ICSOFT-EA 2013 Abstracts

Area 1 - Enterprise Software Technologies
Short Papers
Area 2 - Software Project Management
Full Papers Short Papers
Area 3 - Distributed and Mobile Software Systems
Short Papers
Area 4 - Software Engineering Methods and Techniques
Full Papers Short Papers

Area 1 - Enterprise Software Technologies

Short Papers
Paper Nr: 23
Title:

A Business Goals Centric Method for Automatic DW Design from UML Models

Authors:

Mounira Ben Abdallah, Nahla Z. Haddar and Hanene Ben-Abdallah
Abstract: The goal of a data warehouse (DW) design is to both generate decision requirements and construct loadable DW schemas. In this paper, we propose a DW design method that generates automatically analytical requirements and DW schemas that meet the strategic goals of the enterprise. Since each analytical requirement analyzes information produced by the enterprise information system (IS) in order to achieve its goals, our method begins with deriving the goals model of the enterprise from its strategic goal model and the use case model of its IS. Then, it mines the UML IS modelling artefacts to identify the analytical elements. These elements are used to both formulate the analytical requirements and build the DW schemas. This guarantees both generating a complete set of analytical requirements and producing sound and loadable DW schemas. The generated requirements are validated by the decision makers who are thus directly involved in the specification process. This requirement validation aims to refine the generated DW schemas. Finally, we describe an implementation of DW construction method to illustrate how it works in practice.
Paper Nr: 47
Title:

Spatial Connector - Loosely Binding Contextual Changes and Non-Context-Aware Services
Authors:

Ichiro Satoh
Abstract: A framework for providing context-aware services is presented. Context-aware services tends to depend on context but software for defining the services should be independent on context so that it can be reused in other contexts. However, software for many context-aware services in existing approaches has been constructed in an ad-hoc manner. The approach, called Spatial Connector, enables software for context-aware services to be defined independently of any contextual information so that it can be reused in other context. It enables non-context-aware services to be used as context-aware services by deploying services according to contextual changes and transforming such changes into non-context-aware functions, so that software for context-aware services to be defined independently on any contextual information. Our early experiments proved that it enabled us to reuse JavaBeans components as context-aware services without having to modify the components themselves.
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Paper Nr: 53
Title:

An Industrial Standard to Assure Dependability in Software Reuse
Authors:

Fevzi Belli
Abstract: Whereas a software component may be perfectly suited to one application, it may prove to cause severe faults in other applications. The pre-standard IEC/PAS 62814 (Dependability of Software Products Containing Reusable Components – Guidance for Functionality and Tests), which has recently been released, addresses the functionality, test¬ing, and dependability of software components to be reused and products that contain software to be used in more than one application. This paper introduces into this pre-standard and give hints how to use it. The author, who chaired its realization that started in 2006, briefly summa¬rizes the diffi¬cult process to bring the industrial partners with contro¬ver¬sial interests to a consensus.
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Paper Nr: 17
Title:

SESGAL Software for Managing Earthquake Risk in Galicia
Authors:

Carla Iglesias, Eduardo Giráldez, Javier Taboada, Roberto Martínez-Alegría and Isabel Margarida Antunes
Abstract: According to the laws in place in Spain, the autonomous Community of Galicia (NW Spain) has two zones –Lugo and Ourense– at greater seismic risk. In order to control and minimize the damage to buildings and to population, a Special Civil Protection Plan for Seismic Risk in Galicia (SISMIGAL) has been drawn up, including a software tool specially designed for this purpose. The Galician Seismic Scenario Simulator v1.0 (SESGAL) is based on a geographic information system (GIS) and provided with a comprehensive database of the elements and resources that intervene in the management of an emergency. In addition to the typical functions of GIS, SESGAL incorporates a seismic scenario simulator –which enables the prediction of the effects of an earthquake– and a seismic emergency manager –which provides a tool for addressing the needs of the population in case of a catastrophe. The SESGAL software presented here provides a useful, rapid tool for an effective and efficient response to the damage caused by an earthquake in the Galician territory, managing the means and resources available.
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Paper Nr: 34
Title:

Using Intentional and System Dynamics Modeling to Address WHYs in Enterprise Architecture
Authors:

Sagar Sunkle, Suman Roychoudhury and Vinay Kulkarni
Abstract: Taking and executing cost effective decisions in enterprises is becoming increasingly difficult due to multiple change drivers that affect varied aspects of enterprise. Enterprise architecture (EA) frameworks provide holistic treatment of whats and hows of enterprise but leave the important questions of whys unaddressed. Intentional modeling and system dynamics modeling provide treatment of whys at a point in time and over time respectively. We propose an approach where both intentional and system dynamics models are used in conjunction with EA models for a more effective treatment of whys than provided by either. Initial results with a case study suggest that best of both worlds may be obtained with such combined treatment of whys in enterprise.
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Paper Nr: 41
Title:

Implementing Intelligent Tutoring System using Jade Agents Intermediation System (JAIS) in an Collaborative Environment (CE) like Community of Practices - For Collaborative Learning, Knowledge Sharing Emergence
Authors:

Clauvice Kenfack
Abstract: This paper presents the implementation of an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) using the Jade agents intermediation system (AIS) for community of practice to support knowledge emergence and sharing in collaborative learning situation The key component is the community of practices model which will be derived from monitoring the knowledge sharing process . These issues are important in Learning community like a CoPs (both in educational and organisational context), as they promote the processes of knowledge sharing, collaborative learning, and development of collective efficacy among community members. The system kernel of AIS supports two types of agents (human agent and artificial agents) that help to manage the collaborative learning activity into the community, whereas the integration mechanism supports an agent to interact, coordinate and monitor the activities between agents. AIS for CoPS facilitate the team interaction.This work takes place in the framework of the design of a training environment using collaborative reality like community of practice. In this context, we defend the thesis that it is possible to implement a generic and adaptive intelligent tutoring system (called ITAgAGS) in a collaborative environment, in order to provide pedagogical aid for the learner and pedagogical assistance for the trainer. Our proposal is to integrate ITS in a multi-agent system like JAIS developed during our thesis.
Paper Nr: 43
Title:

Process Lines for Automatic Workflow Development
Authors:

Mario L. Bernardi, Marta Cimitile and Fabrizio M. Maggi
Abstract: In some business environments, processes of different organizations are very similar to each other. This produces families of processes with common characteristics but also portions that vary according to the specific organization. Two emerging approaches can be adopted and combined to easily model, implement and update families of business processes: Software Product Line (SPL) and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). Our work suggests a framework to transfer the main peculiarities of the SPL to the SOA system development, in order to realize a SOA system line. Starting from the SPL concept, we introduce process lines, i.e., families of process models suitable for different customers or market segments. Moreover, we present an approach for the automatic generation of a SOA system starting from a process model. The combination of these approaches, can be used to easily develop a family of SOA systems each one appropriate for different context characteristics. In this work, an application of the proposed approach in a real project is also proposed.
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Paper Nr: 55
Title:

New Concepts for Knowledge based Cataract Surgery Assistance - A First Clinical Approach
Authors:

K. P. Scherer, C. Rieder, C. Henninger, J. Baumeister and J. Reutelshöfer
Abstract: Concerning optimization of ophthalmosurgical interventions at human eyes, a knowledge based assistance system is developed to support the decision process of the surgeons before the real operation at the human eye. This is performed especially for cataract operations, when the real dark lens has to be removed and an artificial lens system must be implanted. Especially for complicated and complex interventions the computer-based system will be a helpful tool. The system has to guarantee a fast and efficient access to all operation relevant information. The result of such a concept should be an enhancement of operational quality and so an enhancement of the patient contentment. This means a very important factor for the human life quality.
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Paper Nr: 71
Title:

The Application of VLE with 3D Google Earth and Interactive Technology
Authors:

Wei-Kai Liou and Chun-Yen Chung
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to provide a viable, efficient and economical Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) educational system, which is easy to show VLE interactive system in any classroom. And most students and teachers are highly satisfied with, the system and willing to use. The effect of the proposed interactive system that incorporates 3D Google Earth into VLE may be summarized as the follows: 1) With a projector, screen, PC, LaDIS, KMC, WCT, 3D Google Earth and B&R 3D eyeglasses it is easy to show VLE interactive system in any classroom. 2) The proposed VLE system provides a viable, efficient and economical VLE educational system. 3) Most students and teachers are highly satisfied with, the system and willing to use, this form of VLE interactive system because of its naturally superior interactive performance in classes.
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Paper Nr: 85
Title:

A Metamodel-driven Architecture for Generating, Populating and Manipulating “Possible Worlds” to Answer Questions
Authors:

Imre Kilián and Gábor Alberti
Abstract: The architecture we are developing can serve many ends: it can be used, for instance, as an intelligent personal diary for private purposes, or even as a dynamic “epistemic” protocol for legal cases or criminal investigations. Two of its special features make our architecture capable of performing these tasks. One of them is a DRT-based (Kamp et al., 2011) formal cognitive theory called eALIS (Alberti, 2009; Alberti and Kleiber, 2012; Alberti and Károly, 2012), which is responsible for the particular structure of our databases; the other one is a Prolog-based logical framework, which is responsible for populating the database and for logically “closing” its appropriate substructures. The major contribution of eALIS to this project is a traditional relational model (w0) of the relevant segment of the external world coupled up with an unlimited set (W={w1,w2,…}) of “wordlets”, each of which is an appropriately modified and highly partial copy of w0, capable of registering the beliefs, desires and intentions of a group of people, as concerns the facts of w0 at selected points of time (T), as well as one another’s beliefs and other wordlets of WT. The Prolog inference system operates on a partially ordered structure with which we furnish WT, in order to answer users’ yes/no questions and to provide entities of wordlets as answers to wh-questions.
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Area 2 - Software Project Management

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 4
Title:

Scheduling Strategies for Risk Mitigation
Authors:

Peng Zhou and Hareton K. N. Leung
Abstract: Risk mitigation is essential for risk management because it aims to reduce or eliminate risks. To make the best use of resources, a scheduling strategy for risk mitigation is needed to determine the risks to be mitigated and when to mitigate them. The traditionally used strategy for scheduling risk mitigation, “risk value first strategy”, does not consider time elements of risk. Both PMI risk management framework and IEEE standard for software project risk management point out that time elements should be considered in risk mitigation. However, there is a lack of principles and guidelines on how to schedule risk mitigation with due consideration of these time elements. In this paper, we formally define scheduling strategy for risk mitigation, identify new scheduling strategies, and compare their performance by applying stochastic simulation.
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Paper Nr: 14
Title:

An EDF-based Scheduling Algorithm for Real-time Reconfigurable Sporadic Tasks
Authors:

Hamza Gharsellaoui, Mohamed Khalgui and Samir Ben Ahmed
Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of scheduling the mixed workload of both homogeneous multiprocessor on-line sporadic and off-line periodic tasks in a hard reconfigurable real-time environment by an optimal EDF-based scheduling algorithm. Two forms of automatic reconfigurations which are assumed to be applied at run-time: Addition-Removal of tasks or just modifications of their temporal parameters: WCET and/or deadlines. Nevertheless, when such a scenario is applied to save the system at the occurrence of hardware-software faults, or to improve its performance, some real-time properties can be violated at run-time. We define an Intelligent Agent that automatically checks the system's feasibility after any reconfiguration scenario to verify if all tasks meet the required deadlines after a reconfiguration scenario ?_h (h ? 1..M, we assume that we have M reconfiguration scenarios), was applied on a multiprocessor embedded system in the case of shared memory. Indeed, if the system is unfeasible, then the Intelligent Agent dynamically provides precious technical solutions for users to send sporadic tasks to idle times, by modifying the deadlines of tasks, the worst case execution times (WCETs), the activation time, by tolerating some non critical tasks m among n according to the (m,n) firm and a reasonable cost, by sending some tasks from their current processors to be scheduled in other processors, or in the worst case by removing some soft tasks according to predifined heuristic. We implement the agent to support these services in order to demonstrate the effectiveness and the excellent performance of the new optimal algorithm in normal and overload conditions.
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Paper Nr: 21
Title:

Using Expert-based Bayesian Networks as Decision Support Systems to Improve Project Management of Healthcare Software Projects

Authors:

Emilia Mendes
Abstract: One of the pillars for sound Software Project Management is reliable effort estimation. Therefore it is important to fully identify what are the fundamental factors that affect an effort estimate for a new project and how these factors are inter-related. This paper describes a case study where a Bayesian Network model to estimate effort for healthcare software projects was built. This model was solely elicited from expert knowledge, with the participation of seven project managers, and was validated using data from 22 past finished projects. The model led to numerous changes in process and also in business. The company adapted their existing effort estimation process to be in line with the model that was created, and the use of a mathematically-based model also led to an increase in the number of projects being delegated to this company by other company branches worldwide.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 20
Title:

Multi-method Software Estimation Utilizing Judgment and Model based Methods
Authors:

Aldo Dagnino
Abstract: This paper describes a multi-method approach utilized at ABB to derive size and effort estimates at the planning stage of software development projects. The planning stage is the stage where the organization has more insights into the project that at the initial conceptual stage. This does not mean that uncertainty is totally eliminated but it is reduced as analysis of features has resulted in more detailed requirements. The approach assumes that the organization conducting the estimation exercise does not have reliable historical data that can be used to derive the estimates. A case study is presented that describes a pilot conducted in an ABB Unit where the method has been implemented. This paper also shows how key estimation principles have been incorporated to the methods discussed to form a comprehensive estimation process. By implementing the methods and key principles described in this paper, an organization can begin storing reliable historical data for future use. Judgment-based and model-based methods are used to derive size and effort estimates. The paper shows that using different estimation methods helps the project manager to gain better insight on the estimates and obtain a composite estimate that is more robust and reliable.
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Paper Nr: 56
Title:

Improving Quality in Agile Development Processes
Authors:

Pryscilla Marcilli Dóra, Ana Cristina Oliveira and J. Antão B. Moura
Abstract: Software quality control in agile software development is based on two main principles: pair programming and test-driven development. More recently, “post-agile” techniques seem to favor releasing early over quality. Pressure for low cost, rapid development and to code for new features leads to the allocation of resources to software development tasks preferably rather than to quality control. Such practices may put the responsibilities for development and test on the same team and even facilitate sloppy testing. Albeit in prototyping this may be acceptable and even make business sense that is not the case of scenarios that include system software (e.g., a general purpose mobile operating system) or critical applications for airspace, military, banking or healthcare purposes. In this article, we present our experience in organizing an agile team which is divided into two cells with different responsibilities: software development per se and testing exclusively. Preliminary results for the case of a grid computing backup system indicate higher test efficiency and surprisingly, possible shorter time-to-market of the two-cell organization given complimentary practices are also adopted. These results may contribute for the on-going discussion on the role and impact of testing in agile development.
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Paper Nr: 69
Title:

Software Ecosystems Risks
Authors:

Ekananta Manalif, Luiz Fernando Capretz and Danny Ho
Abstract: Software ecosystems is a new concept in the software arena that emphasizes the inter-networked activities that take place amongst entities during software development and operation. The core of this approach is building the application around shared platforms that are open to every party inside and outside an organizational boundary. This approach has been adopted by software companies in response to the increasing complexity of customer demands and recent trends in global software development, fuelled by the tremendous growth of internet applications. Despite its benefits, companies making the transition to the software ecosystem paradigm face new challenges in their software process activities. This paper identifies some risks inherent to software ecosystems.

Area 3 - Distributed and Mobile Software Systems

Short Papers
Paper Nr: 35
Title:

Desired Quality Characteristics in Cloud Application Development
Authors:

Leah Riungu-Kalliosaari, Ossi Taipale and Kari Smolander
Abstract: This qualitative case study describes how software development organizations reach for their own context-dependent quality in cloud application development. The study collected the data from selected organizations through interviews and applied the grounded theory method in the analysis. The study concludes that the desired quality varies among the organizations. However, usability was found to be an important quality characteristic in all the organizations. The organizations involved a set of three similar activities to attain the desired quality characteristics. These activities are summarized as (1) Selecting a suitable life-cycle model, during which (2) the customer is engaged and (3) the most suitable tools are used. The organizations incorporated these activities so as to establish supportive working practices for acquiring the desired quality.
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Paper Nr: 51
Title:

Supporting Decision Making in Mobile Software Development - A Fuzzy Cognitive Maps Approach
Authors:

Pantelis-Stylianos Yiasemis and Andreas S. Andreou
Abstract: Mobile Software Development has rapidly evolved from the closed environments of in-house development performed by the manufacturers of mobile devices to the widely available Software Development Kits that made development available to practically everyone. The easy distribution of applications on online markets like App Store and Google Play makes their development very tempting for developers who move from traditional software to mobile applications. As with desktop systems, mobile application developers face a number of difficult decisions that need to take prior to and during the development process. This paper proposes a decision support model based on Fuzzy Cognitive Maps that assists developers to assess whether they should go ahead and develop a mobile application or not based on a number of factors and specifications. In fact the map models the outcome of the complex interaction between competing factors and estimates which ones will finally prevail. A validation process with realistic and real-world cases proved that the model performs quite successfully.
Paper Nr: 63
Title:

IDE-JASMIN - An Interactive Graphical Approach for Parallel Programming in Scientific Computing
Authors:

Liao Li, Zhang Aiqing, Yang Zhang, Wang Wei and Jing Cuiping
Abstract: A major challenge in scientific computing lays in the rapid design and implementation of parallel applications for complex simulations. In this paper, we develop an interactive graphical system to address this challenge. Our system is based on JASMIN infrastructure and outstands three key features. First, to facilitate the organization of parallel data communication and computation, we encapsulate JASMIN integrator component models as user-configurable components. Second, to support the top-down design of the application, we develop a structured-flow-chart based visual programming approach. Third, to finally generate application code, we develop a powerful code generation engine, which can generate major part of the application code using information in flow charts and component configurations. We also utilize the FORTRAN 90 standard to assist users write numerical kernels. These approaches are integrated and implemented in IDE-JASMIN to ease parallel programming for domain experts. Real applications demonstrate that our approaches for developing complex numerical applications are both practical and efficient.
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Paper Nr: 75
Title:

Mobile Technologies to Enable Users’ Informed Decisions
Authors:

Xavier Franch, Anna Perini, Hugo H. Pibernat and Norbert Seyff
Abstract: The significant wide impact of mobile technologies (e.g., smartphones, tablets) and the difficulty of mastering their complexity (due to factors like constant emergence and evolution) pose new challenges to many (if not all) software engineering disciplines. We particularly see these challenges when thinking of average citizens that carry out their daily activities in smart environments where mobile technologies and sensors installed provide many potential advantages to support them. Applications that could enable informed decision-making are currently beyond what software developers can provide. This position paper discusses challenges, and highlights current approaches available in order to support decision-making for thoughtful living. We present an initial version of a comprehensive framework to overcome the challenges identified and analyse which software engineering research lines may help to implement it. A motivating scenario is used to conduct the discussion.
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Paper Nr: 58
Title:

SmartRestaurant - A Report on the Development of a NFC-Based Mobile Application
Authors:

Vanda Rosa, Isabel Brito and João Paulo Barros
Abstract: This paper presents as a case study our experience gathered along the development of a mobile application prototype to be used by restaurant clients. The application, named SmartRestaurant, uses Near Field Communication (NFC) connectivity and runs on Android. It can be used in restaurants to load its menu, and other information provided by the restaurant, through scanning a NFC tag with a mobile phone or other NFC enabled device. Additionally, the application should allow users to store and share data with others. The paper presents the lessons learned during the development process used in this case study, including the functionalities already implemented, the future work, and also the process successes and failures.
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Paper Nr: 64
Title:

Component-based Parallel Programming for Peta-scale Particle Simulations
Authors:

Cao Xiaolin, Mo Zeyao and Zhang Aiqing
Abstract: A major parallel programming challenge in scientific computing is to hide parallel computing details of data distribution and communication. Component-based approaches are often used in practice to encapsulate these computer science details and shield them from domain experts. In this paper, we present our component-based parallel programming approach for large-scale particle simulations. Our approach encapsulates parallel computing details in parallel integrator components on top of a patch-based data structure in JASMIN infrastructure. It enables domain programmers to "think parallel, write sequential”. They only need to assemble necessary components and write serial numerical kernels on a patch invoked by components. Using this approach, two real application programs have been developed to support the peta-scale simulations with billons of particles on tens of thousands of processor cores.
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Paper Nr: 72
Title:

Distributed Processing of Elevation Data by Means of Apache Hadoop in a Small Cluster
Authors:

Jitka Komarkova, Jakub Spidlen, Devanjan Bhattacharya and Oldrich Horak
Abstract: Geoinformation technologies require fast processing of high and quickly increasing volumes of all types of spatial data. Parallel computational approach and distributed systems represent technologies which are able to provide required services, with reasonable costs. MapReduce is one example of such approach. It has been successfully implemented in large clusters in several instances. The applications include spatial and imagery data processing. The contribution deals with its implementation and operational performance using only a very small cluster (consisting of a few commodity personal computers) to process large-volume spatial data. Open-source implementation of MapReduce, named, Apache Hadoop, is used. The contribution is focused on a low-price solution and it deals with speed of processing and distribution of processed files. Authors run several experiments to evaluate the benefit of distributed data processing in a small-sized cluster and to find possible limitations. Size of processed files and number of processed values is used as the most important criteria for performance evaluation. Point elevation data were used during the experiments.
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Paper Nr: 77
Title:

A Layered Architecture based on Previsional Mechanisms
Authors:

Francesco Fiamberti, Daniela Micucci, Marco Mobilio and Francesco Tisato
Abstract: The paper presents a layered architecture that improves software modularity and reduces computational and communication overhead for systems requiring data from sensors in order to perform domain-related elaborations (e.g., tracking and surveillance systems). Each layer manages hypotheses that are abductions related to objects modeling the ”real world” at a specific abstraction level, from raw data up to domain concepts. Each layer, by analyzing hypotheses coming from the lower layer, abduces new hypotheses regarding objects at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., from image blobs to identified people) and formulates timed previsions about objects. The failure of a prevision causes a hypothesis to flow up-stream. In turn, previsions can flow downstream, so that their verification is delegated to the lower layers. The proposed architectural patterns have been reified in a Java framework, which is being exploited in an experimental multi-camera tracking system.
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Area 4 - Software Engineering Methods and Techniques

Full Papers
Paper Nr: 27
Title:

MuLSA: Multi-Layered Scenario Analysis for an Advanced Driver Assistance System
Authors:

Takako Nakatani and Keita Sato
Abstract: Safe driving is mandatory for an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). We consider that the adequacy and safety of the driver assistance services can be monitored by observing drivers’ positive and negative emotions, since, if they find a hazardous situation, he/she has a negative emotion, ”surprised” or ”dangerous.” If they feel to be assisted by the system, they will have a positive emotion. In order to analyze requirements for the ADAS, we propose a multi-layered scenario analysis (MuLSA). MuLSA is developed by integrating a customer journey map and a service blueprint with the context of a scenario. A customer journey map consists of a scenario; as the customer’s experiences, as well as a customer’s emotions toward the services. The service blueprint represents a customer’s journey, as well as a mechanism of the services. Thus, MuLSA consists of a driver’s journey, his/her emotions, the mechanism of services, as well as the context of the service. In order to prioritize requirements for the safety of a future ADAS, we have observed driver emotions with regard to hazardous scenarios with MuLSA. This paper shows the results of the observation, and we discuss the effectiveness of MuLSA.
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Paper Nr: 65
Title:

An Intermediate Language for Compilation to Scripting Languages
Authors:

Paola Giannini and Albert Shaqiri
Abstract: In this paper we introduce an intermediate language for translation of F#, a functional language polymorphically typed relying on the .Net platform, to different scripting languages, such as Python and JavaScript. This intermediate language (IL for short) is an imperative language, with constructs that make possible to move a code fragment outside its definition environment, during the translation. Definition of names (variables and functions) are done in blocks, like in Python (and JavaScript) and do not have to statically precede their use. We present a translation of a core F# (including mutable variables) into IL.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 7
Title:

Cloud Testing for Mobile Software Systems - Concept and Prototyping
Authors:

Oleksii Starov, Sergiy Vilkomir and Vyacheslav Kharchenko
Abstract: This paper describes an approach for increasing the effectiveness of mobile software system testing. A Cloud Testing of Mobile Systems (CTOMS) framework is presented in the form of a cloud service that provides the ability to run tests on a variety of remote mobile devices. This framework is based on a heterogeneous networked system that connects operational computers, mobile devices, and databases with software applications. Our research focuses on building a concept and a prototype of CTOMS that supports testing Android mobile applications in the cloud. CTOMS allows multidirectional testing, providing the opportunities to test an application on different devices and/or operating system (OS) versions and new device models for their compatibility with the newest OS versions and the most popular applications. Another new aspect is to embed the test model, specifically the appropriate testing techniques for mobile development, within the framework. For users, this model will provide suggestions from CTOMS about the test methods, criteria, coverage, and possible test cases. These suggestions are based on available configurations, statistics, and resource constraints.
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Paper Nr: 19
Title:

A Systematic Literature Review on CMS-based Web Applications
Authors:

Feliu Trias, Valeria De Castro, Marcos López-Sanz and Esperanza Marcos
Abstract: CMS-based Web applications have increased their presence in the market because of the advantages they offer with regard to information management, thus offering a new landscape in Web application development. In this paper we analyze the current state-of-the-art on the existing approaches for the development of CMS-based Web applications. To do it, we have followed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). As a result of this SLR we found four approaches in the literature focused on this issue. In this paper we focus our attention in studying the insights of each approach by following four criteria (Web Engineering views, MDA abstraction levels, modeling language and level of automation) and we discuss about the interest shown by the Web Engineering community about the CMS-based Web application development.
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Paper Nr: 31
Title:

Feature Model Extraction from Product Source Codes based on the Semantic Aspect
Authors:

Jihen Maazoun, Nadia Bouassida, Hanêne Ben-Abdallah and Abdelhak-Djamel Seriai
Abstract: Software Product Lines can be constructed through either a top-down or bottom-up process. A top-down process begins by a domain analysis where variabilities are specified then it derives the product line. It is especially interesting for the creation of new product lines. However, in practice, SPL are often set up after several similar product variants have been in use. This practice prompted the search for bottom-up processes that start from an analysis of existing product variants to identify the product line. The proposed bottom-up processes rely on two hypotheses: the product variants use the same vocabulary to name elements in their source code, and the product variants have very similar/identical structures. However, while the names represent the application domain of the products, when different developers were involved in the development of the product variants, the naming assumption becomes too restrictive. Furthermore, the variants' code structures are often different when developed separately and even when one variant is derived from another through several modifications. To loosen these two hypotheses, this paper proposes a bottom-up approach that integrates the semantic aspect of the product variants when extracting the SPL feature model. In addition, a second contribution of our approach is its capability to identify automatically the constraints among the identified features.
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Paper Nr: 36
Title:

An Architectural Model for Customizing the Business Logic of SaaS Applications
Authors:

André Correia, Jorge Renato Penha and António Miguel Rosado da Cruz
Abstract: Traditional software applications are typically customized before being delivered to a client. This customization was a paid service delivered by software development organisations. With the growing demand of applications delivered with a SaaS model, software development organisations are increasingly responding with the migration of traditional applications to a multi-tenant SaaS deployment model. This makes them face themselves with the problem of customizing a shared application, with a shared database, for each tenant that subscribes their deployed service. After overviewing existing solutions for application customizability, this paper addresses the customization of the business logic layer of multi-tenant applications by proposing a solution, which has been used in a multi-tenant WMS application deployed with a SaaS service model.
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Paper Nr: 37
Title:

Towards a Standard Approach for Optimization in Science and Engineering
Authors:

Carlo Comin, Luka Onesti and Carlos Kavka
Abstract: Optimization plays a fundamental role in engineering design and in many other fields in applied science. An optimization process allows obtaining the best designs which maximize and/or minimize a number of objectives, satisfying at the same time certain constraints. Nowadays, design activities require a large use of computational models to simulate experiments, which are usually automated through the execution of the so-called scientific workflows. Even if there is a general agreement in both academy and industry on the use of scientific workflows for the representation of optimization processes, no single standard has arisen as a valid model to fully characterize it. A standard will facilitate collaboration between scientists and industrial designers, interaction between different fields and a common vocabulary in scientific and engineering publications. This paper proposes the use of BPMN 2.0, a well-defined standard from the area of business processes, as a formal representation for both the abstract and execution models for scientific workflows in the context of process optimization. Aspects like semantic expressiveness, representation efficiency and extensibility, as required by optimization in industrial applications, have been carefully considered in this research. Practical results of the implementation of an industrial-quality optimization workflow engine defined in terms of the BPMN 2.0 standard are also presented in the paper.
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Paper Nr: 45
Title:

CQE - An Approach to Automatically Estimate the Code Quality using an Objective Metric From an Empirical Study
Authors:

Saima Arif, Miao Wang, Philip Perry and John Murphy
Abstract: Bugs in a project, at any stage of Software life cycle development are costly and difficult to find and fix. Moreover, the later a bug is found, the more expensive it is to fix. There are static analysis tools to ease the process of finding bugs, but their results are not easy to filter out critical errors and is time consuming to analyze. To solve this problem we used two steps: first to enhance the bugs severity and second is to estimate the code quality, by Weighted Error Code Density metric. Our experiment on 10 widely used open-source Java applications automatically shows their code quality estimated using our objective metric. We also enhance the error ranking of FindBugs, and provide a clear view on the critical errors to fix as well as low priority ones to potentially ignore.
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Paper Nr: 46
Title:

ATMOS - A Data Collection and Presentation Toolkit for the Nevada Climate Change Portal
Authors:

Andrew Dittrich, Sergiu Dascalu and Mehmet Gunes
Abstract: Climate change is the subject of intense research, covering a broad range of causes and effects over long periods of time. Large data sources are needed to support this research, prompting scientists to turn to repositories to collect and share data. Many repositories exist with various data formats and access methods, presenting a challenging environment for researchers. Data portals help to address this by providing a central location for data on a specific topic or region. The Nevada Climate Change Portal is one example, which provides data to support research on Nevada’s climate. This portal was funded under an NSF EPSCoR grant with a goal of sharing resources with similar portals in New Mexico and Idaho. This paper proposes the ATMOS toolkit to help meet this goal and to address challenges facing climate change researchers. ATMOS is a plugin-based toolkit that provides Access to Map and Tabular Online Services uniformly, regardless of the underlying source. The design and construction of ATMOS are discussed, showing how the toolkit supports the Nevada Climate Change Portal, and how it can meet future needs of researchers.
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Paper Nr: 52
Title:

Web Service to JSON-RPC Transformation
Authors:

Christian Samsel, Sevket Gökay, Paul Heiniz and Karl-Heinz Krempels
Abstract: During the last years JavaScript Object Notation Remote Procedure Call (JSON-RPC) emerged as the de facto standard for service calling on mobile devices. Unfortunately many enterprise services are still only available as traditional Web Service accessible via Web Services Description Language (WSDL) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). In this paper we introduce theWeb Service to JSON-RPC adapter tool which offers JSON-RPC ports matching the SOAP ports in a WSDL-based web service definition. The adapter automatically translates JSON-RPC requests incoming on these ports to a responding SOAP message and forwards it the SOAP server. The SOAP response is translated back to JSON-RPC and delivered to the original client. Our adapter enables software developers to use a JSON-RPC client which is well supported on mobile platforms to access SOAP-based Web Services without altering the server nor requiring additional software on client side.
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Paper Nr: 57
Title:

Dynamic Software Updating with Gosh! - Current Status and the Road Ahead
Authors:

Allan Raundahl Gregersen, Michael Rasmussen and Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen
Abstract: Any non-trivial software system has to be upgraded regularly to incorporate bug fixes and security patches or simply to keep up with the inevitable evolution in end-user requirements. Software upgrading is challenging, especially when it comes to online upgrading of running systems. In this paper, we present the current status of Gosh!, a dynamic-software-updating system for Java, which provides comprehensive support for changing class definitions of live objects, including adding, removing and moving fields, methods, classes and interfaces anywhere in the inheritance hierarchy. Prior to the acquisition by zeroturnaround.com, Gosh! was known as Javeleon. In this paper we demonstrate the capabilities of Gosh! by performing a dynamic updating experiment on five consecutive revisions of the classical arcade game Breakout. Based on the result of this experiment we show that dynamic updating of class definitions for live objects may under some circumstances result in different run-time behavior than would be observed after a cold restart of the upgraded application. Finally, we conclude by discussing the implication of this finding for future research directions within dynamic software updating.
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Paper Nr: 61
Title:

Partial Order Interpretation of a Mu-Calculus-Like Temporal Logic
Authors:

Antonella Santone and Gigliola Vaglini
Abstract: In this paper, we interpret a temporal logic over a partial order model that is a trace system. Our focus is two fold: (i) to define the satisfaction of the formulae directly on traces, so completely avoiding graph representations, while maintainig the trace system finite, also in presence of infinite computations; (ii) to reduce the complexity of model checking temporal logic formula, defining an abstraction technique applied to trace systems.
Paper Nr: 74
Title:

Embedding and Parsing Combined for Efficient Language Design
Authors:

Gergely Dévai, Dániel Leskó and Máté Tejfel
Abstract: One way to develop domain specific languages is to define their concrete syntax and create support for it using classical compiler technology (maybe with the support of language workbenches). A different way is to create an embedded language, which is implemented as a special library written in a host language. The first approach is usually too costly in the first phase of the language design when the language evolves and changes quickly. Embedded languages are more lightweight and support the language experiments better. On the other hand, they are not that convenient for the end-users as the standalone languages. This paper presents the lessons learnt from a DSL development research project in industry-university cooperation, that combined the advantages of the two approaches: the flexibility of embedding in the design phase and the convenience of a standalone language in the final product.
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Paper Nr: 76
Title:

Increasing Efficiency of ISO 26262 Verification and Validation by Combining Fault Injection and Mutation Testing with Model based Development
Authors:

Rakesh Rana, Miroslaw Staron, Christian Berger, Jörgen Hansson, Martin Nilsson and Fredrik Törner
Abstract: The rapid growth of software intensive active safety functions in modern cars resulted in adoption of new safety development standards like ISO 26262 by the automotive industry. Hazard analysis, safety assessment and adequate verification and validation methods for software and car electronics require effort but in the long run save lives. We argue that in the face of complex software development set-up with distributed functionality, Model-Based Development (MBD) and safety-criticality of software embedded in modern cars, there is a need for evolving existing methods of MBD and complementing them with methods already used in the development of other systems (Fault Injection and Mutation Testing). Our position is that significant effectiveness and efficiency improvements can be made by applying fault injection techniques combined with mutation testing approach for verification and validation of automotive software at the model level. The improvements include such aspects as identification of safety related defects early in the development process thus providing enough time to remove the defects. The argument is based on our industrial case studies, the studies of ISO 26262 standard and academic experiments with new verification and validation methods applied to models.
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Paper Nr: 79
Title:

Platform-independence in Model-based Multi-device UI Development
Authors:

David Raneburger, Gerrit Meixner and Marco Brambilla
Abstract: Platform-independence of a model clearly means that a certain model does not depend on characteristics of a certain platform. The crucial issue in this definition to make it concise is: what is a platform? The answer to this question is important as such a platform definition defines which characteristics must not be considered in platform-independent models. This paper compares the notion of platform and the corresponding implications in the Model Driven Architecture proposed by OMG and the Cameleon Reference Framework, a framework that has been developed to classify model-based user interface generation approaches. In particular we compare the implications of platform-independence in the context of different model-based user interface development approaches that support multi-device UI development.
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Paper Nr: 2
Title:

Real-Time and Embedded Systems Challenges - Key Requirements and Issues
Authors:

Nadia Menad and Philippe Dhaussy
Abstract: Because of the growing complexity of modern Real-time and Embedded (RTE, for real-time and embedded) systems, new significant challenges have risen in their design and development. Constraints related to limited resources and effective allocations of application functionalities on execution platforms are some of the issues that need to be carefully addressed during the design stages. A high level model-driven methodology seems effective as it provides solutions to overcome these design challenges at initial development phases, while reducing development costs and decreasing time to market. Thus, integrating formal verification and adapting agile method contribute to the deployment of high quality service and yield robust software in engineering approach for the development of RTE systems. This paper shows some key requirements for modeling RTE systems, and presents existing trends and challenges in RTE systems design.
Paper Nr: 3
Title:

MDA Approach for Distributed and Real-Time embedded Systems Analysis and Verification - Overview and First Proposal
Authors:

Nadia Menad, Philippe Dhaussy and Messabih Belhadri
Abstract: To deal with the challenge of the increasing complexity of Distributed Real-time and Embedded (DRE) systems, we should constantly raise the abstraction level. This has been done in the software domain with ADL (Architecture Description Language) and MDE (Model-Driven Engineering). These systems require logical and temporal constraints, it is therefore essential to adopt approaches to time analysis by integrating the process of verification and validation based on formal concepts. This paper presents a state of the art of modeling (DRE) systems and the various proposed approaches to unify all the needs of design and analysis of these systems. The state of the art reveals formal and semi-formal approaches for analyzing these systems. We conclude this paper by our prospects in the context of modeling and formal analysis of (DRE) systems to respond to time requirements of these systems.
Paper Nr: 22
Title:

From Viewpoints and Abstraction Levels in Software Engineering Towards Multi-Viewpoints/Multi-Hierarchy in Software Architecture
Authors:

Ahmad Kheir, Hala Naja, Mourad Oussalah and Kifah Tout
Abstract: Viewpoints concept could be considered one of the major concepts introduced in the software engineering domain in order to enhance the architectural organization of complex systems by separating its concerns. Despite his ultimate importance, this concept must be evolved and hierarchized in order to allow the jump of software architectures field from its current range of complexity coverage and resolution to a new range more secure, more standardized and more appropriate with the current industrial needs. This paper begins with a survey of the role and usage of the viewpoints, and the hierarchy definition by abstraction levels concepts. Then presents a small but complete analysis of the related works and their limitations, in order to conclude with a proposition of current work on a multi-viewpoints and multi-abstraction levels software architecture.
Paper Nr: 29
Title:

Software Requirements Parts for Construction of Software Requirements Specifications
Authors:

Yoshitaka Iyoda and Atsushi Ohnishi
Abstract: In software developments, a software requirements specification (SRS) must be correctly specified. An SRS becomes large and complicated when system to be developed become large. It takes a lot of efforts and costs to newly specify a correct SRS. The authors propose a method for generating SRS parts. Using SRS parts an SRS can be easily constructed. First a domain expert decomposes an SRS into functional requirements, and then he/she derives parts of functional requirements from them SRS. In order to improve the reusability, derived SRS parts will be abstracted using a thesaurus. The authors have been developed a prototype system for abstracting SRS parts. The proposed method will be illustrated with examples and evaluated through an experiment.
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Paper Nr: 39
Title:

Towards a Formal Semantic for UML 2.0 - Activity Diagram based on Institution Theory
Authors:

Amine Achouri and Leila Jemni Ben Ayed
Abstract: In the present paper, we aim to extend the institution of UML Activity Diagram, which is defined in our previous work. In fact, the syntax definition will be more enriched throw taking into account the different syntax dependencies between Activity nodes in UML Activity Diagram models. As for institution theory, it proves its adequacy to cope with such theoretic foundation. As a result, we define a formal semantic of UML 2.0 AD relating the syntax and the semantic under the satisfaction condition. Thus, we further advance the approach by laying a solid theoretical foundation via formally defining the semantics and the syntax of UML Activity Diagram notation. Then, we prove that UML Activity Diagram syntax definitions and their induced formal logic form an institution of formal specification for modelling.
Paper Nr: 40
Title:

A Software Quality Predictive Model
Authors:

Elisabetta Ronchieri and Marco Canaparo
Abstract: Software development is facing the problem of how to improve the quality of software products. The lack of quality can easily lead to major costs and delays in the development and maintenance of the software. Its improvement can be guaranteed by both the definition of a software quality model and the presence of metrics that are designed and measured to plan and monitor productivity, effectiveness, quality and timing of software. Integrating the metrics into the model contributes to collecting the right data for the handling of the analysis process and to establishing a general view to the control of the overall state of the process. This paper aims at introducing a mathematical model that links software best practices with a set of metrics to predict the quality of software at any stage of development. Two software projects have been used to analyze the defined model as a suitable predictive methodology in order to evaluate its results. The model can improve the level of the software development process significantly and contribute to achieving a product of the highest standards. A replication of this work on larger data sets is planned.
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Paper Nr: 60
Title:

Slope based Grid Creation using Interpolation of LIDAR Data Sets
Authors:

Jan Hovad, Jitka Komarkova and Pavel Sedlak
Abstract: This article proposes a new approach of DTM creation from irregular LIDAR data scan. It shows the new way how to utilize GIS results in the 3D modelling branch. LIDAR has a form of digital model of relief which does not include artificial objects on the surface. DEM is created on the basis of individual points and their elevation values and is further used for segmentation and classification of the terrain. Key attribute for this operation is computation of the slope in the area of interest. Resulting classes are used as vector outlines. These outlines are intended to divide the point cloud into groups. Each of them has specific requirements for resolution. Flat areas can be modelled with less detail whilst hilly regions with sharp elevation changes require higher resolution. LIDAR input is processed by chosen interpolation method, in this case IDW and Renka-Cline algorithm. Irregular structure of the point cloud is converted into regular grid of points. This process is semi-automatic. It is implemented in C++ library in the application Origin. Output is automatically saved in predefined variable resolution (set of grids) and prepared to be processed in 3D.
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Paper Nr: 62
Title:

An Approach to the Metadata Driven Programming in .Net Framework
Authors:

Pavel Abduramanov, Sergey Kalistratov and Yuri Okulovsky
Abstract: We describe a metadata driven approach to development of stereotyped business accounting software. We modify the model-view-controller pattern by placing all the application’s logic into a model, and automatically building controllers and views. The work has two essential parts. The first one is developing a way to define metadata, that can be altered in runtime, can depend on context and can store actions as well as data. The second is designing of the software as a data server, which stores a model and its metadata, and modify it by requests from various clients, e.g. web pages or windows applications. This approach was implemented in the Thornado framework and was used for creation of various applications. We justify the easiness and elegance of our implementation of the metadata driven development, and discuss advantages of the approach, such as cross-platformness, scalability and testability.
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Paper Nr: 78
Title:

Managing Risk in Open Source Software Adoption
Authors:

Xavier Franch, Angelo Susi, Maria C. Annosi, Claudia Ayala, Ruediger Glott, Daniel Gross, Ron Kenett, Fabio Mancinelli, Pop Ramsamy, Cedric Thomas, David Ameller, Stijn Bannier, Nili Bergida, Yehuda Blumenfeld, Olivier Bouzereau, Dolors Costal, Manuel Dominguez, Kirsten Haaland, Lidia Lopez, Mirko Morandini and Alberto Siena
Abstract: By 2016 an estimated 95% of all commercial software packages will include Open Source Software (OSS). This extended adoption is yet not avoiding failure rates in OSS projects to be as high as 50%. Inadequate risk management has been identified among the top mistakes to avoid when implementing OSS-based solutions. Understanding, managing and mitigating OSS adoption risks is therefore crucial to avoid potentially significant adverse impact on the business. In this position paper we portray a short report of work in progress on risk management in OSS adoption processes. We present a risk-aware technical decision-making management platform integrated in a business-oriented decision-making framework, which together support placing technical OSS adoption decisions into organizational, business strategy as well as the broader OSS community context. The platform will be validated against a collection of use cases coming from different types of organizations: big companies, SMEs, public administration, consolidated OSS communities and emergent small OSS products.
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Paper Nr: 80
Title:

Extracting Characteristics of Speaker’s Voice Harmonic Spectrum - Design of Human Voice Feature Extraction Technique
Authors:

Oldrich Horák and Jan Capek
Abstract: This paper describes the design of a technique used to extract harmonic spectrum characteristics of human voice. The voice characteristic can be used for a speaker identification process. The cepstral analysis is the most popular method, which uses a Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficient vector as unique characteristics of given speaker voice. This method provides only limited reliability. The harmonic spectrum based on fundamental frequency of speaker’s voice can extend the characteristic vector by more values. The extended characteristics can provide better reliability of the speaker identification.
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Paper Nr: 83
Title:

From Concrete to Abstract - About Teaching UML Class Diagrams to Novice Programmers
Authors:

João Paulo Barros
Abstract: Object-oriented programming is frequently taught in the first programming course. The implicit level of indirection, expressed in the name-value duality of objects, demands an additional level of abstraction ability. This brings an additional complication for novice students, which are also fighting with flow control and composition. Graphical languages can help visualise the program structure but only if they are not seen as an additional burden. UML class diagrams are the most widely used structure diagram for object-oriented code, but they are very complex for novices. This paper presents a set of translation rules from code to a UML class diagrams that can be introduced in the first or second programming course. To that end, it discusses how to meaningfully explain the semantics of class and object relations, namely by presenting a minimal subset of the UML class diagram metamodel that supports simple and direct translations from object-oriented code. As most students learn better from concrete to abstract, this minimal subset and the respective code translation provide an intermediate step towards the use of a more complete metamodel in more advanced courses.
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Paper Nr: 86
Title:

Model-based Analysis of Embedded Systems: Placing It upon Its Feet Instead of on Its Head - An Outsider’s View
Authors:

Peter Struss
Abstract: This position paper makes a case for a paradigm shift in modeling and analyzing systems with embedded software for tasks such as testing, fault and safety analysis. We propose a physics-centered rather than software-centered perspective, based on the argument that the behavior and misbehavior of the physical system determines the relevant aspects of the embedded software. The implications of such an approach are illustrated using a case study on failure-modes and effects analysis in the automotive industries.
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Paper Nr: 87
Title:

A Comparison of Maintainability Metrics of Two A+ Interpreters
Authors:

Péter Gál and Ákos Kiss
Abstract: Reports on reimplementing or porting legacy code to modern platforms are numerous in the literature. However, they focus on technical problems, functional equivalence, and performance. In the current paper, our goal is to pull maintainability into focus as well and we argue that it is (at least) of equal importance. We conducted source code analysis on two implementations of the runtime environment of the A+ language and computed maintainability-related metrics for both systems. In this paper, we present the results of their comparison.
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