Carlos Alberto Malcher Bastos

SMARTFlow: a solution for autonomic management and control of communication networks for smart grids

Smart grids depend on a solid foundation of communications. Although standards like IEC 61850 proposes interoperability, autoconfiguration, and autonomous control solutions for the communication network, there are still open problems on how to efficiently forward high priority sensitive data. This work proposes a complete architecture for autonomic management and control of communication networks for substations based on IEC 61850. The proposed solution, called SMARTFlow, uses OpenFlow in order to achieve granularity and flexibility in the treatment of data flows. SMARTFlow proactively calculates Layer 2 multicast trees to forward the high priorities GOOSE and Sampled Values messages and reconfigures all flow entries in case of network failures. Also, the proposed system monitors the network and defines the configuration of client-server flows on-demand. The proposal was implemented and tested using Mininet and showed a total load up to 44 % lower than the load using typical switches.

Information Flow Modeling. A Tool to Support the Integrated Management of Information and Knowledge

This paper discusses the importance of information flows in information management context and presents methodological aspects and a summary of information flow modeling results, part of Knowledge and Information Management Model (KIMM), a proposal developed and applied in the regulatory agency for land transport sector in Brazil. In order to achieve proposed objectives, this paper presents a brief background of KIMM project and the concepts and definitions formalization used such as: information assets, information flows and information life cycle. Aspects such as the characteristics of good information aligned to organizational characterization were also considered in the concepts and definitions section and how it was applied in information flow methodology modeling. The results indicated that the information flows are an important diagnostic tool for the evaluation of the organizational information management status and the basis for the proposition of other models such as knowledge management.

An Information Flow Based Modeling Approach to Information Management

This paper describes an information flow based modeling methodology as a relevant part of Knowledge and Information Management Model (KMIM) based on identification and management of information assets throughout information life cycle in the organization. The methodology includes structured interviews with users and information producers as well as with top management in order to modeling information flows as they are today and how they should be in the next future, incorporating improvements. The project research was developed in a Brazilian regulatory agency, which deals with information and knowledge as its main assets for taking decisions. Information life cycle mapping and also the identification of information quality requirements for each different organization unit showed that new practices for collection, validation, processing, storage, retrieval, distribution and dissemination of information have to be developed and implemented in order to better manage the information and use it as an input to promote knowledge management.

Studies of Management for Dynamic Circuit Networks

This article presents the need for a new model for Internet architecture and shows briefly the international panoramic on researches for developing it. One of the most prominence proposals is the Dynamic Circuit Network (DCN), which allow provide dynamic hybrid packet and circuit services within the same network infrastructure. However this bring several important challenges to the control and management planes. The use of smart management agents and self-management technicals seems to be one approach able to deal with the new features of the new types of networks.