Yes / Modern aeronautical telecommunication networks (ATN) make use of different simultaneous datalinks to deliver robust, secure and efficient ATN services. This paper proposes a Multiple Attribute Decision Making based optimal datalink selection algorithm which considers different attributes including safety, QoS, costs and user/operator preferences. An intelligent TRigger-based aUtomatic Subjective weighTing (i-TRUST) method is also proposed for computing subjective weights necessary to provide user flexibility. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the performance of the ATN system. / Innovate U.K. Project SINCBAC-Secure Integrated Network Communications for Broadband and ATM Connectivity: Application number 18650-134196.

Yes / This paper presents an investigation into the development of an intelligent active vibration control (AVC) system. Evolutionary Genetic algorithms (GAs) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference system (ANFIS) algorithms are used to develop mechanisms of an AVC system, where the controller is designed on the basis of optimal vibration suppression using the plant model. A simulation platform of a flexible beam system in transverse vibration using finite difference (FD) method is considered to demonstrate the capabilities of the AVC system using GAs and ANFIS. MATLAB GA tool box for GAs and Fuzzy Logic tool box for ANFIS function are used for AVC system design. The system is then implemented, tested and its performance assessed for GAs and ANFIS based design. Finally a comparative performance of the algorithm in implementing AVC system using GAs and ANFIS is presented and discussed through a set of experiments.

Environmental concerns have led to a rapid increase in renewable energy development and production as the global demand for electricity continues to increase. The intermittent and uncertain nature of electricity generation from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, however, create significant challenges in maintaining power system reliability at reasonable costs. Energy storage and smart-grid technologies are perceived to provide potential solutions to these challenges in modern power systems of different sizes. This work investigates the opportunity to incorporate energy storage in microgrids with renewable energy production, as well as applying smart microgrid management techniques to reduce the lifetime costs while maintaining an acceptable level of reliability. A microgrid consisting of a 5 home community with generation supplied by two propane generators to meet the “N-1” reliability criterion is used as the base case scenario. Actual load data of typical homes is obtained from the industry partner. An equivalent loss of load expectation criterion is used to benchmark the acceptable reliability level. A model is developed to calculate the lifetime operational cost of the base case scenario which is used to assess the benefit of the addition of renewable energy sources, energy storage, and smart microgrid management techniques. A MATLAB program is developed to assess the 20 year operational costs of various combinations of renewable energy sources and battery energy storage, which will be considered the lifetime of the system. The combination of generation and storage which yields the lowest lifetime operational cost is defined as the optimized microgrid, and is used as a basis to determine if additional savings are realized by the implementation of a microgrid operated by a Smart Microgrid Management System (SMMS). The conceptual layout of the proposed SMMS is presented along with identified methods of utilizing in-home thermal storage. The SMMS mechanism is discussed along with proposed functionality, potential methods of employment, and associated development and implementation costs. The microgrid operated by the SMMS is assessed, and its lifetime operational cost is presented and contrasted against the base case microgrid and the optimized microgrid. A power system reliability evaluation of the proposed microgrids are conducted using a probabilistic method to ensure that reliability is not sacrificed by the implementation of a cost-minimized microgrid. A sequential Monte Carlo simulation model is developed to assess the power system reliability of the various microgrid configuration cases. The functionality of this model is verified using an existing reliability assessment program. The results from the presented studies show that the implementation of renewable energy sources, energy storage, and smart microgrid management techniques are an effective way of reducing the operational cost of a remote microgrid while increasing its power system reliability.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2016-10-31T12:50:59Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) UMA INVESTIGAÇÃO SOBRE O PROCESSO MIGRATÓRIO PARA A PLATAFORMA DE COMPUTAÇÃO EM NUVEM NO BRASIL.pdf: 2425763 bytes, checksum: 20f3a5ca31db4bf99450bc873fe1b9d3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-31T12:50:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) UMA INVESTIGAÇÃO SOBRE O PROCESSO MIGRATÓRIO PARA A PLATAFORMA DE COMPUTAÇÃO EM NUVEM NO BRASIL.pdf: 2425763 bytes, checksum: 20f3a5ca31db4bf99450bc873fe1b9d3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-22 / Contexto: A Computação em Nuvem apresenta um novo conceito de terceirização na contratação de serviço, esses avanços vêm sendo vistos como uma nova possibilidade para a redução nos volumes dos investimentos em TIC, proporcionados pela maior flexibilidade nos serviços ofertados sob demanda, tendo na redução de custo seu apelo mais forte. Mesmo sabendo dos benefícios do investimento em nuvem, presume-se que algumas empresas são receosas na contratação de serviços e/ou infraestruturas de TIC da computação em nuvem. Essa realidade, apresentada na pesquisa da Tech Supply, especializada em Inteligência Tecnológica para Auditoria e Integridade Corporativa e TI, segundo a qual 43% das empresas brasileiras não se sentem seguras para migrar os seus sistemas para nuvem. Objetivo: Nesse contexto geral, apresentam-se dois objetivos: investigar os indícios pelos quais algumas empresas podem estar propensas a contratarem ou não os serviços de Computação em Nuvem no Brasil. Adicionalmente, identificar i e e j de sua satisfação ou insatisfação em relação aos serviços de nuvem contratados no Brasil. Método: Para este estudo, definiu-se o tipo de pesquisa realizada como exploratória de natureza descritiva e explicativa, com ênfase na abordagem quantitativa. Quanto ao procedimento técnico, aplicou-se um levantamento através de um Survey, utilizando-se o instrumento de um questionário com 14 (quatorze) itens. Referente à coleta dessas informações, disponibilizou-se através de um formulário WEB (Online). E, por fim, quanto ao tipo de análise aplicada aos resultados, utilizou-se o aprendizado automático para extração dos resultados. Com o uso de aprendizado automático, faz-se necessário o estabelecimento de algumas definições em relação aos métodos de aprendizagem a serem aplicados, como tarefa de classificação por árvore de decisão com algoritmo de classificação J48, método de aprendizagem por indução. Para o modo de treinamento, aplicou-se o não incremental. Na hierarquia do aprendizado, utilizou-se o aprendizado supervisionado e para o paradigma de aprendizado, usou-se o simbólico. Definiram-se também as variáveis classificadoras para cada linha de investigação: “SIM” en c n “NÃO”, para as empresas que não usam; e “SATISFEITO” ou “INSATISFEITO” c n e , para as empresas que já usam. Resultado: Descobriu-se que as características das empresas que estão propensas a contratar a nuvem são garantia de entrega e qualidade dos serviços. Em contrapartida, as empresas que não estão propensas a contratar os serviços da nuvem têm como características o baixo faturamento e poucos colaboradores associados à confiabilidade e segurança da informação. Para a outra linha de investigação, em relação à satisfação, os motivos são o preço da nuvem associado aos modelos de Infraestrutura e Software como Serviço. Por outro lado, para as empresas que estão insatisfeitas, os motivos são segurança da informação, disponibilidade dos serviços associados à redução de custo. / Context: Cloud computing presents a new concept of outsourcing at hiring services, these advances have been seen as a new possibility for reduction at volume of investments in ICT, provided for greater flexibility in offered on-demand services, with cost reduction its strongest appeal. Even though the c d in e en benefi i ‟ assumed that some companies are afraid for contracting services and / or cloud c ing ICT inf c e. Thi e i y e en ed in he Tech S y‟ e e ch specializing in Technology Intelligence for Audit and Corporate Integrity and IT, according to which 43% of Brazilian companies do not feel safe to migrate their cloud systems. Objective: In general, there are two objectives: to investigate the evidence by which some companies may be prone to hire or not the Computing Cloud services in Brazil. In addition, identify the reasons for those that already use their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the cloud services contracted in Brazil. Method: For this study, the type of research conducted was defined as exploratory of descriptive and explanatory nature, with an emphasis on quantitative approach. As for the technical procedure, was applied a survey through a Survey, using the instrument of a questionnaire with 14 (fourteen) items. Concerning the collection of this information, it made available through a web form (Online). Finally, the type of analysis applied to the results, we used the automatic learning for extracting results. With the use of automatic learning, it is necessary to establish some definitions regarding learning methods to applied as a classification task by decision tree classification algorithm J48¹, learning method for induction. For the training mode, applied to the non-incremental. In the learning hierarchy, we used supervised learning and the learning paradigm, was used the symbolic. The classification variables was defined for each research line: "YES" likely to hire or "NO" for companies that do not use; and "SATISFIED" or "DISSATISFIED" with the cloud, for companies that already use. Result: It found that the characteristics of companies that are likely to hire the cloud are delivery assurance and service quality. Conversely, companies that are not likely to hire cloud services characterized by low turnover and few employees associated with the reliability and information security. For another line of research in relation to satisfaction, the reasons are the price associated with cloud models Infrastructure and Software as a Service. On the other hand, for companies that are dissatisfied, the reasons are information security, availability of services associated with cost reduction.

Maintaining and operating manual main distribution frames is labour-intensive. As a result, Automated Main Distribution Frames (AMDFs) have been developed to alleviate the task of maintaining subscriber loops. Commercial AMDFs are currently employed in telephone exchanges in some parts of the world. However, the most significant factors limiting their widespread adoption are costeffective scalability and reliability. Therefore, an impelling incentive is provided to create a simulation framework in order to explore typical implementations and scenarios. Such a framework will allow the evaluation and optimisation of a design in terms of both internal and external redundancies. One of the approaches to improve system performance, such as system reliability, is to allocate the optimal redundancy to all or some components in a system. Redundancy at the system or component levels can be implemented in one of two schemes: parallel redundancy or standby redundancy. It is also possible to mix these schemes for various components. Moreover, the redundant elements may or may not be of the same type. If all the redundant elements are of different types, the redundancy optimisation model is implemented with component mixing. Conversely, if all the redundant components are identical, the model is implemented without component mixing. The developed framework can be used both to develop new AMDF architectures and to evaluate existing AMDF architectures in terms of expected lifetimes, reliability and service availability. Two simulation models are presented. The first simulation model is concerned with optimising central office equipment within a telephone exchange and entails an environment of clients utilising services. Currently, such a model does not exist. The second model is a mathematical model incorporating stochastic simulation and a hybrid intelligent evolutionary algorithm to solve redundancy allocation problems. For the first model, the optimal partitioning of the model is determined to speed up the simulation run efficiently. For the second model, the hybrid intelligent algorithm is used to solve the redundancy allocation problem under various constraints. Finally, a candidate concept design of an AMDF is presented and evaluated with both simulation models. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / unrestricted

De nos jours, l’expérience de l'utilisateur appelé en anglais « User Experience » est devenue l’un des indicateurs les plus pertinents pour les fournisseurs de services ainsi que pour les opérateurs de télécommunication pour analyser le fonctionnement de bout en bout de leurs systèmes (du terminal client, en passant par le réseaux jusqu’à l’infrastructure des services etc.). De plus, afin d’entretenir leur part de marché et rester compétitif, les différents opérateurs de télécommunication et les fournisseurs de services doivent constamment conserver et accroître le nombre de souscription des clients. Pour répondre à ces exigences, ils doivent disposer de solutions efficaces de monitoring et d’estimation de la qualité d'expérience (QoE) afin d’évaluer la satisfaction de leur clients. Cependant, la QoE est une mesure qui reste subjective et son évaluation est coûteuse et fastidieuse car elle nécessite une forte participation humaine (appelé panel de d’évaluation). Par conséquent, la conception d’un outil qui peut mesurer objectivement cette qualité d'expérience avec une précision raisonnable et en temps réel est devenue un besoin primordial qui constitue un challenge intéressant à résoudre. Comme une première contribution, nous avons analysé l'impact du comportement d’un réseau sur la qualité des services de vidéo à la demande (VOD). Nous avons également proposé un outil d'estimation objective de la QoE qui utilise le système expert basé sur la logique floue pour évaluer la QoE à partir des paramètres de qualité de service de la couche réseau. Dans une deuxième contribution, nous avons analysé l'impact des paramètres QoS de couche MAC sur les services de VoD dans le cadre des réseaux sans fil IEEE 802.11n. Nous avons également proposé un outil d'estimation objective de la QoE qui utilise le réseau aléatoire de neurones pour estimer la QoE dans la perspective de la couche MAC. Pour notre troisième contribution, nous avons analysé l'effet de différents scénarios d'adaptation sur la QoE dans le cadre du streaming adaptatif au débit. Nous avons également développé une plate-Forme Web de test subjectif qui peut être facilement intégré dans une plate-Forme de crowd-Sourcing pour effectuer des tests subjectifs. Finalement, pour notre quatrième contribution, nous avons analysé l'impact des différents paramètres de qualité de service Web sur leur QoE. Nous avons également proposé un algorithme d'apprentissage automatique i.e. un système expert hybride rugueux basé sur la logique floue pour estimer objectivement la QoE des Web services / Today user experience is becoming a reliable indicator for service providers and telecommunication operators to convey overall end to end system functioning. Moreover, to compete for a prominent market share, different network operators and service providers should retain and increase the customers’ subscription. To fulfil these requirements they require an efficient Quality of Experience (QoE) monitoring and estimation. However, QoE is a subjective metric and its evaluation is expensive and time consuming since it requires human participation. Therefore, there is a need for an objective tool that can measure the QoE objectively with reasonable accuracy in real-Time. As a first contribution, we analyzed the impact of network conditions on Video on Demand (VoD) services. We also proposed an objective QoE estimation tool that uses fuzzy expert system to estimate QoE from network layer QoS parameters. As a second contribution, we analyzed the impact of MAC layer QoS parameters on VoD services over IEEE 802.11n wireless networks. We also proposed an objective QoE estimation tool that uses random neural network to estimate QoE from the MAC layer perspective. As our third contribution, we analyzed the effect of different adaption scenarios on QoE of adaptive bit rate streaming. We also developed a web based subjective test platform that can be easily integrated in a crowdsourcing platform for performing subjective tests. As our fourth contribution, we analyzed the impact of different web QoS parameters on web service QoE. We also proposed a novel machine learning algorithm i.e. fuzzy rough hybrid expert system for estimating web service QoE objectively