), desire (D), and intention (I). It provides a family of multi-modal branching-time BDI logics with a possible-worlds semantics, categorizes them, provides sound and complete axiomatizations, and gives constructive tableau-based decision procedures for testing the satisfiability and validity of formulas. The computational complexity of these decision procedures is no greater than the complexity of their underlying temporal logic component.

Creating and configuring component-based applications using a text-based descriptive attribute grammar

Abstract: A method for creating and configuring a component-based application through text-based descriptive attribute grammar includes creating a parse tree from an application description file, transforming the parse tree into a plurality of components corresponding to instances of classes in an application framework, and initializing and further processing the components to launch the component-based application. Additionally, a system for creating and configuring a component-based application includes a parser, a plurality of element processors, an element mapper, an attribute mapper, and a parameter converter.

Picture archiving and communication system

Abstract: A picture archiving and communication system (“PACS”) includes plural core components arranged in a cluster. These core components include an archive station which includes long-term storage for storing image data, and a reviewing station which includes a display for displaying images based on received image data. Also included is a network gateway which interfaces to a non-core component so as to receive image data therefrom, and which routes the image data to at least one of the archive station and the reviewing station based on a set of rules in the network gateway. Finally, a database server manages access to the image data, and stores information relating to the image data.

Testing component-based software: a cautionary tale

Abstract: Components designed for reuse are expected to lower costs and shorten the development life cycle, but this may not prove so simple. The author emphasizes the need to closely examine a problematic aspect of component reuse: the necessity and potential expense of validating components in their new environments.

SOFA/DCUP: architecture for component trading and dynamic updating

Abstract: In this paper the authors address some of the challenges of the current technologies in the area of component-based programming and automated software downloading. These challenges include: component updating at runtime of affected applications, adopting the "true-push" model in order to allow for silent software modification (e.g., for removing minor implementation errors), and finding a way to integrate these technologies and electronic commerce in software components. To respond to these challenges, the SOFA (SOFtware Appliances) architecture, the SOFA component model and its extension, DCUP (Dynamic Component UPdating), are introduced. SOFA and DCUP provide a small set of well scaling orthogonal abstractions (easily mapped to Java and CORBA) which address three areas: the background for electronic commerce, the component model, and support for dynamic component updating in running applications. The updating granularity can scale anything from minor implementation changes to a major reconfiguration.

Distributed feature composition: a virtual architecture for telecommunications services

Abstract: Distributed Feature Composition (DFC) is a new technology for feature specification and composition, based on a virtual architecture offering benefits analogous to those of a pipe-and-filter architecture. In the DFC architecture, customer calls are processed by dynamically assembled configurations of filter-like components: each component implements an applicable feature, and communicates with its neighbors by featureless internal calls that are connected by the underlying architectural substrate.

Quality of services specification in distributed object systems design

Abstract: Traditional object-oriented design methods deal with the functional aspects of systems, but they do not address quality of service (QoS) aspects such as reliability, availability, performance, security, and timing. However, deciding which QoS properties should be provided by individual system components is an important part of the design process. Different decisions are likely to result in different component implementations and system structures. Thus, decisions about component-level QoS should be made at design time, before the implementation is begun. Since these decisions are an important part of the design process, they should be captured as part of the design. We propose a general Quality-of-Service specification language, which we call QML. In this paper we show how QML can be used to capture QoS properties as part of designs. In addition, we extend UML, the de-facto standard object-oriented modeling language, to support the concepts of QML. QML is designed to integrate with object-oriented features, such as interfaces, classes, and inheritance. In particular, it allows specification of QoS properties through refinement of existing QoS specifications. Although we exemplify the use of QML to specify QoS properties within the categories of reliability and performance, QML can be used for specification within any QoS category-QoS categories are user-defined types in QML.

Compact graphical interactive information system

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows an information provider to broadcast a graphical interactive information system application to a user even using a low-bandwidth transport such as the VBI. A compact protocol encapsulates graphical information using definitions of graphical objects and resources. A scripting and command language is also highly compact. A reception component receives the compact protocol and displays and operates a complete graphical interactive information system application.

Common object architecture supporting application-centric building automation systems

Abstract: An object-oriented building automation system architecture allows complex building automation applications to be developed and deployed as distributed objects across a network Applications are distributed in the form of objects that may in turn be made up of other application objects, assembly objects and standard objects All objects are inherited from a superclass that defines a command component and a view component The command component identifies those methods within the object that may be executed by other objects, and ultimately by the user through the user interface The view component identifies the attributes or data stored in the object that may be displayed on the user interface The view component encapsulates the information needed to display the object's data, so that the user interface can be a generic browser The standard objects encapsulate physically-constrained properties or human comfort-constrained properties Applications constructed from these objects can be revised and enhanced more easily because the embedded knowledge is preserved through encapsulation

A fault detection service for wide area distributed computations

Abstract: The potential for faults in distributed computing systems is a significant complicating factor for application developers. While a variety of techniques exist for detecting and correcting faults, the implementation of these techniques in a particular context can be difficult. Hence, we propose a fault detection service designed to be incorporated, in a modular fashion, into distributed computing systems, tools, or applications. This service uses well-known techniques based on unreliable fault detectors to detect and report component failure, while allowing the user to tradeoff timeliness of reporting against false positive rates. We describe the architecture of this service, report on experimental results that quantify its cost and accuracy, and describe its use in two applications, monitoring the status of system components of the GUSTO computational grid testbed and as part of the NetSolve network-enabled numerical solver.

Multi-Component Diffusion With Application to Computational Aerothermodynamics

Abstract: The accuracy and complexity of solving multi-component gaseous diffusion using the detailed multi-component equations, the Stefan-Maxwell equations, and two commonly used approximate equations have been examined in a two part study. Part I examined the equations in a basic study with specified inputs in which the results are applicable for many applications. Part II addressed the application of the equations in the Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxiation Algorithm (LAURA) computational code for high-speed entries in Earth''s atmosphere. The results showed that the presented iterative scheme for solving the Stefan-Maxwell equations is an accurate and effective method as compared with solutions of the detailed equations. In general, good accuracy with the approximate equations cannot be guaranteed for a species or all species in a multi-component mixture. "Corrected" forms of the approximate equations that ensured the diffusion mass fluxes sum to zero, as required, were more accurate than the uncorrected forms. Good accuracy, as compared with the Stefan-Maxwell results, were obtained with the "corrected" approximate equations in defining the heating rates for the three Earth entries considered in Part II.

System and method for data streaming and synchronization in multimedia groupware applications

Abstract: A system and method for temporal synchronization of media streams in multimedia collaborative applications (i.e., a multi-user distributed applications used for interaction, both in the synchronous and asynchronous fashion among a group of users) in a wide-area distributed environment. The invention presents two abstractions; event streams and collaboration space, that together provide for coarse-grained temporal synchronization by using separate streams for different media and synchronizing the streams at the client location. VCR-like controls are also provided on groups of components in a collaborative application. The event stream provides many services such as replication, persistence, buffering, reading, and writing to archive. By implementing simple interfaces, existing collaborative applications, media players, and encoders become components that can be used to build complex multimedia collaborative applications. To efficiently implement a seeking function on a data component, the present invention introduces a framework for application-specific updates to a component state.

Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving information on a replaceable printing component

Abstract: An ink jet printing system including a replaceable printing component for use in the printing system. The replaceable printing component includes a memory portion associated therewith for storing information that does not relate directly to normal operation of the printing system. Also included is a control portion for providing information to the memory portion associated with the replaceable printing component.

Integrated circuit design with delayed cell selection

Abstract: Integrated circuit chip design in which a technology-independent description of an integrated circuit design is obtained. A first component is selected from a pre-defined first library based on the technology-independent description, and an interconnection is specified between the first component and a second component based on the technology-independent description. The first component and the second component are laid out on a surface of the integrated circuit chip so as to obtain an initial layout, and a routing characteristic for the interconnection is estimated based on the initial layout. The first component is then replaced with a new component selected from a pre-defined second library based on the routing characteristic. According to this aspect of the invention, the pre-defined first library is smaller than the pre-defined second library.

An object management system supporting the use of application domain knowledge mapped to technology domain knowledge

Abstract: An object management system is providing for managing, cataloging, and discovering various potentially reusable code and data components that exist within an Information Technology (IT) platform, and which each have well-defined interfaces with other components. For each of these re-usable code and data components, an associated software object called an “asset element” is created that describes the associated component. Relationships are created between various asset elements to represent the relationships existing between the software components. Other software objects called “locator elements” are created that each describes an application concept or sub-concept. This application concept or sub-concept is associated with a problem solved by the code and data components within the IT platform. Relationships are created between the various locator elements to correlate the concepts and sub-concepts to software constructs represented by asset elements. The object management system further supports various object discovery tools capable of identifying locator elements associated with a particular concept. These locator elements and the associated relationships may then be efficiently traced to identify related asset elements and the associated software and code constructs. This provides an efficient concept-based search mechanism for the code constructs. Other tools are provided for creating, modifying, and deleting the elements. A model may be used to define the various types of relationships and elements that may exist within the system, thereby simplifying the various tools needed to support element creation, modification, deletion, and traversal.

Franchising Versus Company-Run Operations: Modal Choice in the Global Hotel Sector

Abstract: Franchising is already an important component of global strategy in many service sectors such as hotels. This article asks, “Given a choice between a company-run and a franchised operation, what fa...

System and method for simulation of integrated hardware and software components

Abstract: A system and methods are provided to design, verify and develop simulated hardware and software components for a desired electrical device The system includes a cycle-accurate simulator where X-number of simulator cycles is equivalent to Y-number of cycles on a simulated hardware component The system further includes a simulator library for modeling and verifying hardware components of a desired electronic device The simulator library includes built-in models and routines for simulating multiple internal hardware components The simulator library is used with the cycle-accurate simulator The system also includes a simulation Application Program Interface ("API") for allowing user-customized model and routines of internal and external hardware components to be used with the cycle-accurate simulator The system can be used to design, verify and develop on-chip and off-chip components for a system-on-a-chip used in a desired electrical device The methods provided include first method to simulate a requested operation for a simulated component far in the future with a fixed-length cycle counter by adjusting internal cycle counts in the cycle-accurate simulator for the requested operation and for the fixed-length cycle counter A second method is used to send a not-ready response for a requested operation, when the requested operation takes longer than an estimated number of cycles in the cycle-accurate simulator The system and methods allow for detecting access errors, bus faults, invalid address translations, privilege protection violations, alignment violations and other timing and behavior violations for simulated hardware and software components and the integration thereof

Method and apparatus for processing free-format data

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing free-format data (301) to produce a 'text object' associated with the free-format data. The text object comprises a plurality of 'component nodes' (302-312) containing attribute-type identifiers for elements of the free-format text and other data facilitating access to the text object to obtain information and/or change or add the free-format data. This arrangement obviates the need for the provision of separate database fields for each element of the information. Free-format data can therefore be processed in a similar manner to the way a human being processes free-format data. All elements can be accessed via the constructed text object.

Searching and retrieving multimedia information

Abstract: A method retrieves a multi-media segment from a signal stream having an audio component and a closed caption component. This includes separating the audio component and the closed caption text component from the signal stream, generating an audio pattern representative of the start of the multi-media segment, locating the audio pattern in the audio component, and temporally aligning the text from the closed caption text component with the audio pattern in the audio component. Locating the audio pattern in the audio component includes retrieving text from the closed caption text component; and comparing the text against one or more keywords delimiting the multi-media segment. Once located, the multi-media segment may be played on-demand. In addition, an apparatus retrieves a multi-media segment from a signal stream, the signal stream having an audio component and a closed caption text component. The apparatus includes a decoder for separating the audio component and the closed caption text component from the signal stream, an audio synthesizer coupled to the decoder for generating an audio pattern representative of the start of the multi-media segment, a pattern recognizer coupled to the decoder and to the audio synthesizer for locating the audio pattern in the audio component, and an aligner coupled to the pattern recognizer and to the decoder for temporally aligning the text with the audio pattern in the audio component. The apparatus also plays the multi-media segment on-demand.

Reuse of Electric Motors in Consumer Products

Abstract: Summary Product takeback calls for sound strategies of product recovery management One such strategy-is the reuse of the components of a product. There are consumer products such as power tools whose most expensive component, the electric motor; offers potential for reuse. Empirical evidence reveals that the lifetime of a motor often exceeds the life-time of the product using it. This article focuses on the reuse of electric motors. For this purpose, a novel circuit was developed that measures, computes, and records parameters strongly correlated with the degradation of a motor during the use stage of the product. This circuit, called electronic data log (EDL), provides valuable insights into the usage patterns of products. The data recorded during the use stage are retrieved after product takeback as a basis for reuse decisions. In this article, the trade-off between higher initial manufacturing cost caused by the EDL and cost savings from the reuse of used motors is analyzed. The problem of misclassifications of used motors is also addressed. It is shown that the return rate of used products is the critical parameter determining the economic efficiency of a motorreuse strategy based on EDLs. The analysis shows that the implementation of EDLs in products as an enabler for motor reuse may be associated with large cost savings

Method and apparatus for establishing a predictive maintenance database

Abstract: The invention provides a computerized method and apparatus which enables a user, even one who has little or no predictive maintenance skills, to establish a predictive maintenance database that defines information needed to monitor equipment in accordance with a predictive maintenance plan. The type of equipment components to be monitored and associated physical characteristics of the components are input to a computer as an equipment configuration, which may include one or more interconnected components. The computer includes a knowledge base that defines relationships between monitoring practices, component types, and physical characteristic information for component types. A predictive maintenance database is constructed for the components using the inference engine operating on the knowledge base, the selected component type, and the selected physical characteristic information. Multiple measurement technologies may be specified for each component. Preferably, for each measurement technology specified, the predictive maintenance database includes measurement points, an analysis parameter set, and an alarm limit set. Equipment configurations may be defined by the user, or they may be stored in a configuration/component warehouse with little or no configuration definition required of the user.

System and associated method for re-engineering a telecommunications network support system with object-oriented translators

Abstract: A re-engineering method for standardizing data processing in a communication network while maintaining user services is disclosed. Data channels, between communicating network data processing components (hereinafter denoted operational components), are made unnecessary by systematically providing bypass data paths. The data on each bypass, transparent to its terminating operational components, is routed through a network manager communicating in a standardized protocol. The manager thereby provides centralized control of data communications and provides standardized object oriented data representations and protocols. For a selected operational component having a bypass for each data channel, the functionality of the selected operational component may be incrementally and transparently assumed by new operational components communicating with the manager. Thus, a selected operational component using nonstandard data representations and communication protocols can be isolated from other network components and deactivated while maintaining user services. The present invention is particularly useful in re-engineering telephony networks having noncentralized and nonstandardized communications between various combinations of network elements and operational support systems.

Process for transparently enforcing protection domains and access control as well as auditing operations in software components

Abstract: An original software component is modified in accordance with a site's security policy provisions prior to being executed by a component system or computer at the site. The original software component is intercepted by an introspection service running on a server or on the component system prior to execution on the component system. The introspection service analyzes the software component by parsing it, and based on the information it determines, a security policy service instructs an interposition service how to modify the software component so that it conforms to the security policy service requirements. The interposition service thus produces a modified software component by inserting code for security initialization and for imposing security operations on the original component operations. When the modified software component is executed, an enforcement service follows the security operations that were injected into the software component, which instruct the enforcement service on associating component system objects with security identifiers. For example, a security identifier is associated with the software component. In addition, the enforcement service determines when and how to perform access checks, protection domain transfers, and auditing during execution of the modified software component. Any of the services noted above can be executed by the computer intended to execute the software component or by a separate server.

System, method and article of manufacture for displaying an animated, realtime updated control sequence chart

Abstract: A system software solution for controlling an enterprise which defines and illustrates the electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, logic, diagnostics, external behavior, controlled resources and safety elements of an enterprise control system. The elements of the control system are encapsulated in objects of an object-oriented framework within a control assembly. The control assembly is the fundamental building block for providing object-oriented control of the enterprise. A control assembly component is a deployable control subsystem that provides an interface using a common object model that is configurable. The enterprise control system is used to define user interfaces including sequence charts that are updated in a substantially realtime manner utilizing the control assemblies associated with the generated code for the enterprise control system.

Method and system for presentation conferencing

Abstract: A presentation system for displaying a presentation at multiple computer systems. One computer system is designated as a presenter computer system, and the other computer systems are designated as audience member computer systems. Each computer system executes an application that exposes a function for controlling the behavior of the application. Each computer system also has a conference subsystem with a messaging component, an automation component, and a user interface component. The messaging component controls communications between the computer systems. The automation component controls the behavior of the application using the exposed function. The user interface component displays the presentation within a conference window, receives commands from a presenter and sends the commands to each audience member computer system, receives commands from the presenter computer system, and directs the automation component to effect the performing of behavior of the received commands.

AGORA: a search engine for software components

Abstract: Using JavaBeans and CORBA agents in conjunction with Web search technologies, this prototype search engine (Agora), automatically generates and indexes a worldwide database of software products, classified by component model. Users of Agora can search for components in this database by describing specific properties of a component's interface. The system combines Web search engines with an introspection process. Introspection, primarily associated with JavaBeans, describes the capability of components to provide information about their own interfaces. The Common Object Request Broker Architecture offers a similar capability, although this data is maintained external to the CORBA server in an interface repository.