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SIWN Abstracts Index
Special Issue on Distributed Agent-based Retrieval Tools Guest Editors: Alessandro Soro and Eloisa Vargiu
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.011 Integrated Attention for Cognitive Robotics Raúl Arrabales, Agapito Ledezma and Araceli Sanchis Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 1-5 Abstract: An autonomous robot is usually expected to perform its assigned task in complex and unstructured environments, where the high amount of sensory information acquired by sensors cannot be entirely processed in real-time. Like in living organisms, an attention mechanism is required in order to select most relevant stimuli from the environment. The outcome of this selection process comprises all the information that will be available to the control system of the robot. Therefore, an optimal operation of the attention mechanism is necessary for robot mission success. In this work, we present a novel cognitive architecture which permits the implementation and integration of efficient attention mechanisms for autonomous robots. Additionally, the application of this approach to the domain of unknown environment exploration is discussed and results are analyzed. Specifically, the influence of attention in the generation of efficient robot behavior is demonstrated. Keywords: attention, cognitive modeling, intelligent agents.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.012 An Agent for Personalized Interaction Giovanni Cozzolongo and Francesca Muci Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 6-10 Abstract: In this paper we describe a personal agent able to employ semantic web tecnologies in combination with user modeling techniques. The agent has the objective to collect information/services useful to different types of customer and to support users in smart environment by personalizing of information and provided services. To achieve this goal the personal agent cooperates with a set of agents able to gather, process and represent all information referring to ontologies. It has been exploited the potential of ontologies and semantic web languages to obtain interoperability and sharing knowledge between communicating parts. Keywords: ontological mediator, personal assistant, user modeling.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.013 Integrating Service Composition with Mobile Code Technologies A. Corradi, A. Landini, E. Lodolo, S. Monti and S. Pasini Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 11-17 Abstract: Service composition is an extremely powerful and versatile way to aggregate and reuse distributed services and software components into richer and complex scenarios. Workflow Management Systems (WFMSs) have emerged as one of the leading technologies to describe, manage, and execute service compositions but typically fail to support distributed scenarios, where distributed services should be invoked in a scalable and effective way. Mobile Agent (MA) platforms are a suitable technology to distribute the execution of complex service compositions, and therefore to enable scalability and improve performance. However, current proposals for MA-based WFMSs still target rather static and poorly distributed scenarios and exploit agent migration benefits only in a partial and insufficient way. Our model proposes to overcome these issues with a richer and more effective agent delegation strategy that can also cope with dynamic scenarios where services can move and replicate, so to achieve not only a better integration, but also the advantage of both technologies. Keywords: distributed system, dynamic binding, mobile agent, service composition, workflow.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.014 Using Well-Known Techniques for Classifying User Behavior Profiles Jose Antonio Iglesias and Agapito Ledezma and Araceli Sanchis Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 18-22 Abstract: The security of a computer is based on the realization of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. A computer can keep track of computer users to improve the security in the system. However, this does not prevent a user from impersonating another user. If a computer system can model the behavior of the users, it can be very beneficial detecting masqueraders, assisting them or predicting their future actions. In this paper, we present three different methods for classifying the behavior of a computer user. The proposed three methods are: Bayesian Netwoks, Hidden Markov Models and a method based on Term Weighting (TFIDF). These three techniques have been chosen because we want to assess pure statistical techniques (Bayesian Networks) and information-oriented techniques (TFIDF) against a technique that appears to be more adequate (at least in principle) for identifying the behavior of users (HMMs). Keywords: Agent behavior, user profile models.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.015 An Evolutionary Approach to Agent-based Pattern Classification Federico Bergenti Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 23-27 Abstract: This paper presents an agent-based approach to pattern classification that intensively uses evolutionary techniques to support supervised learning of classifiers. The paper first provides a formalization of the peculiar sort of agents and multi-agent systems that we consider. Then, a brief description of the adopted evolutionary technique is provided together with a justification for its use. Finally, the proposed approach is embedded into a prototypical, real-world application that offers a solid ground for the concrete assessment of classification performances. The preliminary results that we obtained clearly show that the proposed approach realizes a good trade off between accuracy and speed in a fully distributed and decentralized manner. Keywords: pattern classification, evolutionary method, multiagent system.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.016 A Progressive Filtering Approach to Hierarchical Text Categorization Andrea Addis, Giuliano Armano and Eloisa Vargiu Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 28-32 Abstract: The continuous growth of available document collections makes text categorization a challenging task to be investigated. Real-world scenarios are typically characterized by a huge amount of non relevant documents with respect to the documents a user is really looking for. In this paper, we investigate how the ratio between relevant and non relevant documents affects the performances of a classifier system. In particular, to counterbalance the negative impact of imbalanced inputs, we propose a novel progressive filtering technique. Performed on the RCV1-v2 benchmark, experiments confirm the validity of the approach. Keywords: hierarchical text categorization, information filtering
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.017 Experimenting Combinations of Content-Based and Collaborative Filtering with a Photo Recommender System Maurizio Agelli, Giuliano Armano, Giancarlo Cherchi, Maria Laura Clemente and Daniela Ghironi Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 33-38 Abstract: With the on-going information explosion, it is becoming more and more critical to help users in retrieving items of actual interest. This work describes some experiments carried out in the field of photo recommendation, where a collaborative approach is combined in three different ways with a content-based one, in a scenario composed by few users that are very different among them. The content-based approach is an attempt to improve the performances of the collaborative one, by exploiting the textual descriptions that usually come with photos. Preliminary experiments show that improvements in the precision can be achieved for some users, although - in this particular context - the collaborative approach is on the average preferable. Keywords: user profiling, content-based filtering, collaborative filtering, recommender systems
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.018 Improving Ranked Keyword Search with SENSE: SEmantic N-levels Search Engine Pierpaolo Basile, Annalina Caputo, Marco de Gemmis, Anna Lisa Gentile, Pasquale Lops and Giovanni Semeraro Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 39-45 Abstract: The traditional strategy performed by Information Retrieval (IR) systems is ranked keyword search: For a given query, a list of documents, ordered by relevance, is returned. Relevance computation is primarily driven by a basic stringmatching operation. To date, several attempts have been made to deviate from the traditional keyword search paradigm, often by introducing some techniques to capture word meanings in documents and queries. The general feeling is that dealing explicitly with only semantic information does not improve significantly the performance of text retrieval systems. This paper presents SENSE (SEmantic N-levels Search Engine), an IR system that tries to overcome the limitations of the ranked keyword approach, by introducing semantic levels which integrate (and not simply replace) the lexical level represented by keywords. Semantic levels provide information about word meanings, as described in a reference dictionary, and named entities. We show how SENSE is able to manage documents indexed at three separate levels, keywords, word meanings, and entities, as well as to combine keyword search with semantic information provided by the two other indexing levels. Keywords: information retrieval, semantic search, word sense disambiguation, named entity disambiguation.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.019 Kinetic Mashups: Augmenting physical places with motion-aware services Vincenzo Pallotta Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 46-50 Abstract: In this paper we propose a general framework for enabling a new generation of location-based services through the design motion-aware interaction. In order to validate the proposed solution, we present a mobile collaborative workflow application that allows users to interact with mobile services and to easily customize “just-in-time/place” service provisioning using a mashup-based Web2.0 interface. Keywords: mobile and ubiquitous services, location-based services, kinetic user interfaces, collaboration.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.020 Personalization and Collaborative Filtering for Information Retrieval on the Web Emanuela De Vita, Massimo Deriu, Ivan Marcialis and Gavino Paddeu Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 51-56 Abstract: Monitoring user’s behaviour, learning his interests and building his profile, is a widespread method to design personalized applications which meet better user needs. In this paper we present an approach that uses these three steps in the context of a Web search engines: analyzing the relevant actions in browsing session is possible to identify user’s favorite pages and, knowing what these pages deal with, to learn user’s favorite topics. An application, embedded in the Web browser, has been developed. It is able to accomplish all the tasks previously mentioned; moreover it provides a 3D interface to formulate the query and an innovative visualization, centered on user profile, of the results set. Keywords: personalization, collaborative system, feedback, information retrieval, user modeling, user profiling, search engine, semantic, information retrieval, 3D GUI.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.021 A Pervasive Framework for Multi-Agent Personalization in Smart Homes Sylvain Giroux, Matthieu Castebrunet, Charles Gouin-Vallerand, Bessam Abdulrazak and Vincent Rialle Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 57-61 Abstract: The growing population of cognitively impaired people combined to the scarcity of care giving resources compel for a new vision of assistance at home. But cognitively impaired people do not live alone all the time and the complexity of the devices and the services prevent to involve them in the process. These issues can be tackled in smart homes thanks to autonomic computing, multi-person localization, context awareness, and personalization. First, OSGi has to be adapted for building autonomic pervasive heterogeneous services that can be deployed and managed at distance and that owns self-management features. Then, a context aware multi-agent system for cognitive assistance is built on top of this layer for multi person localization, and personalization when there are many persons in a smart home. Keywords: smart homes, multi-agent, OSGI, contextawareness, personalization, localization, cognitive assistance.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.022 A Semantic Approach for Resource Cataloguing and Query Resolution Angioni Manuela, Demontis Roberto and Tuveri Franco Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 62-66 Abstract: The new generation of search engines is evolving from indexing and classification techniques of web resources to more sophisticated ones focusing on aspects like semantics, geo-referencing of the information, collaboration/distribution. In this paper we describe our work, developed in the DART project, that proposes a semantic approach to address such problems. We developed a module responsible of all semantic activities in the system, able to process and analyze textual documents and user queries by means of a syntactic and a semantic analysis and by means of text categorization techniques. The adoption of a semantic approach for resource cataloguing and query resolution allows filtering the number of results increasing the overall response quality. These techniques allow to process queries formulated in Natural Language ensuring in this manner a better level of relevance of the data provided to the user. Keywords: semantic text categorization, indexing, query analysis, natural language processing.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.023 Semantic Matchmaking via Non-Monotonic Reasoning: The MaMaS-tng Matchmaking Engine Tommaso Di Noia, Eugenio Di Sciascio and Francesco M. Donini Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 67-72 Abstract: In a semanticWeb service (SWS) matchmaking process, given a request, it is obvious that not only a list of services should be returned, but also a ranking of compatible SWSs should be provided. Obviously having semantically annotated services, the ranking should be based evaluating semantic similarity between descriptions. Furthermore, the availability of such descriptions makes explanation of rank possible and can provide useful information in order to modify or refine the original request. Here we summarize results obtained on this challenging topic exploiting non-monotonic inferences in Description Logics, with particular reference to their implementation within the MaMaS-tng engine. Keywords: matchmaking, semantic web, seb services, ranking, abduction, contraction.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.024 Fractal Browsing of Large Geo-Referenced Picture Sets Davide Carboni, Valentina Marotto, Francesco Massidda and Pietro Zanarini Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 73-78 Abstract: Nowadays millions of pictures are available on the Internet, uploaded and shared by large communities of users. With the mass diffusion of GPS devices, both in standalone navigators and in camera enabled PDAs/mobile phones, more and more of these pictures will be automatically georeferenced. Internet users need more effective tools and new interfaces in order to better find the pictures they are looking for. In this paper we describe some lessons learned about the visualization of large collections of geo-referenced pictures, which led us to the development of a novel User Interface (UI) approach. Keywords: geo-data, mobile applications, GPS, photo browsing, geo-browsing, maps, web.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.025 Collaborative Information Retrieval on Multitouch Interactive Walls Alessandro Soro and Gavino Paddeu and Stefano Sanna Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 79-83 Abstract: In this paper a novel framework for collaborative information retrieval is presented that exploits the combined use of cell phones and multi-user interactive walls to allow users to collaboratively explore the results of a search query. The user interface spreads among several displays; shared information is displayed on a large multi-touch interactive screen to be freely explored and manipulated. The cell phone serves for text entry, 3d pointing, user identification and to store/execute personal data/applications. User profiles and document classification are provided by the underlying query system and are exploited to visually enhance the relevance of documents with respect to any given user. Users’ gestures in turn are interpreted and fed back to the query system to improve user profiles and document classification. Keywords: multi-touch, information retrieval, collaborative, multi-user, mobile, cell, phone, graspable, tangible.
Special Issue Reproduced from Volume 1 (July 2008) of Sinoeuropean Engineering Research Forum
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.030 Modelling Information in a Three-Dimensional System for a Contribution to the Agility of an Enterprise Information System Hakima Mellah and Salima Hassas and Habiba Drias Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 84-89 Abstract: In this work we are interested in apprehending information complexity that is issued from interacting information sources, existing within an organization. We propose a model of representation according to a threedimensional view which dimensions are the content, use and structure. This allows reflecting the information complexity in order to better exploit it. This three-dimensional view allows reflecting the information complexity in order to better exploit it. In distributed information sources system, relevant information cannot be isolated. It has a content that is in connection with other contents in information network, and is used for a certain purpose, itself in relation to other uses and other contents. The main point of this work is to contribute to information system (IS) agility and enable selforganization of distributed IS (distributed Information Sources) networking structured. Keywords: agility, complexity, service discovery, self organisation, information semantic.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.031 An Clustering Algorithm for Block Mobility in Ad-hoc Network Hua Long, Joan Lu, Guantao Shao and Jim Yip Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 90-94 Abstract: This paper presents a block mobility judgment that uses the matrix of similarity neighbor at the different time according to character of block mobility. A new clustering algorithms, called Block Mobility Over Clustering Algorithm (BMOC), is proposed based on a block mobility judgment and traditional LCC (Least Cluster-head Change) algorithms. The performances of the algorithm are analyzed by simulation experiments. The results show that BMOC algorithm can significantly improve the performances when there is block mobility in network than LCC’s. Keywords: clustering algorithms, mobility judgment, performance, simulation
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.032 Throughput Computation Method of Network with ECMA-68 Jin Tian Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 95-99 Abstract: The ECMA-368 system has been considered as one of the most potential solutions for the Physical layer (PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) of the next generation of WPANs. In addition to the high PHY data rates, the ECMA-368 system provides also high MAC efficiency, especially for the high speed burst transmission and frames of small size. In this work we concentrate on the analysis of ECMA-368 MAC layer efficiency via calculating the Theoretical Maximum Throughput (TMT) and network throughput. The numerical results are presented for the efficiency evaluation of ECMA-368 MAC. Keywords: European Computer Manufactures Association (ECMA), Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), Medium Access Control (MAC), Distributed Reservation Protocol (DRP), Quality of Service (QoS), Ultra Wide band (UWB)
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.033 Performance of Static Agent Architecture Using Centralized Matchmaking Zafer Erenel, Selahattin Kuru and Atilla Elci Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 100-105 Abstract: Large-scale network environments such as the internet possess characteristics of distributed data and distributed access. This gives users a powerful mechanism for building and integrating large amounts of distributed information from diverse sources. However few support tools have been developed for users to sift through this vast amount of information. In this paper, agent-based information architecture is introduced aiming to assist user in gathering and integrating distributed information. Initially, integration of two entities, task agent and user agent, is examined. User agents create a user profile, and task agent within information integration architecture provides the desired information to the user agents. Text-based information is the main interest in this work due to its high significance in our daily lives. Thus, information integration architecture gathers and combines information from multiple users and presents the end users with combined information using a task agent. Limits of the population size within this architecture are determined using centralized matchmaking. Keywords: multiagent systems, matchmaking, static agents, task agents, e-commerce, information integration.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.034 On the Perspective Design of MAC Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks Jia-ling Liu, Yan-bing Liu, Wen-xu Guo and Hong Tang Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 106-110 Abstract: Various medium access control (MAC) protocols with different objectives have been proposed for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Majority of the works appearing in the literature are focusing only on energy efficiency. There is much more innovative work to be done at the MAC layer, such as mobility, traffic pattern, and secure issues in WSNs, but few efforts are addressing these hard unsolved problems. In this paper, we discuss and analyze the techniques referring to these issues through several typical MAC protocols for WSNs. We outline the problems of current design and present open issues in the future research of MAC protocols design for WSNs. Keywords: energy efficiency, medium access control, mobility, security, traffic pattern, wireless sensor networks.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.035 Theoretical Framework for Packet Scheduling in Routers Malika Bourenane and Djillali Benhamamouch Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 111-116 Abstract: We present in this paper an algorithm for a reinforcement learning multi-agent system in order to optimize the packet scheduling problem in routers. We consider autonomous and independently learning agents and we seek to obtain an optimal solution for the set while keeping the learning as much decentralized as possible. Coordination between agents occurs through indirect communication, using mobile agents as an ant colony. We adopt the framework of Markov decision processes applied to multi-agent system and present a pheromone_Q-learning approach which combines the standard Q-learning technique with a synthetic pheromone that acts as a communication medium speeding up the learning process of cooperating agents. Keywords: multi-agent system, reinforcement learning, MMDP, mobile agent, ant colony, packet scheduling
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.036 The Conception of Abstract Programming Alexander V. Sosnitsky Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 117-123 Abstract: A new approach to the construction of programs is offered on the basis of the so-called closed abstract conceptual models of the World phenomena. The abstract conceptual models are deduced from the initial system of the World categories by special research of the author and represent the highest level of abstraction of the real World. The basic components of models and procedures of their processing are defined. The general mechanisms of formation and development of such models on the basis of the superlaw of the World Harmony are shown. The initial classification of harmonizers is made. The basic mechanisms of processing models as the beginning of procedures of identification, copying, abstraction, concretization, closure, virtualization, research, decision-making and realization are determined. They have universal character and result in the unification of programs. The programs finally lose the algorithmic properties and strengthen copying abilities, turning into a continuous, dynamic, cognitive and supervising process. The research has qualitative high-level abstract character for further theoretical and applied research and development. Keywords: abstract conceptual programming, abstract World theory, artificial intelligence, closed abstract conceptual models, harmonic phenomena classification, harmonic stages, super-law of Harmony.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.037 An IT System for Energy Economy Jiang Tian Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 124-128 Abstract: China economy’s mounting up results in the huge demands for energy, and the energy crisis promotes the development of energy economy. Energy economy covers the demand and supply, resource collocation, and energy trade. Information technology, the represent of the modern science and technology in this era, makes significant impacts upon energy economy. With energy economy perspective this paper analyzes impacts, the penetration and development tendency of information technology in energy economy, and a new IT system for energy economy is proposed which extends the research range for traditional energy economy, and provides a new opinion to solve the serious energy problems encountered in the world. Keywords: energy, energy economy, IT, IT system
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.038 Customer Knowledge from Transactional Database: Making the Data Work Filipe Mota Pinto, Alzira Marques and Manuel Filipe Santos Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 129-133 Abstract: Marketing databases are currently one of the most important resources in any marketing departments. Regarding their customer knowledge needs many of them had develop their own database repository system. Although it immediate usefulness, as long as their databases were growing that behavior had revealed insufficient and created others barriers to their customer knowledge acquisition process, like data quality or data heterogeneity problems. This paper focuses one relationship marketing program that was conceived to be supported by a huge marketing database. Although database’s dimension it has many structural problems that had conditioned the initial approach. During his work it was proposed and developed a knowledge discovery in databases process using data mining algorithms in order to answer to marketers’ questions: which customers uses a promotional voucher? Which are they main characteristics?. The results show great promise as the predictive accuracy of the integrated self organized maps with decision tree C5 algorithm. Keywords: data mining, database marketing, marketing databases, knowledge.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.039 AutoScale: A Prototype Application To Automatically Scale Legacy Servers Using AOP and SOA Ioannis Polyzos and Huaglory Tianfield Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 134-145 Abstract: This work introduces the concept of Aspect- Oriented Programming and how it can be used for a new approach that would allow basic Plain Old Java Object (POJO) based client/server applications, that were not written to scale past a single server, to be automatically scaled over multiple servers without changing the existing source code and with minimal human effort using Service-Oriented Architecture. Keywords: aspect-oriented programming, service-oriented architecture, scalability, legacy.
sai: cosiwn.2008.08.040 Success Factors for Retail Logistics in an E-Commerce-Environment Anke Jasper and Matthias Klumpp Communications of SIWN, Vol. 5, August 2008, pp. 146-151 Abstract: Retail logistics by itself is a complex task due to different products, time schedules and lot sizes. In e-commerce suitable e-logistics processes are usually one of the cornerstones of a successful online retail channel. But as this analysis of success factors for e-logistics in the online environment shows, the realtionship is also characterised by dependencies the other way round as logistics depends on e.g. attractive and online presentable products as well as low return ratios of the product sold online. Therefore e-logistics and e-commerce should be developed together in retail companies in order to achieve a successful supply chain and business model. Keywords: e-logistics, e-commerce, retail logistics, success factor analysis.
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