SKY 2011 Abstracts


Full Papers
Paper Nr: 1
Title:

Building Up a Model for Management Information and Knowledge: The Case-study for a Brazilian Regulatory Agency

Authors:

Carlos Alberto Malcher Bastos, Luiziana S. de Rezende, Marco F. Caldas, Anilton S. Garcia, Sérgio Mecena Filho, Maria Luiza D. Sanchez, Joel de L. Pereira Castro Jr and Célia Regina Burmann

Abstract: This paper aims to present an original approach to build up an information model to a Brazilian regulation agency. The methodology was developed based on an integration of five different views focusing at information and its assets. Its main contribution is to combine the Knowledge Management (KM) Method and Software Engineering (SW) Method.
Download

Paper Nr: 2
Title:

Information Extraction from Web Services - A Comparison of Tokenisation Algorithms

Authors:

Alejandro Metke-Jimenez, Kerry Raymond and Ian MacColl

Abstract: Most web service discovery systems use keyword-based search algorithms and, although partially successful, sometimes fail to satisfy some users information needs. This has given rise to several semantics-based approaches that look to go beyond simple attribute matching and try to capture the semantics of services. However, the results reported in the literature vary and in many cases are worse than the results obtained by keyword-based systems.We believe the accuracy of the mechanisms used to extract tokens from the non-natural language sections of WSDL files directly affects the performance of these techniques, because some of them can be more sensitive to noise. In this paper three existing tokenization algorithms are evaluated and a new algorithm that outperforms all the algorithms found in the literature is introduced.
Download

Paper Nr: 6
Title:

Reusable Software Units Integration Knowledge in a Distributed Development Environment

Authors:

M. Zinn, K. P. Fischer-Hellmann, A. Schuette and A. D. Phippen

Abstract: Today's software units (classes, components and services) require large amounts of information during their development and use that can be documented for future reference, like documentation, multimedia files, specification, and models. The availability of certain information, for example documentation, is one of the factors that determines the capabilities of a unit, especially by reusing it. Additional information is necessary and essential for the success of the entire development process when applying certain procedure models, like Rational Unified Process (RUP). Acquiring these units and their content is important for reuse. However, this causes a problem in the area of global cooperation. Currently, approaches are missing that deal with software reuse in distributed software reuse scenarios. Especially the problem of missing knowledge about integration of reusable software units in these scenarios has not yet been addressed. This knowledge is also an important factor for reuse and reuse decisions. As a result software development teams locate at different locations my have problem to integrate exchanged reusable software units. This paper discusses the challenges of integration in distributed reuse scenarios by focusing on an industrial example and create a model extension for a existing reuse system. As an result integration of reusable software units can be done remotely without the necessary integration knowledge.
Download

Paper Nr: 7
Title:

Evolving Software Quality Knowledge

Authors:

Daniel Speicher

Abstract: Instead of having a system of rigid quality criteria, we suggest to co-evolve the knowledge about good and bad design with the code. Based on an infrastructure that represents object-oriented code in a logic factbase, we describe how to defined code critiques (”bad smells”) and well established structures (”design pattern”) and how to make the bad smells aware of the design pattern. A case study on ArgoUML shows that it is more effective to find unjustified warnings by taking developers knowledge into account then by structural criteria.
Download

Paper Nr: 10
Title:

PlayBug: Discovery by Software-knowledge Rules

Authors:

Iaakov Exman and Shuri Hazani

Abstract: Regression testing of software packages is useful to eliminate stubborn remaining bugs. But one often obtains relatively long sequences of commands needed to reproduce software failures and pinpoint bugs. A systematic approach to reduce these command sequences is essential for efficient bug discovery. This work proposes the use of rules expressing specific knowledge about the given software application. Rules are grouped in rule classes, which enable their application by a generic engine. The approach was validated by design and actual implementation of a PlayBug engine and its extensive testing on application families of software dealing with interactive GUI commands.
Download

Paper Nr: 13
Title:

Integrating Distributed Computational Models as Dynamic Expressions of Knowledge: The Case for Evaluating Measures for Urban Ecosystem Sustainability

Authors:

Steven Kraines

Abstract: In order to conduct simulation studies of highly complex problems, such as inte-grated environmental assessment of technologies, policies and other measures for making urban ecosystems more sustainable, integration of knowledge in a dynamic form from a wide range of knowledge domains is essential. We have proposed that computational models are appropriate representations of expert knowledge for such integration. Building on previously introduced concepts and software prototypes, we have been designing a dynamic computational modeling platform for studying the integrated effects of supply side and demand side technologies and policies to reduce environmental impacts and consumption of resources caused by activities in urban ecosystems such as Tokyo, Japan. This platform has been used to evaluate scenarios that include the introduction of roof-top photovoltaics, a solid oxide fuel cell combined with a gas turbine topping cycle (SOFC/GT), energy conservation measures in the residential and commercial building sectors, and waste processing and recycling systems. Here we describe the software engineering issues associated with the construction of this model integration platform and provide examples of the techniques we have developed to address those issues.
Download

Paper Nr: 18
Title:

Universal Indexing System for Structured Knowledge

Authors:

Anabel Fraga, Juan Llorens and Karina Robles

Abstract: Knowledge is one of the main assets that humans have, the knowledge achieved in one area may be applied in another different area; all that you need is to remember it and adapt it to the new area or problem. If we apply this concept in computer science, it is amazing to realize that knowledge could be a powerful asset to store (remember) and reuse (adapt). Knowledge could be structured using different kind of Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS). If it is possible to index any kind of structured information in a repository that might support also a retrieval system, then it will be retrieved any knowledge improving the Reuse process and reducing costs at last.
Download

Paper Nr: 19
Title:

Unified Software-knowledge Behavioral Model

Authors:

Iaakov Exman

Abstract: UML is a standard language for modeling software, consisting of separate diagrams for structure, behavior and reasoning add-ons. But, even though semantics is of increasing importance for software behavior, it is not fully integrated within UML. We propose the integration of UML statecharts with novel behavioral ontologies’ knowledge into a Unified Software-Knowledge model. By construction, behavioral ontologies generate graphs isomorphic to UML statecharts, facilitating their integration. This approach is applied to run time measurements, needed to check the actual software behavior correctness. Measurements discrepancies may trigger knowledge discovery mechanisms to update the behavioral ontologies. The approach is illustrated with statechart examples from the domain of GOF software design patterns.
Download

Short Papers
Paper Nr: 5
Title:

Can Executable Specifications Close the Gap between Software Requirements and Implementation?

Authors:

Reuven Yagel

Abstract: This paper reviews some of the techniques which are considered executable specifications. It explains why, in spite of their apparent benefit, they did not become an industry mainstream (yet) and what might be done about it. At last several future directions, research plans and suggestions are drawn.
Download

Paper Nr: 12
Title:

How Many Realities Fit Into a Program? - Notes on the Meaning of Meaning for Programs

Authors:

Daniel Speicher, Jan Nonnen and Holger Mügge

Abstract: Programs are written in programming languages with a certain well defined semantics that describes how an interpreter or a machine will operate based on the program. Higher level programming languages and especially object-oriented programming languages encourage programmers to write programs that contain knowledge and have meaning in an additional sense. This meaning of program elements, their identifier and the terms from which identifiers are built is the topic of this paper. Programs gather knowledge of different realities. There is at least an application domain and a technical domain. If we want to make the knowledge within a program more explicit and accessible, we need to differentiate, which program element refers to which domain.
Download

Paper Nr: 16
Title:

The Dilemma of Iterative Software Processes: A Software Abstraction Levels vs. Agility Perspective

Authors:

Reuven Gallant and Leah Goldin

Abstract: The present paper is the product of the authors overall research regarding the efficacy of the software development processes in general and iterative processes in particular. In the context of this research the authors propose taxonomy of process features, the first of which is “Presentational,” the primary focus of this paper. The authors acknowledge the grain of truth in Robert Glass’s iconoclastic dismissal of the process re-engineering endeavors. However, while the “silver bullet” may be illusory, the issues motivating process re-engineering genuine. There is an inherent contradiction between the ways individuals naturally work iteratively (i.e. in an agile manner) and the drive for “moving forward”. In this paper the authors examine several process models, and make observations regarding the effect of abstraction levels and their symbols on the ability to think and act iteratively and effectively harness process in the service of development progress.
Download

Paper Nr: 20
Title:

Web Search of New Linearized Medical Drug Leads

Authors:

Iaakov Exman

Abstract: The Web is a potentially huge source of medical drug leads. But despite the significant amount of multi-dimensional information about drugs, currently commercial search engines accept only linear keyword strings as inputs. This work uses linearized fragments of molecular structures as knowledge re-presentation units to serve as inputs to search engines. It is shown that quite ar-bitrary fragments are surprisingly free of ambiguity, obtaining relatively small result sets, which are both manageable and rich in novel potential drug leads.
Download

Paper Nr: 22
Title:

Tilting Single Handheld Mobile Devices

Authors:

Solange Karsenty and Avi Moraly

Abstract: Gestures are becoming common across many devices, but still remain in the category of games and entertainment. In this paper we have explored the use of gestures on mobile devices, in particular the action of tilting on an iPhone. Our goal is to enhance the user experience and increase productivity, assuming, as it is often the case, that the user is using the device with a single hand. In this case, the hand holds the device and the thumb is used to scroll and select. Using the thumb for selection is error prone. Our goal is to reduce the use of the thumb for operations such as scrolling and selecting, by tilting the device to perform similar operations. We have implemented and tested a prototype application and in this paper we present our results. Our conclusion is that standardization of gestures is a basic need in software development kits for mobile devices.
Download