Antun Caric

Mobile agent based software operation and maintenance

The paper deals with a mobile agent based software operation and maintenance. Remote maintenance shell is described as the protected environment allowing software installation, modification and verification on the remote target system, without suspending its regular operation. It is based on the remote operations performed by mobile agents. Multiagent system with collaborative mobile agents, supporting software maintenance, and its architecture are elaborated. Remote maintenance shell implementation in one maintenance session is included.

Improving software maintenance by using agent-based remote maintenance shell

The paper deals with a method developed for software maintenance called remote maintenance shell. It allows software installation, modification and verification on the remote target system without suspending its regular operation. The method is based on remote operations performed by mobile agents. The role of remote maintenance shell in software maintenance is elaborated, as well as its architecture. A case study on version replacement of an object-oriented application is included.

SDL Based Approach to Software Process Modeling

The paper presents a Specification and Description Language (SDL) based approach to software process modeling. A brief review of other process modeling languages is given and the advantages of the ITU-T standardized SDL for formal model development are outline. Further on, it is shown how software process entities are modeled using SDL. Software maintenance process performed in a large telecommunications company is used as a case study. The software maintenance practice is first described informally, followed by a formal SDL software maintence model. Finally, the SDL model simulation and verification results are presented, and an overall assessment of SDL applicability for software process modeling is discussed.

Standardisation and regulatory context of machine-to-machine communication

The paper deals with the standardisation and regulatory context of Machine-to-Machine communications and the changes they cause in an electronic communications ecosystem. Research, innovation and market positioning of Machine-to-Machine communications in addressing global societal challenges is presented. Standardisation and adoption of interoperable standards are elaborated from the view of competition, investment and market development. Numbering and addressing, roaming, privacy and data security, and spectrum are discussed in terms of activities to be undertaken by the national regulatory authority. A case study on Machine-to-Machine communications in Croatia is given.

Service development and application integration with public information system mediator

The software development industry is facing two important issues: enabling rapid service development and integration of existing applications. Current approaches result in custom solutions that are not generally applicable. Therefore, we propose a service development and application integration system acting as a mediator between developers, users, services, and applications. In this paper, we present the prototype of the public information system mediator MidArc. We describe the mediators system architecture, the technology it is built upon, and the process of integration of distributed applications. The mediator prototype was created and used to develop the formal automata simulator as a public service, to integrate the automata simulator service into the distance learning application, and to run the distance learning system.

Future network and future internet: A survey of regulatory perspective

This paper deals with contemporary and future challenges to regulations regarding communication networks, in particular the Internet. Market, economic, social and public aspects of regulations are elaborated. The need for smart, efficient and solution-seeking regulations ranging from deregulation, self- and co-regulation to statutory regulation, is explained. Three dimensions of such regulations - type, impact, and topic - are presented in relation with Future Network and Future Internet, which includes, among others, Internet of Things and cloud computing. These issues are discussed in the context of the Digital Agenda for Croatia.

Liberalization of Croatian electronic communication market

The paper presents the status of the electronic communication market liberalization process in the Republic of Croatia. The structure and the size of fixed and mobile market including broadband and digital television have been analyzed. Special attention was paid to the innovation and investment in the electronic communication market in Croatia as well as to the regulation framework which should support the stable market growth.

An approach to schedule estimation and tracking for rapid development projects

The paper deals with schedule estimation for rapid development software projects based on a constructive cost model and fine grain tracking implemented by miniature milestones. Rapid development environments suitable for small and medium size new products on open platforms, as well as the products on proprietary platforms achievable with small design changes of the existing software, have been defined. Proposed is a life cycle combining waterfall model with phase overlapping for early development phases, and incremental build for late development phases. Estimation and tracking models are described, as well as a case study of a real project on Internet/WWW/Java platform.

e-Consultation: Automatic system for online consultations

Global ICT services give the opportunity to construct communication platform for online consultations where ordinary citizens, different civic and business associations and executive bodies could contribute by exchanging information using communication network. Initiated by governing institutions or government bodies and non-state actors online consultations differ in goals, approaches, range of target groups, scope of topics and in the use of technical tools. The benefits are clearly recognized, for example online consultations promote the central regulatory objectives by providing the regulator with valuable input from industry members and other stakeholders and help to maintain a transparent regulatory environment. Public consultations therefore help regulators to make knowledgeable decisions. However, current online consultation practice in global area falls short of the potential. Coordination of the online consultation service by common, general purpose tools causes excessive wait times for answers, inefficient communication between experts, limited visibility of document sections and related information, which cause decreased access to public consultations, insufficient number of responses and in general weak participation level. We propose the model of automatic platform for online consultations. Proposed model cover all stages and relevant elements of public consultation procedures. The model is realized as network service and covers complete public consultation life cycle, i.e. starting the discussion, entering associated documents, amendments and comments, section analysis, decision-making and archiving. Novelty of the model presents core implementation in the form three-dimensional state matrix that covers consultation life cycle, time constraints, groupings, section segmentation, amendments association, etc. Commercial version of this model is deployed in Croatian regulatory authority for network industries.

Repositioning r&d in the new ict business situation

Abwoct- Research and development (R&D) has bcun until very recently at the hcart of the telecommunication industry growth. In the new situation the industry and cspccially the equipment suppliers are in, R&D has to be rcpositioncd to match both changed business nceds and new tcchnology opportunitics. This paper cxamines the underlying changes in business and technology that impact the role of R&D of global suppliers of telecommunication equipment. The new situation R&D is facing os wcU as available counter-measures to react to this ncw situation arc described. The implementation of selected actions within the Ericssan group is discussed in the form of a E~SC study. Rased on this cxperienec conclusions are drawn far the iuture dcvclopmcnt of global R&D operations, especially suggesting actions to be taken by management responsible for R&D centers.