Michel Banatre

Ensuring data security and integrity with a fast stable storage

An active, RAM-based stable storage board is described. The stable storage board is intended to make it relatively fast to access data structures, and contains features to guard against incorrect access from a faulty processor or from an errant program. Basic performance data are presented and potential applications are described.<<ETX>>

Swarm robot synchronization using RFID tags

The last progress in the pervasive computing field has led to the distribution of knowledge and computational power in the environment, rather than condensing it in a single, powerful entity. This allows agents to behave like insects in a swarm, that can fulfil a task communicating directly or indirectly among them. Following this vision of Ambient Intelligence, our work proposes a straightforward solution to coordinate a swarm of robots that have low computational capabilities. All the information and instructions are found in RFID tags that are used as a pervasive memory distributed in the environment. These robots exploit ubiquitous computing to make a formation in space, synchronise with team mates in the same zone, and finally complete a cooperative task. Before implementing the solution in a real scenario, we show the validation of our algorithm in a simulation environment.

Geo-Linda: a Geometry Aware Distributed Tuple Space

This paper presents Geo-Linda, a physically distributed tuple space. Geo-Linda targets ubiquitous computing applications involving the detection of movement patterns of objects and people, such as the meeting of two people or the insertion of a product in a shopping cart, the loading of container in a boat... Existing distributed tuple spaces suffer two main limitations: (1) they cannot detect precisely movement patterns, leading to inconsistencies between the state of applications and the physical world; (2) they cannot detect several kinds of movement patterns. Geo-Linda tackles these two limitations, by introducing a geometric addressing mode and two new reading operations to access the tuple space. In this paper, we illustrate Geo-Linda with several small examples and a full application.

Architecture of fault-tolerant multiprocessor workstations

A fault-tolerant multiprocessor architecture that is based on standard processors associated with stable storage boards is presented. The hardware architecture of the stable storage board and its software interface are briefly described. The hardware organization of the fault-tolerant multiprocessor is detailed, and some functionalities of a secure kernel are examined. The current status of the project is indicated.<<ETX>>

Cooperation in a swarm of robots using RFID landmarks

In a world that is giving prominence to ubiquitous computing, a classical standalone robot, though as complex, specialised and efficient as it may be, is not suitable for a distributed environment. The aim is to have knowledge and computing power diffused in the environment, exploiting the collaboration of simple, flexible and cost-effective robots. Collective intelligence increases when each one communicates basic information about its local state, to update the global knowledge. An open research problem is the cooperation among multiple entities in a distributed environment. Our proposal is to have robots with low capabilities that can learn information and instructions from on-site RFID landmarks to place themselves in formation, synchronise with other robots in the area, and finally carry out a cooperative task.

Ubi-Post briefcase: A content-oriented security solution for high value shipping

Sending sensitive documents or parcels over a delivery service can be a hazardous operation. Goods can be picked up by a fake courier, genuine items can be swapped with copies, the parcel may be received or opened by someone else than the supposed recipient and some items can be missing at the delivery time. As some very high value items are sent over such services, security is critical. This paper introduces the Ubi-Post briefcase system, a pervasive content-oriented security solution for high value shipping based on the Ubi-Tree physical object coupling software and RFID equipment.

A Spatial Computing Approach for Integrity Checking of Objects Groups

Integrity checking is important in many activities, such as logistic, telecommunication or even day to day tasks such as checking for someone missing in a group. While the computing and telecommunication worlds commonly use digital integrity checking, many activities from the real world do not beneficiate from automatic mechanisms for ensuring integrity. We propose a spatial computing approach where groups of physical objects tagged with RFID chips are similar to network packets and group integrity can be checked at relevant places.

An Experience in Solving a Transaction Ordering Problem in a Distributed System

This paper relates our experience about a particular problem of synchronization: the transaction ordering in the context of a distributed auction bidding system. This system must comply with the rule of fairness between sellers and buyers in order to respect the requirements of the application. This rule expects that sellers transactions be equitably interleaved and not indefinitely delayed.