Luís Ferreira

A Cloud-Based Architecture with embedded Pragmatics Renderer for Ubiquitous and Cloud Manufacturing

The paper presents a Cloud-based architecture for Ubiquitous and Cloud Manufacturing as a multilayer communicational architecture designated as the Communicational Architecture. It is characterised as (a) rich client interfaces (Rich Internet Application) with sufficient interaction to allow user agility and competence, (b) multimodal, for multiple client device classes support and (c) communicational to allow pragmatics, where human-to-human real interaction is completely supported. The main innovative part of this architecture is sustained by a semiotic framework organised on three main logical levels: (a) device level, which allows the user ‘to use’ pragmatics with the system, (b) application level which results for a set of tools which allows users pragmatics-based interaction and (c) application server level that implements the Pragmatics renderer, a pragmatics supporting engine that supports all pragmatics services. The Pragmatics renderer works as a communication enabler, and consists of a set of integrated collaboration technology that makes the bridge between the user/devices and the ‘system’. A federated or community cloud is developed using a particular cloud RESTful Application Programming Interface that supports (cloud) services registration, composition and governance (pragmatics services behaves as SaaS in the cloud).

Disclosing the Tourism Dynamic Packages

This paper describes the Open Tourism Initiative (OTI), exploring its application in tourism, based on the Virtual Enterprise (VE) organizational model. It assumes as essential to assure the permanent alignment between a tourism solution and the client’s interests and expectations, which claims for a reliable integration and dynamic networking of the entities providing that solution (the VE). When a member of the VE scheduled to provide a given service is somehow conditioned, unable to participate or has to be disentailed from the network, or due to events not necessarily measurable or deterministic, it is necessary to reconfigure the VE in almost real time. OTI handles dynamic tourism packages under reconfigurable VE environment.

Effective Service Dynamic Packages for Ubiquitous Manufacturing System

This paper proposes a new integrated architecture for advanced manufacturing management with a Ubiquitous Management System (UMS) and a collection of adequate features to sustain it, where pragmatics on collaboration mechanisms prevails. The Market-of-Resources repository and its advanced brokering process will enable reliable interoperability, services dynamic packages and reconfiguration, as well as the (co-) management of production process, regardless information systems and using real-time collaboration mechanisms. This article contributes for building a logical model for UMS as well as an UML formalization for its supporting architecture

Collaborative framework for virtual organisation synthesis based on a dynamic multi-criteria decision model

ABSTRACT Globalisation and increased competition pushes companies to grow outside political and geographical boundaries, frequently forcing them to increase product diversification and optimise their relation with potential and effective partners and customers. In this scenario, implementing agile collaboration networks with business partners is a requirement. In this article the authors propose a collaborative framework based on a model for Historical, Present and Future evaluations, which in turn is based on a Dynamic Multi-criteria Decision Method using software agents and the Cloud for Collaborative Networked and Virtual Organization Synthesis. The model uses a dynamic decision approach for supplier and business partner evaluation, enabling software agents to autonomously capture business opportunities, select business partners/suppliers, award and process associated orders.

In vivo in situ en face optical coherence tomography imaging of chick embryos

Chick embryos are among the most studied species in development biology because they are easily obtained, highly accessible and present a similar development to that of humans. Normally morphological studies are carried out with confocal microscopy, however in-situ imaging is impossible and in- vivo imaging can only be performed with great difficulty. For confocal microscopy the embryo has to be studied outside the egg, what generally also means a short life expectancy of the embryo. Additionally, extracting the embryo of the egg precludes the possibility of studying its development in its natural environment. In this paper it is shown that en-face optical coherence tomography (en-face OCT) is a possible solution to overcome these difficulties allowing for an in-situ and in-vivo study over a timescale of several days. With en-face OCT it is possible to accompany the development of one single embryo over several days and to acquire high resolution and axially resolved images.

Mechatronic approach to the feeding system of an overlock sewing machine

Abstract This paper describes the initial study of the research program being carried out on the feeding system of an industrial overlock sewing machine. The results obtained from the displacement and compression force, together with the graphic kinematic analysis, which includes the velocity and acceleration taken from the displacement–time curves of the presser foot bar, led to further understanding of the feeding system dynamics. This study is expected to provide the basis for the development of a redesigned and optimised fabric feeding system, in which the role of an actuator integrated in the presser foot bar will also be discussed as a major contribution to achieving a desired dynamic behaviour at high sewing speeds.

Analysing critical success factors for supporting online shopping

On-line shopping is nowadays is a highly frequent action but there are several critical factors that have to be considered for enabling websites and platforms to be able to offer all necessary requisites for guaranteeing user friendly, secure and also enjoyable shopping experiences to clients, offering them exactly what they expect to buy, and quickly find, among a huge offer available on-line. In this paper a set of considered critical success factors are analysed on a set of top ranked websites, about luxurious furniture, to understand to what extent these critical factors are satisfied. The results can be taken into consideration for implementing a successful businesses through e-commerce from herein analysed perspectives.