Service-oriented architecture (SOA) approach has become the mainstream of today¡¦s systems development technique. The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is becoming the major tool for modeling the platform independent model (PIM) of a SOA system. Once the PIM is constructed, the results can then be transformed into its platform specific model based on the model driven architecture (MDA) approach and a specific platform. To develop a SOA system, the developer can then use the platform and choose the proper components to construct services and then business processes. However, the detailed guideline for this type of construction based on a specific platform is lacking. Therefore, this study presents a methodology which provides guidelines for the construction from components, service to business process for a SOA system based on the IBM WebSphere platform. The research methodology is articulated using the design science research methodology. A usability evaluation with a hypothesized case is performed to demonstrate its applicability. The results indicated that with this proposed method, the system developer can effectively use the IBM WebSphere platform to construct the business process based on the PIM of a SOA system.

With the rapid migration of physical layer design of radio towards software, it becomes necessary to select or develop the platform and tools that help in achieving rapid design and development along with flexibility and reconfigurability. The availability of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) has promoted the concept of reconfigurable hardware for software defined radio (SDR). It enables the designer to create high speed radios with flexibility, low latency and high throughput. Generally, the traditional method of designing FPGA based radios limits productivity. Productivity can be improved using Model based design (MBD) tools. These tools encourage a modular way of developing waveforms for radios. The tools based on MBD have been the focus of recent research exploring the concept of the platform independent model (PIM) and portability across platforms by the platform specific model (PSM). The thesis presented here explores the tools based on MBD to achieve prototyping for wireless standards like IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.16e on reconfigurable hardware. It also describes the interfacing of the universal software radio peripheral (USRP2), acting as a radio frequency (RF) front end, with an additional FPGA board for baseband processing. / Master of Science

The use of objective tests in Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) is based on the application of computers to support automatic assessment. Current research in this domain is mainly focused on the design of new question-items, being IMS Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) the recognized de-facto standard. This thesis claims that the domain can be extended with the design of advanced test-scenarios that integrate new interactive contexts for the visualization of question-items and tests, and that consider different types of devices and technologies that enable diverse activity settings. In this context, the dissertation proposes to term the domain as Computing-Based Testing (CBT) instead of Computer- Based Testing because it captures better the new technological support possibilities for testing. Advanced CBT scenarios can increase teachers’ choices in the design of more appropriate tests for their subject areas, enabling the assessment of higher-order skills. With the aim of modelling an advanced CBT domain that extends the current possibilities of QTI and related work, this thesis provides a set of contributions around three objectives. The first objective deals with proposing a Conceptual Model for the CBT domain considering three main dimensions: the Question-item, the Test and the Activity. To tackle this objective, the thesis presents, on the one hand, a framework to assist in the categorization and design of advanced CBT scenarios and, on the other hand, two models that suggest elements for technologically representing the Test and Question-item dimensions. The models are platform-independent models (PIM) that extend QTI in order to support advanced CBT. Besides, the use of patterns is proposed to complement the modelling of the domain. The second objective seeks to show the relevance, value and applicability of the CBT Conceptual Model through exemplary challenging scenarios and case studies in authentic settings. To this end, the dissertation evaluates the design and implementation of a set of CBT systems and experiments. All the experiments use the proposed CBT Conceptual Model for designing an advanced CBT scenario. For each case the CBT-PIMs serve as the basis for developing a particular CBT-PSM and system. The evaluation results show that the implementations foster educational benefits, enable the assessment of higher-order skills and enhance the students’ motivation. Finally, the third objective is devoted to propose extension paths for QTI. The collection of models proposed in the thesis suggests different extension directions for QTI so as to enable the implementation of advanced questions, tests and activities. The proposed systems and scenarios also represent reference implementation and good practices of the proposed extension paths. / El uso de test de corrección automática, en el Aprendizaje Apoyado por Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones, se basa en el uso de ordenadores. Las propuestas actuales se centran en el diseño de nuevas preguntas, siendo IMS Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) el estándar de-facto. La tesis propone que este dominio puede ser extendido con el diseño de escenarios de test avanzados que integren nuevos contextos de interacción para la visualización de preguntas y tests, y que consideren la aplicación de diversos dispositivos tecnológicos para permitir diversos tipos de actividades. En este contexto se propone usar el término inglés Computing-Based Testing (CBT) para referirse al dominio, en vez de usar el término Computer-Based Testing, enfatizando el papel de la tecnología para la evaluación basada en test. Los escenarios CBT avanzados pueden aumentar la posibilidad de que los profesores puedan diseñar test más adecuados para sus asignaturas, permitiendo la evaluación de habilidades de alto nivel. Con el reto principal de modelar el dominio del CBT extendiendo las posibilidades actuales de QTI y las aproximaciones actuales, esta tesis proporciona un conjunto de contribuciones relacionadas con tres objetivos. El primer objetivo de la tesis es proponer un Modelo Conceptual definiendo y relacionando tres dimensiones: Pregunta, Test y Actividad. Por una parte, se propone un marco como guía en la categorización y diseño de escenarios CBT. Además, se proponen dos modelos que indican los elementos para la representación tecnológica de preguntas y test. Estos modelos son independientes de plataforma (PIM) que extienden QTI formulando los elementos que permiten implementar escenarios CBT avanzados. Además, se propone el uso de patrones como complemento en el modelado del dominio. El segundo objetivo trata de mostrar la relevancia y aplicabilidad de las contribuciones a través de escenarios y casos de estudio representativos en contextos reales. Para ello, se evalúa el diseño e implementación de un conjunto de experimentos y sistemas. En todos los experimentos se utiliza el Modelo Conceptual para diseñar escenarios CBT avanzados. Para cada caso los CBT-PIMs sirven como base para desarrollar modelos específicos de plataforma (CBT-PSMs) y sistemas asociados. La evaluación muestra que las implementaciones resultantes tienen beneficios educativos positivos, permitiendo la evaluación de habilidades de alto nivel y mejorando la motivación de los estudiantes. Finalmente, el tercer objetivo se centra en proponer vías de extensión para QTI. La colección de modelos propuestos sugiere diferentes direcciones de extensión de QTI para la implementación de preguntas, tests y actividades avanzados. Los escenarios y sistemas llevados a cabo representan implementaciones de referencia y buenas prácticas para las vías de extensión propuestas.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:47:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TaniroCR_DISSERT.pdf: 2000139 bytes, checksum: 735cb695e5e427f975c5c2630eff3731 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-21 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Research on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) has evolved, with potential applications in several domains. However, the building of WSN applications is hampered by the need of programming in low-level abstractions provided by sensor OS and of specific knowledge about each application domain and each sensor platform. We propose a MDA approach do develop WSN applications. This approach allows domain experts to directly contribute in the developing of applications without needing low level knowledge on WSN platforms and, at the same time, it allows network experts to program WSN nodes to met application requirements without specific knowledge on the application domain. Our approach also promotes the reuse of the developed software artifacts, allowing an application model to be reused across different sensor platforms and a platform model to be reused for different applications / A pesquisa sobre Redes de Sensores Sem Fio (RSSF) evoluiu bastante ao longo dos ?ltimos anos com aplica??es potenciais em diversos dom?nios. No entanto, o desenvolvimento de aplica??es de RSSF ? uma tarefa complexa, dentre outros fatores, pela necessidade da programa??o no (baixo) n?vel de abstra??o provido pelo sistema operacional dos sensores e de conhecimentos espec?ficos, tanto dos diferentes dom?nios de aplica??es quanto das diferentes plataformas de sensores existentes. Neste trabalho, ? proposta uma abordagem MDA para o desenvolvimento de aplica??es de RSSF, que visa facilitar a tarefa dos desenvolvedores. Esta abordagem permite a contribui??o direta dos especialistas em dom?nio no desenvolvimento de aplica??es de RSSF sem precisar de conhecimento espec?fico de programa??o em plataformas de RSSF e, ao mesmo tempo permite que especialistas em rede programem sensores aderentes aos requisitos da aplica??o sem a necessidade de conhecimento espec?fico do dom?nio da aplica??o. A abordagem proposta tamb?m promove a reutiliza??o de artefatos de software desenvolvidos, permitindo um modelo de aplica??o ser reutilizado em diferentes plataformas de sensores e que o modelo possa ser reutilizado em diferentes aplica??es

The Model Driven Architecture (MDA) allows moving the software development from the time consuming and error-prone level of writing program code to the next higher level of modeling. In order to gain benefit from this innovative technology, it is necessary to satisfy two requirements. These are first, the creation of compact, complete and correct platform independent models (PIM) and second, the development of a flexible and extensible model transformation framework taking into account frequent changes of the target platform. In this thesis a platform-based methodology is developed to create PIM by abstracting common modeling elements into a platform independent modeling library called Design Platform Model (DPM). The DPM contains OCL-based types for modeling primitive and collection types, a platform independent GUI toolkit as well as other common modeling elements, such as those for IO-operations. Furthermore, a DPM profile containing diverse domain specific and design pattern-based stereotypes is also developed to create PIM with high-level semantics. The behavior in PIM is specified using an OCL-like action language called eXecutable OCL (XOCL), which is also developed in this thesis. For model transformation, the model compiler MOCCA is developed based on a flexible and extensible architecture. The model mapper components in the current version of MOCCA are able to map desktop applications onto JSE platform; the both business object layer and persistence layer of a three-layered enterprise applications onto JEE platform and SAP ABAP platform. The entire model transformation process is finished with complete code generation.

The Model Driven Architecture (MDA) allows moving the software development from the time consuming and error-prone level of writing program code to the next higher level of modeling. In order to gain benefit from this innovative technology, it is necessary to satisfy two requirements. These are first, the creation of compact, complete and correct platform independent models (PIM) and second, the development of a flexible and extensible model transformation framework taking into account frequent changes of the target platform. In this thesis a platform-based methodology is developed to create PIM by abstracting common modeling elements into a platform independent modeling library called Design Platform Model (DPM). The DPM contains OCL-based types for modeling primitive and collection types, a platform independent GUI toolkit as well as other common modeling elements, such as those for IO-operations. Furthermore, a DPM profile containing diverse domain specific and design pattern-based stereotypes is also developed to create PIM with high-level semantics. The behavior in PIM is specified using an OCL-like action language called eXecutable OCL (XOCL), which is also developed in this thesis. For model transformation, the model compiler MOCCA is developed based on a flexible and extensible architecture. The model mapper components in the current version of MOCCA are able to map desktop applications onto JSE platform; the both business object layer and persistence layer of a three-layered enterprise applications onto JEE platform and SAP ABAP platform. The entire model transformation process is finished with complete code generation.