The design and implementation of a distributed Web document database
Distance learning has become a very important mechanism for virtual university operation. In order to realize such an operation smoothly, it is necessary to consider distance learning from three perspectives: administration, awareness, and assessment. We are currently implementing a virtual university environment according to these guidelines. In this paper, we propose a new Web documentation database as a supporting environment of the Multimedia Micro-University project. The design of this database facilitates a Web documentation development paradigm that we have proposed earlier. From a script description, to its implementation as well as testing records, the database and its interface allow the user to design Web documents as virtual courses to be used in a Web-savvy virtual library. The database supports object reuse and sharing, as well as referential integrity and concurrence. In order to allow real-time course demonstration, i.e. also propose a simple course distribution mechanism, which allows the pre-broadcast of course materials. The System is implemented as a three-tier architecture which runs under MS Windows and other platforms.

title: A genetic algorithm for optimal 3-connected telecommunication network designs
abstract: In this paper, a genetic algorithm for three connected telecommunication network designs is proposed. The genetic algorithm uses a new approach to solution representation, in which constraints such as diameter and connectivity constraints can be easily encoded and two-point crossover with the operation of swapping duplicated nodes ensures solutions generated through genetic evolution are all feasible so that both checking of the constraints and repair mechanism can be avoided. Both efficiency and effectiveness are increased due to no checking of the constraints and no repair mechanism conducted. In fact, our design algorithm for three-connected network design can he extended to a high-connectivity network design.

title: Macro University
abstract: This paper discusses the technical issues related to the Macro University framework. First we present the characteristics of the Macro University, from which the design principles are derived. Then we describe Macro University's software architecture and networking infrastructure. Since the Macro University is a federation of virtual universities, the format and protocol for open information exchange will be very important. Another often neglected issue is the technical tools to facilitate evaluation and assessment. A third issue is a universal interface for distance learning.

title: GRAM - a P2P system of group revision assistance management
abstract: This paper focuses on general design and prototype implementation of a peer-to-peer (P2P) and a proactive mechanism based version management system called GRAM (group revision assistance management). It provides four special features in comparison with other version management systems: higher system reliability and robustness, effective revision collision prevention using proactive agents, context-aware environment for team software revision, a unified XML format for configuration and history files as well as system and agent exchange messages. Every peer holds a shared space synchronized with other peers' ones, and a workspace for a user's ordinary editing. GRAM is implemented using the JXTA technology that consists of the virtual JXTA network and basic peer group services. The system GUI and basic functions in the current prototype are also presented to show its basic usages. By using GRAM, version management of various software development projects can be comfortably conducted.

title: A distributed Web document database and its supporting environment
abstract: We propose a new Web documentation database as a supporting environment of the Multimedia Micro-University project. The design of this database facilitates a Web documentation development paradigm that we have proposed earlier. From a script description to its implementation as well as testing records, the database and its interface allow the user to design Web documents as virtual courses to be used in a Web-savvy virtual library. The database supports object reuse and sharing, as well as referential integrity and concurrence. In order to allow real-time course demonstration, we also propose a simple course distribution mechanism, which allows the pre-broadcast of course materials. The system is implemented as a three-tier architecture which runs under MS Windows and other platforms.

title: A principled approach for formative Web learning assessment and adaptive tutoring
abstract: Web based distance learning is a trend of instruction delivery. One of the most difficult challenges of such a learning mechanism is the assessment of students' learning criteria. It is hard to judge the behavior of a student since the instructor is separated spatially and temporally from the students. However, it is possible to rely on some Web based tools to keep track of a student's course attendance, as well as the navigation behavior of that student. In addition, the navigation behavior of an individual can be compared to those of others. Analysis can be conducted, and an interactive tutorial can be generated to assist the student with a poor score. The paper proposes such a mechanism, as well as its supporting system run on Windows browsers.

title: Design and implementation of a P2P shared Web browser using JXTA
abstract: The most shared applications use the client/server model in which, however a server is usually very complex and heavy since all of group managements are done by the server and sometimes becomes a communication bottleneck as all of date exchange among group members are mediated via it. To solve the above problems, our shared browser adopted a pure peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture without using any server A group member or a device called a peer dynamically finds other peers via distributed searching, and directly exchange data with other peers. It supports not only sharing a Web document in a peer group but also synchronously viewing the document and manipulating the browser with further support of some group users' awareness information like a user's moving a cursor, entering a new URL and clicking a hyperlink. It is implemented using JXTA protocols and Java programming language. To make the system applicable over the Internet across firewalls and NATs, the HTTP protocol can be used to transfer data via a pipe, a communication mechanism in JXTA.

title: The Object Perceptron Learning Algorithm on Generalised Hopfield Networks for Associative Memory
abstract: We present a study of generalised Hopfield networks for associative memory. By analysing the radius of attraction of a stable state, the Object Perceptron Learning Algorithm (OPLA) and OPLA scheme are proposed to store a set of sample patterns (vectors) in a generalised Hopfield network with their radii of attraction as large as we require. OPLA modifies a set of weights and a threshold in a way similar to the perceptron learning algorithm. The simulation results show that the OPLA scheme is more effective for associative memory than both the sum-of-outer produce scheme with a Hopfield network and the weighted sum-of-outer product scheme with an asymmetric Hopfield network.

title: A P2P Ubiquitous System for Testing Network Programs
abstract: This paper presents design and implementation of a peer-to-peer (P2P) ubiquitous system for assisting a programmer to efficiently test network programs in their development process by using multiple computers simultaneously. This system is implemented using the TOMSCOP (Technology Of Multi-user Synchronous COllaboration Platform). It is a synchronous P2P collaboration platform built atop the JXTA technology. JXTA is a set of protocols for developing P2P shared applications, and enables peers to find each other, form groups and exchange messages across firewalls and NATs. This system has the following three main features. Firstly, it enables the program source files being shared among peers. Secondly, a user is able to simultaneously compile, execute and stop network programs of all peers in a same group by simple operations on the system GUI. Lastly, due to using Java and JXTA technology, the system can run on any platform.

title: Towards global routing with RLC crosstalk constraints
abstract: Conventional global routing minimizes total wire length and congestion. Experiments using large industrial benchmark circuits show that up to 24% of nets in such routing solutions may have RLC crosstalk violations at 3GHz clock. We develop an extremely efficient length-scaled Keff (LSK) model that has a high fidelity for long-range RLC crosstalk. We formulate an extended global routing problem (denoted as GSINO) to consider simultaneous shield insertion and net ordering with RLC crosstalk constraints, then propose an effective three-phase GSINO algorithm. The GSINO algorithm completely eliminates the RLC crosstalk violations, and has small area and wire length overhead compared to conventional routing.

title: A Dangerous Location Aware System for Assisting Kids Safety Care
abstract: This system focuses on a location-aware computing application and environment which provide preemptive information on dangerous locations in the kid's surroundings; i.e., the system alerts a kid on the move of the possible dangers whenever he/she is near accident prone areas. Using satellite-based GPS position sensing, this system can gradually learn and remember about the different locations that a kid routinely visits and/or passes by in his daily life, based on space-oriented contexts. The full set of system functionalities, including the map display, requires a graphical user interface. This location based services (LBSs) can compute the serious situations and alert kids to avoid dangerous situations. Our research can simulate the virtual environment as hyperspaces for kids safety care