Showing papers on "Services computing published in 2000"

Knowledge-intensive business services as co-producers of innovation

Abstract: In the unfolding knowledge-based economy, services do matter. But while they are increasingly seen to play a pivotal role in innovation processes, there has been little systematic analysis of this role. This essay presents a four-dimensional model of (services) innovation, that points to the significance of such non-technological factors in innovation as new service concepts, client interfaces and service delivery system. The various roles of service firms in innovation processes are mapped out by identifying five basic service innovation patterns. This framework is used to make an analysis of the role played by knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) in innovation. KIBS are seen to function as facilitator, carrier or source of innovation, and through their almost symbiotic relationship with client firms, some KIBS function as co-producers of innovation. It is further argued that, in addition to discrete and tangible forms of knowledge exchange, process-oriented and intangible forms of knowledge flow...

A Framework for Integrated Services Operation over Diffserv Networks

Abstract: The Integrated Services (Intserv) architecture provides a means for the delivery of end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) to applications over heterogeneous networks. To support this end-to-end model, the Intserv architecture must be supported over a wide variety of different types of network elements. In this context, a network that supports Differentiated Services (Diffserv) may be viewed as a network element in the total end-to-end path. This document describes a framework by which Integrated Services may be supported over Diffserv networks.

Innovation as a Loosely Coupled System in Services

Abstract: In this chapter we will put forward a model of the innovation system in services. The model is theoretical, but based on a review of a large amount of existing empirical research on innovation in services, including a recent EU financed project, called the SI4S (Services in Innovation and Innovation in Services) project which we have participated in, and which has been the occasion for us to develop these thoughts1 (Sundbo and Gallouj, 1998).

A survey of future broadband multimedia satellite systems, issues and trends

Abstract: The demand for advanced information services is growing in terms of both the number of users and the services to be supported. Voice and low-rate data services are insufficient for users in a world where high-speed World Wide Web access is taken for granted. The trend is toward global information networks offering flexible multimedia information services to users on demand, anywhere, anytime. Potential services include video on demand, interactive video, fast Internet access, telemedicine, tele-education, and large file transfer. The need to support bandwidth-intensive multimedia services places new and challenging demands on satellite systems and networks. Flexibility, efficiency, mobility, and the ability to guarantee end-to-end quality of service are at a premium.

Services and the Knowledge-Based Economy

Abstract: Introduction - are services special?, Ian Miles and Mark Boden neo-Schumpeterian perspectives on innovation in services, Camal Gallouj and Faiz Gallouj dynamic innovation systems - what is the role of services?, Johan Hauknes European service sectors, Brigitte Preissl indicators of innovation activities in services, Goran Marklund organization and innovation strategy in services, Jon Sundbo beyond technological innovation - trajectories and varieties of services innovation, Faiz Gallouj supplier-user interaction in knowledge-intensive business services - types of expertise and modes of organization, Jacob Norvig Larsen innovation agents and technology transfer, John Bessant and Howard Rush new information technology and localized technological change in the knowledge-based economy, Cristiano Antonelli knowledge intensive business services and productivity growth -the Greek evidence, Yannis Katsoulacos and Nikolaos Tsounis information and technology flows from the service sector - a UK-Japan comparison, Mark Tomlinson the new knowledge infrastructure - the role of technology-based knowledge-intensive business services in national innovation systems, Pim der Hertog and Rob Bilderbeek conclusions - beyond the service seconomy, Mark Boden and Ian Miles.

eFlow: a platform for developing and managing composite e-services

Abstract: Today, companies are using the Web to connect with their back-end systems and perform e-commerce transactions. The next chapter of the Internet story is the evolution of today's access/content focused portals into e-services hubs. While many traditional services become available on the Internet as e-services, almost all of them are single point services. In order to offer higher value, end-to-end services, it should be possible to compose, customize, and deploy e-services in a very flexible and efficient way. To support e-service delivery, we have developed a platform, called eFlow, that provides the service developer with a simple, easy to use, yet powerful mechanism for defining the composite service starting from basic services. Composite services can be preassembled or created on the fly, and can dynamically adapt to changes in the business environment, such as the introduction of new basic services. In addition, eFlow includes components that allow users to monitor, analyze, and modify a service while in execution.

Bluetooth-based wireless connectivity in an automotive environment

Abstract: In contrast to a home or office environment the automotive environment represents a relatively underdeveloped application field regarding the provision of new services (e.g. car-specific services) and/or access to existing services (e.g. Internet services). One of the key elements for accomplishing such a task is an appropriate, wireless delivery media. A combination of several dedicated access technologies (e.g. stationary/mobile operation) is not precluded. The integration of existing and new communication technologies requires an appropriate in-car infrastructure for the support of communication, information and entertainment services, which takes into account the specific characteristics and constraints of the considered automotive environment. It can be foreseen that Bluetooth, an emerging technology for short range wireless connectivity, will be an integral part of future car-based networks. The paper describes concepts for integration of the Bluetooth technology, the achievable transmission performance and a potential user application framework.

Base service architectures for netcentric computing systems

Abstract: A base services architecture for a netcentric computing system is disclosed. The base services architecture includes at least one web server that is connected with an Internet connection and at least one client. A web server service is located on the web server. During operation, the web server service enables the web server to transfer and publish a plurality of documents in the web browser on the client. A push/pull service is located on the web server for automatically notifying members of a subscriber list of the netcentric computing system when a particular piece of information has been changed or updated. A workflow service is located on the web server that includes role management service, route management services, rule management services and queue management services. A batch processing service is also located on the web server that includes batch driver services, restart/recovery services, batch balancing services and batch report services; and a report service on said web server that includes report driver services, report definition services, report build services and report distribution services.

Automated service provisioning in combination of vertical services and digital subscriber line domains

Abstract: Offering vertical services to subscribers and service providers is an avenue to immediately improve the competitiveness of digital subscriber line access service, for example of the type offered by a local exchange carrier. To deliver high-quality vertical services, however, the underlying ADSL Data Network (ADN) or the like needs to establish Quality of Service (QoS) as a core characteristic and offer an efficient mechanism for insertion of the vertical services. The inventive network architecture introduces QoS into the ADN, in a manner that enables the delivery of sophisticated and demanding IP-based services to subscribers, does not affect existing Internet tiers of service, and is cost-effective in terms of initial costs, build-out, and ongoing operations. The architecture utilizes a switch capable of examining and selectively forwarding packets or frames based on higher layer information in the protocol stack, that is to say on information that is encapsulated in the layer-2 information utilized to define normal connectivity through the network. The switch enables segregation of upstream traffic by type and downstream aggregation of Internet traffic together with traffic from a local vertical services domain. Systems coupled to the network and software in a user's computer enable a method for automated, end-to-end provisioning of a logical data circuit, in response to a customer's request for bundled broadband services.

Teaching an Old Service New Tricks The Promise of Service Redesign

Abstract: In the face of changing customer priorities, competitors, and technologies, how can organizations design their services to survive? What is a firm to do as its traditional services become outdated and ineffective? Contrary to the focus of most recent service design literature, creating new services is not the only option. We explore another viable competitive option—the redesigning of existing services. Service firms can be innovative with what exists just as they can be innovative with what does not.

Classification and computation of dependencies for distributed management

Abstract: This paper addresses the role of dependency analysis in distributed management. The identification of dependencies becomes increasingly important in today's networked environments because applications and services rely on a variety of supporting services which might be outsourced to a service provider. However, service dependencies are not made explicit in today's systems, thus making the task of problem determination particularly difficult. Solving this problem requires the determination and computation of the dependencies between services and applications. A key contribution of the paper is a methodology for making IP-based services and applications manageable that have not been designed to include management instrumentation (which is the case today for almost every application and service). Unlike other approaches, it is not necessary to modify the application code. Instead our approach yields a technique that enumerates the characteristics and interdependencies of applications and services, thus permitting the derivation of appropriate management information.

Outsourcing Public Health Laboratory Services: A Blueprint for Determining Whether to Privatize and How

Abstract: In a continuing effort to reform and reinvent the way public organizations do business, the outsourcing of services has become a popular tool, particularly as resource constraints limit options available to governments. All too often, the decision is made, for reasons of ideology or resource constraints, to outsource services without giving careful consideration to the impact of privatization on the core missions of an agency, or whether privatization, in fact, offers real cost savings. Purchasing tools designed for traditional commodity purchases are often grossly unsuited for making decisions on specialized technical services. This article suggests a process for the evaluation of an option to outsource laboratory services. It suggests that, prior to contracting or privatizing services, the concerned agency should evaluate: the impact on the agency's core mission the availability, stability, and reliability of private sector service providers the relative costs of internal and external (public or private sector) service providers the potential impact on regulatory enforcement the ability to monitor the performance of external providers potential conflicts of interest Based on this model, the ongoing internal evaluation of services offers public agencies management tools to obtain the best value for the taxpayer dollar, not only in terms of the raw cost per test, but also in managing the quality of the services.

Methods and systems for providing life management and enhancement applications and services for telematics and other electronic medium

Abstract: The invention presented herein relates to methods and systems for providing life management and enhancement applications and services to customers via an electronic medium such as the Internet. In addition, the present invention is directed to business-to-business and business-to-customer applications that provide customer-centric and “reverse retailing” services to customers. The life management and enhancement applications and services are provided to customers through a central online location such as the Internet portal. A system and method according to one particular embodiment of the present invention describes an application for providing telematics services to the customer.

Virtual Reference Services Directions and Agendas

Abstract: As libraries make more digital resources available over the Web, research is increasingly being conducted outside of the physical library building. Consequently, virtual reference traffic is expected to increase, and improvements in the management of these services will be critical. In order to establish a basic understanding of how some major libraries are currently providing virtual reference services, Web sites of ten large research libraries were analyzed. A wide range of approaches to centralization, placement of the link to the service on the Web page, use of forms, definition of client base, response times, and question types accepted were found. Best practices at these institutions are examined. Issues that need to be resolved in current models for virtual reference provision are discussed, including: control of traffic from nonaffiliated users, expansion of services beyond basic ready reference, decrease of response time, expansion of service hours, and evaluation of archived questions in order to diagnose and correct problems with library systems and services. The challenge for librarians of the "largely digital library" is envisioning the shape of instruction, research consultations, computer support, document delivery, and general reference services through the network. As Ferguson and Bunge pointed out in "The Shape of Services to Come": "This does not speak to just access to information provided by the library or support for use of the network from locations inside the library but, rather, to the full range of services and support to an extent and of a nature heretofore barely imagined deliverable outside the confines of the library itself."(1) Of these areas, reference service has the longest history of networked delivery, first by telephone and now through the Internet. In addition to in-person and telephone reference services, many libraries have added virtual services to their repertoires. Most of these virtual services operate through electronic mail, but some experiments have also been undertaken using videoconferencing, shared work spaces, mail lists, and chat rooms in an effort to create interactions more closely approximating those that take place in a face-to-face reference transaction. User demand and need for services over the network will continue to increase as more digital resources become available in libraries. Tenopir and Ennis recently surveyed reference librarians from academic research libraries across the United States about the impact of digital resources on users and librarians. The librarians surveyed believe that students expect to have all of their research needs met online. One librarian reported that "(t)he biggest change is increased user expectations. Increasingly, users expect to be able to find everything online, full text. Technology lets us do much more, but it also increases expectations about what we can do."(2) The parallel developments in bibliographic management software have led users to expect not only support with searching online databases, but also with the software package they select to organize their search results. As more and more work is done outside of the physical library building, the need for remote user support will increase. Therefore libraries will have to expand and improve their virtual reference services to meet this need. More Internet Use = More Virtual Reference Traffic Although early studies indicated that the addition of an e-mail reference service did not generate a great deal of traffic, there is strong evidence that this will change dramatically as collections are digitized and the number of e-mail users increases. Internet use is growing exponentially. A recent survey by the The Strategis Group, a Washington-based market research firm, reported that one hundred million, or one half of ail adults in the United States, now use the Internet. This is a 54 percent increase from the sixty-five million users estimated in the middle of 1998. …

Communication service architectures for netcentric computing systems

Abstract: A communication services architecture for a netcentric computing system is disclosed by the present invention. The communication services architecture includes a communication services layer that includes messaging services, specialized messaging services, communication security services, virtual resource services and directory services. In addition, the communication services architecture includes a transport services layer that includes message transport services, packet forwarding/Internetworking services, circuit switching services, transport security services, network address allocation services and quality of service services. A network media services layer is provided that includes media access services and physical media services.

Creation of customized web pages for use in a system of dynamic trading of knowledge, goods and services

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for creating and customizing a home page that is used in conjunction with a technique for dynamically trading knowledge and services. A provider of knowledge, goods or services could request a home page on a web site dedicated to dynamically providing goods and services. Upon receiving the request, the provider of knowledge, goods or services is given the opportunity to create a specially customized home page. This homepage provides prospective buyers, with some or all of the following information: the name of the provider, the type of product, the amount of product available, a way of categorizing the product, a description, a fixed price, optional goods or services and other related information that would be helpful to those trying to identify providers of good and services and select among them. A provider of goods and services is guided through a step-by-step procedure, during which the provider is presented with a number of mandatory information fields that are used in creating a customized home page.

Management of advanced services in H.323 Internet protocol telephony

Abstract: The intelligent network (IN) represents the world-wide accepted basis for uniform provisioning of advanced telecommunication services. On the other hand IP-based communication is fast becoming a viable alternative for voice communications. Mobile agents offer unique opportunities for structuring and implementing open distributed service architectures, facilitated by the dynamic downloading and movement of service code to specific network nodes. In this paper, a new service architecture for IP telephony, based on the ITU-T standard H.323, is proposed. The implementation uses mobile agents and Jini as enabling technologies and existing architectural concepts taken from IN. This IP service architecture enables telecommunication services deployed through mobile service agents on a per-user basis, which results in several advantages when compared to centralized service architectures. The paper demonstrates that the flexible extensible architecture can accommodate not only existing services but is flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of future services. In addition we show how the architecture addresses the full management life cycle of advanced services, from open third party creation, to subscription and utilization, and ultimately to maintenance and withdrawal.

strategic and Functional Orientation of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Professional Services: An Analysis of Public Accountancy

Abstract: This study examines how SMEs in public accountancy remain competitive, promote and deliver their services. The association among strategic planning, functional diversification (services and markets), methods of promotion and delivery is also examined. These SMEs face considerable difficulty in overcoming both in-house and external barriers in accessing clients requiring non-traditional services (e.g. management consulting), and clients involved in international business (broadly defined). The results show that the proactive, functionally diversified, and/or internationally oriented firms outperform the reactive, functionally concentrated, and local market oriented firms. The competitive advantage for the former categories is based on flexible specialisation such as customisation of services for specific groups of clients, speed of delivery collaboration with other producer service firms, and specialised skills. These firms utilise informal networks to promote their services with minimal investments in spo...

Beyond technological innovation: trajectories and varieties of services innovation

Abstract: Technology is undoubtedly a core element of innovation in services. However in services more than anywhere else technology is not sufficient to take into account the whole innovation phenomena in services. The aim of this chapter is to present a set of works that share the goal of going beyond technological innovation without neglecting it. Their general purpose is to display the varieties of forms and trajectories of innovation in services. According to the analytical priority they focus on these works can be divided into two different categories 1 : service based or service oriented approaches, focusing on service specificities in the field of innovation ; and integrated approaches aiming at adopting a similar approach to the economic analysis of both goods and services. The latter notion is based on the observation that the boundary between goods and services is becoming increasingly less clear. Certain services are being "industrialised" and, conversely, the production of certain goods is being "tertiarised". These converging tendencies are often described in terms of the goods-services continuum and functions. I especially intend to try and enrich and operationalise these approaches by using a characteristics representation of the product drawn upon the work of Lancaster (1966) and Saviotti and Metcalfe (1984).

Managing interactions in smart environments

Abstract: Much has been written about smart mobile computing devices and how they will make ''ubiquitous computing\" a reality. but simply having smart devices in the world is not enough. An infrastructure is needed to bind these devices together in a meaningful way. This infrastructure is known as \"intelligent environments\". But, what are the elements of this \"intelligence\" behind ubiquitous computing? In this position paper, we propose ten dimensions along which this intelligence might be described. They can be summarized as: meaningfulness, world modeling, user modeling, distribution, accessibility, extensibility, heterogeneity, automation, usability, and ubiquity. The intelligent environment systems of today are demonstrations of subsets of this vision; the task before us is to generalize from these examples and develop the standards that will allow ubiquitous computing to be fully developed. Elements of Ubiquitous Computing The computing industry is undergoing a revolution away from the \"personal computer\" and towards a network of wired and wireless devices of varying characteristics, each with its own role to play. Figure 1 shows representatives of the key elements in this emerging paradigm of computing.

Business development services : a review of international experience

Abstract: This book provides a wide review of experience of donor agencies in designing and implementing business development services for small and medium enterprises (SME). The papers, from the International Conference on Business Development Services, presented in this book assess the performance of the development services operating within the various developing countries.They explore new and innovative approaches to achieving sustainable BDS services and ways of achieving greater cost-effectiveness in their delivery.

A device-independent representation for services

Abstract: Mobile computing introduces many benefits in terms of remote access to data and functions via software services. However, users may wish to interact with many services from many different devices. This raises an important question regarding how to provide services in a way that makes them accessible to a wide range of heterogeneous devices. This paper presents a way of uniquely representing a service in a device-independent way. The proposed representation describes both the functionality of the service and the user interface in a single entity. By representing services in this way, functionality is extended across a greater range of client devices and a greater range of user interface modalities.

Nomadic computing and smart spaces

Abstract: Currently, most users think of their computers as associated with their desktop appliances or with a server located in a dungeon in some mysterious basement. However, many of those same users can be considered nomads, in that they carry computers and communication devices with them in their travels between office, home, airport, hotel, automobile, and so on. Access to the Internet is necessary not only from one's "home base", but also while in transit and after reaching one's destination. A number of capabilities must be put in place to support this new paradigm of nomadicity. Among these, we can include independence of location, motion, platform, and, with widespread presence, of access to remote files, systems, and services. Essentially, one seeks to provide the illusion of connectivity even when the nomad is disconnected and to provide seamless access to Internet services wherever the nomad travels. To achieve this, not only must the infrastructure be enhanced to provide these capabilities, but applications must become nomadically enabled as well. These ideas form the essence of the major shift to nomadic computing. But nomadic computing is merely the first step of the vision foreseen by the author. The next step will take us out of the netherworld of cyberspace and into the physical world of smart spaces. Environments will come alive with embedded technology, so that no longer will we see Internet services as coming to us from the screen on a computer, but rather those services will be embedded in the environment.

A customer-oriented model for managing quality in human services

Abstract: The authors examine the unique challenges of establishing and maintaining a quality focus in human services. They also pro-Eose a model, the Gap Model, for measuring and managing quality in uman services. Key concepts on both the customer and provider sides of the model are explained within the context of human services. The authors address the implications for adapting the model for human ser-vice managers.

A Component Perspective on Geographic Information Services

Abstract: This paper explores the notions of geographic information services in the context of component technology. It suggests that componentization gives rise to an alternative view on GIS as geographic information services. The change from monolithic systems to component-oriented systems requires examination of the service structure of GIS. The paper presents a general discussion on the notions of component and services. A combination of existing reference models of information services and an empirical model of software evolution is used to identify geographic information services. Application services, functional services, and common services are considered to the main groups of information services in the component architecture. The discussion focuses on the functional services and common services within the domain of geographic information processing. Eight groups of such services are identified. They represent a reorganization of geographic information services in light of recent advances in component tech...

Provision of electronic commerce services

Abstract: Users access a host server which, in a structured manner, generates questions regarding electronic commerce requirements. The responses are used to automatically determine suitable electronic commerce products and services and to allow user registration for selected products and services.

Clinging to Traditional Reference Services: An Open Invitation to Libref.com.

Abstract: ities (as a part of our overall public services) and determine at what level to fund them for the next year. Making this assessment is typically difficult, since the circum stances of reference are increasing ly complex and ambiguous. The complexity derives both from the continuing digitization of pub lished knowledge and the advent of distance learning (which has begun to separate the reference librarian and the user). I admit that making an assessment is also diffi cult because I intuitively believe that reference service is important but find it increasingly out of touch?so the assessment process is a struggle between my heart and my head. What I will share with you here is my current view, as an administrator, of reference services in an academic library setting. A Current Assessment of Reference

Methods and systems for providing communications services

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that allow a user to access communications services using a service node or a computer suitably connected to a communications-applications support system at a service provider's facility. The user is provided with information as to the communications services available. These services may be ordered for implementation on and use with the service node or the user's computer or on the computer used in connection with the support system. The implementation and performance of the communications services for the user be monitored, and if substandard, then remedial action may be taken by the system. Also, upgrades, maintenance, and new services may be transferred from the system to the user's computer as appropriate. Advantageously, the user is relieved from provisioning, configuring, maintaining, updating, or educating individuals about these communications services.

Integration Models : Templates for Business Transformation

Abstract: From the Publisher: This book provides a proven approach to EAI, offering examples from actual practice, and exploring the steps to follow for its day-to-day implementation. Originally designed for companies undergoing significant merger and acquisition activity, Integration Models have evolved into a working toolkit for bridging the gap between business and technical models. In clear terms, this book provides a catalog of templates, discussing how they address various types of integration problems. Accompanying case studies and examples from actual practice demonstrate how to apply integration models in a range of different EAI settings. Examples are taken from major corporations in diverse industries including: telecommunication, transportation, financial services, employment services, insurance, Internet services, and wireless services