Fast implementation of dense stereo vision algorithms on a highly parallel SIMD architecture

In this paper, we present faster than real-time implementation of a class of dense stereo vision algorithms on a low-power massively parallel SIMD architecture, the CSX700. With two cores, each with 96 Processing Elements, this SIMD architecture provides a peak computation power of 96 GFLOPS while consuming only 9 Watts, making it an excellent candidate for embedded computing applications. Exploiting full features of this architecture, we have developed schemes for an efficient parallel implementation with minimum of overhead. For the sum of squared differences (SSD) algorithm and for VGA (640 × 480) images with disparity ranges of 16 and 32, we achieve a performance of 179 and 94 frames per second (fps), respectively. For the HDTV (1,280 × 720) images with disparity ranges of 16 and 32, we achieve a performance of 67 and 35 fps, respectively. We have also implemented more accurate, and hence more computationally expensive variants of the SSD, and for most cases, particularly for VGA images, we have achieved faster than real-time performance. Our results clearly demonstrate that, by developing careful parallelization schemes, the CSX architecture can provide excellent performance and flexibility for various embedded vision applications.     

SRA-MSDU: Enhanced A-MSDU frame aggregation with selective retransmission in 802.11n wireless networks

The main goal of the IEEE 802.11n standard is to achieve more than 100 Mbps of throughput at the MAC service access point. This high throughput has been achieved via many enhancements in both the physical and MAC layers. One of the MAC enhancements is the frame aggregation in which multiple frames are concatenated into a single large frame before being transmitted. The 802.11n MAC layer defines two types of aggregation, aggregate MAC service data unit (A-MSDU) and aggregate MAC protocol data unit (A-MPDU). The A-MPDU outperforms A-MSDU due to its large aggregation size and the subframes retransmission in erroneous channels. However, in error free channels and under the same aggregation size the A-MSDU performs better than the A-MPDU due to its smaller headers. Thus, adding a selective retransmission capability to the A-MSDU would improve the system performance. In this paper, we have proposed an MSDU frame aggregation scheme that enables selective retransmission at the MSDU level without altering the original MAC header. In this proposed scheme an implicit sequence control mechanism has been introduced in order to keep the frames in sequence and preserve their correct order at the receiver side. The results show that the proposed scheme improves the system performance in terms of throughput and delay even under highly erroneous channels.     

Behavioral Attestation for Web Services using access policies

Service Oriented Architecture with underlying technologies like web services and web service orchestration opens new vistas for integration among business processes operating in heterogeneous environments. However, such dynamic collaborations require a highly secure environment at each respective business partner site. Existing web services standards address the issue of security only on the service provider platform. The partner platforms to which sensitive information is released have till now been neglected. Remote Attestation is a relatively new field of research which enables an authorized party to verify that a trusted environment actually exists on a partner platform. To incorporate this novel concept in to the web services realm, a new mechanism called WS-Attestation has been proposed. This mechanism provides a structural paradigm upon which more fine-grained solutions can be built. In this paper, we present a novel framework, Behavioral Attestation for Web Services, in which XACML is built on top of WS-Attestation in order to enable more flexible remote attestation at the web services level. We propose a new type of XACML policy called XACML behavior policy, which defines the expected behavior of a partner platform. Existing web service standards are used to incorporate remote attestation at the web services level and a prototype is presented, which implements XACML behavior policy using low-level attestation techniques.     

Ant-based service selection framework for a smart home monitoring environment

Selecting ambient media services in a smart home monitoring environment is challenging. Services in such an environment should be ubiquitous, adaptive, and robust with respect to access and delivery. Many different techniques exist for selecting services in smart environments, for example, dynamic programming, genetic algorithms, and fuzzy logic. However, existing approaches to service selection fail to address the dynamic nature of the services and the requirement of considering the user context and user satisfaction. We address this issue by proposing an ant-inspired service selection framework based on dynamic user preferences and satisfaction. This ant-inspired approach is robust to failures and adaptive to dynamic context. The proposed framework enables different categories of residents (e.g., elderly people, fathers with children, mothers, and so on) to access various media services in such a way that their experiences are optimized with regard to their surrounding environment. Experimental results demonstrate the viability of the proposed framework.     

Genetic algorithm‐based neural‐network modeling approach applied to AlGaN/GaN devices

An accurate equivalent circuit large‐signal model (ECLSM) for AlGaN‐GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is presented. The model is derived from a distributed small‐signal model that efficiently describes the physics of the device. A genetic neural‐network‐based model for the gate and drain currents and charges is presented along with its parameters extraction procedure. This model is embedded in the ECLSM, which is then implemented in CAD software and validated by pulsed and continuous large‐signal measurements of on‐wafer 8 × 125‐μm GaN on SiC substrate HEMT. Pulsed IV simulations show that the model can efficiently describe the bias dependency of trapping and self‐heating effects. Single‐ and two‐tone simulation results show that the model can accurately predict the output power and its harmonics and the associated intermodulation distortion (IMD) under different input‐power and bias conditions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2013.     

Understanding post‐adoption IS usage stages: an empirical assessment of self‐service information systems

Organisations have invested in self‐service information systems (IS) to provide a direct interface for service delivery. Enriching the usage of these systems can provide organisations with immense benefits. However, limited research has been directed towards understanding post‐adoption IS usage behaviour in general and specifically in the context of self‐service IS. This study proposes post‐adoption IS usage behaviour as a broader concept constituting feature level usage of IS, integration of IS in the work system and exploration of new uses of IS. We evaluate how the new conceptualisation can be used to classify users at different stages of self‐service IS usage. Further, we examine user perceptions that differentiate among the users situated at different self‐service IS usage stages. Data were collected in the context of a self‐service Web‐based IS to validate the post‐adoption IS usage constructs and to examine the proposed thesis. The newly developed conceptual structure and measures for post‐adoption IS usage behaviour exhibit strong psychometric properties. The analysis shows three distinct post‐adoption IS usage stages and highlights that usefulness, user‐initiated learning, ease of use, satisfaction and voluntariness of use differentiate users at the different stages of post‐adoption IS usage. The results show that these variables aggregate into value confirmation and learning orientation as two higher‐level concepts. Further, we evaluate the predictive efficacy of the research model in classifying users into different post‐adoption self‐service IS usage stages. Implications are drawn for future research.     

A model-based survey of alert correlation techniques

As telecommunication networks evolve rapidly in terms of scalability, complexity, and heterogeneity, the efficiency of fault localization procedures and the accuracy in the detection of anomalous behaviors are becoming important factors that largely influence the decision making process in large management companies. For this reason, telecommunication companies are doing a big effort investing in new technologies and projects aimed at finding efficient management solutions. One of the challenging issues for network and system management operators is that of dealing with the huge amount of alerts generated by the managed systems and networks. In order to discover anomalous behaviors and speed up fault localization processes, alert correlation is one of the most popular resources. Although many different alert correlation techniques have been investigated, it is still an active research field. In this paper, a survey of the state of the art in alert correlation techniques is presented. Unlike other authors, we consider that the correlation process is a common problem for different fields in the industry. Thus, we focus on showing the broad influence of this problem. Additionally, we suggest an alert correlation architecture capable of modeling current and prospective proposals. Finally, we also review some of the most important commercial products currently available.