Ismael Abad

Improved Method for Object Recognition in Complex Scenes by Fusioning 3-D Information and RFID Technology

This work analyzes a new method for object recognition in complex scenes combining vision-based techniques applied to the 3-D data obtained using range sensors and object identification coming from radio frequency tags (radio frequency identification (RFID) technology). Three-dimensional vision-based algorithms for object recognition have many restrictions in practical applications, i.e., uncertainty, incapability for real-time tasks, etc., but they work well for pose determination once the object is recognized. On the other hand, RFID technology allows us to detect the presence of specific objects in a scene, but it cannot provide their localization, at least not with the accuracy required in applications such as ours. In this paper, we present a new and powerful recognition method obtained by fusing both techniques. The phases of the method are described, and abundant experimentation results are included. An in-depth performance analysis has been carried out to demonstrate the recognition improvements achieved by the algorithm when RFID assistance is considered. It helps to confirm the robustness of this fusion approach and prove its effectiveness. A final discussion is included, concerning what should be the most adequate size of the object database for optimal algorithm exploitation.

Managing RFID Sensors Networks with a General Purpose RFID Middleware

RFID middleware is anticipated to one of the main research areas in the field of RFID applications in the near future. The Data EPC Acquisition System (DEPCAS) is an original proposal designed by our group to transfer and apply fundamental ideas from System and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems into the areas of RFID acquisition, processing and distribution systems. In this paper we focus on how to organize and manage generic RFID sensors (edge readers, readers, PLCs, etc…) inside the DEPCAS middleware. We denote by RFID Sensors Networks Management (RSNM) this part of DEPCAS, which is built on top of two new concepts introduced and developed in this work: MARC (Minimum Access Reader Command) and RRTL (RFID Reader Topology Language). MARC is an abstraction layer used to hide heterogeneous devices inside a homogeneous acquisition network. RRTL is a language to define RFID Reader networks and to describe the relationship between them (concentrator, peer to peer, master/submaster).

Fusion of 3D Vision Techniques and RFID Technology for Object Recognition in Complex Scenes

This work presents a new method for object recognition in complex scenes combining vision-based techniques applied to the 3D data obtained using range sensors, and object identification coming from Radio Frequency tags (RFID technology). Vision based algorithms for 3D recognition have many restrictions in practical applications: uncertainty, incapability for real time tasks; but they work well for pose determination once the object is recognized. On the other hand, RFID technology allows detecting the presence of specific objects in a scene but it cannot provide their localization. In this paper, we show the powerful recognition tool obtained by fusioning both techniques. The phases of the proposed procedure are described and an in depth experimental demonstration is included. A performance analysis of the method is made by comparing the recognition algorithm with and without the RFID phase. Obtained results, concerning to success rate increasing and computational cost reduction, confirm the robustness of this fusion approach and prove its effectiveness.

A LITERATURE REVIEW ON FEATURE DIAGRAM PRODUCT COUNTING AND ITS USAGE IN SOFTWARE PRODUCT LINE ECONOMIC MODELS

In software product line engineering, feature diagrams are a popular means to represent the similarities and differences within a family of related systems. In addition, feature diagrams implicitly model valuable information that can be used in economic models to estimate the cost savings of a product line. In particular, this paper reviews existing proposals on computing the total number of products modeled with a feature diagram and, given a feature, the number of products that implement it. The paper also reviews the economic information that can be estimated when such numbers are known. Thus, this paper contributes by bringing together previously-disparate streams of work: the automated analysis of feature diagrams and economic models for product lines.

Exemplar driven development of software product lines

The benefits of following a product line approach to develop similar software systems are well documented. Nevertheless, some case studies have revealed significant barriers to adopt such approach. In order to minimize the paradigm shift between conventional software engineering and software product line engineering, this paper presents a new development process where the products of a domain are made by analogy to an existing product. Furthermore, this paper discusses the capabilities and limitations of different techniques to implement the analogy relation and proposes a new language to overcome such limitations.

DEPCAS: An industrial approach to RFID middleware

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) middleware refers to software that connects RFID devices to enterprise information systems. In a generic definition, RFID middleware makes sense to RFID reads and allows employing auto identification like a main data source inside information, production or management systems. Several trends are proposed to solve RFID middleware: ad-hoc systems, open-source EPCGlobal standards implementation or proprietary RFID middleware. In this paper we present a different and alternative solution to this problem: DEPCAS(Data EPC Acquisition System). DEPCAS approach corresponds with new software architecture to solve RFID middleware and it is based on SCADA (Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition) modern software architecture. The key ideas in this RFID middleware are to be configurable and customizable in every of the modules that take part of the software architecture. The paper includes a comparative analysis of DEPCAS and SCADA architectures to probe the adequacy of adapting a well-known and conventional solution valid for classical industrial applications to solve the recent challenges arising in the RFID environments. Implementation details of the current version of DEPCAS are also described in this work.

METADEPCAS: Introducing Semantic RFID Data Management

Traditional Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFID) applications have been centered on replacing physical codes in supply chain management. The article presents a framework allowing both quick decentralized on-line item discovery and centralized off-line massive business logic analysis, according to needs and requirements of supply chain actors. A semantic-based environment, that we call METADEPCAS where tagged objects become resources exposing to an RFID reader not only a trivial identification code but a semantic annotation, enables tagged objects to describe themselves directly without depending on a centralized infrastructure. On the other hand, facing on data management issues, a proposal is formulated for an effective off-line multidimensional analysis of huge amounts of RFID data generated and stored along a supply chain.

RRTL: RFID Reader Topology Language. A language to manage RFID reader's networks

Abstract We present RRTL, RFID Readers Topology Language, designed to manage RFID Readers Networks (RRN). Original RFID systems present RRN as a simple network where every RFID reader device can be accessed from the RFID middleware to acquire and to process data. This RFID middleware works as a centralized server where all configuration and processed information is managed. But what happens if there are RFID installations where this is not possible? Then we work in a new research area, the RFID distribution throw different acquisitions networks or RRN. RRTL is a language proposal to define, configure and manage RRN inside our RFID middleware proposal called DEPCAS (Data EPC Acquisition System).