Magister Scientiae - MSc / Providing carrier grade characteristics for Internet Protocol (IP) communication applications is a significant problem for IP application providers in order to offer integrated services that span IP and telecommunication networks. This thesis addresses the provision of life-cycle management, which is only one carrier grade characteristic, for a SoftBridge application, which is an example of IP communication applications. A SoftBridge provides semi-synchronous multi-modal IP-based communication. The work related to IP-Telecommunication integrated services and the SoftBridge is analyzed with respect to life-cycle management in a literature review. It is suggested to use an Application Server in a Next Generation Network (NGN) to provide life-cyclemanagement functionality for IP-Telecommunication applications. In this thesis, the Application Server is represented by a JAIN Service Logic Execution Environment(JSLEE), in which a SoftBridge application can be deployed, activated, deactivated, uninstalled and upgraded online.Two methodologies are applied in this research: exploratory prototyping, which evolves the development of a SoftBridge application, and empirical comparison, which is concerned with the empirical evaluation of a SoftBridge application in terms of carriergrade capabilities. A SoftBridge application called SIMBA provides a Deaf Telephony service similar to aprevious Deaf Telephony SoftBridge, However, SIMBA’s SoftBridge design and implementation are unique to this thesis. In order to test the life-cycle management ability of SIMBA, an empirical evaluation is carried out including the experiments oflife-cycle management and call-processing performance. The final experimental results of the evaluation show that a JSLEE is able to provide life-cycle management for SIMBA without causing a significant decrease in performance. In conclusion, the life-cycle management can be provided or a SoftBridge application by using an Application Server such as a JSLEE. Futhermore, the results indicate that approach of using Application Server (JSLEE) integration should be sufficiently general to provide life cycle management, and indeed other carrier grade capabilities, for other IP communication applications. This allows IP communication applications to be integrated into an NGN.Providing carrier grade characteristics for Internet Protocol (IP) communication applications is a significant problem for IP application providers in order to offer integrated services that span IP and telecommunication networks. This thesis addresses the provision of life-cycle management, which is only one carrier grade characteristic, for a SoftBridge application, which is an example of IP communication applications. A SoftBridge provides semi-synchronous multi-modal IP-based communication. The work related to IP-Telecommunication integrated services and the SoftBridge is analyzed with respect to life-cycle management in a literature review. It is suggested to use an Application Server in a Next Generation Network (NGN) to provide life-cyclemanagement functionality for IP-Telecommunication applications. In this thesis, the Application Server is represented by a JAIN Service Logic Execution Environment(JSLEE), in which a SoftBridge application can be deployed, activated, deactivated, uninstalled and upgraded online.Two methodologies are applied in this research: exploratory prototyping, which evolves the development of a SoftBridge application, and empirical comparison, which is concerned with the empirical evaluation of a SoftBridge application in terms of carriergrade capabilities. A SoftBridge application called SIMBA provides a Deaf Telephony service similar to aprevious Deaf Telephony SoftBridge, However, SIMBA’s SoftBridge design and implementation are unique to this thesis. In order to test the life-cycle management ability of SIMBA, an empirical evaluation is carried out including the experiments oflife-cycle management and call-processing performance. The final experimental results of the evaluation show that a JSLEE is able to provide life-cycle management for SIMBA without causing a significant decrease in performance. In conclusion, the life-cycle management can be provided or a SoftBridge application by using an Application Server such as a JSLEE. Futhermore, the results indicate that approach of using Application Server (JSLEE) integration should be sufficiently general to provide life cycle management, and indeed other carrier grade capabilities, for other IP communication applications. This allows IP communication applications to be integrated into an NGN. / South Africa

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:36:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 8775685 bytes, checksum: 7021be54b3d48e2a9247804ad1a980ab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Interactive Digital TV applications progress does not occur at the same speed we found at Web or Desktop applications. This fact is due to constraints encountered in both hardware and the middleware in which applications run, and also due to the limited way we have to interact with the TV: with the traditional remote control. In the Brazilian scene, the middleware Ginga specification allows the incorporation of new functionalities through the Device Integration API, which is target of this dissertation. The API allows TVDI applications to use mobile devices both as a means of interaction, and to share its multimedia resources. As a result of the API use, TVDI applications are able to employ new possibilities not available in others existing Digital TV middlewares, like the use of multimedia resources and multiuser support. The new API has been implemented and applied to develop TVDI applications aiming to explore the new advanced features available. / avanço das aplicações de TV Digital Interativa não ocorre na mesma velocidade que as aplicações para WEB ou Desktop. Tal fato se deve tanto por limitações encontradas no hardware e no middleware no qual as aplicações são executadas, quanto pela limitação do dispositivo usado na interação dos usuários com a TV. No panorama nacional, a especificação do middleware Ginga permite a incorporação de novas funcionalidades através da API de Integração de Dispositivos, alvo desse trabalho. Esta API que permite que aplicações de TVDI usem dispositivos móveis tanto como meio de interação, como para compartilhamento de seus recursos multimídia. Como resultado do uso da API proposta, as aplicações de TVDI passam a contar com novas possibilidades até então não disponíveis nos middlewares de TV Digital existentes; como a utilização de mais de um dispositivo simultaneamente, o suporte ao desenvolvimento de aplicações multiusuário e o acesso a recursos de captura de mídias contínuas disponíveis em aparelhos como celulares, que podem ser integrados aos aparelhos de TV. A API resultante desse trabalho foi implementada e utilizada no desenvolvimento de aplicações para TVDI voltadas a explorar os novos recursos avançados disponíveis.

Neste trabalho serão discutidas novas ferramentas para a construção de um espectrômetro de Ressonância Magnética (RM) totalmente digital. A motivação parte das dificuldades encontradas pelos pesquisadores no momento de programar um equipamento de RM, incluindo a falta de ferramentas para desenvolvimento de metodologias, as quais não são oferecidas pelos softwares atuais. Em particular tratamos do desenvolvimento de uma biblioteca, a PyMR (Python Magnetic Resonance), de uma API (Application Program Interface) e de um IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Nesta estrutura, a biblioteca PyMR é o front-end para programação e setup dos equipamentos de RM enquanto a API constitui o back-end. O IDE, por sua vez, é uma ferramenta de auxílio especializado para criação e gerenciamento das metodologias e protocolos de RM de forma funcional e amigável. O desenvolvimento baseado no estado-da-arte das tecnologias de Computação e Ressonância Magnética garante a qualidade, robustez, adaptabilidade e ainda assim, a simplicidade para uso dos menos experientes. Para a validação do sistema, além de métricas de software, foi montada uma sequência de pulsos conhecida como CPMG (Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill) executada no espectrômetro local sobre uma amostra de CuSO4 em solução, o qual mostrou valores de T2 compatíveis com os valores esperados. Os resultados do novo sistema mostram sua capacidade de atender as principais exigências dos usuários e desenvolvedores de metodologias de RM, oferecendo um amplo conjunto de ferramentas. Em suma, este projeto provê a estrutura básica e funcional de uma nova forma de se programar e utilizar equipamentos de RM, gerando um poderoso instrumento para a pesquisa na área. / In this study we discuss new tools for the building of a fully digital Magnetic Resonance (MR) spectrometer. The research was motivated by several difficulties experienced by researchers in programming MR machines, which include the lack of tools for the development of methodologies that are not currently offered by companies. In particular, we treat the development of a library, PyMR (Python Magnetic Resonance), an API (Application Program Interface) and an IDE (Integrated Development Environment). In this structure, the PyMR library acts as a front-end for MR equipment programming and setup while the API is a back-end. Finally, the IDE is a user-friendly tool that helps the developer to create and manage methodologies and protocols. The state-of-the-art of Computer Sciences and Magnetic Resonance technologies adopted here has ensured the quality, robustness and adaptability keeping simplicity for non-experienced users. For the validation of the system, besides software metrics, a pulse sequence known as CPMG (Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill) was assembled and performed on an onsite spectrometer, using a solution of CuSO4 as a sample, which exhibited compatible T2 values. The results show that the system can meet the main requirements of both users and developers and offer a large set of tools. This project provides a basic and functional structure of a new way to program and use the MR equipment and a powerful tool for researchers in this area.

This Master’s Thesis in Electrical Engineering concerns the introduction of a Parlay gateway in Skanova’s public circuit switched telephone network, what network integrity problems this brings, and how to preserve the integrity of the network. There is a rising demand from the market on Skanova to be able to offer integrated and useful services via their network. Examples of such services are Web Controlled Call Forwarding and Virtual Call Centres. Until now, these services have been implemented with the Intelligent Network concept which is a technology for concentrating the service logic in the telephone network to centralised service platforms within the network operator’s domain. Developing new services in this environment is expensive and therefore, Skanova wants to open the network for third party service providers. The opening of the network is enabled by the introduction of a gateway implementing the open service interface Parlay. The crucial point when opening the network for third party service providers is to maintain the integrity of the network. Parlay is an object oriented Application Programming Interface that enables a third party service access to core network resources in a controlled manner. The authors’ definition of network integrity is: “the ability of a network to steadily remain in a safe state, while performing according to the expectations and specifications of its owner, i.e. delivering the expected functionality and providing means to charge for utilised network resources”. The thesis describes a few services implemented via the Parlay interface and points out examples of activities in these services that may jeopardise the integrity of the network. The described activities belong to one of the two categories: Call Control Functionality or Lack of Charging Instruments. The thesis also describes two important methods for addressing encountered integrity problems. The methods are: Parlay Service Level Agreement and Policy Management.</p> Finally, the solutions are compared and the conclusion is that Policy Management is a conformable and flexible method for addressing lots of integrity problems and that these are important qualities, since new integrity problems will arise all the time.

This paper aimed to discover how player satisfaction is affected by context-aware elements based on physical, real-world factors in an action role-playing game. The possibility of utilizing player modelling to counteract the reduction in player empowerment in a game heavily influenced by external factors was also explored. This was accomplished by creating an ARPG heavily integrated with various weather, and daytime, context data obtained from web-based APIs. Followed by conducting qualitative tests with help of eleven participants during a time period of a week. The evaluated results were presented in a manner of relevance for both context-driven applications as a whole, and for further exploration within game developments utilization of state of the art technology.

Thermal bowing, often referred as bulging or out-of-plane wall deflection, is a common issue on sandwich panel walls caused by a temperature differential between a building interior temperature and the environment. The stresses caused by temperature changes in concrete members are widely known in the practice of bridge design, but not on sandwich wall panels. For sandwich wall panel applications, it is common to have non-composite panels when the designer expects a high temperature gradient, what yields a less economical design, but reduces the bowing. This project aimed to validate current assumptions regarding the heat flow in sandwich wall panels and to perform a parametric study of panels subject to thermal loads, varying the concrete layer thickness, panel length, type of shear connector and separation using a commercial finite element analysis software. This study concluded that current design practices either underestimate, in the case of multiplying the classical mechanics values by the reported degree of composite behavior, or overestimate the real value of bowing, by using classical mechanics. A method for determining the percentage of composite action and compute bowing was developed and recommendations addressing the importance of this type of loading were given.

According to World Health Organization, around 7 million people die every year due to diseases caused by air pollution. With the improvements in Internet of Things in the recent years, environmental sensing systems has started to gain importance. By using technologies like Cloud Computing, RFID, Wireless Sensor Networks, and open Application Programming Interfaces, it has become easier to collect data for visualization on different platforms. However, collected data need to be represented in an efficient way for better understanding and analysis, which requires design of data visualization tools. The GreenIoT initiative aims to provide open data with its infrastructure for sustainable city development in Uppsala. An environmental web application is presented within this thesis project, which visualizes the gathered environmental data to help municipality organizations to implement new policies for sustainable urban planning, and citizens to gain more knowledge to take sustainable decisions in their daily life. The application has been developed making use of the 4Dialog API, which is developed to provide data from a dedicated cloud storage for visualization purposes. According to the evaluation presented in this thesis, further development is needed to improve the performance to provide faster and more reliable service as well as the accessibility to promote openness and social inclusion. / Enligt World Health Organization dör 7 miljoner människor varje år på grund av sjukdomar orsakade av luftföroreningar. Med förbättringar inom Internet of Things under senare år, har betydelsen av system för miljösensorer. Genom att använda tekniker som molntjänster, RFID, trådlösa sensornätverk och öppna programmeringsgränssnitt, har det blivit enklare att samla in data för visualisering på olika plattformar. Men insamlad data behöver bli representerad på ett effektivt sätt för bättre förståelse och analys, vilket kräver utformande av verktyg för visualisering av data. Initiativet GreenIoT strävar mot att erbjuda öppen data med sin infrastruktur för hållbar stadsutveckling i Uppsala. I detta arbete presenteras en webb-tillämpning, som visualiserar den insamlade miljödatan för att hjälpa kommunen att implementera nya policies för hållbar stadsutveckling, och stimulera medborgare till att skaffa mer kunskap för att göra miljövänliga val i sin vardag. Tillämpningen har utvecklats med hjälp av 4Dialog API, som tillhandahåller data från lagring i molnet för visualiseringssyfte. Enligt den utvärdering som presenteras i denna rapport konstateras att vidare utveckling behövs för att förbättra dels prestanda för att erbjuda en snabbare och mer tillförlitlig service, och dels åtkomstmöjligheter för att främja öppenhet och social inkludering.

In this research project, we aim to explore the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) as an interface to interact with API tools in natural language. Bubeck et al. [1] shed some light on how LLMs could be used to interact with API tools. Since then, new versions of LLMs have been launched and the question of how reliable a LLM can be in this task remains unanswered. The main goal of our thesis is to investigate the designs of the available system prompts for LLMs, identify the best-performing prompts, and evaluate the reliability of different LLMs when using the best-identified prompts. We will employ a multiple-stage controlled experiment: A literature review where we reveal the available system prompts used in the scientific community and open-source projects; then, using F1-score as a metric we will analyse the precision and recall of the system prompts aiming to select the best-performing system prompts in interacting with API tools; and in a latter stage, we compare a selection of LLMs with the best-performing prompts identified earlier. From these experiences, we realize that AI-generated system prompts perform better than the current prompts used in open-source and literature with GPT-4, zero-shot prompts have better performance in this specific task with GPT-4 and that a good system prompt in one model does not generalize well into other models.

Regression testing of an evolving software system may involve significant challenges. While, there would be a requirement of maximising the probability of finding out if the latest changes to the system has broken some existing feature, it needs to be done as economically as possible. A particularly important class of software systems are API libraries. Such libraries would typically constitute a very important component of many software systems. High quality requirements make it imperative to continually optimise the internal implementation of such libraries without affecting the external interface. Therefore, it is preferred to guide the regression testing by some kind of formal specification of the library. The testing problem comprises of three parts: computation of test data, execution of test, and analysis of test results. Current research mostly focuses on the first part. The objective of test data computation is to maximise the probability of uncovering bugs, and to do it with as few test cases as possible. The problem of test data computation for regression testing is to select a subset of the original test suite running which would suffice to test for bugs probably inserted in the modifications done after the last round of testing. A variant of this problem is that of regression testing of API libraries. The regression testing of an API is usually done by making function calls in such a way that the sequence of function calls thus made suffices a test specification. The test specification in turn embodies some concept of completeness. In this thesis, we focus on the problem of test sequence computation for the regression testing of API libraries. At the heart of this method lies the creation of a state space model of the API library by reverse engineering it by executing the system, with guidance from an formal API specification. Once the state space graph is obtained, it is used to compute test sequences for satisfying some test specification. We analyse the theoretical complexity of the problem of test sequence computation and provide various heuristic algorithms for the same. State space explosion is a classical problem encountered whenever there is an attempt of creating a finite state model of a program. Our method also faces this limitation. We explore a simple and intuitive method of ameliorating this problem – by simply reducing the size of the state vector. We develop the theoretical insights into this method. Also, we present experimental results indicating the practical effectiveness of this method. Finally, we bring all this together into the design and implementation of a tool called Modest.

Developers of reusable software elements, such as libraries, usually have the responsibility to provide comprehensive and high quality documentation to enable eective reuse of those elements. The eective reuse of libraries depends upon the quality of the API (Application Program Interface) documentation. Well established libraries typically have comprehensive API documentation, for example in Javadocs. However, they also typically lack examples and explanations, which may dicult the eective reuse of the library. StackOverow.com (SO) is a Question and Answer service directed to issues related to software development. In SO, a developer can post questions related to a programming topic and other members of the site can provide answers to help him/her solve the problem he/she has at hand. Despite of the increasing use of SO by the software development community, the information related to a particular library is spread along the website. Thus, SO still lacks an organization of its crowd knowledge. In this dissertation, we present a semi-automatic approach that organizes the information available on SO in order to build a kind of documentation for APIs, called cookbooks (recipe-oriented books). The cookbooks generated by the approach are called crowd cookbooks. In order to evaluate the proposed approach, cookbooks were generated for three APIs widely used by the software development community: SWT,LINQ and QT. Desired features that cookbooks must meet were identied and a study with human subjects was conducted to assess to what extent the generated cookbook meet those features. Through the study it was also possible to identify what is the perceived usefulness by the subjects in relation to the use of cookbooks in APIs learning. The results showed that the cookbooks built using the proposed strategy, in general, meet the identied features. Furthermore, most human subjects considered that cookbooks do not have an appropriate format to the learning of APIs. / Desenvolvedores de elementos reusáveis de software, como as bibliotecas, em geral têm a responsabilidade de disponibilizar documentação abrangente e de alta qualidade para permitir o reuso efetivo desses elementos. O reuso efetivo de bibliotecas depende da qualidade da documentação da API (Interface para Programação de Aplicativos). Bibliotecas bem estabelecidas tipicamente têm documentação abrangente, por exemplo em Javadocs. Porém, essa documentação geralmente carece de exemplos e explicações, o que pode dicultar o reuso efetivo da biblioteca. Stackoverow.com (SO) é um serviço de perguntas e respostas (Q&A) direcionado a questões relacionadas ao desenvolvimento de software. No SO, um desenvolvedor pode postar perguntas relacionadas a um tópico de programação e outros membros do site podem disponibilizar respostas para ajudá-lo a resolver o problema que ele tem em mãos. Apesar da utilização crescente do SO pela comunidade de desenvolvimento de software, a informação relação a um biblioteca está espalhada ao longo do site. Assim, o SO ainda carece de uma organização do crowd knowledge nele contido. Nessa dissertação, será apresentada uma abordagem semi-automatizada que organiza a informação disponível no SO para a construção de um tipo de documentação para APIs, conhecido por cookbooks (livros orientados a receitas). Os cookbooks produzidos pela abordagem proposta são chamados crowd cookbooks. Para avaliar a abordagem proposta foram gerados cookbooks para três APIs amplamente utilizadas pela comunidade de desenvolvimento de software: SWT, LINQ e QT. Foram identicadas características desejáveis de cookbooks e realizado um estudo com sujeitos humanos para entender em que grau os cookbooks construídos atendem a estas características. Por meio estudo também foi possível compreender melhor os pers de uso dos cookbooks mais apropriados em relação ao aprendizado de APIs. Os resultados mostraram que os cookbooks construídos pela estratégia proposta, em geral, atendem às características identicadas. Além disso, a maior parte dos sujeitos humanos considerou que cookbooks não possuem um formato adequado ao aprendizado de APIs. / Mestre em Ciência da Computação