Bjørn Jæger

Prioritized traffic restoration in connection oriented QoS based networks

Connection oriented quality-of-service (QoS) based networks offer several service classes each designed to handle connections supporting various types of applications. A network failure will typically result in a large number of disrupted connections in each service class, all of which need to be restored simultaneously. In this paper we propose a distributed fault recovery priority scheme for dynamic restoration of connections. The proposed scheme exploits available network resources immediately after a failure together with properties of typical applications carried by the connections in order to give the applications sufficient network performance. The scheme is formulated within the context of switched virtual circuit routing in ATM networks, but it is applicable to ATM virtual path restoration as well and to other class based QoS networks like DiffServ MPLS based networks. The priority based restoration scheme is formulated as a centralized path flow integer programming optimization problem serving as a comparison benchmark for suboptimal distributed schemes. We propose a distributed heuristic scheme and give numerical results illustrating the quality of the proposed distributed scheme in comparison to the centralized optimal approach. Our numerical results show that the proposed distributed scheme can significantly improve utilization of network resources and enhance network performance after a failure.

On fault recovery priority in ATM networks

In this paper we propose a priority scheme for reconnection of virtual circuits (VCs) in ATM networks that have been disrupted by a failure. ATM networks offer several service categories each designed to handle applications with specific traffic characteristics. A failure typically results in a large number of disrupted connections in each category, all of which must be restored simultaneously. A critical issue in the restoration is the order in which the service categories are processed, and the order of processing the connections and routing within each category. The proposed priority scheme aims at minimizing the impact of a failure on the network.

Teaching Business Process Concepts Using Enterprise Systems in a Globalized Context

There is significant growth in global business operations and ERP systems are deemed as important applications in order to unify and improve fragmented and globalised markets. These systems are complex and students struggle to grasp not only the underlying business concepts but also the technology involved. This paper describes the design and implementation of teaching materials for a multinational cross-company collaboration assignment using a commercial ERP system. It includes elements of i) integrated business processes, ii) globalization and iii) experiential learning in Masters courses at two universities - one in Australia and the other in Norway. We discuss the lessons learned from the pilot study including the development of an evaluation tool, inter-university student communication, evaluation of the learning outcome, and the benefits of the cross-country business role play exercise.

Decision-Making Supported by Virtual-World Systems Vis-à-Vis Enterprise Systems’ Uncertainty and Equivocality

Business decision-making is based on a combination of explicit and tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is difficult to codify, manage and share in the same manner as explicit knowledge. The ability to share tacit knowledge offers great value to an organisation. The growing level of global business activities leads to an increasingly competitive environment with a greater demand for communication of tacit knowledge over distance. This chapter presents a study of the suitability of virtual-worlds for business decision-making over distance involving the exchange of tacit knowledge to support decisions at the tactical and strategic management layers. The avatar, being the primary interaction object in virtual-worlds, forms the basis of a model of the role concept in user-to-user communication. We present a case study showing how the selection of an avatar reflects the user’s role, and how an avatar situates the user in a business environment. Our study shows that virtual-worlds support the mediation of tacit knowledge. This is contrasted with state-of-the-art enterprise business systems commonly used for business transactions based on explicit knowledge exchanged over distance. The avatar is found to fulfil the role of the communicator and the role expectations from real-life situations. Our findings show that virtual-worlds have unique properties in supporting tacit knowledge exchange required for decision-making in a distributed business environment.

The IoT Technological Maturity Assessment Scorecard: A Case Study of Norwegian Manufacturing Companies

The accelerated use of technologies has led to what is termed the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0. It is based on machinery, robots, production lines, items and operators connected via the Internet to each other and to back-end systems, as a part of the Internet of Things (IoT). In this paper, we propose a new IoT Technological Maturity Assessment Scorecard that can assist manufacturers in adopting IoT-technologies. To demonstrate the Scorecard, we present a case study applying the scorecard in four Norwegian manufacturing companies.