Showing papers on "Systems architecture published in 1993"

Smart cars on smart roads: problems of control

Abstract: Key features of one automated intelligent vehicle/highway system (IVHS) are outlined, it is shown how core driver decisions are improved, a basic IVHS control system architecture is proposed, and a design of some control subsystems is offered. Some experimental work is summarized. A system that promises a threefold increase in capacity is outlined, and a four-layer hierarchical control architecture that decomposes this problem into more manageable units is proposed. >

Multimedia collaboration system arrangement for routing compressed AV signal through a participant site without decompressing the AV signal

Abstract: A multimedia collaboration system that integrates separate real-time and asynchronous networks--the former for real-time audio and video, and the latter for control signals and textual, graphical and other data--in a manner that is interoperable across different computer and network operating system platforms and which closely approximates the experience of face-to-face collaboration, while liberating the participants from the limitations of time and distance. These capabilities are achieved by exploiting a variety of hardware, software and networking technologies in a manner that preserves the quality and integrity of audio/video/data and other multimedia information, even after wide area transmission, and at a significantly reduced networking cost as compared to what would be required by presently known approaches. The system architecture is readily scalable to the largest enterprise network environments. It accommodates differing levels of collaborative capabilities available to individual users and permits high-quality audio and video capabilities to be readily superimposed onto existing personal computers and workstations and their interconnecting LANs and WANs. In a particular preferred embodiment, a plurality of geographically dispersed multimedia LANs are interconnected by a WAN. The demands made on the WAN are significantly reduced by employing multi-hopping techniques, including dynamically avoiding the unnecessary decompression of data at intermediate hops, and exploiting video mosaicing, cut-and-paste and audio mixing technologies so that significantly fewer wide area transmission paths are required while maintaining the high quality of the transmitted audio/video.

CIRCA: a cooperative intelligent real-time control architecture

Abstract: Most research into applying AI techniques to real-time control problems has limited the power of AI methods or embedded reactivity in an AI system. An alternative, cooperative architecture is presented. It uses separate AI and real-time subsystems to address the problems for which each is designed. A structured interface allows the subsystems to communicate without compromising their respective performance goals. By reasoning about its own bounded reactivity, cooperative intelligent real-time control architecture (CIRCA) can guarantee that it will meet hard deadlines while still using unpredictable AI methods. With its abilities to guarantee or trade off the timeliness, precision, confidence, and completeness of its output, CIRCA provides more flexible performance than previous systems. >

The SIMNET virtual world architecture

Abstract: Many tools and techniques have been developed to address specific aspects of interacting in a virtual world. Few have been designed with an architecture that allows large numbers of entities from disparate organizations to interact in such a world, in real time, and over large geographic distances. A system architecture that does this is described. The key technologies that have made these virtual worlds possible are discussed, and it is explained and how the technologies fit into the architecture. A sample implementation of this architecture, the SIMulation NETworking (SIMNET) system, is then presented, along with various design decisions and the reasoning behind them. >

Toward a robot architecture integrating cooperation between mobile robots: application to indoor environment

Abstract: This article describes an architecture for cooperative and au tonomous mobile robots. The architecture is composed of three levels: functional, control, and planner levels. The functional and contr...

Users, user interfaces, and objects: Envision, a digital library

Abstract: Project Envision aims to build a “user-centered database from the computer science literature,” initially using the publications of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Accordingly, we have interviewed potential users, as well as experts in library, information, and computer science—to understand their needs, to become aware of their perception of existing information systems, and to collect their recommendations Design and formative usability evaluation of our interface have been based on those interviews, leading to innovative query formulation and search results screens that work well according to our usability testing Our development of the Envision database, system software, and protocol for client-server communication builds upon work to identify and represent “objects” that will facilitate reuse and high-level communication of information from author to reader (user) All these efforts are leading not only to a usable prototype digital library but also to a set of nine principles for digital libraries, which we have tried to follow, covering issues of representation, architecture, and interfacing © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Performance considerations in designing network interfaces

Abstract: Design issues that affect the performance of network input/output (I/O) are examined by analyzing the design and performance of a workstation's network interface to the 100-Mb/s FDDI token ring. Several design alternatives for partitioning functions between the network interface and the host software are evaluated. A simple model is proposed for looking at the performance of network I/O, and an effective analysis approach for predicting user-perceived throughput is demonstrated. The analysis reveals that, particularly for network interfaces that reside on an I/O bus, providing a DMA engine for data movement provides significant improvements in throughput. However, the designs for the receive and transmit sides are not necessarily symmetrical, and it is shown that host architecture considerations influence the design of each direction differently. The analysis is used to show the potential benefits of having all protocol functions on the network interface and also to point out the potential processing power needed on that network interface. >

Control systems software

Abstract: A short historical perspective is given of the evolution of the use of software for the realization of increasingly complex control systems. The state-of-the-art in designing computer-based control systems is discussed and highlighted with an example. Two major aspects of the difficulties encountered with the current approach to designing these systems are discussed as an introduction to a solution. The solution is in the form of SPICE, a system that makes large real-time control software less complex by adopting a highly modular and expandible software architecture. A description of the system's architecture developed is given and illustrated with a simple example. >

Single chip integrated circuit system architecture for document installation set computing

Abstract: The present invention pertains to integrated circuit system design methods and apparatus based on the novel architecture concept of Document-Instruction-Set-Computing (DISC). The integrated circuit comprises a plurality of functional units to independently execute the tasks of remote communication, bandwidth adaptation, application control, multimedia management, and universal compound document encoding. The integrated circuit is also comprised of a scalable formatter element connecting to the functional units which interoperate arbitrary external document formats and intelligently adapt to selective internal format depending upon the system throughput and run-time configuration. Additionally, there is a smart memory element connecting to the functional units and scalable formatter, which access, store, and transfer compound document data based on the selective internal format. As a result, the present invention has unprecedented level of capability, safety, and reliability with low cost and high performance, which make it suitable for many potential desktop, handheld, and embedded system implementations. it is designed with in mind that a plurality generations of these DISC integrated circuits can be evolved.

An integration of neural network and rule-based systems for design and planning of mechanical assemblies

Abstract: A case associative assembly planning system (CAAPS), which integrates neural computing techniques and rule-based systems has been developed. The neural network computing captures the designer's design concept and self-organizes similar experienced designs. The CBAPM (CLIPS-based assembly planning module), a component of CAAPS, generates a task-level assembly plan automatically. The design concept is expressed by a standard pattern format representing components' 3D geometry. A feature-based model translates the conceptual design into a preliminary boundary representation (B-rep). Based on a refinement of the B-rep assembly representation, assembly plans are generated for practical use in a single-robot assembly workcell. A feasible assembly plan that minimizes tool changes and subassembly reorientations is generated from the system. The CBCAPM presented draws input relationships directly from the conceptual design and the geometry of the assembly. At all stages of the design process the designer can consult the design cluster memory and plan cluster memory to see what "experience" knows of similar assemblies. Efficient use of prior experiences is emphasized. >

An expert system with temporal reasoning for alarm processing in power system control centers

Abstract: The alarm lists presented to control center operators are usually difficult to interpret. The authors present an expert system that processes the alarm lists in Portuguese control centers. This system makes an intelligent synthesis of the available information and presents it in a flexible and structured way. It uses an original approach to deal with temporal reasoning and real-time constraints. The system incorporates an explanation module that enables its use as a tutor for novice operators. >

A Neural System for the Recognition of Partially Occluded Objects in Cluttered Scenes — A Pilot Study —

Abstract: We present a system for the interpretation of camera images of scenes composed of several known objects with mutual occlusion. The scenes are analyzed by the recognition of the objects present and by the determination of their occlusion relations. Objects are internally represented by stored model graphs. These are formed in a semi-automatic way by showing objects against a varying background. Objects are recognized by dynamic link matching. Our experiments show that our system is very successful in analyzing cluttered scenes. The system architecture goes beyond classical neural networks by making extensive use of flexible links between units, as proposed in the dynamic link architecture. The present implementation is, however, rather algorithmic in style and is to be regarded as a pilot study that is preparing the way for a detailed implementation of the architecture.

The architecture and implementation of a high-speed host interface

Abstract: In the design of a high-speed network, the host network interface is a critical component in achieving high end-to-end throughput. Some of the architectural issues involved in host interfacing are discussed. These include the appropriate partitioning of functionality between host and interface and the choice of mechanism for data movement into, out of, and within the host. The general issues are considered in a specific example: the realization of a highly flexible host interface for a 622-Mb/s asynchronous transfer mode network. The architecture of such an interface is described, and the experimental results obtained from its prototype implementation are presented. The prototype will allow experimentation with a variety of scheduling and segmentation/reassembly algorithms, and with new transport protocols, while also delivering high bandwidths to the host. >

Intel Paragon XP/S - Architecture and Software Enviroment

Abstract: The paper describes the hardware and software components of the Intel Paragon XP/S system, a distributed memory scalable multicomputer. The Paragon processing nodes, which are based on the Intel i860 XP RISC processor, are connected by a two-dimensional mesh with high bandwidth. This new interconnection network and the new operating system are the main differences between the Paragon and its predecessor, the iPSC/860 with its hypercube topology. The paper first gives an overview of the Paragon system architecture, the node architecture, the interconnection network, I/O interfaces, and peripherals. The second part outlines the Paragon OSF/1 operating system and the program development environment including programming models, compilers, application libraries, and tools for parallelization, debugging, and performance analysis.

Method and control system architecture for controlling tone reproduction in a printing device

Abstract: A controls system architecture for an image output terminal (IOT) has a hierarchical structure which isolates subsystem controls for purposes of efficient algorithm design, analysis and implementation. The architecture is preferably divided into three levels and has a controls supervisor which provides subsystem isolation functions and reliability assurance functions. The architecture improves image quality of IOT outputs by controlling the operation of the IOT to ensure that a toner reproduction curve of an output image matches a tone reproduction curve of an input image, despite several uncontrollable variables which change the tone reproduction curve of the output image.

Video on Demand: Architecture, Systems, and Applications

Abstract: This article describes video on demand (VOD) and near video on demand (NVOD) and explains the differences between the various types of VOD systems as they relate to telephone company (Telco), commmunity antenna or cable television (CATV), cellular TV, and hotel applications. System similarities of the various carriers are described, with the intent to identify as much common equipment as possible that will be compatible across the various applications. Basic VOD functional requirements are also discussed. Hotel VOD systems are really small CATV or Telco systems that can be expanded into full-size, commercially viable VOD systems easily because of their scalable architecture

Motion estimation architecture for video compression

Abstract: A VLSI architecture which implements the full search block matching motion estimation algorithm in real time is proposed. The architecture consists of a 2D structure of basic cells (BCs), where each BC is capable of computing the mean absolute error. The interblock dependency is exploited and hence the architecture can meet the real-time requirement in various applications. Most importantly, the architecture is simple, modular, and cascadable. This makes possible VLSI implementation as a codec. >

Method and apparatus for adaptively generating field of application dependent language models for use in intelligent systems

Abstract: A system architecture for providing human intelligible information by processing a flow of input data; e.g., converting speech (source information) into printable data (target information) based on target-dependent probabilistic models; and for enabling efficient switching from one target field of information into another. To that end, the system is provided with a language modeling device including a data base loadable with an application-dependent corpus of words and/or symbols through a workstation; and a language modeling processor programmed to refresh, in practice, a tree-organized model, efficiently, with no blocking situations, and at a reasonable cost.

A self-learning digital neural network using wafer-scale LSI

Abstract: A large-scale, dual-network architecture using wafer-scale integration (WSI) technology is proposed. By using 0.8 mu m CMOS technology, up to 144 self-learning digital neurons were integrated on each of eight 5 in silicon wafers. Neural functions and the back-propagation (BP) algorithm were mapped to digital circuits. The complete hardware system packaged more than 1000 neurons within a 30 cm cube. The dual-network architecture allowed high-speed learning at more than 2 gigaconnections updated per second (GCUPS). The high fault tolerance of the neural network and proposed defect-handling techniques overcame the yield problem of WSI. This hardware can be connected to a host workstation and used to simulating a wide range of artificial neural networks. Signature verification and stock price prediction have already been demonstrated with this hardware. >

Enhancing performance of cooperating agents in real-time diagnostic systems

Abstract: We present a data-driven protocol and a supporting architecture for communication among cooperating intelligent agents in real-time diagnostic systems. The system architecture and the exchange of information among agents are based on simplicity of agents, hierarchical organization of agents, and modular non-overlapping division of the problem domain. These features combine to enable efficient diagnosis of complex system failures in real-time environments with high data volumes and moderate failure rates. Preliminary results of the real-world application of this work to the monitoring and diagnosis of complex systems are discussed in the context of NASA's interplanetary mission operations.

Building business and application systems with the retail application architecture

Abstract: An industry application architecture is a framework for integrating applications and databases and can also be used for analyzing and re-engineering the business of an enterprise as a whole, provided it is structured correctly. This paper describes the motivation, structure, and possible uses of the Retail Application ArchitectureTM (RAATM). The core of RAA is a set of generic enterprise models for companies in the retail and wholesale distribution industry. RAA is oriented as much to the business expert as to the information systems (I/S) department. The goal of RAA is to contribute to the task of building sound business systems in a more efficient and effective manner.

Design and Implementation of the HB1 Hyperbase Management System

Abstract: SUMMARY Hypermedia systems manage interconnected information residing within a potentially wide range of data types, including text, graphics, animations, and digitized sound and images. Effective database support for hypermedia-basedcomputing environments is essential. In order to be effective, this support must provide a variety of capabilities that are not offered by the current generation of database management systems. We report on a prototypic system called HB1 that has been designed to meet the storage needs of advanced hypermedia system architectures. HB1 is referred to as a hyperbase management system (HBMS) because it stores and manipulates information and the connectivity data that link information together to form hypermedia. HB1 is composed of three subsystems: the Object Manager (OM), Association Set Manager (ASM), and Storage Manager (SM). OM and ASM are both server processes accessible to distributed client processes via IPC interfaces. OM is an object server. ASM manages structural data applicable to the objects within OM’s repository that are involved in hypermedia connections. Physical storage is managed by SM which, in this implementation, is a semantic network database management system. HB1 instantiates a conceptual model of hypermedia that is distinctly computational, has a strong notion of anchor and link, and abstracts information, behavior, and structure from hypermedia. It has been used as a back-end for an open, object-based hypermedia system that implements distributed, inter-application linking. HB1 is proving to be an effective vehicle for research on HBMS organization.

A system architecture for a mobile robot based on activities and a blackboard control unit

Abstract: The design and implementation of a system architecture for control of a mobile robot is presented based on the notion of activities that are supervised by a blackboard system. An activity is defined as an organizational unit which exhibits a basic skill. Six behavior and five design requirements are defined and are used in evaluating the performance of the system architecture. It is the author's contention that if a mobile robot is to function autonomously in an unknown environment, it must meet these requirements. Using these requirements the activity-based architecture presented can be compared to other existing systems. Actual implementations of two activities (a passageway and channel activity) are used to validate the performance of this architecture. >

ISA system architecture

Abstract: From the Publisher: "An invaluable tool and reference on ISA architecture and time reading it is time well spent. You might just end up wondering how you ever got along without it!" -David Greenberg, Dell Computer Corporation I