ICEIS 2012 Abstracts

Area 1 - Databases and Information Systems Integration
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 2 - Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 3 - Information Systems Analysis and Specification
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 4 - Software Agents and Internet Computing
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 5 - Human-Computer Interaction
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 6 - Enterprise Architecture
Full Papers Short Papers

Area 1 - Databases and Information Systems Integration

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 98
Title:

Social Information Systems - The End of Shadow Applications?
Authors:

Marc Quast and Mark J. Handel
Abstract: In large corporations, line-of-business organizations frequently introduce unofficial “shadow” applications to work around the limitations of the established information system. This paper presents a software architecture designed to alleviate this phenomenon, and reuses examples from a recent industry experience report to demonstrate how shadow application proliferation could be avoided without sacrificing flexibility and reactivity. We present the initial results of our prototype, and discuss the possibility of a social information system designed to both reduce the present chaos and enable the cooperative design and evolution of business applications.
Download
Paper Nr: 144
Title:

An Efficient Sampling Scheme for Approximate Processing of Decision Support Queries
Authors:

Amit Rudra, Raj Gopalan and Narasimaha Achuthan
Abstract: Decision support queries usually involve accessing enormous amount of data requiring significant retrieval time. Faster retrieval of query results can often save precious time for the decision maker. Pre-computation of materialised views and sampling are two ways of achieving significant speed up. However, drawing random samples for queries on range restricted attributes has two problems: small random samples may miss relevant records and drawing larger samples from disk can be inefficient due to the large number of disk accesses required. In this paper, we propose an efficient indexing scheme for quickly drawing relevant samples for data warehouse queries as well as propose the concepts of database and sample relevancy ratios. We describe a method for estimating query results for range restricted queries using this index and experimentally evaluate the scheme using a relatively large real dataset. Further, we compute the confidence intervals for the estimates to investigate whether the results can be guaranteed to be within the desired level of confidence. Our experiments on data from a retail data warehouse show promising results. We also report the levels of accuracy achieved for various types of aggregate queries and relate them to the database relevancy ratios of the queries.
Download
Paper Nr: 151
Title:

Using Formal Concept Analysis to Extract a Greatest Common Model
Authors:

Bastien Amar, Abdoulkader Osman Guédi, André Miralles, Marianne Huchard, Thérèse Libourel and Clémentine Nebut
Abstract: Data integration and knowledge capitalization combine data and information coming from different data sources designed by different experts having different purposes. In this paper, we propose to assist the underlying model merging activity. For close models made by experts of various specialities, we partially automate the identification of a Greatest Common Model (GCM) which is composed of the common concepts (coreconcepts) of the different models. Our methodology is based on Formal Concept Analysis which is a method of data analysis based on lattice theory. A decision tree allows to semi-automatically classify concepts from the concept lattices and assist the GCM extraction. We apply our approach on the EIS-Pesticide project, an environmental information system which aims at centralizing knowledge and information produced by different specialized teams.
Download
Paper Nr: 152
Title:

A Service-based Integration for an improved Product Lifecycle Management
Authors:

Stefan Silcher, Max Dinkelmann, Jorge Minguez and Bernhard Mitschang
Abstract: The continuously changing environment is nowadays a major challenge for companies. The tough competition, growing customization of products and environmental regulations forces companies to continuously adapt their business processes. In order to manage the complexity and reduce the effort for developing products and production, many IT systems are indispensable. Despite Product Lifecycle Management Technology (PLM) the growing heterogeneous IT landscapes lack of a continuous support for business processes and get quickly unmanageable. In this paper PLM technology is extended by a service-based integration approach. Therefore, a modular service-based architecture was developed which will be presented in detail. The architecture describes how the whole product life cycle can be integrated more efficiently. The characteristics and findings of our approach are presented as well as a first prototype covering the production planning.
Download
Paper Nr: 185
Title:

Bayesian Networks for Matcher Composition in Automatic Schema Matching
Authors:

Daniel Nikovski, Alan Esenther, Xiang Ye, Mitsuteru Shiba and Shigenobu Takayama
Abstract: We propose a method for accurate combining of evidence supplied by multiple individual matchers regarding whether two data schema elements match (refer to the same object or concept), or not, in the field of automatic schema matching. The method uses a Bayesian network to model correctly the statistical correlations between the similarity values produced by individual matchers that use the same or similar information, in order to avoid overconfidence in match probability estimates and improve the accuracy of matching. Experimental results under several testing protocols suggest that the matching accuracy of the Bayesian composite matcher can significantly exceed that of the individual component matchers.
Download
Paper Nr: 188
Title:

A Temporal Search Engine to Improve Geographic Data Retrieval in Spatial Data Infrastructures
Authors:

Fabio Gomes de Andrade, Cláudio de Souza Baptista and Ulrich Schiel
Abstract: Recently, spatial data infrastructures have become an important solution to ease the finding of geographical data offered by different organizations. Nevertheless, the catalog services provided by these infrastructures still have some important drawbacks that limit the geographic information retrieval based on temporal constraints. Examples of these drawbacks include the lack of both a more detailed description of temporal information, and ranking. Aiming to overcome these limitations, this paper describes a new temporal search engine for solving feature type retrieval offered by catalog services. To reach this goal, our search engine is based on a model that stores temporal information about each service and its respective feature types described in the SDI catalog service. Moreover, the paper proposes a temporal ranking metric to evaluate the relevance of each feature type retrieved for the user’s query.
Download
Paper Nr: 197
Title:

SNMPFS - An SNMP Filesystem
Authors:

Rui Pedro Lopes, Tiago Pedrosa and Luís Pires
Abstract: The intensive operation of constantly growing, heterogeneous networks is a challenging task. Besides the increase in size and complexity, data networks have become a critical factor for the success of many organizations. During the last decade, many network management architectures where developed and standardized, aiming at the definition of an open environment to control and optimize its operation. Many of these architectures use specific protocols and specialized tools, to allow remote monitoring and configuration of network equipment and computational platforms. One of the best well known paradigms of human-computer interaction is the file concept and the associated file system. Files have been around since early days in the personal computer industry and users are perfectly comfortable associating the work produced in applications to be stored in medium. In this paper we propose a file system interface to network management information, allowing users to open, edit and visualize network and systems operation information.
Download
Paper Nr: 240
Title:

Mining Generalized Association Rules using Fuzzy Ontologies with Context-based Similarity
Authors:

Rodrigo Moura Juvenil Ayres and Marilde Terezinha Prado Santos
Abstract: In crisp contexts taxonomies are used in different steps of the mining process. When the objective is the generalization they are used, manly, in the pre-processing or post-processing stages. On the other hand, in fuzzy contexts, fuzzy taxonomies are used, mainly, in the pre-processing step, during the generation of extended transactions. A great problem of such transactions is related to the generation of huge amount of candidates and rules. Beyond that, the inclusion of ancestors in the same ends up generating problems of redundancy. Besides, it is possible to see that many works have directed efforts for the question of mining fuzzy rules, exploring linguistic terms, but few approaches have proposed new steps of the mining process. In this sense, this paper propose the Context FOntGAR algorithm, a new algorithm for mining generalized association rules under all levels of fuzzy ontologies composed by specialization/generalization degrees varying in the interval [0,1]. In order to obtain more semantic enrichment, the rules may be composed by similarity relations, which are represented at the fuzzy ontologies in different contexts. In this work the generalization is done during the post-processing step. Other relevant points are the specification of a generalization approach; including a grouping rules treatment, and an efficient way of calculating both support and confidence of generalized rules during this step.
Download
Short Papers
Paper Nr: 14
Title:

Product Quantization for Vector Retrieval with No Error
Authors:

Andrzej Wichert
Abstract: We propose a coding mechanism for less costly exact vector retrieval for data bases representing vectors. The search starts at the subspace with the lowest dimension. In this subspace, the set of all possible similar vectors is determined. In the next subspace, additional metric information corresponding to a higher dimension is used to reduce this set. We demonstrate the method performing experiments on image retrieval on one thousand gray images of the size 128×96. Our model is twelve times less complex than a list matching.
Download
Paper Nr: 19
Title:

A Constraint-based Mining Approach for Multi-attribute Index Selection
Authors:

B. Ziani, F. Rioult and Y. Ouinten
Abstract: The index selection problem (ISP) concerns the selection of an appropriate indexes set to minimize the total cost for a given workload under storage constraint. Since the ISP has been proven to be an NP-hard problem, most studies focus on heuristic algorithms to obtain approximate solutions. The problem becomes more difficult for indexes defined on multiple tables such as bitmap join indexes, since it requires the exploration of a large search space. Studies dealing with the problem of selecting bitmap join indexes mainly focused on proposing pruning solutions of the search space by the means of data mining techniques or heuristic strategies. The main shortcoming of these approaches is that the indexes selection process is performed in two steps. The generation of a large number of indexes is followed by a pruning phase. An alternative is to constrain the input data earlier in the selection process thereby reducing the output size to directly discover indexes that are of interest for the administrator. For example, to select a set of indexes, the administrator may put limits on the number of attributes or the cardinality of the attributes to be included in the indexes configuration he is seeking. In this paper we addressed the bitmap join indexes selection problem using a constraint-based approach. Unlike previous approaches, the selection is performed in one step by introducing constraints in the selection process. The proposed approach is evaluated using APB-1 benchmark.
Download
Paper Nr: 27
Title:

A UML & Spatial OCL based Approach for Handling Quality Issues in SOLAP Systems
Authors:

Kamal Boulil, Sandro Bimonte and Francois Pinet
Abstract: Spatial Data warehouses and Spatial OLAP systems are Business Intelligence technologies allowing efficient and interactive analysis of large geo-referenced datasets. In such a kind of systems the goodness of analysis depends on: the warehoused data quality, how aggregations are performed, and how warehoused data are explored. In this paper, we propose a framework based on a UML profile and OCL-defined integrity constraints to grant quality in the whole SOLAP system. We also propose an automatic implementation in a classical ROLAP architecture to validate our proposal.
Download
Paper Nr: 46
Title:

Labeling Methods for Association Rule Clustering
Authors:

Veronica Oliveira de Carvalho, Daniel Savoia Biondi, Fabiano Fernandes dos Santos and Solange Oliveira Rezende
Abstract: Although association mining has been highlighted in the last years, the huge number of rules that are generated hamper its use. To overcome this problem, many post-processing approaches were suggested, such as clustering, which organizes the rules in groups that contain, somehow, similar knowledge. Nevertheless, clustering can aid the user only if good descriptors be associated with each group. This is a relevant issue, since the labels will provide to the user a view of the topics to be explored, helping to guide its search. This is interesting, for example, when the user doesn’t have, a priori, an idea where to start. Thus, the analysis of different labeling methods for association rule clustering is important. Considering the exposed arguments, this paper analyzes some labeling methods through two measures that are proposed. One of them, Precision, measures how much the methods can find labels that represent as accurately as possible the rules contained in its group and Repetition Frequency determines how the labels are distributed along the clusters. As a result, it was possible to identify the methods and the domain organizations with the best performances that can be applied in clusters of association rules.
Download
Paper Nr: 53
Title:

Modeling the Performance and Scalability of a SAP ERP System using an Evolutionary Algorithm
Authors:

Daniel Tertilt, André Bögelsack and Helmut Krcmar
Abstract: Simulating the performance behavior of complex software systems, like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, is a hard task due to the high number of system components when using a white box simulation approach. This paper utilizes a black box approach for establishing a simulation model for SAP ERP systems on the basis of real world performance data, which is gathered by using a synthetic benchmark. In this paper we introduce the benchmark, called Zachmanntest, and demonstrate that by using an evolutionary algorithm basing on the results of the Zachmanntest, the exact performance behavior of the ERP system can be modeled. Our work provides insights on how the algorithm is parameterized e.g. for the mutation and crossover probability, to receive optimal results. Furthermore we show that the evolutionary algorithm models the performance and scalability of an ERP system with an error less than 3.2%. With this approach we are able to build simulation models representing the exact performance behavior of a SAP ERP system with much less effort than required when using a white box simulation approach.
Download
Paper Nr: 74
Title:

Modeling Structural, Temporal and Behavioral Features of a Real-Time Database
Authors:

Nada Louati, Rafik Bouaziz, Claude Duvallet and Bruno Sadeg
Abstract: Real-time databases are different from traditional databases in that they have timing constraints on data and on transactions upon the data. The design of this kind of databases must consider both temporal aspects of data and timing constraint of transactions in addition to the logical constraints of the database. This paper proposes a new UML profile that extends UML with concepts related to real-time databases design. These extensions aim to accomplish the conceptual modeling of a real-time database according to three aspects: structural, temporal and behavioral. Our propositions is based on MARTE (Modeling and Analysis of Real-Time and Embedded systems) profile which provides capabilities of modeling concepts to deal with real-time and embedded system features. The proposed profile is illustrated by a case study in the context of Ait Traffic Control System.
Download
Paper Nr: 86
Title:

Database Schema Elicitation to Modernize Relational Databases
Authors:

Ricardo Pérez-Castillo, Ignacio García Rodríguez de Guzmán, Danilo Caivano and Mario Piattini
Abstract: Legacy enterprise systems mainly consist of two kinds of artefacts: source code and databases. Typically, the maintenance of those artefacts is carried out through re-engineering processes in isolated manners. However, for a more effective maintenance of the whole system both should be analysed and evolved jointly according to ADM (Architecture-Driven Modernization) approach. Thus, the ROI and the lifespan of the legacy system are expected to improve. In this sense, this paper proposes the schema elicitation technique for recovering the relational database schema that is minimally used by the source code. For this purpose, the technique analyses database queries embedded in the legacy source code in order to remove the dead parts of the database schema. Also, this proposal has been validated throughout a real-life case study.
Download
Paper Nr: 89
Title:

Data Processing Modeling in Decision Support Systems
Authors:

Concepción M. Gascueña and Rafael Guadalupe
Abstract: Due to the advancement of both, information technology in general, and databases in particular; data storage devices are becoming cheaper and data processing speed is increasing. As result of this, organizations tend to store large volumes of data holding great potential information. Decision Support Systems, DSS try to use the stored data to obtain valuable information for organizations. In this paper, we use both data models and use cases to represent the functionality of data processing in DSS following Software Engineering processes. We propose a methodology to develop DSS in the Analysis phase, respective of data processing modeling. We have used, as a starting point, a data model adapted to the semantics involved in multidimensional databases or data warehouses, DW. Also, we have taken an algorithm that provides us with all the possible ways to automatically cross check multidimensional model data. Using the aforementioned, we propose diagrams and descriptions of use cases, which can be considered as patterns representing the DSS functionality, in regard to DW data processing, DW on which DSS are based. We highlight the reusability and automation benefits that this can be achieved, and we think this study can serve as a guide in the development of DSS.
Download
Paper Nr: 95
Title:

Changing Concepts in Human-Computer-Interaction in Real-time Enterprise Systems - Introducing a Concept for Intuitive Decision Support in SCM Scenarios
Authors:

Christian Lambeck, Dirk Schmalzried, Rainer Alt and Rainer Groh
Abstract: In current research, Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) are increasingly based on In-Memory-Technologies, resulting in extremely fast response times for a multitude of typical system requests. In addition, up-to-date hardware configurations apply multi-core processing units, which lead to an availability of immense computing power. Instead of a single result value, a whole result set is calculated within the same period of time. Because of these dramatic changes in technology, many business processes, currently still characterized by mask and dialog oriented user interfaces, will change to interactive and simulation based approaches. This allows for the introduction of innovative, interactive and simulation based business processes instead of conventional batch oriented ones. In the combination of the described interaction concept in this contribution and the handing of result sets as described above, the authors expect a fusion of operational (e.g. supply chain management) and analytical (e.g. business intelligence) application systems. To achieve this goal, the usage of assessment functions for weighting results, multi-dimensional result space folding based on similarity measures and visualizations using 3D-landscapes based on radial basis functions is suggested.
Download
Paper Nr: 165
Title:

MQL: A Mapping Management Language for Model-based Databases
Authors:

Valéry Téguiak, Yamine Ait-Ameur, Stéphane Jean and Éric Sardet
Abstract: Nowadays model mapping plays a crucial role in applications manipulating various heterogeneous sources (data integration and exchange, datawarehouse, etc.). Users need to query a given data source and still obtain results from other mapped sources. If many model management systems have been proposed that support highlevel operators on model mappings, a more flexible approach is needed supporting the querying of mapping models and the propagation of queries through mappings. As a solution, we present, in this paper, a mapping based query language called MQL (Mapping Query Language). MQL extends the SQL language with new operators to exploit mappings. We show the interest of this language for the multi-model ontology design methodology proposed in the DaFOE4App (Differential and Formal Ontology Editor for Application) project.
Download
Paper Nr: 210
Title:

DISEArch - A Strategy for Searching Electronic Medical Health Records
Authors:

David Elias Peña Clavijo, Alexandra Pomares Quimbaya and Rafael A. Gonzalez
Abstract: This paper proposes DISEArch, a novel strategy for searching electronic health records (EHR) of patients that have a specific disease. The objective of DISEArch is to enhance research activities on disease analysis allowing researchers to describe the disease they are interested on, and providing them the EHRs that best match their description. Its principle is to improve the precision of searching EHRs combining the analysis of structured attributes with the analysis of narrative text attributes producing a semantic ranking of EHRs with respect to a given disease. DISEArch is useful in medical systems where the information about the primary diagnosis of patients may be hidden in narrative text hindering the automatic detection of relevant records for clinical studies.
Download
Paper Nr: 212
Title:

Adaptive Data Distribution for Collaboration
Authors:

Luis Guillermo Torres-Ribero and Alexandra Pomares Quimbaya
Abstract: This paper presents an adaptive data distribution model for mobile collaborative applications called ADDOCO. Its goal is to adapt the way data is disseminated in environments where Internet is not always available to create a collaboration network. In this kind of environments, ADDOCO allows to send and retrieve information that otherwise would be unavailable. The dynamic information dissemination model of ADDOCO was tested in a collaboration application using smartphones proving its utility to enhance the distribution of the required information.
Download
Paper Nr: 266
Title:

Optimizing Data Integration Queries over Web Data Sources (OPTIQ)
Authors:

Muhammad Intizar Ali
Abstract: Nowadays data integration must deal with a far more in-congruent environment than in the pre-Web era. There are multiple efforts to design new query languages (which we hereafter call “data integration query languages”), that combine the features of two or more existing well established query languages to integrate data. However modern data integration applications still face many challenges while executing data integration queries over web data sources. Currently data integration queries are just focused on data integration while optimized query plan generation for such queries has not been extensively studied. Higher query processing time, data shipping and transformation on the fly, complicated syntax, efforts required to learn a new query language and limitation imposed on query languages are also a big hindrance in the emergence and wide adoption of the data integration query languages. In this paper, we have optimized data integration queries by parallel and distributed query processing over heterogeneous web data sources. We combine the data integration capabilities of the XSPARQL (a data integration query language for XML and RDF data sources) with the distributed and parallel query execution capabilities of DeXIN (a framework for highly distributed large web data sources integration). Parallel query processing suits very well for data integration of web data sources because of the highly distributed nature of the web. Experimental results are also evident of better performance of optimized query processing by parallelizing the data integration query processing. In the later part of this paper we argue that availability of an easy to use visual editor for data integration queries will greatly help in wide adoption and usage of data integration query language for web data sources integration.
Paper Nr: 267
Title:

An Idea for Universal Generator of Hypotheses
Authors:

Grete Lind and Rein Kuusik
Abstract: We know that the task of Machine Learning (ML) is defined as finding of rules for the class on the basis of learning examples for classification of unknown object(s). But we can use rules also for describing the class data– who/what are they? which is the task of Data Analysis and Data Mining. There are several methods for solving this task, for example, Determination Analysis (DA) and Generator of Hypotheses (GH). In the paper we describe an idea for Universal Generator of Hypotheses, the complex method which can solve the tasks of DA and GH and several new ones.
Download
Paper Nr: 282
Title:

Investigation of Criteria for Selection of ERP Systems
Authors:

Bálint Molnár, Gyula Szabó and András Benczúr
Abstract: The application and introduction of ERP systems have become a central issue for management and operation of enterprises. The competition on market enforces the improvement and optimization of business processes at enterprises to increase their efficiency, effectiveness, and to manage better the resources outside of the company. The primary task of ERP systems is to achieve the before-mentioned objectives. For this reason the selection of a particular ERP system has a decisive effect on the future operation and profitability of the enterprise, i.e. the selection phase is highly relevant step within the introduction and implementation stage of an ERP system. The issues that are worth investigating are the criteria applied at the decision. The qualitative correlation between the size of enterprises, market position, etc. and the applied selection criteria for ERP systems could be analyzed as to whether which criteria are made use of at multinational enterprises or at SMEs. Our research is grounded in a literature review and case studies of everyday practice related to introduction, implementation and roll-out of ERP systems and it tries to provide answers for the above raised questions.
Download
Paper Nr: 110
Title:

Modeling Dynamic Systems for Diagnosis - PEPA/TOM4D Comparison
Authors:

I. Fakhfakh, M. Le Goc, L. Torres and C. Curt
Abstract: Researchers have long been seeking the most suitable formalism and method to build models of dynamic systems for diagnostic tasks. In this paper, we claim that the main difficulty stems from the lack of global formalism capable of taking into account structural, functional and behavioral knowledge. To illustrate this point, we propose a comparison between two modeling approaches.
Download
Paper Nr: 113
Title:

On the Efficient Construction of Query Optimizers for Distributed Heterogeneous Information Systems - A Generic Framework
Authors:

Tianxiao Liu, Dominique Laurent and Tuyêt Trâm Dang Ngoc
Abstract: It is now common practice to address queries to Distributed Heterogeneous Information Systems (DHIS). In such a setting, the issue of query optimization becomes crucial, and more complex than in centralized homogeneous approaches. Indeed, the optimization processing must be as flexible as possible so as to apply to different database models, and integrate different cost models. In this paper, we present a generic framework for query optimization in the context of DHISs, with the goal of facilitating the implementation of efficient query optimizers. To this end, we identify all necessary components for building such a query optimizer and we define the basic functions that have to be implemented. Moreover, we report on experiments showing that our approach allows for an efficient query optimization in the context of DHISs.
Download
Paper Nr: 115
Title:

Proactive Monitoring of Moving Objects
Authors:

Fábio da Costa Albuquerque, Ivanildo Barbosa, Marco Antonio Casanova, Marcelo Tílio Monteiro de Carvalho and Jose Antonio Macedo
Abstract: Positioning systems, combined with inexpensive communication technologies, open interesting possibilities to implement real-time applications that monitor moving objects and that support decision making. This paper first discusses basic requirements for proactive real-time monitoring applications. Then, it proposes an architecture to deploy applications that monitor moving objects, are pro-active, explore trajectory semantics and are sensitive to environment dynamics. The central argument is that proactive monitoring based on process models, such as workflows, is a promising strategy to enhance applications that control moving objects. Finally, to validate the proposed architecture, the paper presents a prototype application to monitor a fleet of trucks. The application uses workflows to model truck trips and features a module to extract data from the Web which helps detect changes on road conditions.
Download
Paper Nr: 128
Title:

Static Parameter Binding Approach for Web Service Mashup Modeling
Authors:

Eunjung Lee and Hyung-Joo Joo
Abstract: The most essential aspect of integrating web services to create mashups is determining parameter bindings for the connected requests. However, binding multiple parameters from a large and complicated xml tree is something that has not been discussed in the literature. In this paper, we presented a multi-parameter binding algorithm for repeated and nested xml trees. Moreover, we are interested in context-based parameter bindings, for scenarios where the user selects a certain context node. The proposed binding approach allows for the automatic integration of methods, even when the binding data is inside a repeated group or deep in the nested level. As a result, we can generate navigation menus depending on the contexts for the bound methods. In addition, we present a method for generating navigation codes (context menus) for the mashup views, using the parameter bindings. To demonstrate the usability of the proposed approach, we present an example of a course registration system.
Download
Paper Nr: 143
Title:

Generalized Independent Subqueries Method
Authors:

Tomasz Marek Kowalski, Radosław Adamus, Jacek Wiślicki and Michał Bleja
Abstract: The following paper presents generalisation of the independent subquery method for object-oriented query languages. A subquery is considered independent if none of involved names is bound in a stack section opened by a currently evaluated non-algebraic operator. Optimisation of such a subquery is accomplished by factoring it out from a loop implied by its query operator. We generalise the method to factor out also subqueries that are evaluated only in a context of independent subqueries of a given query. The query is rewritten to an equivalent form ensuring much better performance. Our research bases on the Stack-Based Architecture of query languages having roots in semantics of programming languages. The paper illustrates the method on an comprehensive example and finally presents the general rewriting rule.
Download
Paper Nr: 208
Title:

Benchmarking with TPC-H on Off-the-Shelf Hardware - An Experiments Report
Authors:

Anna Thanopoulou, Paulo Carreira and Helena Galhardas
Abstract: Most medium-sized enterprises run their databases on inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware; still, they need quick answers to complex queries, like ad-hoc Decision Support System (DSS) ones. Thus, it is important that the chosen database system and its tuning be optimal for the specific database size and design. Such choice can be made in-house, based on tests with academic database benchmarks. This paper focuses on the TPC-H database benchmark that aims at measuring the performance of ad-hoc DSS queries. Since official TPC-H results feature large databases and run on high-end hardware, we attempt to assess whether the test is meaningfully downscalable and can be performed on off-the-shelf hardware. We present the benchmark and the steps that a non-expert must take to run the tests. In addition, we report our own benchmark tests, comparing an open-source and a commercial database server running on off-the-shelf hardware when varying parameters that affect the performance of DSS queries.
Download
Paper Nr: 221
Title:

Business Intelligence - Definitions, Managerial Effects and Aspects: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors:

Dalia Al-Eisawi and Mark Lycett
Abstract: This paper presents findings from the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on Business Intelligence (BI), to clarify key definition alongside managerial effects resulting from its implementation in organizations. In doing this, the paper aims to assist organizations, decision makers, managers and information system researchers to validate the existing state of research in BI motivation. The review highlights gaps in the presented body of existing literature, contradictory answers in relation to BI definition and aspects, in addition, uncovers themes significant to BI implementation that are not well addressed in the literature. The need for empirical research is also highlighted, as the majority of the articles analyzed are at the conceptual and/or theoretical level. In addition, the research recognized a connection between a set of different managerial aspects affected by BI.
Download

Area 2 - Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 111
Title:

Design of Human-computer Interfaces in Scheduling Applications
Authors:

Anna Prenzel and Georg Ringwelski
Abstract: There are many algorithms to solve scheduling problems, but in practice the knowledge of human experts almost always needs to be involved to get satisfiable solutions. In this paper, we describe a set of decision support features that can be used to improve human computer interfaces for scheduling. They facilitate and optimize human decisions at all stages of the scheduling procedure. Based on a study with 35 test subjects and overall 105 hours of usability testing we verify that the use of the features improves both quality and practicability of the produced schedules.
Download
Paper Nr: 175
Title:

Unified Algorithm to Improve Reinforcement Learning in Dynamic Environments - An Instance-based Approach
Authors:

Richardson Ribeiro, Fábio Favarim, Marco A. C. Barbosa, André Pinz Borges, Osmar Betazzi Dordal, Alessandro L. Koerich and Fabrício Enembreck
Abstract: This paper presents an approach for speeding up the convergence of adaptive intelligent agents using reinforcement learning algorithms. Speeding up the learning of an intelligent agent is a complex task since the choice of inadequate updating techniques may cause delays in the learning process or even induce an unexpected acceleration that causes the agent to converge to a non- satisfactory policy. We have developed a technique for estimating policies which combines instance-based learning and reinforcement learning algorithms in Markovian environments. Experimental results in dynamic environments of different dimensions have shown that the proposed technique is able to speed up the convergence of the agents while achieving optimal action policies, avoiding problems of classical reinforcement learning approaches.
Download
Short Papers
Paper Nr: 20
Title:

Semantic Similarity between Queries in QA System using a Domain-specific Taxonomy
Authors:

Hilda Kosorus, Andreas Bögl and Josef Küng
Abstract: Semantic similarity has been extensively studied in the past decades and has become a rapidly growing field of research. Sentence or short text similarity measures play an important role in text-based applications, such as text mining, information retrieval and question answering systems. In this paper we consider the problem of semantic similarity between queries in a question answering system with the purpose of query recommendation. Our approach is based on an existing domain-specific taxonomy. We define innovative three-layered semantic similarity measures between queries using existing similarity measures between ontology concepts combined with various set-based distance measures. We then analyse and evaluate our approach against human intuition using a data set of 90 questions. Further on, we argue that these measures are taxonomy-dependent and are influenced by various factors: taxonomy structure, keyword mappings, keyword weights, query-keyword mappings and the chosen concept similarity measure.
Download
Paper Nr: 35
Title:

Efficient Multi-alternative Protocol for Multi-attribute Agent Negotiation
Authors:

Jakub Brzostowski and Ryszard Kowalczyk
Abstract: In this paper we present a novel multi-alternative negotiation protocol for multi-attribute agent negotiations. It allows for improvement of negotiation outcomes in terms of time needed to reach an agreement and the Pareto optimality of the outcome. By allowing the agent to offer a proposal comprising a set of alternatives we eliminate the problem of making trade-offs in the negotiation. We experimentally evaluate the proposed approach to show how it performs in comparison to a typical negotiation protocol.
Download
Paper Nr: 41
Title:

Construction of Fuzzy Sets and Applying Aggregation Operators for Fuzzy Queries
Authors:

Miroslav Hudec and Frantisek Sudzina
Abstract: Flexible query conditions could use linguistic terms described by fuzzy sets. The question is how to properly construct fuzzy sets for each linguistic term and apply an adequate aggregation function. For construction of fuzzy sets, the lowest value, the highest value of attribute and the distribution of data inside its domain are used. The logarithmic transformation of domains appears to be suitable. This way leads to a balanced distribution of tuples over fuzzy sets. In addition, users’ opinions about linguistic terms as well as current content in database are merged. The second investigated issue is selection of an adequate aggregation operator. Usual t-norm functions as well as compensatory γ – operator have been examined. Finally, the interface for managing these issues has been proposed. A user can obtain an overview about stored data before running a query; that may reduce empty or overabundant answers.
Download
Paper Nr: 88
Title:

Towards Automated Logistics Service Comparison - Decision Support for Logistics Network Management
Authors:

Christopher Klinkmüller, Stefan Mutke, André Ludwig and Bogdan Franczyk
Abstract: A recurring task when managing logistics networks in which logistics companies jointly offer services is the comparison of logistics services based on their underlying processes. The comparison is necessary for the integration of processes, the selection of logistics providers and the evaluation of a company's performance. Due to a high diversity of logistics services and their properties as well as due to the high amount of services automated logistics service comparison is needed to support this task. This paper presents basic requirements and evaluates the state of the art with regard to these requirements. In addition, an initial solution approach providing a solid base for future work is outlined.
Download
Paper Nr: 139
Title:

Application of an Artificial Immune System to Predict Electrical Energy Fraud and Theft
Authors:

Mauricio Volkweis Astiazara and Dante Augusto Couto Barone
Abstract: This paper describes the application of an Artificial Immune System (AIS) to a real world problem: how to predict electricity fraud and theft. The field of Artificial Immune Systems is a recent branch of Computational Intelligence and has several possible applications, like pattern recognition, fault and anomaly detection, data analysis, agent-based systems and others. Although its potential, AIS still is not applied as much other techniques such as Artificial Neural Nets are. Various works compare AIS with other techniques using toy problems. But how much efficient is AIS when applied to a real world problem? How to model and adapt AIS to a specific domain problem? And how would be its efficiency compared to traditional algorithms? On the other hand, many companies perform activities that can be improved by Computational Intelligence, like predicting fraud. Electrical energy fraud and theft cause large financial loss to energy companies and indirectly to the whole society. This work applies AIS to predict electrical energy fraud and theft, analyzes efficiency and compares against other classifier methods. Data sample used to training and validation was provided by an electrical energy company. The results obtained showed that AIS has the best performance.
Download
Paper Nr: 176
Title:

A Distributed Agency Methodology applied to Complex Social Systems - Towards a Multi-dimensional Model of the Religious Affiliation Preference
Authors:

Manuel Castañón-Puga, Carelia Gaxiola-Pacheco, Dora-Luz Flores, Ramiro Jaimes-Martínez and Juan Ramón Castro
Abstract: The purpose of the paper is to describe a work-in-progress in the application of a distributed agency and neurofuzzy system methodology to a multi-dimensional model on a complex social system. This work introduces a study case focuses on decision-making modelling system on religious affiliation preferences. We use a type-2 neuro-fuzzy approach to configure cognitive rules into agent in order to built a multi-agent model for social simulation.
Download
Paper Nr: 180
Title:

A Hybrid Solver for Maximizing the Profit of an Energy Company
Authors:

Łukasz Domagała, Tomasz Wojdyła, Wojciech Legierski and Michał Świderski
Abstract: An energy company manages power stations, handles sales and purchases of electrical energy, CO2 emission permits and other goods. The goal of such a company is to ensure energy safety of its clients and maximize the profit. The problem is complex because of its structure and size therefore efficient automated approaches for solving it are in demand. We have generalized the problem definition to account for any structure of the power stations, market data and time scope. The definition describes a non-linear combinatorial optimization problem. We have tested a number of approaches including: constraint/ logic/ dynamic/ integer/ linear programming, local search and their hybrids using prototypes with input data from a real life process. We present a hybrid solver to produce an acceptable, near optimal solution which satisfies the requirements of an industrial application. Our research is a road-sign for development of similar software for the energy industry.
Download
Paper Nr: 195
Title:

Design and Implementation of a Service-based Scheduling Component for Complex Manufacturing Systems
Authors:

Lars Mönch
Abstract: Scheduling is highly desirable in complex manufacturing systems. However, there is still a mismatch between academic scheduling research, the scheduling solutions offered by software vendors, and the requirements of real-world scheduling applications. In this paper, we describe the design and the develop¬ment of a scheduling component prototype that is based on web services. It exploits the idea of a hierarchical de¬composition of the overall scheduling problem allowing the integration of different problem-specific scheduling algorithms for sub-problems. We discuss how appropriate services can be identified and implemented and how the resulting scheduling component can be used to extend the functionality offered by manufacturing execution systems (MESs).
Download
Paper Nr: 261
Title:

Node Positioning - Application for Wireless Networks Industrial Plants
Authors:

Pedro H. G. Coelho, Jorge L. M. do Amaral and José F. do Amaral
Abstract: This article discusses the positioning of the nodes of a wireless network of an industrial plant for the network to meet the application requirements, particularly with respect to coverage characteristics and reliability. Issues involving these two parameters are investigated and it is intended to submit proposals using the concepts of computational intelligence to solve the problem.
Download
Paper Nr: 11
Title:

An Ontological Knowledge-base System for Composing Project Team Members
Authors:

Yu-Liang Chi
Abstract: In teamwork-based projects, human play a critical role in achieving project success. This study utilizes ontological approaches to build project teaming models into ontology. It helps to develop a set of logic rules for identifying semantic relationships between individuals. By following a knowledge base creation process, the factual data of project, workers, and teaming factors can be inserted into ontological knowledge base. Based on knowledge inference, reliable knowledge bases are established for selecting project team members in runtime. A case study is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design.
Download
Paper Nr: 18
Title:

Study on Task Decomposition in Emergency Logistics based on System Dynamics
Authors:

Jun Su and Li-jun Cao
Abstract: It analyzed several key factors by system dynamics that the task decomposition in emergency logistics impact on dynamic alliance of logistics. These factors included inter-constraints, quality of cooperation, collaboration time, ability to adapt with each other, core capabilities of logistics. To establish diagram and system dynamics model, it can forecast and analysis disadvantages of task decomposition in emergency logistics. It can for the government emergency management to provide strategic adjustment decision support. On this basis, it simulated the task decomposition of system dynamics model on dynamic alliance of logistics by EXCEL, tested and verified this way was a feasible approach.
Download
Paper Nr: 36
Title:

An Efficient Technique for Detecting Time-dependent Tactics in Agent Negotiations
Authors:

Jakub Brzostowski and Ryszard Kowalczyk
Abstract: The paper proposes an efficient technique for detecting a negotiation strategy used by an opponent during the encounter. It is based on simple transforms that transform the series of offers into a series of values determining the shape of the observed concession curve. It allows for detecting whether the partner is using a time-dependent tactic and what is the specific tactic through determination of the beta parameter used on the side of the negotiation partner. Such information can be further used in choosing a negotiation strategy that can cope with a particular type of the opponent behaviour, and thus improving the negotiation outcomes.
Download
Paper Nr: 37
Title:

Fuzzy Classifier for Church Cyrillic Handwritten Characters
Authors:

Cveta Martinovska, Igor Nedelkovski, Mimoza Klekovska and Dragan Kaevski
Abstract: This paper presents a fuzzy methodology for classification of Old Slavic Cyrillic handwritten characters. The main idea is that the most discriminative features are extracted from the outer character segments defined by intersections. Prototype classes are formed using fuzzy aggregation techniques applied over the fuzzy rules that constitute the descriptions of the characters. Recognition methods use features like number and position of spots in outer segments, compactness, symmetry, beams and columns to assign a pattern to a prototype class. The accuracy and precision of the fuzzy classifier are evaluated experimentally. This fuzzy recognition system is applicable to a large collection of Old Church Slavic Cyrillic manuscripts.
Download
Paper Nr: 61
Title:

Multiagent Model of Stabilizing of Petroleum Products Market
Authors:

Leonid Galchinsky
Abstract: The problem of developing of multi-agent models of stability in market prices of petroleum products is presented. The problem of price stabilization occurs due to external factors: the result of sudden changes of crude oil on world markets or exchange rate changes. In addition the market price dynamics is also influenced by internal factors such tacit collusion sellers. Shown the theoretical possibility to reduce of asymmetry in prices through the use stabilization fund of petroleum products, which the public body can use at the moment when there is a of price jump through the sale of petroleum products by stable prices.
Download
Paper Nr: 119
Title:

An Intelligent Transportation System for Accident Risk Index Quantification
Authors:

Andreas Gregoriades, Kyriacos Mouskos and Harris Michail
Abstract: Traffic phenomena are characterized by complexity and uncertainty, hence require sophisticated information management to identify patterns relevant to safety and reliability. Traffic information systems have emerged with the aim to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety. However, assessment of traffic safety and congestion requires significant amount of data which in most cases is not available. This work illustrates an approach that aims to alleviate this problem through the integration of two mature technologies namely, simulation-based Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) and Bayesian Networks (BN). The former generates traffic flow data, utilised by a BN model that quantifies accident risk. Traffic flow data is used to assess the accident risk index per road section and hence, escape from the limitation of traditional approaches that use only accident frequencies to quantify accident risk. The development of the BN model combines historical accident records obtained from the Cyprus police and domain knowledge from road safety.
Download
Paper Nr: 120
Title:

Stakeholders Analysis for Utility Relocation in Construction Project
Authors:

Ying-Mei Cheng and Chi-Hsien Hou
Abstract: Communication is a complicated task while executing utility relocation projects in developed city. The main reason behind this is the number of stakeholders involved. This research tries to identify and classify the stakeholders during the utility relocation projects through interviews with the experts, questionnaire and clustering approach. First, 25 stakeholders and the 6 attributes, Power, Profit, Influence, Impact, Legitimacy, and Urgency are identified from interviews with the experienced engineers. The questionnaire is then developed based on the 6 attributes. The k-prototypes approach is adopted to analyze the results of the questionnaires and classify these stakeholders. The project managers can customize their communication techniques or choose suitable timing to involve the stakeholders with similar characteristics for each group in order to promote communication efficiency, and reach the anticipated objective.
Download
Paper Nr: 130
Title:

Assessment and Choice of Software Solution with the Analytic Network Process Method
Authors:

Jerzy Michnik and Krzysztof Kania
Abstract: Assessment and choice of software solution belong of the most difficult tasks facing business and IT experts. Multiple criteria decision methods can help in making that kind of a decision. However most of the methods is based on the assumption of criteria independence which is rarely fulfilled in practice. We applied the Analytic Network Process (ANP) as an aid for a choice of software solution and compare its results with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method which is more often used in such a task.
Download
Paper Nr: 186
Title:

Substations Optimization - Foundations of a Decision Making System
Authors:

Luiz Biondi Neto, Pedro H. G. Coelho, Francisco Soeiro, Osvaldo Cruz and David Targueta
Abstract: The optimization of building processes for a power substation is based on the adopted configuration structure and includes a simulation of the methods for the mechanical, civil and electrical processes. Thus it is necessary to know the scope of the service area, the substation load and its connected transmission lines, the terrain topography, and the environmental impact, issues that will be only known after the choice of the area and the project details. The purpose of this work was to bring the foundations of a decision support system regarding the reduction of the structure weight and its concrete volume. A laboratory reduction model validated the work.
Download
Paper Nr: 190
Title:

Evaluating a Petroleum Exploration Opportunity trough Data Mining
Authors:

Marcos Affonso, Kate Revoredo and Leila Andrade
Abstract: A petroleum exploration opportunity (EO) is defined as a mapped region with potential for possessing a sufficient petroleum accumulation that may justify an exploration project .This article proposes to build a predictive model that it is able to economically evaluate a petroleum exploration opportunity through data mining techniques.
Paper Nr: 225
Title:

PSO-based Linear SVM Classifier Selection for Credit Risk Evaluation Modeling Process
Authors:

Paulius Danenas and Gintautas Garsva
Abstract: A research on credit risk evaluation modelling using linear Support Vector Machines (SVM) classifiers is proposed in this paper. The classifier selection is automated using Particle Swarm Optimization technique. Sliding window approach is applied for testing classifier performance, together with other techniques such as discriminant analysis based scoring for evaluation of financial instances and correlation-based feature selection. The developed classifier is applied and tested on real bankruptcy data showing promising results.
Download
Paper Nr: 241
Title:

Polymorphic Random Building Block Operator for Genetic Algorithms
Authors:

Ghodrat Moghadampour
Abstract: Boosting the evolutionary process of genetic algorithms by generating better individuals, avoiding stagnation at local optima and refreshing population in a desirable way is a challenging task. Typically operators are used to achieve these objectives. On the other hand using operators can become a challenging task in itself if applying them requires setting many parameters through human intervention. Therefore, developing operators, which do not require human intervention and at the same time are capable of assisting the evolutionary process, is highly desirable. Most typical genetic operators are mutation and crossover. However, experience has proved that these operators in their classical form are not capable of refining the population efficiently enough. In this work a new dynamic mutation operator called polymorphic random building block operator with variable mutation rate is proposed. This operator does not require any pre-fixed parameter. It randomly selects a section from the binary presentation of the individual, then generates a random bit-string of the same length as the selected section and applies bitwise logical AND, OR and XOR operators between the randomly generated bit-string and the selected section from the individual. In the next step all three newly generated offspring will go through selection procedure and will replace a possibly worse individual in the population. Experimentation with 33 test functions and 11550 test runs proved the superiority of the proposed dynamic mutation operator over single-point mutation operator with 1%, 5% and 8% mutation rates and the multipoint mutation operator with 5%, 8% and 15% mutation rates.
Download
Paper Nr: 274
Title:

Indoor Location Estimation in Sensor Networks using AI Algorithm
Authors:

József Dániel Dombi
Abstract: To determine the indoor location of a person or object, we can use a suitable wireless network. There are different kinds of wireless networks available for this. Independent of the type of the network, using RSSI it is possible to find the position of the moving person close by. Here, we present Wireless Sensor Network and apply it in a real environment. We will mainly concentrate on locating a person using standard artificial intelligence methods. In our system we define nodes (the fingerprint), and supervised learning algorithms that should predict these nodes. In addition, we test whether we can get nice results if we change the granularity of the nodes. Real simulation demonstrates that this system can supply the current position of the moving person with good accuracy.
Download
Paper Nr: 281
Title:

An Impact of Model Parameter Uncertainty on Scheduling Algorithms
Authors:

Radosław Rudek, Agnieszka Rudek, Andrzej Kozik and Piotr Skworcow
Abstract: This short paper presents a preliminary analysis of the impact of model parameter uncertainty on the accuracy of solution algorithms for the scheduling problems with the learning effect. We consider the maximum completion time minimization flowshop problem with job processing times described by the power functions dependent on the number of processed jobs. To solve the considered scheduling problem we propose heuristic (NEH based) and metaheuristic (simulated annealing) algorithms. The numerical experiments show that NEH and simulated annealing are robust for this problem with respect to model parameter uncertainty.
Download

Area 3 - Information Systems Analysis and Specification

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 124
Title:

Generating Applications - Framework Reuse Supported by Domain-Specific Modeling Languages
Authors:

Matheus C. Viana, Rosângela A. D. Penteado and Antônio F. do Prado
Abstract: Applications can be developed with efficiency and quality when supported by frameworks. However, framework reuse is a complex task and its advantages may not be reached if it is not correctly done. In order to mitigate this difficulty, this work proposes an approach that identifies the domain features of a framework to build a Domain-Specific Modeling Language (DSML) for this framework. This DSML can be used to create application models, whose information is mapped into templates aiming to generate the code of these applications. Framework reuse supported by a DSML provides greater efficiency and quality on the development of applications, since it provides a more abstract way to instantiate the framework and generates code from application models. We illustrate our approach using the GRENJ framework, which can be reused in applications in the domain of rental, purchase, sale and maintenance transactions.
Download
Paper Nr: 131
Title:

Dynamic Localisation and Automatic Correction of Software Faults using Evolutionary Mutation Testing
Authors:

Pantelis Stylianos Yiasemis and Andreas S. Andreou
Abstract: Software testing has recently turned to more “sophisticated” techniques, like automatic, self-adaptive mutation testing, aiming at improving the effectiveness of the testing process and handling the associated complexity that increases the level of time and effort spent. Mutation testing refers to the application of mutation operators on correctly functioning programs so as to induce common programming errors and then assess the ability of a set of test cases to reveal them. In the above context the present paper introduces a novel methodology for identifying and correcting faults in Java source code using dynamic slicing coupled with mutation testing and enhanced by Genetic Algorithms. A series of experiments was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach, using different types of errors and sample programs. The results were quite encouraging as regards the ability of the approach to localise the faults, as well as to suggest the appropriate correction(s) to eliminate them.
Download
Paper Nr: 166
Title:

A Tool to Evaluate Error Correction Resources and Processes Suited for Documents Improvement
Authors:

Arnaud Renard, Sylvie Calabretto and Béatrice Rumpler
Abstract: In this article we present a solution to overcome the difficulties in the comparative evaluation of error corrections systems and mechanisms. An overview of existing error correction approaches allowed us to notice that most of them introduce their own evaluation process with the drawbacks it represents: i.e. it is not clear if one approach is better suited than another to correct a specific type of error. Obviously each evaluation process in itself is not completely original and consequently some similarities can be observed. In this context, we rely on this fact to propose a generalist ``evaluation design pattern'' we fitted to the case of error correction in textual documents. The idea lying beyond that is to provide a standard way to integrate required resources according to the family (previously defined in the evaluation model) they belong to. Moreover, we developed a platform which relies on OSGi specifications to provide a framework supporting the proposed evaluation model.
Download
Paper Nr: 206
Title:

Managing Literature Reviews Information through Visualization
Authors:

Sandra Fabbri, Elis Hernandes, Andre Di Thommazo, Anderson Belgamo, Augusto Zamboni and Cleiton Silva
Abstract: Systematic Literature Review (SR) and Systematic Mappings (SM) are scientific literature review techniques that follow well-defined stages, according to a protocol previously elaborated. The goal is helping in finding evidence about a particular research topic and mapping a research area, respectively. Their steps are laborious and a computational support is essential to improve the quality of their conduction. Aiming to offer computational support to these types of reviews, the StArt (State of the Art through Systematic Review) tool was developed. Besides the expected functionalities, StArt generates studies score, uses information visualization and text mining techniques to facilitate the research area mapping and to identify the studies relevance. StArt has been developed through an incremental process by academics who adopt SR and SM. As the expectation is to have a tool that really aids the conduction of these types of reviews, new ideas are always investigated and make StArt different from other alternatives. Visualization and text mining techniques seems to be a powerful resource for facilitating data abstraction in the context of SRs and SMs, allowing the improvement of the review and the conclusions about it.
Download
Paper Nr: 227
Title:

A Model-based Approach for Reusing Crosscutting Frameworks
Authors:

Thiago Gottardi, Oscar López Pastor and Valter Vieira de Camargo
Abstract: The development of large enterprise information systems usually encompass the adoption of many infrastructure frameworks, e.g. persistence, authentication, concurrency and distribution. Although reusing these functionalities improve the team productivity, the reuse process is still heavily based on writing source code. However, reusing these frameworks in code-level prevents the reuse process to be initiated since earlier development phases. Crosscutting Framework are aspect-oriented frameworks which modularize a single crosscutting concern, e.g. persistence, security and distribution. This allows their reuse in different contexts. As many conventional frameworks, their reuse process is also heavily based on code editing. In this project, the aim is to raise the abstraction level of the reuse process by means of a model-driven approach. A tool was created to support the process, which was successfully evaluated in an empirical study. In our study, the tool usage has reduced the reuse process time by more than 97 percent.
Download
Short Papers
Paper Nr: 10
Title:

Storm as a Model for Measuring Understanding of Electrical Field
Authors:

Miriam Martínez Muñoz, Jose Antonio Gutiérrez de Mesa and Lourdes Jiménez
Abstract: This work forms a part of an investigation project whose main objective is to understand the impact that the use of Information and Communication Technology has on the teaching and learning processes. Work has been done particularly on implementing a teaching proposal which includes the use of new technologies for comprehensive learning to advanced level students. We propose to analyze the use of technological resources such as a simulator as part of specific teaching strategies in actual settings and the impact that they cause in the understanding of the concepts of physics. With this work we try to demonstrate that, with the utilization of a storm simulator, the students of physics improve their learning process, on one hand they understand this physic phenomenon and on the other hand, assimilate better the concepts related to Electrostatics.
Download
Paper Nr: 38
Title:

Systematic Process of Conceptualization - For Enterprise Information System Renewal and Integration
Authors:

Kenji Nishioka and Koichiro Ochimizu
Abstract: We have had not yet practical method to define development concepts in spite of its importance for cost effectiveness of system development. In this paper, we propose a systematic process to define development concepts focused on renewal and integration of enterprise information systems. This process practices development concept definition as problem solving based on trouble shooting manner. So software engineers utilize their experiences and technologies of system development for the process effectively.
Download
Paper Nr: 44
Title:

Prioritization of Product Requirements using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors:

Thomas Reichel and Gudula Rünger
Abstract: The prioritization of product requirements is an essential task during the early phases of product development, which copes with time-to-market deadlines, budgetary constraints, and personnel restrictions. Since several decision criteria, such as cost, time, and risk, as well as the customer’s point of view and different company divisions have to be taken into account, the prioritization of requirements corresponds to a multi-criteria, multi-stakeholder decision problem. In this article, we propose a prioritization approach based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) that creates a ranking of requirements with respect to multiple (maybe conflicting) decision criteria and incorporates assessments of multiple stakeholders. The proposed approach overcomes the scalability problem of AHP by using hierarchic checklists and an efficient partitioning strategy.
Download
Paper Nr: 101
Title:

A Systematic Review on Evaluation of Aspect Oriented Programming using Software Metrics
Authors:

Joyce M. S. França and Michel dos Santos Soares
Abstract: Aspect oriented software development has been applied in past years with the promise of improving modularization by addressing crosscutting concerns. Many studies have been published, with varying degree of success on using this paradigm. Software metrics have been presented with the purpose of evaluating the final results. However, too few studies on empirical evidence of the benefits of aspect-oriented paradigm were published, results are frequently subjective, and some studies are non-conclusive. A systematic review on aspect oriented software development and metrics is proposed in this article.
Download
Paper Nr: 147
Title:

Ontology Support for Home Care Process Design
Authors:

Jonas Bulegon Gassen, Alencar Machado, Lucinéia Heloisa Thom and José Palazzo M. de Oliveira
Abstract: For the implementation of home care systems, using sensors and devices to provide assistance to the patient, it is necessary to develop an easy way to configure each home, since differences between them exist and a personalized one-by-one planning is expensive. To support this configuration need we propose a Service Oriented Architecture which uses process models to create service orchestrations to personalize each environment. Process design requires a good understanding of the application domain; business analysts interview the domain experts and translate their understanding to process models. This modelling may be very complex as the vocabulary used by the domain expert is very specific and difficult to understand by process analysts. Therefore, the process model elements (such as activities and role labels) can be named with inappropriate terms. Moreover, the lack of domain understanding by business analysts increases the probability of errors in the process design. In this paper we propose a methodology in which ontologies are used to support the process design, expressing the modelling possibilities and also provides semantic to help the development process. Altogether the approach aims to facilitate the design of each service orchestrations for home care systems, by non specialists.
Download
Paper Nr: 172
Title:

A Cooperation System based on Ontologies
Authors:

Mina Ziani, Danielle Boulanger and Guilaine Talens
Abstract: We present in this paper a cooperation system based on ontologies. To integrate heterogeneous knowledge, an hybrid ontology is designed. Besides, in order to reach cooperation between local ontologies, a computer-aided system is offered to assist experts to build mappings between entities of different ontologies. An approach is described to capture ontology evolution. We define a relevant proposal relating to the geotechnical domain involving different businesses and willing to cooperate.
Download
Paper Nr: 199
Title:

Facilitating the Handling of Documents through Tree-Map Visualization
Authors:

Elis Hernandes, Erika Hohn, José Carlos Maldonado and Sandra Fabbri
Abstract: Applying visualization to manipulate a large volume of data constitutes a current demand of professionals and researchers. Visualization stimulates human perception and increases the understanding capacity. In literature, there are many studies on the use of visualization in different areas, as well as tools that make its use feasible. Aiming to facilitate user’s comprehension, the objective of this paper is to explore, in the tree-map visualization, the combined use of the following functions: search, edit, data regrouping and hyperlink. This proposal was derived from two real problems: 1) to standardize a great volume of educational assessment questionnaires that could not be processed automatically; and 2) to analyze the dependencies among the TMMi (Test Maturity Model Integration) process areas, having simultaneous access to the text of all the ones related to a specific issue. The functions were implemented in the SeEd-Visual tool (Search and Edition based on Visualization), and organized in a process that aims to enhance user’s comprehension through a visual metaphor. The process and the tool were applied to the real problems and allowed their solution. The use of visualization enabled the solution of the real problems since it would be hard if done manually.
Download
Paper Nr: 204
Title:

A Formal Compositional Verification Approach for Safety–Critical Systems Correctness - Model–Checking based Methodological Approach to Automatically Verify Safety Critical Systems Software
Authors:

Manuel I. Capel and Luis E. Mendoza Morales
Abstract: The complexity of modern Safety–Critical Systems (SCS) together with the absence of appropriate software verification tools is one reason for the large number of errors in the design and implementation of these systems. Moreover, exhaustive testing is hard and highly complex because of the combinatorial explosion in the great number of states that an SCS can reach when it executes. A methodological approach named FCVA that uses Model–Checking (MC) techniques to automatically verify SCS software is presented here. This approach facilitates decomposition of complex SCS software into independently verified individual components, and establishes a compositional method to verify these systems using state–of–the–art MC tools. Our objective in this paper is to facilitate the description of an SCS as a collection of verified components, allowing complete complex SCS software verification. An application on a real–life project in the field of mobile phone communication is discussed to demonstrate the applicability of FCVA.
Download
Paper Nr: 218
Title:

NorMAS-ML - A Modeling Language to Model Normative Multi-agent Systems
Authors:

Emmanuel S. S. Freire, Mariela I. Cortés, Enyo J. T. Gonçalves and Yrleyjânder S. Lopes
Abstract: The integrated modeling of the different aspects that constitute a complex system is essential for a deep understanding of its structure and behavior. In Multi-Agent Systems (MAS), the behavior of agents is governed by norms, which the elements within them need to be modeled properly at design time. In this context, we highlight MAS-ML, a modeling language for MAS that provides several mechanisms to modeling the properties of the entities that typically compose a SMA. However, the support for the concepts related to norms is limited. This paper involves the extension of the framework TAO and the MAS-ML language to support the modeling of SMA considering the static elements of norms. The new version of MAS-ML, that will be called NorMAS-ML, will allow a more complete view of the system through a single modeling language.
Paper Nr: 220
Title:

Modularizing Software Process Lines using Model-driven Approaches - A Comparative Study
Authors:

Fellipe A. Aleixo, Uirá Kulesza, Marília Freire, Daniel Alencar and Edmilson Campos Neto
Abstract: This work presents a comparative study of the usage of compositional and annotational approaches in the modularization of software process lines. In our comparative study, an Open-UP based software process line extracted from three existing projects are modelled and implemented using the compositional and annotative approaches with the main aim to address a systematic variability management and automatic process derivation. The results show that the GenArch-P – annotative approach – can bring many advantages to the modelling of software process lines considering our comparison criteria.
Download
Paper Nr: 223
Title:

An Ontology-based Approach for Enabling Linked Data Capabilities to MOF Compliant Models
Authors:

Fernando Silva Parreiras, Gerd Gröner and Tobias Walter
Abstract: In the software development process, there are standards for general-purpose modeling languages and domain-specific languages, capable of capturing information about multiple views of systems, e.g., static structure and dynamic behavior. In a networked and federated development environment, modeling artifacts need to be linked, adapted and analyzed to meet the information requirements of multiple stakeholders. In this paper, we present an approach for linking, transforming and querying MOF-compliant modeling languages on the web of data. We define structural mappings between MOF and OWL and propose the usage of semantic web technologies for linking and querying software models.
Download
Paper Nr: 7
Title:

Information Systems Development Methodolgies in a Developing Higher Education
Authors:

Adam Marks
Abstract: Studies concerned with the status of Information Systems Development Methodologies usage in many developing countries including the factors that influence and motivate their use, current trends, difficulties, and barriers to adoption are lacking, especially within the higher education sector. This paper examines these identified gaps in a developing country, namely the United Arab Emirates. The initial findings reveal that there is limited knowledge and understanding of the concept of ISDM in federal higher education institutions in the UAE. This is reflected in the quality of the software products being developed and released. However, the analysed data also reveals a trend whereby federal higher education institutions in the UAE are gradually moving towards increased ISDM adoption and deployment.
Download
Paper Nr: 47
Title:

System Evolution via Model-driven Design
Authors:

A. Branson, J.-M. Le Goff, R. McClatchey and J. Shamdasani
Abstract: Software engineers frequently face the challenge of systems whose requirements change over time to adapt to organizational reconfigurations or external pressures. Evolving user requirements present a considerable software engineering challenge, all the more so in an environment in which business agility demands shorter development times and responsive prototyping. This paper presents a system called CRISTAL which was developed at CERN in Geneva. CRISTAL is based on the concept of so-called ’description-driven’ change management that enables system development which is responsive to changes in user requirements and facilitates dynamic system reconfiguration as required.
Download
Paper Nr: 82
Title:

A Topic-Map-based Framework to Enhance Components’ Retrieval in a Process Control
Authors:

Sara Bouzid, Corine Cauvet and Jacques Pinaton
Abstract: Controlling a manufacturing process to meet customers’ requirements is crucial for many industrial companies to remain at the forefront. The control of a manufacturing process requires for each actor involved in this process to be reactive and effective in monitoring the process in order to meet company objectives. Enhancing the sharing and the retrieval of the components that support the control of such a process is necessary to effectively meet actors’ requirements for the accomplishment of their business tasks. Semantic description with knowledge representation techniques is one of the widely used techniques to address components’ retrieval. Existing methods focus on describing components according to their functionalities, thus they don’t really tackle user requirements that the components meet. We propose in this paper a layered conceptual framework to add semantic description to the components that support the manufacturing process control starting from the users’ requirements. A Topic-Map-based solution is proposed to support the implementation of this framework.
Download
Paper Nr: 108
Title:

Enterprise Integrity Constraints Management using Production Rules and Conceptual Schema
Authors:

Nattawut Vejkanchana, Jane Saetent and Suphamit Chittayasothorn
Abstract: Enterprise software maintenance has been an important issue for over a decade. In conventional software development, integrity constraints including business rules are integrated as parts of application programs. These rules are frequently changed naturally, posing some difficulties for rules and applications maintenance. In fact, it has long been presented that rules are a discrete part of business and technology models and should be separated from processes, not contained in them. Based on the Business Rules Approach and ISO 100% principle, this paper presents an integrity constraint management solution using a combination of Object-Role Modeling (ORM) as conceptual schema and a production rules system for integrity constraint modeling and implementation.
Download
Paper Nr: 142
Title:

A Strategy for Treat with Socio-cultural Aspects in Software Distributed Development
Authors:

Paulo Henrique Soares, Elisa Hatsue Moriya Huzita and Tania Fatima Calvi Tait
Abstract: Distributed development of software (DDS) has been gaining ground among companies that develop, as they saw the DDS a great opportunity to reduce project costs. However, due to the distribution of teams, there are some problems that do not exist in traditional development co-located, such as differences in time zones, different languages, lack of team spirit, inadequate infrastructure, among other challenges often generated by socio-cultural differences between the participants. This article is just the presentation of these challenges, evaluating their effects on the development process as well as presenting a strategy to minimize them, so do not compromise the outcome of the project.
Download
Paper Nr: 169
Title:

Connecting Feature Models and Ontologies in Software Product Lines
Authors:

Gabriella Castro Barbosa Costa, Regina Braga, José Maria N. David and Fernanda Campos
Abstract: Feature models have been used as a way to describe the variability in Software Product Lines (SPL). Using this model we can show variation points, variants and restrictions between variation points and variants. However, restrictions and relations that can be expressed using this domain modelling technique are unsatisfactory. Our proposal aims to solve this challenge connecting feature models and ontologies as domain modelling technique, which can be used to provide additional information and can also add more semantics in the context of Software Product Lines.
Download
Paper Nr: 179
Title:

Automatic Ontology Alignment Disambiguation based on Ontological Structural Dimension
Authors:

Alexandre Gouveia, Nuno Silva and João Rocha
Abstract: Data transformation between repositories (data migration) demands great quality of ontology alignments, and as such ambiguous correspondences must be identified and corrected beforehand. In this paper we address the analysis and systematization of the ontology alignment disambiguation process, proposing the characterization of the ontology matching scenarios through ten dimensions. The characterization of the disambiguation scenarios according to the disambiguation solutions promotes the correct automatic adoption of the disambiguation actions. In this paper we focus on identifying and adopting structural resolution of ambiguities.
Download
Paper Nr: 182
Title:

An Investigation of Optimal Project Scheduling and Team Staffing in Software Development using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors:

Simos Gerasimou, Constantinos Stylianou and Andreas S. Andreou
Abstract: Software development organizations often struggle to deliver projects on time, within budget and with the required quality. One possible cause of this problem is poor software project management and, in particular, inadequate project scheduling and ineffective team staffing. This paper investigates the application of a particle swarm optimization algorithm to help software project managers perform these activities effectively. Specifically, the proposed approach aims to create optimal project schedules by specifying the best sequence for executing a project’s tasks and minimizing the total project duration. Simultaneously, it seeks to form skilful and productive working teams with the best utilization of developer skills. These considerations have been suitably encoded into the algorithm, with several hard constraints and objective functions appropriately formulated so as to assess the generated solutions with respect to their feasibility and also their quality. The initial results obtained are quite encouraging for the majority of the performed tests and indicate that the proposed approach is able to deal with the issues of scheduling and staffing in software project management.
Download
Paper Nr: 184
Title:

A Semantic Formalization for Use Case Modeling
Authors:

Marinos G. Georgiades and Andreas S. Andreou
Abstract: It has been recognized that a certain level of formalization is needed to produce precise and well-defined use case models, thus tackling problematic issues such as the lack of a specific, semantic classification of use cases, the vagueness of the use case specifications written in free natural language (NL), and the limited tool support that makes use case driven analysis a time-consuming and error-prone activity. This paper presents a formal semantics for the basic use case model elements, including specific semantic types of use cases, specific types of basic and alternative flow actions, and specific functional roles actors can play. To maintain a high-degree of readability and understandability and to minimize ambiguity, the proposed approach provides a semi-formal, NL-based specification syntax, tailored to each semantic use case type, with a specific sequence of basic and alternative flow actions. The formalization is facilitated by utilizing elements of a novel methodology named Natural Language Syntax and Semantics Requirements Engineering.
Download
Paper Nr: 189
Title:

Towards a Dynamic Adaptation of Documents within Pervasive Information Systems
Authors:

Karim Djemal, Chantal Soule-Dupuy and Nathalie Valles-Parlangeau
Abstract: Nowadays, Pervasive Information Systems has increasingly become a focus of communication technologies development. In this paper, we focus on document adaptation within Pervasive Systems. Such adaptation is reached using document multistructurality. In fact, each document structure may represent a different document view which is adapted to a particular context. Thus, we introduce the MVDM model which ensures on the one hand, the multistructured document management, and on the other hand, the generation of new contextual views that are suited to different uses. In order to illustrate the feasibility of our approach, we provide a process of document adaptation based on the MVDM model.
Download
Paper Nr: 213
Title:

An Outline of Development Process Framework for Software based on Open-source Components
Authors:

Jakub Swacha, Karolina Muszyńska and Zygmunt Drążek
Abstract: The open-source community produces a wide range of software products every year. However, there are often significant differences between the set of functionalities and/or non-functional requirements demanded by the end-users and what the available software offers. Therefore, often an open-source system cannot simply be adopted; it has to be adapted. In this paper we propose a new process framework for adapting open-source software. We call it FEChADO which is an acronym of the six steps it consists of: Find available solutions, Evaluate solutions from the list, Choose the most appropriate solution, Adapt the solution, Develop new modules, Obtain users’ feedback. The framework is a direct result of our practical experiences from developing software based on open-source components.
Download
Paper Nr: 217
Title:

Reuse in the Elicitation of Customization Requirements
Authors:

Mohamed Ramzi Bouzid
Abstract: Customization is a crucial concern in Off the Shelf based systems development. In the context of information systems, this issue is particularly met in ERP projects. The art of ERP implementation stands in matching ERP features with the requirements of an organization so as to define how to adapt the system and/or the organization to reach a synergic functioning. A number of approaches have been elaborated empirically to solve the issues posed by this matching activity. The most difficult issue results from the conceptual mismatch between the different kinds of used models, such as business process models and system functionality models. Although reuse is part of the philosophy of ERPs, reuse is seldom exploited at the requirements level. This paper presents a reuse-based requirements elicitation method for ERP integration.
Paper Nr: 259
Title:

Toward a Quality-driven Service Component Architecture - Techniques and Models
Authors:

Maryem Rhanoui and Bouchra El Asri
Abstract: Service Component Architecture (SCA) is a recent approach and an industry standard for developing complex and distributed systems. Despite the growing research work it still lacks a formal basis for handling quality and reliability of safety-critical systems. In this paper we present main techniques and models for assuring quality and trustworthiness of component-based systems in general, then we present and justify the choice of the design-by-contract approach that we adopted for the following of our research about SCA-based systems.
Download

Area 4 - Software Agents and Internet Computing

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 72
Title:

Effects of the Placement of Diverse Items in Recommendation Lists
Authors:

Mouzhi Ge, Dietmar Jannach, Fatih Gedikli and Martin Hepp
Abstract: Over the last fifteen years, a large amount of research in recommender systems was devoted to the development of algorithms that focus on improving the accuracy of recommendations. More recently, it has been proposed that accuracy is not the only factor that contributes to the quality of recommender systems. Among others, the diversity of recommendation lists has been considered as one of the additionally relevant factors. Therefore a number of algorithms were proposed to generate recommendations lists containing a diverse set of items. However, limited research has been done regarding how to position those diverse items in the list. In this paper we therefore investigate how to organize the diverse items to achieve a higher perceived quality. The results of an experimental study show that the perceived diversity of a recommendation list depends on the placement of the diverse items. Placing the diverse items dispersedly or together at the bottom of the list can increase the perceived diversity. In addition, we found that in the movie domain including diverse items in the recommendation list does not hurt user satisfaction, which means that recommender system providers have some flexibility to add some extra items to the lists, for example to increase the serendipity of the recommendations.
Download
Paper Nr: 187
Title:

Program Analysis and Evaluation using Quimera
Authors:

Daniela Fonte, Ismael Vilas Boas, Daniela da Cruz, Alda Lopes Gancarski and Pedro Rangel Henriques
Abstract: During last years, a new challenge rose up inside the programming communities: the programming contests. Programming contests can vary slightly in the rules but all of them are intended to assess the competitor skills concerning the ability to solve problems using a computer. These contests raise up three kind of challenges: to create a nice problem statement (for the members of the scientific committee); to solve the problem in a good way (for the programmers); to find a fair way to assess the results (for the judges). This paper presents a web-based application, QUIMERA intended to be a full programming-contest management system, as well as an automatic judge. Besides the traditional dynamic approach for program evaluation, QUIMERA still provides static analysis of the program for a more fine assessment of solutions. Static analysis takes profit from the technology developed for compilers and language-based tools and is supported by source code analysis and software metrics.
Download
Paper Nr: 207
Title:

Chronometric Analysis of a Payment Process for Cash, Cards and Mobile Devices
Authors:

Michał Polasik, Jakub Górka, Gracjan Wilczewski, Janusz Kunkowski, Karolina Przenajkowska and Natalia Tetkowska
Abstract: This article presents estimates of the time efficiency of a wide range of payment methods used at the Point-Of-Sale (POS) from traditional cash and standard cards to contactless cards, RFID stickers and mobile payments (NFC and remote). More than 3,700 transactions were timed by means of digital chronography of video material recorded by cameras installed in the biggest chain of convenience stores in Poland. Our novel approach confirms that until recently cash was the fastest payment method available at POS. Traditional payment cards equipped with a magnetic stripe or EMV chip are significantly slower at the checkout. However, nowadays a technological breakthrough occurs in the evolution of means of payment. The innovative payment methods designed for low-value transactions, such as contactless cards and NFC mobile payments, are competitive to cash in terms of time efficiency. Contactless cards used in offline mode and without printing paper slips are the first popular electronic payment method in history faster than cash. Conversely, the remote mobile payments method tested has lower time efficiency at POS. Our results could be used by merchants who want to optimise their payment process and by developers of innovative payment solutions.
Download
Short Papers
Paper Nr: 83
Title:

Exploring Structural Properties of Web Graphs through 3D Visualization
Authors:

Zhiming Chen, András Faragó and Kang Zhang
Abstract: The link structure of the World Wide Web is generally reckoned as a Web graph. Understanding the structure of the Web graph is crucial to effective modeling of the Web. One approach that facilitates this understanding is to provide sophisticated visualization tools for users to intuitively view the Web structure. Many structural properties of a graph can be revealed by visualization so that direct comparison between different Web graph models and real Web graph samples become possible. Our approach visualizes Web graphs in microscopic and macroscopic levels in a three dimensional space and also uses a structural mining method to specify isolated cliques or other meaningful structures in Web graphs which provides an innovative perspective in visualization of large graphs.
Download
Paper Nr: 87
Title:

Subgroup Discovery Applied to the e-Commerce Website OrOliveSur.com
Authors:

C. J. Carmona, S. Ramírez-Gallego, F. Torres, E. Bernal, M. J. del Jesus and S.r García
Abstract: Subgroup discovery is a descriptive data mining technique whose main objective is the search for partial relations with unusual statistical characteristics with respect to a property of interest. In this paper, we present the application of a subgroup discovery technique in a users history data set associated to an e-commerce website called www.OrOliveSur.com which is related to sales of extra virgin olive oil and iberian products from Spain. The unusual knowledge is extracted using NMEEF-SD algorithm which is one of the most representative algorithm in this task throughout the literature. In order to apply this algorithm, information of website such as browser, source, keywords and so on is extracted through Google Analytics toolkit. Results obtained are discussed to provide advices and improve the design of the website.
Download
Paper Nr: 132
Title:

A Mediator Architecture for Context-aware Composition in SOA
Authors:

Hicham Baidouri, Hatim Hafiddi, Mahmoud Nassar and Abdelaziz Kriouile
Abstract: The emergence of wireless technologies, intelligent mobile devices and service oriented architectures has enabled the development of the context-aware service oriented systems. This evolution has put the light on a challenging problem: how to dynamically compose services in SOA based systems to perform more complicated functionalities and provide richer user experience? As observed from the literature, several researches focus mainly on context-aware service design and modelling, but few studies have worked on the composition of this new kind of service to provide more complicated features. In this paper, we aim to present our proposal of adapting service composition by the integration of context during the composition process. This dynamic context-aware composition of services is realized through our Mediator Architecture for Context-Aware Composition (MACAC).
Download
Paper Nr: 153
Title:

Lightweight Web Application Framework and Its Application - Helping Improve Community Bus Timetables after Japan Earthquake
Authors:

Yu Kitano, Hiroki Suguri and Atsushi Togashi
Abstract: We have identified four typical problems in building web applications: High cost of education for engineers; difficulty of distributed development; scope creep; and coupling of UI and business logic. To solve these problems, the authors developed lightweight methodology and Perl-based framework for web applications. In this paper, we discuss effectiveness of our approach compared with existing tools. We have successfully applied these techniques to development of web application for helping improve community bus timetables, which illustrates real-world usefulness of the methodology and framework.
Download
Paper Nr: 171
Title:

SWRL Rule Editor - A Web Application as Rich as Desktop Business Rule Editors
Authors:

João Paulo Orlando, Adriano Rívolli, Saeed Hassanpour, Martin J. O'Connor, Amar Das and Dilvan A. Moreira
Abstract: The Semantic Web Rule Language (SWRL) allows the combination of rules and ontology terms, defined using the Web Ontology Language (OWL), to increase the expressiveness of both. However, as rule sets grow, they become difficult to understand and error prone, especially when used and maintained by more than one person. If SWRL is to become a true web standard, it has to be able to handle big rule sets. To find answers to this problem, we first surveyed business rule systems and found the key features and interfaces they used and then, based on our finds, we proposed techniques and tools that use new visual representations to edit rules in a web application. They allow error detection, rule similarity analysis, rule clustering visualization and atom reuse between rules. These tools are implemented in the SWRL Editor, an open source plug-in for Web-Protégé (a web-based ontology editor) that leverages Web-Protégé’s collaborative tools to allow groups of users to not only view and edit rules but also comment and discuss about them. We evaluated our solution comparing it to the only two SWRL editor implementations openly available and showed that it implements more of the key features present in traditional rule systems.
Download
Paper Nr: 224
Title:

Discoverying Cloud Services by Preconditions and Effects for Compositions
Authors:

Lorena Erdens, Daniela Barreiro Claro, Denivaldo Lopes and Patrick Albers
Abstract: Nowadays, most of companies deploy their services as a Web service format over the Internet. Additionally, cloud environments are dealing with web services published on the Internet. The use of the services deployed is subject to its discovery. Many techniques are being developed to increase the description of a web service, thus automating their discovery and providing more significant results. Such techniques are based on semantic concepts to provide more unambiguous information on describing such services. This paper proposes to discover cloud services based on the semantic Web, especially on preconditions and effects. Several works have been carried out on preconditions and effects, however we have achieved more accurate results using service descriptions based on conditions. We present our approach examining three main aspects: (i) relevant retrieved services (ii) complexity and (iii) execution time and we compare with other closely related work in an attempt to position our work and our results.
Download
Paper Nr: 238
Title:

Management of User Preferences and Conflicts to Ubiquitous Applications Adaptation
Authors:

Salima Bourougaa-Tria, Hassina Seridi-Bouchelaghem and Farid Mokhati
Abstract: Ubiquitous computing is a recent research domain that has attracted interest from several researchers. Its main objective is allowing users to access data anytime, anywhere, in particular using Mobile Devices (MD).Applications in this domain are sensitive to the context and must be able to perceive it to adapt their behaviours to this context, taking into consideration data that deals with the context of use and user preferences. Data about context of use provides in particular a conditions description (temporal, spatial, hardware, etc.) under which the user accesses Information Systems (IS). Data about user preferences aims at expressing what the user would like to obtain from the system considering different aspects (activities display, etc.) to meet nomadic users’ expectations. In this paper, we attempt to answer this problem by proposing a novel approach allowing essentially: (1) representing the semantic context and nomadic user’s preferences through a novel proposed ontology, (2)resolving conflicts that may arise between user preferences and, (3) adapting such applications to the context of use and user’s profile by adapting the user’s request.
Download
Paper Nr: 275
Title:

Towards a Negotiation Protocol for ebXML
Authors:

Hércules Antonio do Prado, Edilson Ferneda, Gentil José de Lucena Filho, Aluizio Haendchen Filho and Newton Castilho Lavoyer
Abstract: In the last decades many research efforts have been devoted to improve electronic business among partner enterprises. The well succeeded results of these efforts led to the widespread use of tools like eCO-Framework (Macro-Economic Framework), EDI (Electronic Document Interchange) and SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication). More recently, the ebXML standard has been developed to expand the B2B (Business to Business) practice, assuring security at a low cost and enabling the commerce among small and medium businesses. However, ebXML provides only physical connection among the parts, lacking support for a business protocol capable of helping a negotiation. A well succeeded negotiation requires a dialog, involving customers and suppliers, product specification, requests, offers, requirements, all in a cycle of successive refinement of expectations. This paper aims at contributing to bridge this gap by means of a conceptual model for negotiation based on the client satisfaction cycle of Flores. Additionally, we demonstrate the electronic commerce route among the enterprises, describe some patterns that led to the arising of ebXML and that are part of its current core, specify the ebXML and propose some trends for the B2B commerce.
Download
Paper Nr: 279
Title:

ICT Adoption and Organizational Change - An Innovative Training System on Industrial Automation Systems for Enhancing Competitiveness of SMEs
Authors:

Nunzio Casalino, Marisa Ciarlo, Marco De Marco and Mauro Gatti
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss the benefits of on-line training on automation and innovation fields and try to explain their organizational impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Besides it tries to understand what are the main barriers for SMEs with respect to the realisation of their innovative potential and their capacity to improve internal processes by ICT adoption and organizational change. They are becoming particularly important for achieving greater productivity, lower operational costs, and higher revenues (usually characterized by reduced access to external finance, unavailability of wider distribution channels, low internationalization, etc.). The purpose of the paper is also to synthetize the experience done and the benefits of e-learning and of a specific online environment in the training process in this field. The project provides training contents to enhance participants background and some innovative simulations to improve knowledge of employees on industrial automation systems.
Download
Paper Nr: 29
Title:

An Architecture for Implementing ’Collaborative Usage Control’ Policy - Toward End-to-End Security Management in Collaborative Computing
Authors:

Ziyi Su and Frédérique Biennier
Abstract: The cross boundary asset (service and information) sharing in collaborative context leads to the requirement of end-to-end protection during the full lifecycle of assets, including the sharing, merging and consuming stages. The development of ’collaborative usage control’ model provides an approaches for answering this requirement, given that such model is able to express assets ’usage’ activities and to maintain assets providers’ policy effects on the artifact of their collaborative work. Therefore, its implementation requires more comprehensive functionalities than traditional access control systems. This paper proposes an architecture for collaborative usage control management, with components for policy negotiation, aggregation, and enforcement, as well as components for collaborative context management with security policies. We also present experimental results for the performances of several components.
Paper Nr: 64
Title:

Towards a Semantic and Dynamic Cluster based Web Service Discovery System for Ubiquitous Environments
Authors:

Rim Helali, Nadia Ben Azzouna and Khaled Ghedira
Abstract: Ubiquitous computing aims to exchange and share services anywhere, anytime. However, discovering the appropriate service in ubiquitous environments poses very specific challenges. In this paper, we propose a new Semantic and Dynamic Cluster based Web Service Discovery System (SDC- WSDS) which deals with dynamicity and scalability challenges. Our discovery system is based on a clustered architecture and supports semantic publication and discovery queries. We, hence, present a new clustering algorithm for ubiquitous environments inspired by the Weighted Clustering Algorithm (WCA) and a semantic service publication and discovery model. This model is based on attribute value pairs and a semantic distance function.
Download
Paper Nr: 133
Title:

The CICA GRID - A Cloud Computing Infrastructure on Demand with Open Source Technologies
Authors:

M. A. Alvarez, A. Fernandez-Montes, J. A. Ortega and L. Gonzalez-Abril
Abstract: A new approach technology to enable the expansion and replication of resources on demand is presented in this paper. This approach is called CICA GRID and it provides service to research community in the Scientific Computer Centre of Andalusia (CICA). This approach is an alternative solution to the initial cost involved in building an own data center by public organizations for researches. This solution quickly provides resources with a minimal technical staff effort. Also, an architecture and user interface example called ReCarta was presented. This system supplies a private Cloud Computing system for non-technical end-users.
Download
Paper Nr: 154
Title:

Improving Browser History using Semantic Information
Authors:

José Sousa, Marco Pereira and Joaquim Arnaldo Martins
Abstract: Revisiting web pages is part of the routine of web browser users, yet the use of tools designed specifically for this function is not widespread. In this paper we describe a browser extension called ”Rdfa History” that attempts to improve the usefulness of the browser’s history list by enhancing it with semantic information (in RDFa format) gathered from previously visited pages. The collected semantic information provides a richer pool of information than the traditional time/url/title fields provided by browsers, allowing users to perform queries not only by keywords but also by particular topics or entities that appear on previously visited pages. This extension brings to user’s attention the usually invisible semantic web, and can be used both as tool that aids to revisit pages as well as a tool that helps to discover new pages related with the ones previously visited. It can also be used as a digital preservation tool that users can configure to collect and store history lists in a personal digital repository in order to access them from different browsers or devices, as well as use the history list as context provider for other documents that they might collect.
Download
Paper Nr: 163
Title:

Measuring Accessibility on Public Places using Ubiquitous Environments and MAS
Authors:

Donald Rodriguez-Ubeda, Ricardo Rosales, Manuel Castanon-Puga, Dora-Luz Flores, Luis-Enrique Palafox and Carelia Gaxiola-Pacheco
Abstract: This paper proposes the use of ubiquitous computing and multi-agent systems to obtain information related to the locomotion of people with visual impairments on public spaces; and use that information to evaluate the accessibility of such spaces.
Download
Paper Nr: 256
Title:

Web Services Discovery - A Novel Social Networks Approach based on Communities
Authors:

Abdelmalek Metrouh, Hassina Seridi-Bouchelaghem and Farid Mokhati
Abstract: Nowadays Web services have become a new focal point of all the technological market of IT. Their number has grown rapidly and the task of their discovery resting on standards, UDDI and ebXML becomes more and more difficult. These standards have their own inherent limitations; they describe only the functional aspect of Web services and prohibit the possibility of combining them. Most proposed approaches for Web services discovery focused on the description of Web services themselves and neglect their interaction. In this paper we propose a novel approach which combines social networking with the principles of recommender systems for the Web services discovery. We also defined the concept of Web services community in a social network of Web services that gave us the opportunity to establish an abstraction level between the client applications and these last ones.
Download
Paper Nr: 262
Title:

An Empirical Study on the Factors Influencing Usage Intention of IPTV in Korea
Authors:

Dong-Man Lee, Hyun-Sun Park and Sung-Hee Jang
Abstract: This study examines the factors influencing IPTV (internet protocol television) usage intention. Using Davis's technology acceptance model (TAM) and DeLone and McLean's model of information system success, this study investigates the effects of information system quality (information quality, system quality, and service quality) and media quality on IPTV use in terms of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and usage intention. We examined the proposed model by employing structural equation modeling and survey data from 222 IPTV users. The results indicate that information quality, service quality, and media quality had significant effects on perceived usefulness and that information quality and media quality had significant effects on perceived ease of use. However, system quality had no effect on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. In addition, perceived ease of use influenced perceived usefulness, and perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influenced of IPTV usage intention. Further, the stability and reliability of IPTV services induced IPTV use, and successful IPTV services showed high media quality.
Download

Area 5 - Human-Computer Interaction

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 58
Title:

A Study in User-centric Data Integration
Authors:

Heiner Stuckenschmidt, Jan Noessner and Faraz Fallahi
Abstract: Data integration is a central problem in information systems. While the problem of data integration has been studied intensively from a technical point of view, less attention has been paid to user aspects of data integration. In this work, we present a user-centric approach to data integration that supports the user in finding and validating mapping rules between heterogeneous data sources. The results of our report underline that the user-centric approach leads to better integration results and is perceived as being more intuitive, especially for users with little or no technical knowledge.
Download
Paper Nr: 150
Title:

Schools as Organizations - A Semiotic Approach towards Making Sense of Information Technology
Authors:

Elaine C. S. Hayashi, M. Cecília Martins and M. Cecília C. Baranauskas
Abstract: Low cost educational laptops have the potential of transforming educational practices in the public schools from developing and emerging countries. However, in order to be effectively incorporated into schools’ daily practices, technology has to make sense to the people that constitute these schools. This paper reports on the initial activities with the members of an elementary public school in Brazil, facing the challenge of constructing meaning for a new digital artefact. Concepts and practices from Organizational Semiotics (OS) and Participatory Design (PD) were adapted as a methodological frame of reference for the analysis of structure and context. Preliminary results indicate that, although originally designed for the business and work domains, practices from OS and PD were suitable and revealed information that other approaches would hardly reveal, regarding a prospective use of technology in educational contexts.
Download
Paper Nr: 156
Title:

Keeping Values in Mind - Artifacts for a Value-oriented and Culturally Informed Design
Authors:

Roberto Pereira, Samuel B. Buchdid and M. Cecília C. Baranauskas
Abstract: Identifying, understanding and explicitly involving values and cultural aspects of stakeholders have been regarded as a challenge in the design of interactive systems. There is still a lack of principled and light-weight artifacts, methods and tools for supporting designers in this task. In this paper we propose two artifacts for supporting designers in making explicit both stakeholders’ values and system’s requirements taking these values into account. A case study reports the use of the artifacts in the design of seven prototypes of applications for the Brazilian Interactive Digital Television. The artifacts showed to be promising for supporting designers in the complex scenario of designing value-oriented and culturally aware interactive systems.
Download
Paper Nr: 183
Title:

Leveraging Usage History to Support Enterprise System Users
Authors:

Tamara Babaian and Wendy Lucas
Abstract: Users of Enterprise Information Systems face considerable challenges in relating the generic, all encompassing system interfaces to the vocabulary and business practices of their organizations. The help functionality is often too general to be of much use, and employees typically prefer to ask a colleague or a help-desk consultant for directions on how to proceed rather than turn to a user manual. A more direct, less resource-intensive approach than person-to-person assistance is to have the system itself provide the guidance the user is seeking in how to navigate and use its interface. We have implemented a playback interface that aids users of our Enterprise Resource Planning prototype in learning to perform an individual task or a multi-task business process. Our algorithm creates dynamic visualizations of previously occurring system-user interactions for demonstrating the system interface. The demonstrations are constructed in real time based on usage log data aggregated from multiple, pertinent user sessions. We discuss the challenges of identifying and aggregating relevant usage log records for task demonstrations and highlight the components of our data model designed to overcome these challenges. The playback interface offers a natural, low-cost alternative that is more flexible than pre-recorded tutorials, as the user can select a tutorial from a variety of options. In addition, it has the advantage of representing the actual business practices within the organization, which may differ from those prescribed by the system.
Download
Paper Nr: 202
Title:

A Hybrid Evaluation Approach for the Emotional State of Information Systems Users
Authors:

Rogério Aparecido Campanari Xavier and Vânia Paula de Almeida Neris
Abstract: The Human-Computer Interaction community has been discussing ways to consider the user’s emotions while interacting with computers. Emotions are a complex phenomenon, are difficult to identify and measure and are linked to several components as cognitive aspects, subjective feelings, behavioral tendencies, physiological responses and motor expressions. In the literature, it is possible to identify various techniques, methods and tools for assessing the user’s emotional state. Considering the complexity of the subject, it is necessary to combine methods to minimize the detection of false positives in the evaluation of the user’s emotional state while interacting with information systems. This paper presents a hybrid approach based on the emotion model described by Scherer (1984), which allows designers to check whether the information system creates a positive, neutral or negative emotional reaction in the user. A feasibility study was conducted in which an emotional evaluation of a web system was performed based on a group of elderly users using tablet devices.
Download
Paper Nr: 211
Title:

Interacting with Dynamic Social Knowledge - Revealing Challenges through an Analysis of Pragmatic Aspects of Problem Solving
Authors:

Rodrigo Bonacin, Heiko Hornung, Julio Cesar Dos Reis, Roberto Pereira and M. Cecília C. Baranauskas
Abstract: In the Social Web users interact with each other in multiple contexts expressing meanings and intentions. Knowledge production in this context can be understood as a dynamic socio-cultural process. Mechanisms that support users to explore this knowledge in an effective and efficient way may bring benefits from a personal and social perspective. However, the construction of these interaction mechanisms is dependent on new models and techniques to dynamically represent and visualize the shared knowledge. The interpretation of the content by users is influenced by meanings and intentions, as well as by the understanding of the evolution of these aspects over time. This paper analyses the evolution of meaning and intentions in collaborative problem solving scenarios using Social Network Systems. The analysis method has its roots in Semiotics and Speech Act Theory. Results indicate research challenges for new interaction possibilities by representing the evolution of the pragmatic aspects and their relations with the semantic ones. To address these open research problems we present a preliminary conceptual framework for multidisciplinary research in three interconnected perspectives: interactive, conceptual and technical.
Download
Short Papers
Paper Nr: 73
Title:

A Pilot Panel Study in User-centered Design and Evaluation of Real-time Adaptable Emotional Virtual Environments
Authors:

Valeria Carofiglio, Nicola Gallo and Fabio Abbattista
Abstract: User-centered evaluation (UCE) is an essential component of developing any interactive application. Usability, perceived usefulness and appropriateness of adaptation are the three most commonly assessed variables of the users' experience. However, in order to validate a design, the new interaction paradigms encourage to explore new variables for accounting the users' need and preferences. This is especially important for applications as complex and innovative as Adaptable Virtual Environments (AVE). In this context, a good design should manage the user’s emotional level as a UCE activity, to obtain a more engaging overall user’s experience. In this work we overcome the weaknesses of traditional methods by employing a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) to collect additional information on user’s needs and preferences. A pilot study is conducted for determining if (i) the BCI is a suitable technique to evaluate the emotional experience of AVE’s users and (ii) the contents of a given AVE could be improved in order to result in high subject agreement in terms of elicited emotion.
Download
Paper Nr: 75
Title:

Using Interpreted Runtime Models for Devising Adaptive User Interfaces of Enterprise Applications
Authors:

Pierre A. Akiki, Arosha K. Bandara and Yijun Yu
Abstract: Although proposed to accommodate new technologies and the continuous evolution of business processes and business rules, current model-driven approaches do not meet the flexibility and dynamic needs of feature-rich enterprise applications. This paper illustrates the use of interpreted runtime models instead of static models or generative runtime models, i.e. those that depend on code generation. The benefit of interpreting runtime models is illustrated in two enterprise user interface (UI) scenarios requiring adaptive capabilities. Concerned with devising a tool-supported methodology to accommodate such advanced adaptive user interface scenarios, we propose an adaptive UI architecture and the meta-model for such UIs. We called our architecture Custom Enterprise Development Adaptive Architecture (CEDAR). The applicability and performance of the proposed approach are evaluated by a case study.
Download
Paper Nr: 121
Title:

Visualizing User Interface Events - Event Stream Summarization through Signs
Authors:

Vagner Figueredo de Santana and Maria Cecília Calani Baranauskas
Abstract: Effective visual representation is related to how people interpret signs created to carry specific information. In the last years many user interface evaluation tools are considering detailed usage data to represent users’ actions. The volume of data gathered is leading developers to represent usage in a summarized way through graphical representations. If visual components used to represent complex data are not effective, then graphics used to summarize data may turn the interpretation of complex terms even harder. This work presents a study about graphical representations for user interface (UI) events and contributes with the validation of usage graph visualization and an open set of signs to support the summarization of client-side logs. The study involved 28 Information Technology specialists, potential users of UI evaluation tools. From the results one expects that evaluation tool developers, evaluators, and Web usage miners can reuse the validated usage graph representation and proposed set of signs to represent usage data in a summarized way.
Download
Paper Nr: 125
Title:

Computer-Brain Interface Device Experimental Research - Study of Ergonomy and Usability in Business Environment
Authors:

Radim Brixí, Jaroslav Kalina and Pavel Němec
Abstract: This paper presents results of experimental research from 2011, performed on a group of volunteers and which aim was to properly explore the maturity of BCI devices to be integrated in business environment, e.g. office work. The testing scenarios and focus was aimed to verify if the current capabilities of the selected devices were sufficient in their ergonomic features and spectrum of functions to properly complement and in some case substitute the traditional ways of utilising keyboard and mouse by the users. The research focused also on ability to learn to use BCI device. The study led to identification of several ergonomic and hygienic areas which act as a hindrance for wide utilisation of these devices as a feasible way to provide an users input for the computer over a prolonged period of time.
Download
Paper Nr: 174
Title:

An Analitic Approach to Evaluate Flexible Mobile User Interfaces for the Elderly
Authors:

Vinícius P. Gonçalves, Vânia P. A. Neris, Jó Ueyama and Sibelius Seraphini
Abstract: It is necessary to provide interfaces that meet the highest possible number of elderly users, regardless of their sensory, physical, cognitive and emotional abilities. Although the literature reports research related to interaction diversity and tailorable interfaces, there are few studies on methods and techniques to evaluate adjustable interfaces. This paper presents an analytical approach based on the evaluation of flexible mobile user interfaces for the elderly. A case study with evaluation experts applied this approach to an executable prototype, and the impressions of the evaluators about this structure were highlighted.
Download
Paper Nr: 39
Title:

Cultural Preference Identification for Cross-cultural Website Design
Authors:

Gatis Vitols, Irina Arhipova and Yukako Hirata
Abstract: In this article analysis of available cross-cultural website design model methods for cultural preference identification is performed. Users from various cultures not only speak different languages, but also think and act differently. These differences impact process of how users perceive and use information systems, including websites. Therefore there is emerging need for models, methods and technologies for design of usable cross-cultural websites. One of the main tasks relating to usable cross-cultural website design is to gather data about cultural preferences for a selected culture. We propose to extend the existing methods for cultural preference identification with additional cultural dimension theories and methods for extraction of data from culture preferred products.
Download
Paper Nr: 56
Title:

Estimating Cognitive Overload in Mobile Applications for Decision Support within the Medical Domain
Authors:

Derek Flood, Panagiotis Germanakos, Rachel Harrison, Fergal Mc Caffery and George Samaras
Abstract: Mobile applications have the potential to improve the quality of care received by patients from their primary care physicians (PCP). They can allow doctors to access the information they need when and where they need it in order to make informed decisions regarding patients’ health. They can also allow patients to better control conditions such as Diabetes and Gaucher’s disease. However, there are a number of limitations to these devices, such as small screen sizes and limited processing power, which can produce cognitive overload which in turn can negatively impact upon the decision making processes. This paper introduces a new research direction which aims to predict, during the development of mobile health care applications, when cognitive overload is likely to occur. By identifying the user’s previous level of experience, their working memory, the complexity of the interface and the level of distraction imposed by the user’s context, a prediction can be made as to when cognitive overload is likely to occur.
Download
Paper Nr: 80
Title:

Modeling of User Adaptive Enterprise Applications
Authors:

Inese Šūpulniece and Jānis Grabis
Abstract: Adjustments of standard system’s modelling techniques are needed for modelling specific aspects of adaptive systems. In this paper, we present a meta-model for modeling specific aspects of user adaptive enterprise applications (UAEA). For designing a system, traditional modeling languages or techniques can be applied to model basic functionalities. Proposed meta-model should be applied additionally to traditional models as complementary modeling dimensions. Proposed meta-model is based on identified key concepts of adaptive systems – stakeholder and end-user, goals and expectations, changing object, adapted object and adaptation algorithm. The described meta-model is applied to model main components of UAEA.
Download
Paper Nr: 134
Title:

iPhone Usability as Perceived by Novice Users
Authors:

Evanthia Faliagka, Maria Rigou and Spiros Sirmakessis
Abstract: Gestural devices have introduced new challenges to the field of user interaction. iPhone, despite the high intuitiveness of its gestural interface, raises a number of minor and major usability issues that due to its widespread usage affect a large user population. This study examines the usability of five preinstalled iPhone applications (Contacts, Clock, Camera, Calendar and Safari) by conducting testing sessions with users that have no (or limited) prior experience with iPhone, iPad and iPod and can thus be considered novices. The results of the usability assessment confirm the list of potential usability issues documented in related sources and stress the crucial importance of gestural interaction devices conforming to established fundamental principles of usable interaction design.
Download
Paper Nr: 192
Title:

Classification of Anthropometric Data using Neural Networks
Authors:

Ricardo Ferreira Vieira de Castro, Pedro Henrique Gouvêa Coelho, Joaquim Augusto Pinto Rodrigues and Luiz Biondi Neto
Abstract: This paper proposes the use of neural networks to help with the solution to a problem demanded by the productive sector in the manufacture of work cabinets compatible with the characteristics of a group of individuals that characterize a good sampling of the studied population. The study is intended to serve as a basis for further work aimed for good ergonomics in meeting the basic conditions necessary for the comfort and welfare of the operators of these jobs. In this investigation we used Kohonen neural networks to sort the data related to the height of the seat-eye level and length of the seat forearm-hand. The results showed that the use of this tool is effective and allows its application in studies using more anthropometric variables making possible to explore further needs.
Download
Paper Nr: 254
Title:

Changes of Learning in Mobile Scenarios - Analysis and Comparison of Use and Browsing of a Virtual Campus in Mobile Scenarios
Authors:

Magí Almirall-Hill and Julià Minguillon
Abstract: Mobility and working with mobile devices is now a well-established reality in our society. Students use the train, car or weekend away to work on their teaching materials. Likewise, technology allows for the generation of new content formats every day – letting us write text and convert it automatically into voice, web, PDF or DVD. This article proposes detailed monitoring of the browsing logs of a number of students using a mobile device (iPad) in order to better understand students’ habits. The study is based on a comparison of browsing habits on PCs and mobile devices, and includes contextual observation fieldwork. Thus, the study combines both quantitative and qualitative data. Results obtained using this methodology will provide us with better insight of user navigational behaviour with respect to the used devices.
Download
Paper Nr: 260
Title:

Integration of Web Accessibility into Agile Methods
Authors:

Sergio Luján-Mora and Firas Masri
Abstract: In a short period of time, the World Wide Web has had a huge impact on our society and lives. In web sites and web applications, accessibility and usability are essential key requirements. Unfortunately, most web sites are inaccessible to many disabled people and fail to satisfy the most basic standards for accessibility. Many of the barriers people with disabilities face on the Web are completely avoidable and the disadvantage associated with disability can be entirely overcome. To support the accessibility of web sites, different accessibility guidelines and standards have been introduced for the last ten years. Nevertheless, a web site can meet accessibility standards, but it can still difficult for people with disabilities to use it. Moreover, web accessibility has been often an afterthought in the development process of web sites. In many cases, web developers provide an adaptation or a fix to the interface of a web site after it has been released to the public. In this paper, we argue that the adoption of agile software development methods can help to improve the accessibility of web projects. Besides, the integration of accessibility into agile methods is proposed.
Download

Area 6 - Enterprise Architecture

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 54
Title:

FDMM: A Formalism for Describing ADOxx Meta Models and Models
Authors:

Hans-Georg Fill, Timothy Redmond and Dimitris Karagiannis
Abstract: In the paper at hand we present the FDMM formalism that can be used to describe the core constituents of the ADOxx meta modeling approach as it is provided for the Open Models Initiative (OMI). The formalism is based on a first-order logic setting. Thereby formal descriptions of the implementation of modeling languages based on ADOxx can be realized in an intuitive and mathematically exact format. To illustrate the use of the formalism it is applied to a modeling language and its instances from the area of risk management that has been previously implemented in ADOxx. It is then analysed how the concepts of the FDMM formalism compare to the ADOxx meta modeling concepts as well as other meta modeling approaches from the area of domain-specific modeling.
Download
Paper Nr: 137
Title:

Evolution of Enterprise Architecture Discipline - Towards a Unified Developing Theory of Enterprise Architecture Body of Knowledge as an Evolving Discipline
Authors:

Hadi Kandjani and Peter Bernus
Abstract: When studying enterprises as complex systems through the Enterprise Architecture (EA) discipline, researchers not only apply models, methods and theories of management and control – they ’should’ also use the same from engineering, linguistics, cognitive science, environmental science, biology, social science, artificial intelligence, systems thinking and cybernetics. This diversity of related disciplines derives from the nature of enterprises as multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary entities with interacting dimensions and different design- and evolution concerns. We believe that for the EA discipline (EAd), like any other developing and evolving discipline, there should exist a unified terminology, models and methodology. There already exists a fundamental and generalised theory of EAd, GERAM, however, it is a minimalist theory, not prescribing any particular reference models or any concrete methodology. Therefore, practitioners developed particular frameworks, adding concrete methodologies / reference models specific to the domain / type of change to tackle. The question is: is possible to extend the EA Body of Knowledge (EABOK) with common elements – independent from the domain / type of change? In other words, what is a unified evolving theory of EAd? To model the discipline-as-a-system, we use Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) and introduce three basic components of EAd as a viable system. A ‘co-evolution mechanisms’ for EAd is proposed, and a cybernetic model of co-evolution applied to EAd. We also discuss a cybernetic model of EAd using Checkland’s model for discipline development.
Download
Paper Nr: 216
Title:

A Characterization Framework for Evaluating Business/IT Alignment Strategies
Authors:

Lerina Aversano, Carmine Grasso and Maria Tortorella
Abstract: In the last years, the alignment issue was addressed in several researches and numerous methods, techniques and tools were proposed. Therefore, a support for choosing the approach that is the most suitable one to a specific need is required. This paper proposes a characterization framework useful for evaluating different alignment approaches, with the aim of discovering similarity, maturity, capability to measure, model, asses and evolve the alignment level existing among business and technological assets of an enterprise. The proposed framework is applied to analyse the alignment research published in the Information & Management journal that that more published on this topic. The achieved evaluation results are presented.
Download
Short Papers
Paper Nr: 30
Title:

Transforming Software Business Models into Business Processes
Authors:

Markus Schief, Amir Bonakdar and Tobias Weiblen
Abstract: Changed business models, such as induced by Software-as-a-Service, require an effective implementation in a firm’s organization. This study clarifies the relation between business models as an implementation of a company’s strategy, and business processes, as an abstraction of a company’s operations. The presented transformation framework provides specific meaning to the industrial setting of a software vendor morphing to a SaaS model. Both underlying concepts, the business model and the value chain, as a coarse-grained view on business processes, stem from software industry research. The explorative findings cover a detailed description of the transformation framework as well as an exemplary expert survey that can serve as a refer-ence for software firm decision makers. Thus, the study provides profound insights into the potential opera-tional impacts of business model changes.
Download
Paper Nr: 40
Title:

A Case Study on Modeling of Complex Event Processing in Enterprise Architecture
Authors:

Hyeonsook Kim and Samia Oussena
Abstract: Over the decades, Enterprise Architecture (EA) has been researched to supply all the necessary components for enterprise system modelling including taxonomies, meta-models, architecture development methods, and modelling tools. The main benefits of EA are the knowledge infrastructure for analysis and reporting by all stakeholders and the possibility of designing new conditions in an organized manner. However, EA now faces a big challenge with the growing dynamic of market demands and the rapid changes in business environments, which requires agile system response and self-evolutionary behaviour to support quick decision-making. In technology side, there are already matured, promising paradigm to tackle this challenges, which is Complex Event Processing, however it has not been fully dealt with EA. No standardized method for applying event driven approach in business and IT systems modelling has been developed yet. The paper investigates a possibility of integration of EDA by adding event process layer between business operating and business process layers in the EA stack. Complex event patterns are identified and an event meta-model extending ArchiMate is also proposed to integrate complex event modelling to the business modelling. Using a case study, we modeled a business scenario with event driven approach.
Download
Paper Nr: 51
Title:

Emergence as Competitive Advantage - Engineering Tomorrow’s Enterprise Software Systems
Authors:

S. Frischbier, M. Gesmann, D. Mayer, A. Roth and C. Webel
Abstract: Companies rely heavily on complex software systems and tightly integrated supply-chains to serve their customers in increasingly fast changing markets. To gain competitive advantage in such a setting, companies must adapt their processes, products and inter-organizational relationships quickly to changing environments. In the future, enterprise software systems must be explicitly designed for flexibly switching intensive inter-organizational relationships and for rapidly implementing changes in requirements or context while retaining existing functionality and user acceptance. In this position paper we introduce the notion of emergence in enterprise software systems as a guiding principle. Emergent Enterprise Software Systems (EESS) will be capable of reacting to changes in the environment by adapting their behavior and exposing new functionality. The consequent challenges we face when designing, building and operating EESS are discussed.
Download
Paper Nr: 55
Title:

Design Patterns for Event-driven Enterprise Architectures
Authors:

Jürgen Dunkel and Ralf Bruns
Abstract: In recent years, event processing has gained considerable attention as an individual discipline in computer science. For event processing, generally accepted software architectures based on proven design patterns and principles are missing. In this paper, we introduce a catalogue of design patterns that supports the development of event-driven enterprise architectures and complex event processing systems. The design principles originate from experiences reported in publications as well as from our own experiences in building event processing systems with industrial and academic partners. We present several patterns on different layers of abstractions that define the overall structure as well as the building blocks for event processing systems. Finally, we discuss a general reference architecture for event-driven enterprise systems.
Download
Paper Nr: 57
Title:

A Classification Method of Open-ended Questionnaires using Category-based Dictionary from Sampled Documents
Authors:

Keiichi Hamada, Masanori Akiyoshi, Masaki Samejima and Hiroaki Oiso
Abstract: This paper addresses a classification method of open-ended questionnaires using a category-based dictionary. Different from other classification methods, our proposed method introduces a category-based dictionary which is generated from a small set of categorized samples. This category-based dictionary is used to judge questionnaire categories with t f -id f (term frequency inverted document frequency) and co t f -id f (cooccurrence t f -id f ). Experimental questionnaires about a university lecture show that 71% of these questionnaires are classified accurately.
Download
Paper Nr: 60
Title:

A Classification Method of Inquiry e-Mails for Describing FAQ with Automatic Setting Mechanism of Judgment Threshold Values
Authors:

Yuki Tsuda, Masanori Akiyoshi, Masaki Samejima and Hironori Oka
Abstract: The authors propose a classification method of inquiry e-mails for describing FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and individual setting mechanism of judgment threshold values. In this method, a dictionary used for classification of inquiries is generated and updated automatically by statistical information of characteristic words in clusters, and inquiries are classified correctly to each proper cluster by using the dictionary. Threshold values are individually and automatically set by using statistical information.
Download
Paper Nr: 96
Title:

Resource-oriented Consistency Analysis of Engineering Processes
Authors:

Bernhard Bauer, Thomas Eisenbarth, Christoph Frenzel and Benjamin Honke
Abstract: A number of popular engineering processes and methodologies emerged over the past years which attracted interest in research and industry. For process enactment, enterprises have to match requirements of engineering processes with existing resources. Therefore, it has to be analyzed if employees have sufficient skills or if infrastructure has sufficient capabilities to match the requirements of a situational process. Both, maintaining a skill and resource database and matching requirements against this database are an enormously challenging and time-consuming task. Additionally, this matching has to be carried out regularly as employees join and leave the company and skills change over time. Based upon a formal, logical base, we present an approach that combines ontological and metamodeling technical spaces and enables an automatic analysis of engineering processes regarding the existence of necessary resources.
Download
Paper Nr: 117
Title:

Detecting Infeasible Traces in Process Models
Authors:

Zhaoxia Wang, Lijie Wen, Xiaochen Zhu, Yingbo Liu and Jianmin Wang
Abstract: Workflow testing is an important method of workflow analysis in design time. A challenging problem with trace-oriented test data generation in particular and trace-based workflow analysis in general is the existence of infeasible traces for which there is no input data for them to be executed. In this paper we build on the theory of workflow nets and introduce workflow nets where transitions have conditions associated with them. We then demonstrate that we can determine which execution traces, that are possible according to the controlflow dependencies, are actually possible taking the data perspective into account. This way we are able to more accurately determine in design time the infeasible traces caused by the correlation between transition conditions along this trace. Finally, we provide a solution to automatically detecting the shortest infeasible trace.
Download
Paper Nr: 170
Title:

Moving Across Paradigms between the Process Design and Enactment Phase in Enterprise Information Systems
Authors:

Filip Caron and Jan Vanthienen
Abstract: While the business process management literature often assumes a single approach (e.g. procedural or event-driven) over the process lifecycle, a transition between approaches at different phases in the process lifecycle may significantly reduce the impact of intrinsic trade-offs between process characteristics. This position paper explores several business process strategies by analyzing the approaches at different phases in the process lifecycle as well as the various transitions.
Download
Paper Nr: 235
Title:

Service based Approach for Adaptability of Workflow Models - The Subcontracting Architecture

Authors:

Saida Boukhedouma, Mourad Oussalah, Zaia Alimazighi and Dalila Tamzalit
Abstract: The environment of businesses is naturally unstable and dynamic due to increasing market constraints and events. Thus business processes are frequently subject to changes which must be supported by process models and systems that implement them. This paper deals with adaptation of IOWF (Inter-Organizational Workflow) process models based on services. It states conceptually, the most frequent adaptations that can be operated on IOWF models described through the concept of orchestration function which abstracts the control flow of the process. Thus, operations of adaptation turn to modification of services and transformation of the orchestration function describing the model. We particularly distinguish evolutive adaptation leading to expansion of the cooperation and/or the global functionality of the process.
Download
Paper Nr: 268
Title:

Using Multi-criteria Analysis to Evaluate Enterprise Architecture Scenarios
Authors:

Francisco Cansado, André Vasconcelos and Gonçalo Santos
Abstract: In this paper we propose a framework based on multi-criteria analysis as a way to conduct an enterprise architecture scenario evaluation and selection. The proposed solution supports decision making, by evaluating each of the available scenarios using metrics derived from defined goals, based on a Goal-Question-Metric methodology. In this approach the overall goals or objectives (the problem’s criteria) are on the top of the GQM-tree, whereas questions of stakeholders and measurable attributes (also called ``metrics'' are represented as intermediate and leave nodes. According to the multi-criteria analysis each of the alternatives x is evaluated on each metric i, by means of a value function Vi(x). Then, since every criterion has a weight which represents its relative importance in the analysis, the final overall result of each alternative scenario is therefore computed through a weighted sum model.
Download
Paper Nr: 270
Title:

Towards Sustainable Networks - Energy Efficiency Policy from Business to Device Instance Levels
Authors:

Tereza C. M. B. Carvalho, Ana C. Riekstin, Marcelo C. Amaral, Carlos H. A. Costa, Guilherme C. Januario, Cristina K. Dominicini and Catalin Meirosu
Abstract: Policy-Based Systems have been proposed as a flexible and robust solution for policy enforcement in different sectors of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) infrastructure. Since networking systems present high degrees of electrical energy consumption, companies that provide ICT services or network connections need to work on energy-efficient networking processes to guarantee sustainable operations. This paper presents how an energy efficiency–related business policy can be refined to network policies that consider QoS constraints, how these policies manifest themselves in the equipments, and describes research’s next steps, which involve making this refinement more automated.
Download
Paper Nr: 273
Title:

IT Committee Design and IT Performance
Authors:

Rui Huang
Abstract: In order to improve IT performance and ultimately business-IT alignment, organizations have given increased attentions to IT committees as a governance structure. Looking through the lens of network embeddedness and role theories, this study focuses on the design issues related to IT committees and argues that there is an optimal point in terms of an IT committee’s size and its composition. Empirical validation of the research arguments using secondary data will be the next step. If empirical support can be received, this study will generate both theoretical and practical implications to the IT governance literature.
Download
Paper Nr: 276
Title:

Enterprise Architecture Performance Management - A Context based Approach to EA Metrics Definition
Authors:

Anuj Kumar and Premnath S.
Abstract: Management scholars suggest that if you can’t measure something, you can’t improve or manage it. The same applies to Enterprise Architecture (EA). Surveys related to EA suggest that organizations find it difficult to measure EA and in some cases it is not even measured. Although, EA metrics have been proposed in literature but not all are practical and most do not measure the true essence of EA. The situation becomes even more complicated in the absence of a structured approach to EA performance management. Additionally, organizations often limit EA performance management to identifying and measuring the potential benefits of EA and don’t measure the real value of EA. In this paper we propose that before establishing EA metrics organizations should clearly understand the context of EA from three perspectives, i.e. the scope of EA for the organization, its usage in the organization and the purpose of its measurement. We subsequently present a model for defining EA metrics based on the context of EA.
Download
Paper Nr: 59
Title:

Multi-layered Enterprise Modelling and Its Challenges in Business and IT Alignment
Authors:

Tomasz Kaczmarek, Ulf Seigerroth and Nikolay Shilov
Abstract: In this article we have presented different challenges that need to be handled during enterprise modelling if we want to achieve business and IT alignment. The over all research question in the paper is: What are the challenges within and between the levels in a multi-layered model for business and IT alignment? In relation to this research question we have addressed what consequences these challenges will have on our view on and use of enterprise models as a mean to achieve business and IT alignment. The aim with the paper is also to give guidance about how to deal with these challenges. Our recommendations for how to deal with these challenges are summarised in five conclusions about, 1) the use and support from ontologies, 2) change as driving force during modelling (AS-IS – TO-BE). 3) the dependencies within and between layers must be clarified, 4) create balance between degree of formalism, degree of details, and degree of accuracy, and 5) guidelines and best practices about how to deal with these types challenges during enterprise modelling to create business and IT alignment.
Download
Paper Nr: 65
Title:

A Concept of eTraining Platform for Cardiology Learning based on SOA Paradigm
Authors:

Adam Piórkowski and Jan Werewka
Abstract: This article discusses the problem of realization of future forms of education, like eTraining services. The construction of such services is complex. The individual modules are created by different teams using different technologies. Therefore, the focus was on the use of Service Oriented Architecture in this kind of applications. There is a reflection on an applicability of SOA in the construction of combined services in this paper. The analysis of the demand for services is presented. The process of composition of services is discussed and architecture of the system is proposed.
Download
Paper Nr: 122
Title:

From a High Level Business Process Model to Service Model Artifacts - A Model-Driven Approach
Authors:

Mokhtar Soltani and Sidi Mohamed Benslimane
Abstract: One of the key activities needed to develop a quality service oriented solution is the specification of service model. The majority of existing methods for service model specification are developed manually because they are based on the competence of the developers. The integration of Business Process Modeling (BPM) and Model-Driven Development (MDD) allows the automation of the SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) services development. Three steps are used for developing an SOA solution: service identification, service specification and finally service realization. In this paper we propose a method called AMSI (Automatic Model-Driven Service Identification) that automatically identifies the architecturally significant elements from a high level business process model to specifying service model artifacts. The main goal of this work is to support the automation of the development process of service-oriented enterprise information system.
Download
Paper Nr: 136
Title:

Towards a User-centered Ubiquitous Customer Feedback Elicitation Framework
Authors:

Enrico Wieck and Jasminko Novak
Abstract: This paper suggests a customer-driven approach for regular elicitation of customer feedback for vendors. Ubiquity and user-centeredness are assumed as central enablers of customer-driven feedback elicitation embedded in customer’s common consumption and/or purchase environment (e.g. point of sale). Following the design science methodology, a user-centered ubiquitous customer feedback elicitation framework is developed as an artifact that can support vendors in developing corresponding systems. The framework is evaluated by producing a concrete system instantiation realized with low-fidelty prototyping and wizard-of-oz techniques. Evaluation results indicate the suitability of the proposed approach: the framework was applicable for the development of a ubiquitous customer feedback elicitation system and the resulting low-fidelity prototype was rated as suitable for ubiquitous and user-centred feedback elicitation.
Download
Paper Nr: 198
Title:

Detection of Semantic Relations between Business Process Activity Labels
Authors:

Lobna Makni, Nahla Zaaboub Haddar and Hanene Ben Abdallah
Abstract: Determining similarities between business process models needs to be resolved in several cases, e.g., when business processes must be merged, configured or integrated; when reusing fragments of process models, etc. Similarity can be tackled at the semantic, structural and/or behavioral levels. In this paper, we are interested in the semantic level similarity between business process models. More specifically, we present a method for detecting semantic relations between activity labels in process models belonging to the same business domain.
Download
Paper Nr: 255
Title:

Toward Enabling IS Agility with Initiatives
Authors:

Wanda Opprecht, Anastasiya Yurchyshyna and Michel Léonard
Abstract: The uncertain, unpredictable and ever-changing conditions of the information system (IS) enterprise environment require adaptive and holistic approaches from the IS engineering methods. As an answer, the agile paradigm has emerged in the business as well as in the software and IS development. In this context, we consider the idea that initiatives could play a prominent role in the IS evolution steering, particularly to the enterprise IS agility. IS evolution initiatives should be considered as opportunities for an IS to sustainably evolve, to support the enterprise transversal and value-creating activities and to be part of the IS steering methods. In this paper, we define the notion of initiative and propose an approach based on a set of inter-related IS steering meta-models and method components where initiatives play the role of agility enablers.
Download
Paper Nr: 263
Title:

Strategic Alignment Model Revisited - Considerations of Business-IT Alignment Formative Factors
Authors:

Shuhei Kudo, Kayo Iizuka and Michiko Miyamoto
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to propose a framework for business-IT alignment implementation based on Strategic Alignment Model (SAM) suggested by Henderson and Venkatraman. Since IT use is a precondition for business operation, business is no longer distinguishable from IT. While the importance of business-IT alignment has been growing, the alignment concept is still ambiguous. SAM, which was suggested in 1989, has been a seminal model representing business-IT alignment structure. Alignment research has been conducted from various viewpoints based on SAM. This study reinterprets SAM in the light of results of prior alignment research and proposes a more practical model. Each component of business-IT alignment model is specifically explained. Furthermore, “alignment option generator”, which can be used as a guideline for business-IT alignment implementation, is also proposed. Alignment between business and IT can be efficiently and effectively achieved by using the alignment option generator.
Download
Paper Nr: 278
Title:

In Need of Change: The Scientific Practice of Representing Business Models - Position Paper
Authors:

Thomas John and Dennis Kundisch
Abstract: How best to represent business model knowledge is an open research issue. A number of approaches for graphically representing business models have been proposed. These are said to facilitate, for example, the understanding, analysis and innovation of a business model. Nonetheless, through the selective literature review we perform, we find these approaches are largely neglected in case study research on business models. We argue that this practice needs to change to make case study research on business models more consistent and comparable, and thereby strengthen the cumulative character of business model research altogether.
Download