bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Query Languages for Multimedia Data
Authors: Ciaccia Paolo , Penzo Wilma , Montesi Danilo , Trombetta Alberto
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a fuzzy-based algebra, called SAMEW, to query multimedia objects. SAMEW allows for dealing within a common framework with several aspects relevant to similarity query processing as well as with the inherent imprecision that characterizes data, user requests and query results. Non-Boolean, namely fuzzy and similarity, predicates are used to rank tuples according to specific criteria. Complex multi-predicate queries can be formed by means of logical connectives, whose semantics is parameterized in order to adapt to specific scenarios. The same holds for the semantics of algebraic operators. These include properly extended traditional relational operators and new operators which allow threshold and best-matches queries to be easily expressed. A further important feature of SAMEW is the possibility of weighting both predicates and operands of algebraic operators so as to better fit user preferences/requirements. A working example dealing with Web data is used throughout the chapter to show the potentialities of SAMEW. Optimization issues are also briefly discussed.
Temporal Models and Their Applications in Multimedia Information Retrieval
Authors: Prabhakaran Balakrishnan
Published: May 2011

Temporal models associated with a multimedia presentation describe the ordering of presentation of various objects in the time domain. In multimedia presentations, this ordering of presentation is explicitly formulated and stored along with the multimedia objects. Temporal models specify parameters such as time instant, duration, and synchronization of an object presentation with those of others. The above parameters can be specified either in a hard or a exible manner. In the case of hard temporal specification, the parameters such as time instants and durations of presentation of objects are fixed. In the case of exible specification, these parameters are allowed to vary within a specified range. In this chapter, we present both hard and exible temporal models for multimedia presentations. We describe how these models can be used for understanding the resource requirements (in terms of disk bandwidth, buffers, and network bandwidth) of a multimedia presentation. We present some approaches for deriving retrieval schedules based on temporal models.
Web-Based Smart Card Agent Environment and Applications for E-Commerce
Authors: Poh Teoh Kok , Guan Sheng-Uei
Published: May 2011

Issues on usability, security, and mobility have always been the main concerns for e-commerce implementations that aim to gain widespread public acceptance. Smart Card Agent Environment is designed to address these issues by using a combination of software agent and smart card technology. In this chapter, a functional overview of the proposed environment is presented to illustrate how these two technologies can be integrated to offer e-commerce services with high usability, security, and mobility. To further demonstrate the concept, a prototype implementation of the environment has been carried out. In this implementation, an on-card agent residing in the smart card is capable of storing critical data securely, providing digital ID and signature, and carrying out user authentication. On the other hand, off-card agent would provide various high-level agent services that can be used to carry out e-commerce activities. Before the end of the chapter, practical considerations for issues on security, technology acceptance, infrastructure availability, and standardization will be discussed.
Component Framework Supporting Agent-Based Electronic Data Interchange
Authors: Fellner Klement J. , Turowski Klaus
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we present an approach to a component (application) framework supporting agent-based intercompany communication and coordination. By using the extensible markup language (XML) as an important cross-section technique, together with common business communication standards, we show how the border of heterogeneous (distributed) application systems can be overcome. With this, a business communication protocol is set up. Taking this protocol as a basis, we further present a component framework, which is implemented using the JavaBeans technology to support an efficient intercompany communication. In addition, we show how this approach may further develop to a means for intercompany coordination. Thus, we come to multi-agent systems that support innovative business strategies in e-commerce settings, which rely on automatic coordination of complex business transaction within virtual enterprises.
A Virtual Salesperson
Authors: Marriott Andrew , Pockaj Roberto , Parker Craig
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the use of a graphical humane interface—a Virtual Salesperson. The face of the Virtual Salesperson is a generic Facial Animation Engine developed at the University of Genova in Italy and uses a 3-D computer graphics model based on the MPEG-4 standard supplemented by Cyberware scans for facial detail. The appearance of the head may be modified by Facial Definition Parameters to more accurately model the required visage allowing one model to represent many different Talking Heads. The “brain” of the Virtual Salesperson, developed at Curtin University, integrates natural language parsing, text to speech synthesis, and artificial intelligence systems to produce a “bot” capable of helping a user through a question/answer sales enquiry. The Virtual Salesperson is a specific example of a generic Human Computer Interface—a Talking Head.
A General Modelling and Simulation System for Sustainability Impact Assessment in the Field of Traffic and Logistics
Authors: Hilty Lorenz M. , Meyer Ruth , Ruddy Thomas F.
Published: May 2011

Traffic comprises a large and persistently growing share of resource consumption and environmental stress in modern economies. Even on our way towards an Information and Knowledge Society, the demand for physical transport has not let up. Although the total physical mass transported is no longer increasing in modern economies, the distances and exchange frequencies still are, both in freight and in passenger traffic. That is making traffic with its effects on the environment into one of the most difficult problems that has to be solved if we want to attain sustainable development.
Steps to Success for the Mining Process
Authors: Kudyba Stephan , Hoptroff Richard
Published: May 2011

The previous chapters have given you some background on the core components of corporate IT systems along with software technology that promotes “business intelligence” throughout an enterprise. This included a good foundation on the high end analytical portion of information systems, namely data mining technology. All this sounds fantastic, state-of-the-art software that helps increase the flow of value-added information which leads to a reduction of uncertainty in a given business environment. However, the bottom line to the productivity enhancing process from IT implementation really entails proper management and utilization of this technology. In other words, an organization can spend huge sums of dollars on the best systems available, but if they are not implemented properly, their value and dollars invested become useless. Data mining technology is no exception. In fact, because of the more complex nature of the technology (e.g., statistics and mathematic underpinnings), the potential for underutilization or improper utilization is probably greater than other types of analytical applications. The following chapter provides some helpful hints on how to manage the mining process as it illustrates some common pitfalls that exist in conducting a high-end analysis. Remember, today’s technology is good, but it doesn’t do all the work for you.
Improving the Web Experience through Real-Time Analysis (A Market Basket Approach)
Authors: Kudyba Stephan , Hoptroff Richard
Published: May 2011

The previous chapter introduced the evolution of the information economy as it addressed the progress of commerce from “brick and mortar” to “click and mortar” corporate initiatives. The key to the success of this process lies in the management of data by transforming it into usable information and applying appropriate business strategy. This chapter provides a natural extension to this topic as it describes the process by which organizations can achieve success on the Internet through the use of data, technology and sound management tactics. E-commerce vendors face two important challenges: driving up purchases and maintaining customer loyalty. However, only 2.7 percent of browsers buy from any given Web site and only 15 percent of those buyers return to buy again (Forrester Research, Inc.). To succeed, e-marketers must find ways to keep visitors on their sites. They must make the visitors’ experience convenient, satisfying and personally relevant. Above all, they must entice Web visitors to come back for more.
An Interactive Viewpoint on the Role of UML
Authors: Goldin Dina , Keil David , Wegner Peter
Published: May 2011

The role of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is to model interactive systems, whose behaviors emerge from the interaction of their components with each other and with the environment. Unlike traditional (algorithmic) computation, interactive computation involves infinite and dynamic (late binding) input/output streams. Tools and models limited to an algorithmic paradigm do not suffice to express and manage the behavior of today’s interactive systems, which are capable of self-reconfiguring and adapting to their environment. Whereas procedural languages may express precise designs of closed processes, UML’s objective is to provide support for the analysis and specification of increasingly complex and inherently open systems. Interactive systems require dynamic models where interaction has first-class status, and where the environment is modeled explicitly, as a set of actors whose roles constrain the input patterns through use cases. UML’s interaction-based approach to system modeling fits well with the encapsulation-based, object-oriented approach to implementation. By coupling these approaches, the software engineering process can promise to provide a more complete solution to system design and implementation, leading the way for widespread adoption of networked and embedded intelligent agent technology. A theoretical framework for modeling interactive computing can strengthen the foundations of UML and guide its evolution.
Analysis by Long Walk
Authors: Sawyer Steve
Published: May 2011

Through this chapter I make two contributions. First, I provide both conceptual guidance and practical advice for information systems (IS) scholars who are involved in multi-method research, with a particular focus on conducting multi-method analysis. Second, and as a means to achieve the first contribution, I detail some of the principal components of multi-method research. Multi-method research is based on the premise that analysis of separate and dissimilar data sets drawn on the same phenomena will provide a richer picture of the events and/or issues than will any single method. While valued by many IS scholars, multi-method-based research to study the roles of information and communication technologies (ICT) in social organization is under-explored as a set of coherent techniques.
Why Do We Do It If We Know It's Wrong? A Structural Model of Software Piracy
Authors: Seale Darryl A.
Published: May 2011

This study examines predictors of software piracy, a practice estimated to cost the software industry nearly $11 billion in lost revenue annually. Correlates with software piracy were explored using responses from a university wide survey (n=589). Forty-four percent of university employees reported having copies of pirated software (mean = 5.0 programs), while 31 percent said they have made unauthorized copies (mean = 4.2 programs). A structural model, based in part on the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985) and the theory of reasoned action as applied to moral behavior (Vallerand, Pelletier, Cuerrier, Cuerrier & Mongeau, 1992), was developed which suggests that social norms, expertise required, gender, and computer usage (both home and at work) all have direct effects on self-reported piracy. In addition, ease of theft, people’s sense of the proportional value of software, and various other demographic factors were found to affect piracy indirectly. Theoretical as well as practical implications for the design and marketing of software are discussed.
Component-Based Development
Authors: Lycett Mark G. , Pouloudi Athanasia
Published: May 2011

This chapter focuses on the issues raised by component-based development in the light of new data protection legislation recently introduced in the European Union. Component-based development has been proposed as a software engineering approach that can enable the development of flexible and evolutionary systems. The approach aims at the dynamic composition of information systems from pre-fabricated heterogeneous software components. The integration of components, however, potentially creates ethical issues as data need to be exchanged without the users or developers knowing which components will use what data and when. Our discussion unveils a complex ethical debate with important implications for data controllers and information systems developers.
Cyberspace Ethics and Information Warfare
Authors: Warren Matthew , Hutchinson William
Published: May 2011

We have seen a rise in computer misuse at a global level and also the development of new policies and strategies to describe organized computer security attacks against the information society–these strategies are described as being “information warfare.” This is very different from the traditional view of attack against computers by the individual, determined hacker, a cyber warrior with a code of conduct to follow. Today the threats come from individuals, corporations, government agencies (domestic and foreign), organized crime and terrorists. This new world of conflict in the electronic ether of virtual cyberspace has brought with it a new set of ethical dilemmas.
Social Responsibility in IS/IT Project Management
Authors: Gilbert Joseph T.
Published: May 2011

Project managers obviously have a responsibility to manage their projects. In this chapter we explore the question of social responsibility of project managers. We take it as given for purposes of this chapter that the project involves information systems and/or information technology. Social responsibility implies something beyond technical responsibility (the project, when completed, is technically efficient and reliable and meets the project specifications). In this chapter we will use the stakeholder approach, which is common in discussions of business ethics and the role of business in society (Donaldson & Preston, 1995; Evan & Freeman, 1983) to identify various groups to which project managers have social responsibility. We will discuss the difference between legal responsibility and moral or ethical responsibility. We will use a rights and duties approach to apply principles from business ethics to the problem of identifying project manager responsibilities. After this general discussion, we will identify five specific groups to whom IS/IT project managers have responsibilities. For each group, we will identify the project manager role or roles which connect to the rights of the group and discuss the duties which those rights impose on project managers. In concluding the chapter, we will briefly consider how the duties or responsibilities of project managers can be viewed in a positive light as opportunities which most employees and many managers do not have.
Towards a Methodology for the Development of Web-Based Systems
Authors: Strauch Bernhard , Winter Robert
Published: May 2011

E-commerce is changing the nature of business. To support ‘buying and selling over digital media’ for private and corporate Web users, companies need not only appropriate transaction systems, but also new information systems. While the systems development challenge for transaction systems is mostly restricted to separating access channel functionality from business transactions processing and developing systems support for new access channels, systems development needs for information systems are much more challenging since different media and different information source systems have to be integrated, novel forms navigation has to be supported and information objects become more complex and more volatile.
Delivery and Tracking of Rotating Banner Advertisements on the World Wide Web
Authors: Dasgupta Subhasish , Chandrashekaran Rajesh
Published: May 2011

In this chapter we propose a framework for the delivery and tracking of rotating banner advertisements on the World Wide Web (WWW). The proposed conceptual framework attempts to improve upon traditional approaches by utilizing both client and server resources. In addition to being able to track clicks, it allows for other non-traditional measures like exposure time and opportunities to see.
A Concept for the Evaluation of E-Commerce-Ability
Authors: Baumoel Ulrike , Stiffel Thomas , Winter Robert
Published: May 2011

Although many corporations currently try to establish e-commerce as a new field of business and as many corporations are already in the middle of implementing it or have just finished doing so, only a few e-commerce concepts prove to be successful in the long run. The question “Why?” is indeed difficult to answer, especially if a systematic approach for the analysis is not available. We deduced from our current research that e-commerce can only be successful if the corporation is structured according to the requirements of its e-commerce activities. That is, it is most likely to fail if e-commerce is only realized basing on the Internet as a new distribution channel, without changing the internal view on customer processes and without restructuring certain elements such as internal processes and structures and inter-business networking.
QoS - Aware Digital Video Retrieval Application
Authors: Czachorski Tadeusz , Jedrus Stanislaw , Zakrzewicz Maciej , Gozdecki Janusz , Pacyna Piotr , Papir Zdzislaw
Published: May 2011

Delivering high quality video content to customers is now expected to be one of the driving forces for the evolution of the Internet as it can be deployed in many niches of the emerging e-market. This chapter presents an originally developed Video Retrieval application with its unique features including a flexible user interface based on HTTP browser for content querying and browsing, support for both unicast and multicast addressing and a user-oriented control of QoS of video streaming in Integrated Services IP networks. The remaining part of the chapter is devoted to some selected methods of information systems’ modelling requested for the prediction of a system performance and an influence of different control mechanisms on quality of service perceived by end users.
Voiceover Internet Protocal (VoIP)
Authors: Khasnabish Bhumip
Published: May 2011

Traditionally, real-time voice communications–both within and outside of corporations (enterprises)—are achieved using public domain circuit-switched telephone networks (PSTNs). These networks use technologies that have been maturing over the last 150 years. However, the recent advances in and proliferation of packet-based switching technologies, World Wide Web (WWW) and PC-based user interfaces, and innovative digital signal processing (DSP) techniques are making real-time voice transmission using packet switching–particularly IP-based techniques—more feasible, at least within the logical boundaries of enterprise networks. Although the IP-based Internet is only about 25 years old, its compatibility with Ethernet2 , and its flexibility, openness and low-cost availability have enabled it to gain more than 260 million users worldwide3. In addition, proliferation of the WWW, multimedia PCs, and innovations in DSP during the last five years has made voice transmission over packet networks, particularly over IP, very attractive economically. In this chapter, we briefly review the technologies and standards—as recommended by IETF and ITU-T—that are making voice over IP (VoIP) a reality in both public and enterprise networks. Our focus is on low bit rate speech compression and silence suppression, voice packetization and encapsulation, sources of packet-voice impairments and methods to mitigate them, and packet-voice transmission engineering.
Managing Large Modules - E-mail or Web Sites
Authors: Coakes Elayne , Willis Dianne
Published: May 2011

This chapter addresses issues concerning the suitability of particular media as mass communication tools in an UK higher education setting. It looks firstly at the use of e-mail as a communication method whilst managing two large modules. The paper then goes on to examine the use of a Web site to provide a mass communication method more suited to the needs of both the staff and the students.
Web Management and Usage
Authors: Clarke Steve
Published: May 2011

This chapter seeks to apply learning from the fields of social theory and information systems to the specific context of the Internet. Key to this understanding is the extent to which the scope of information systems (IS) analysis is often seen to be problematic: IS “problems” are frequently “solved” by redefining organizational and human issues in technical terms, and developing the necessary technical solution. Studies on which this chapter are based have raised significant questions regarding such approaches, exposing many IS developments as not susceptible to a technical solution, but exhibiting complexities stemming from high levels of human activity. Arguably, such findings are of particular importance in Web development and management, depending as it does on the understanding and commitment of users who are often remote from and external to the organization. A clue to how such complex, human-centered issues may be dealt with is to be found in the scoping of these studies which, in systems terms, implies a need to assess the system boundary. Within this chapter an approach to such boundary setting is described, together with the way in which this may be used to inform choice of intervention strategy.
Electronic Government - Efficiency, Service Quality and Democracy
Authors: Gronlund Ake
Published: May 2011

eGov concerns both internal and external use of IT, for internal administration as well as for external services. It is about more IT use, better use and more strategic use. In this chapter, we shall focus on the external use, that is contacts between government and citizens and civil sector organizations, government and business, and among government organizations. The reason for this include the fact that this is the novel kind of IT use–internal IT use has been going on for decades, even if the amount and sophistication is now reaching new heights–and the kind that is seen as the most interesting component, and incentive, in restructuring government operations, for instance by increasing cooperation among government agencies and providing self-service facilities to citizens.
Case Study in Managing a Distance Education Consortium
Authors: Seehusen Vicky A.
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes the unique distance education consortium called CCCOnline developed by the Community Colleges of Colorado System (CC of C). CC of C is comprised of 14 Colorado Community Colleges and delivers courses, certificates and degrees to more than 250,000 students per year. The CCCOnline consortium, managed by the Colorado Electronic Community College (CECC), provides centralized management of faculty and curriculum and the consortial member colleges provide most of the student services to their students enrolled in the program. This chapter traces the organizational evolution of CCCOnline. CCCOnline was very much a “top-down” creation. It was also built very quickly. The creators of CCCOnline believed that speed was necessary to get educational offerings online and that internal relationships could be dealt with later. Neuhauser, Bender, and Stromberg (2000) echo this belief. They state that adding an e-business to traditional business creates a parallel culture. Furthermore, they believe that, at present, many consumers seem to accept that new products will have a few bugs and that the key is to figure out how to deliver speed and quality over the long run.
International User Interfaces
Authors: Jackson Barry
Published: May 2011

The developing global information infrastructure (GII), together with strongly supported initiatives promoted by the World Trade Organization (WTO), is making it possible for electronic commerce to become a truly international activity. Quite clearly, in order to realize the potential of the Internet as a conduit for the development of an international marketplace, there will need to be changes to the current business and economic paradigms that underpin the working of successful offline businesses. In almost every country worldwide, new models of commercial interaction are being developed to support businesses and consumers so that they can fully participate in, and benefit from, the expanded marketplace. However, to make a success of such an activity requires more than enthusiasm by the international trading community, or an appreciation of new online business and economic paradigms, or access to modern computer-based communications technology; it also requires customers to be able to navigate and use the interface with success and understanding. This means that the developer and owner of the system, in addition to having a knowledge of online business, must have a keen understanding of the cultural and language attributes of their customers. In this chapter, the focus will be concerned partly with issues relating to the cultural interaction of the customer with the system, partly with the development of an international user interface, and partly with examining some of the technical problems relating to the design and implementation of multilingual interfaces.
The Internet
Authors: Raine Peter
Published: May 2011

The relationship between a complex technological process and an emerging intellectual concept may, at first sight, seem tenuous. However, we may discover a connection if we consider that they are both global issues. Sustainability in relation to environmental issues involves all peoples in all places; it cannot be separated into a concept applicable for individual nation states, or specific bio-regions. Moreover, the concept of sustainability is directly related to communities and their social and economic fabric. We cannot act and do things in isolation: communication is essential. The Internet is a global communication system capable of influencing attitudes in many important areas, not least environmental concerns. This global communication system is currently fostering a special kind of ‘virtual’ community where discussion and transfer of information takes place on a wide variety of issues. Whether such a ‘digital’ community is a suitable focus for the promotion of the concept of environmental sustainability is the theme of this chapter.
The Question Concerning Information Technology
Authors: Introna Lucas D.
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the essence of information technology using the work of Martin Heidegger. In particular I will refer to his well-known 1954 essay, “The Question Concerning Technology” (Heidegger, 1977d). It is hoped that the ideas put forward by Heidegger in this work can be extended to include also information technology—which may help us say something about the Internet. Since his essay appeared, machine technology—the emphasis in his essay—has been overtaken by a much more pervasive technology—information technology. The question then becomes: can the notions of technology developed by Heidegger be extended to include information technology? If this can be done, what is the implication of this for our understanding of information technology today? In particular how can it help us reflect on the management of the Internet?
E-Health and Online Medical Transactions
Authors: Holt Alec , Gillies John D.
Published: May 2011

Electronic medical consultation as a means of health delivery is available worldwide. While only in its infancy in New Zealand, it is likely to gain momentum and acceptance, and will impact on both the health deliverer and consumer. Adoption of electronic consultation has the capacity to radically change the environment of healthcare. Emergence of new business models and social impacts are just two of the areas where there could be significant change. As technology is embraced by commercial, health and other interests, we see law and governance left struggling to keep up with the changes. Will the gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” widen or close? Has a beast been unleashed, or are we embarking into a brave new world where anyone can access the health information they need, regardless of socio-economic status, race or geographic situation? We discuss these questions with an emphasis on the New Zealand scene. In researching this chapter it seems that the positions about the future impact and appropriateness of telemedicine is polarized. At one pole are the “tele-evangilists” who think telemedicine will lead to a more patient-focused model. At the other pole are the “tele-luddites” who think that telemedicine introduces technology that complicates an already complex healthcare environment and will always come second to face-to-face interactions.
The Trend Toward Online Banking Services by Brick-and-Mortar Institutions
Authors: Hall Dianne J. , Whitmire Ray E. , Hall Steven D. , Knight E. Leon
Published: May 2011

Five hundred financial institutions in the United States were randomly sampled each year for five consecutive years in order to examine Internet participation, both evident at the time of the survey and planned by the selected financial institutions. Each year the selected institutions were surveyed regarding the existing involvement of their institution with online banking and that institution’s Internet plans for the following two-year period. This study examines changes over time in the responses of the surveyed institutions. The results show that, over the study period, the percent of respondents that had or planned an Internet present within two years of the survey increased from 52% in 1996 to over 90% in 2000, and that the number of online services offered to customers is increasing.
Which Way is Forward? Direction and Control in Virtual Space
Authors: Warner Malcolm , Witzel Morgen
Published: May 2011

The virtual organization offers many advantages, and can be a powerful strategic option for firms attempting to extend the scope and reach of their operations. However, it is by no means an easy option. Physical dispersal of the organization brings with it many associated problems of management and control. In this chapter, we look at some of these management issues and some of the options for managing more effectively in virtual space. In particular, we argue that management in virtual organizations still requires attention to the fundamentals of management. “Going virtual” should be seen as a strategic option which requires firms to achieve the optimal mix of physical and virtual elements and systems. In particular, we argue that a mastery of the skills of knowledge management is necessary in order to manage virtual systems and structures. Firms which fail to develop these skills run significant risks when taking the virtual option.
The Metamorphosis to Dynamic Trading Networks and Virtual Corporations
Authors: Richards Howard D. , Makatsoris Harris G.
Published: May 2011

A process of turbulent change is taking place in which companies shape up to deal with the unremitting global competition for which there is an uncertain outcome. Businesses have to look at the wider horizons and dynamics of both their supply chains and markets to discover new ways of working with both customers and suppliers to grow and remain viable. The diverse industrial, commercial and operational practices and processes need to be remolded and target the collaborative aspects of relationships to the advantage of company performance and creation of new opportunities. This chapter outlines some of the constraining forces and suggests the parameters in which a business strategy and a course of action can be devised as a pathway to the future.
Towards a Framework for Managing the Business-to-Business e-Commerce Chain
Authors: Wade Vincent , Lewis David , Brook Jacques , Donnelly William
Published: May 2011

The rapid of growth in e-Commerce/e-Business provides new opportunities and challenges for next generation Internet and telecommunication service providers. The collective global e-Commerce activities are estimated to exceed $6 trillion dollars in 2004. However, a key element in successful e-Commerce/e-Business operation is the improved integration and management of the e-Business value chains (i.e., management of business-2-customer (B2C) and business-2-business (B2B) chains. Current e-Business managed solutions, where available, tend to concentrate on only single aspects of the e-Business integration, e.g., outsourced accounting management or virtual private network (VPN) services. This is analogous to first-generation telecommunication management systems which delivered stand-alone management applications for specific management concerns, e.g., performance management and configuration management. However, e-Business organizations of the future will require a more holistic, integrated approach to e-Business management networks. Such e-Business services would support integrated management solutions (e.g., quality of service, accounting, service level agreement, negotiation and management, virtual private network mgmt., etc.) across the B2C and B2B value chain. This paper proposes a management component framework to support the rapid and flexible construction of an e-Commerce management infrastructure. This management solution is based on a holistic management approach supporting seamless integration of network and application management services (i.e., vertical), as well as integrating management across distinct functional areas (i.e., horizontal). The chapter also presents an analysis of the business model for a provider of such B2B and B2C management and examines the requirements for such management services. It also identifies best practice and state-of-the-art research upon which this framework is based and describes how this research is being developed as part of a large EU telecommunications research project.
What Regulation for Virtual Organizations?
Authors: Cevenini Claudia
Published: May 2011

Virtual organizations are a complex subject which requires an interdisciplinary approach. In the absence of specific legislation, consolidated doctrine and case law, jurists can resort to three main cornerstones: agreements between members and with third parties, analogical application of laws in force, and informal rules and trade usage. The preliminary step is to define the object of analysis as clearly as possible by building a model definition of virtual organizations for the legal research. On the basis of the model’s features, the most relevant legal issues can be outlined. At present, owing to the very nature of VOs, no definitive solutions are possible. However, some basic indications can be provided to enable potential and effective partners of a VO to understand from the start the possible legal implications of their activities.
Approximating Proximity to Fast and Robust Distance-Based Clustering
Authors: Estivill-Castro Vladimir , Houle Michael
Published: May 2011

Distance-based clustering results in optimization problems that typically are NP-hard or NP-complete and for which only approximate solutions are obtained. For the large instances emerging in data mining applications, the search for high-quality approximate solutions in the presence of noise and outliers is even more challenging. We exhibit fast and robust clustering methods that rely on the careful collection of proximity information for use by hill-climbing search strategies. The proximity information gathered approximates the nearest neighbor information produced using traditional, exact, but expensive methods. The proximity information is then used to produce fast approximations of robust objective optimization functions, and/or rapid comparison of two feasible solutions. These methods have been successfully applied for spatial and categorical data to surpass well-established methods such as k-MEANS in terms of the trade-off between quality and complexity.
The Discovery of Interesting Nuggets Using Heuristic Techniques
Authors: de la Iglesia Beatriz , Rayward-Smith Victor J.
Published: May 2011

Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) is an iterative and interactive process involving many steps (Debuse, de la Iglesia, Howard & Rayward-Smith, 2000). Data mining (DM) is defined as one of the steps in the KDD process. According to Fayyad, Piatetsky-Shapiro, Smyth and Uthurusamy (1996), there are various data mining tasks including: classification, clustering, regression, summarisation, dependency modeling, and change and deviation detection. However, there is a very important data mining problem identified previously by Riddle, Segal and Etzioni (1994) and very relevant in the context of commercial databases, which is not properly addressed by any of those tasks: nugget discovery. This task has also been identified as partial classification (Ali, Manganaris & Srikant, 1997). Nugget discovery can be defined as the search for relatively rare, but potentially important, patterns or anomalies relating to some pre-determined class or classes. Patterns of this type are called nuggets. This chapter will present and justify the use of heuristic algorithms, namely Genetic Algorithms (GAs), Simulated Annealing (SA) and Tabu Search (TS), on the data mining task of nugget discovery. First, the concept of nugget discovery will be introduced. Then the concept of the interest of a nugget will be discussed. The necessary properties of an interest measure for nugget discovery will be presented. This will include a partial ordering of nuggets based on those properties. Some of the existing measures for nugget discovery will be reviewed in light of the properties established, and it will be shown that they do not display the required properties. A suitable evaluation function for nugget discovery, the fitness measure, will then be discussed and justified according to the required properties.
A Building Block Approach to Genetic Programming for Rule Discovery
Authors: Engelbrecht Andries P. , Schoeman L. , Rouwhorst Sonja
Published: May 2011

Genetic programming has recently been used successfully to extract knowledge in the form of IF-THEN rules. For these genetic programming approaches to knowledge extraction from data, individuals represent decision trees. The main objective of the evolutionary process is therefore to evolve the best decision tree, or classifier, to describe the data. Rules are then extracted, after convergence, from the best individual. The current genetic programming approaches to evolve decision trees are computationally complex, since individuals are initialized to complete decision trees. This chapter discusses a new approach to genetic programming for rule extraction, namely the building block approach. This approach starts with individuals consisting of only one building block, and adds new building blocks during the evolutionary process when the simplicity of the individuals cannot account for the complexity in the underlying data. Experimental results are presented and compared with that of C4.5 and CN2. The chapter shows that the building block approach achieves very good accuracies compared to that of C4.5 and CN2. It is also shown that the building block approach extracts substantially less rules.
Introducing Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery
Authors: Sarker R. , Abbass H. , Newton C.
Published: May 2011

The terms Data Mining (DM) and Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) have been used interchangeably in practice. Strictly speaking, KDD is the umbrella of the mining process and DM is only a step in KDD. We will follow this distinction in this chapter and present a simple introduction to the Knowledge Discovery in Databases process from an optimization perspective.
How Size Matters
Authors: Scott Paul D.
Published: May 2011

This chapter addresses the question of how to decide how large a sample is necessary in order to apply a particular data mining procedure to a given data set. A brief review of the main results of basic sampling theory is followed by a detailed consideration and comparison of the impact of simple random sample size on two well-known data mining procedures: naïve Bayes classifiers and decision tree induction. It is shown that both the learning procedure and the data set have a major impact on the size of sample required but that the size of the data set itself has little effect. The next section introduces a more sophisticated form of sampling, disproportionate stratification, and shows how it may be used to make much more effective use of limited processing resources. This section also includes a discussion of dynamic and static sampling. An examination of the impact of target function complexity concludes that neither target function complexity nor size of the attribute tuple space need be considered explicitly in determining sample size. The chapter concludes with a summary of the major results, a consideration of their relevance for small data sets and some brief remarks on the role of sampling for other data mining procedures.
Implementation Management of an E-Commerce-Enabled Enterprise Information Systems
Authors: Sundarraj R. P. , Sarkis Joseph
Published: May 2011

This chapter presents a case study of an overview of the efforts of Texas Instrument’s (TI’s) internal and external ERP implementation, with a focus on linking its ERP system in a global e-commerce setting. This linkage is especially important since it had been stated in TI’s strategic plan as an objective of this project to provide visibility of the ERP system to external constituents via Web linkages along with the objective of standardizing internal processes and important information technology systems to support market needs. Thus, its ERP system is central to managing its supply chain and B2B e-commerce linkages from both a customer and supplier perspective. Issues faced by TI are clearly outlined with future questions also posed in the final section.
Student Advantage Captures the College Market Through an Integration of Their On and Offline Businesses
Authors: O’Hara Margaret T. , Watson Hugh J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter describes how Student Advantage successfully transformed itself from a brick-and-mortar company to the leading online portal to the higher education community. The company has followed a business strategy that includes creating Web sites that appeal to college students and forming partnerships with businesses and universities. Through its activities, Student Advantage has assembled a wealth of information about college students, all organized around a common student identifier. This information is important to Student Advantage and to its partners who are willing to pay for the insights that Student Advantage can provide about the college market. Interestingly, Student Advantage only recently developed a strong in-house information technology capability. This capability is now allowing Student Advantage to implement a variety of e-marketing applications. Lessons learned from Student Advantage’s experiences are discussed.
Content-Based Visual Information Retrieval
Authors: Marques Oge , Furht Borko
Published: May 2011

This chapter provides a survey of the state-of-the-art in the field of Visual Information Retrieval (VIR) systems, particularly Content-Based Visual Information Retrieval (CBVIR) systems. It presents the main concepts and system design issues, reviews many research prototypes and commercial solutions currently available, and points out promising research directions in this area.
Distributed Temporal Video DBMS Using Vertical Class Partitioning Technique
Authors: Fung Chi-wai , Lau Rynson , Li Qing , Leong Hong Va
Published: May 2011

In this chapter, we describe our work on developing a distributed video DBMS (database management system). The video DBMS provides a temporal modeling framework for describing video data and it supports data distribution by applying vertical class partitioning techniques. Building on top of our previous work on Four-Dimensional Information Space (4DIS) - an object-oriented temporal modeling framework, we apply class partitioning techniques onto a distributed 4DIS video database system as a means for efficient query execution. A detailed cost model for query execution through vertical class partitioning is developed. The effectiveness of our class partitioning approach, in the context of the distributed 4DIS video database system, is demonstrated through the use of a running example.
Video-on-Demand
Authors: Li Fulu
Published: May 2011

Video-on-Demand (VoD) systems face scalability problems and Quality of Service (QoS) issues due to the need to satisfy numerous requests for several different videos given the limited bandwidth of the communication links. In order to provide scalable solutions and guarantee given QoS requirements, existing VoD proposals can be roughly divided into two categories: (a) scheduled multicast, and (b) periodic broadcast. In this chapter we propose (a) a novel scheduled multicast scheme based on a time-dependent bandwidth allocation approach, (b) a Trace-Adaptive Fragmentation (TAF) scheme for periodic broadcast of Variable Bit Rate (VBR) encoded video, and (c) a Loss-Less and Bandwidth-Efficient (LLBE) protocol for periodic broadcast of VBR video. We have designed, simulated and evaluated the proposed schemes, and the simulation results demonstrate the benefits, flexibility and feasibility of the proposals.
VRML-Based System for a Three-Dimensional Virtual Museum
Authors: Diez Higuera J. F. , Diez Pernas F. J.
Published: May 2011

A Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML)-based interactive three dimensional museum on the Web is designed and implemented. Users may walk through a 3D representation of the whole museum, viewing its collections, and seeing objects in 3D together with information about them. To allow all of these, we have designed a set of interactive dynamic Web pages, using a client-server platform that delivers the information required by the user, both 3D data of the objects and texts and 2D information. All this information is stored in a database to enable easier access and management.
Organizing Multimedia Objects Using a Class Algebra Database
Authors: Buehrer Daniel J.
Published: May 2011

This chapter considers the question of how to locate appropriate multimedia objects. The traditional use of Web search engines is limited by the fact that there are as of yet no standard XML tags describing the many various types of multimedia objects. The users would much prefer to choose from menus, especially from a classification hierarchy where subclasses are all listed. Traditional SQL relational databases are generally not flexible enough to permit dynamic addition of attribute/value pairs to describe these multimedia objects, and to display the resulting schema. The solution suggested in this chapter is the sharing of class and binary relation definitions, including the binary superclass/subclass relation of the IS-A classification hierarchy of object-oriented technology. This object-oriented database implementation is based on class algebra. Similar users can see each other’s objects, classes, and relations, and add their own objects into appropriate places in both the class hierarchy and the binary relations. The binary relations look like subdirectories, and the available binary relations and methods can be chosen from a menu. The distributed database system, therefore, looks like a typical network operating system, and it is expected that average users may be able to make database queries and updates without any need of programmers.