14497648
An Adaptation Reasoning Approach for Large Scale Component-based Applications
There is a growing demand for context-aware applications that can dynamically adapt to their run-time environment. An application offers a collection of functionalities that can be realized through a composition of software components and/or services that are made available at runtime. With the availability of alternative variants of such components and/or services that provide the basic functionalities, while differ in extra- functional characteristics, characterized by quality of services (QoS), an unforeseen number of application variants can be created. The variant that best fits the current context is selected through adaptation reasoning, which can suffer from the processing capabilities of resource-scarce mobile devices, especially when a huge number of application variants needs to be reason about. In this paper, we present a reasoning approach, which provides a meaningful adaptation decision for adaptive applications having a large number of variants within a reasonable time frame. The approach is validated through two arbitrary applications with large number of variants.
20326889
Towards a Comprehensive Teamwork Model for Highly Dynamic Domains
Cooperative behaviour of agents within highly dynamic and nondeterministic domains is an active field of research. In particular establishing responsive teamwork, where agents are able to react to dynamic changes in the environment while facing unreliable communication and sensory noise, is an open problem. Unexpectedly changing situations force agents to react and adapt under tight time-constraints. Hence they often cannot communicate or agree upon their decisions before acting upon them. We present a novel model for cooperative behaviour geared towards such domains. In our approach, the agents estimate each other’s decision and correct these estimations once they receive contradictory information. We aim at a comprehensive approach for agent teamwork featuring intuitive modelling capabilities for multi-agent activities, abstractions over activities and agents, and clear operational semantics for the new model. We show experimentally that the resulting behaviour stabilises towards teamwork and can achieve a cooperative goal.
42894925
Modeling of Context-Aware Self-Adaptive Applications in Ubiquitous and Service-Oriented Environments
Mobile computing in ubiquitous environments has to cope with both predictable and unpredictable changes in the execution context, which introduces the need for context-aware adaptive applications. Such environments are also characterized by dynamically discoverable services that can be utilized by applications to improve their functionality and quality of service (QoS). Thus, application adaptation decisions not only depend on context properties, but also on service availability and QoS-properties. In this chapter we present a novel comprehensive modeling approach that facilitates the model-driven development of such applications. Our focus is on modeling concepts which align the description of services and their QoS-properties with the context modeling approach. We provide a harmonized view on context and service properties, bridging the syntactical and semantic differences through an ontology. We also consider related aspects like semantic service discovery and service level agreements.
14972044
Service-Oriented Adaptation in Ubiquitous Computing Environments
Ubiquitous computing environments may offer dynamically discoverable services that can be utilized by adaptive applications to improve their functionality and quality of service. We have developed a general software development framework for context-aware adaptive applications. In this paper we present our novel modeling concepts that extend an existing component-based modeling approach by service-oriented adaptation concepts. With our new extensions a dynamically discovered service may replace an application component if it increases the overall utility of the application. We discuss open questions and point to potential solution approaches.
14005418
A Comprehensive Context Modeling Framework for Pervasive Computing Systems
Context management in pervasive computing environments must reflect the specific characteristics of these environments, e.g. distribution, mobility, resource-constrained devices, or heterogeneity of context sources. Although a number of context models have been presented in the literature, none of them supports all of these requirements to a sufficient extent at the same time. In this paper, we present a comprehensive and integrated approach for context modeling in pervasive computing environments. It combines the advantages of existing approaches and addresses the need for supporting effective software development. The proposed context model follows an ontology-based approach and has three layers of abstraction, i.e. conceptual layer, exchange layer, and functional layer. This layered approach facilitates a model-driven development of context-aware applications. Throughout the paper we compare our solution with the related work in order to clearly demonstrate why we needed to develop a new context management framework and where we have adopted existing ideas.
209498655
Preface
The title of this book ‘One-Dimensional Finite Elements: An Introduction to the FE Method’ stands for content and focus. Nowadays, much literature regarding the topic of the finite element method exists. The different works reflect the multifaceted perceptions and application possibilities. The basic idea of this introduction into the finite element method relies on the concept of explaining the complex method with the help of one-dimensional elements. It is the goal to introduce the manifold aspects of the finite element method and to enable the reader to get a methodical understanding of important subject areas. The reader learns to understand the assumptions and derivations at different physical problems in structural mechanics. Furthermore, he/she learns to critically evaluate possibilities and limitations of the finite element method. Additional comprehensive mathematical descriptions, which solely result from advanced illustrations for twoor three-dimensional problems, are omitted. Hence, the mathematical description largely remains simple and clear. The focus on one-dimensional elements, however, is not just a pure limitation on a simpler and clearer formal illustration of the necessary equations. Within structural engineering, there are various structures— for example bridges or high transmission towers—which are usually modeled via one-dimensional elements. Therefore, this work also contains a ‘set of tools’, which can also be applied in practice. The concentration on one-dimensional elements is new for a textbook and allows the treatment of various basic and demanding physical questions of structural mechanics within one single textbook. This new concept, therefore, allows a methodical understanding of important subject areas (for example plasticity or composite materials), which occur to a prospective engineer during professional work, which however are seldom treated in this way at universities. Consequently, simple access is possible, also in supplementary areas of application of the finite element method. This book originates from a collection of lecture notes which were developed as written material for lectures and training documents for specialized courses on the finite element method. Especially, the calculated examples and the supplementary
19371223
Image Enhancement by Kriging and Fuzzy Sets
A kriging method is presented as a spatial filter for smoothing gray-scale images degraded by Gaussian white noise. The concepts are based on the analysis of semivariances, the linear combination scheme of kriging, and fuzzy sets. Application of fuzzy sets allows a gradual transition between two boundaries of semivariance levels as a criterion for smoothing the pixel values. This fuzzy thresholding also allows some degree of flexibility to suit various desired results for particular problems. Experimental results obtained by the fuzzy kriging filter are smoother and still preserve edges compared with those by the adaptive Wiener filter.
10674232
Audio Visual Speaker Verification Based on Hybrid Fusion of Cross Modal Features
In this paper, we propose hybrid fusion of audio and explicit correlation features for speaker identity verification applications. Experiments were performed with the GMM based speaker models with a hybrid fusion technique involving late fusion of explicit cross-modal fusion features, with implicit eigen lip and audio MFCC features. An evaluation of the system performance with different gender specific datasets from controlled VidTIMIT data base and opportunistic UCBN database shows a significant performance improvement.
32510848
Using Augmented Virtuality for Remote Collaboration
This paper describes the concept, prototypical implementation, and usability evaluation of the Augmented Virtuality (AV)-based videoconferencing (VC) system cAR/PE!. We present a solution that allows three participants at different locations to communicate over a network in an environment simulating a traditional face-to-face meeting. Integrated into the AV environment are live video streams of the participants spatially arranged around a virtual table, a large virtual presentation screen for 2D display and application sharing, and 3D geometry (models) within the room and on top of the table. We describe the general concept and application scenario as well as the actual hardware setup, the implementation, and the use of the system in its current state. Results of two usability studies with 87 subjects are presented that show the general usability of our approach as well as good overall satisfaction. Parts of the work described here were presented as a poster at the second International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (Regenbrecht, Ott, Wagner, Lum, Kohler, et al., 2003. An Augmented Virtuality Approach to 3D Videoconferencing. Poster at 2nd Int. Symp. on Mixed and Aug. Reality, Tokyo.).
13891540
MagicMeeting: A Collaborative Tangible Augmented Reality System
We describe an augmented reality (AR) system that allows multiple participants to interact with 2D and 3D data using tangible user interfaces. The system features face-to-face communication, collaborative viewing and manipulation of 3D models, and seamless access to 2D desktop applications within the shared 3D space. All virtual content, including 3D models and 2D desktop windows, is attached to tracked physical objects in order to leverage the efficiencies of natural two-handed manipulation. The presence of 2D desktop space within 3D facilitates data exchange between the two realms, enables control of 3D information by 2D applications, and generally increases productivity by providing access to familiar tools. We present a general concept for a collaborative tangible AR system, including a comprehensive set of interaction techniques, a distributed hardware setup, and a component-based software architecture that can be flexibly configured using XML. We show the validity of our concept with an implementation of an application scenario from the automotive industry.
37965737
A speech recognition experiment with the entire syllable inventory of standard Chinese
Abstract This paper explores the possibility of using automatic speech recognition as a front end to a computer for Chinese character processing. A speech recognition experiment has been performed with the complete inventory of second-tone syllables of Standard Chinese. Two recordings of this inventory which were made 48 hours after one another were used as test and reference sets. It is shown that the distribution of intrasyllable distances and the distribution of intersyllable distances overlap considerably for the full inventory of 260 second-tone syllables. The recognition rate was determined as a function of the syllabary size and is 47.3% for the complete syllable inventory.