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+===================================================+
+======= Quality Techniques Newsletter =======+
+======= September 2003 =======+
+===================================================+
QUALITY TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER (QTN) is E-mailed monthly to
subscribers worldwide to support the Software Research, Inc. (SR),
eValid, and TestWorks user communities and to other interested
parties to provide information of general use to the worldwide
internet and software quality and testing community.
Permission to copy and/or re-distribute is granted, and secondary
circulation is encouraged by recipients of QTN, provided that the
entire document/file is kept intact and this complete copyright
notice appears in all copies. Information on how to subscribe or
unsubscribe is at the end of this issue. (c) Copyright 2003 by
Software Research, Inc.
========================================================================
Contents of This Issue
o VTune + eValid: A Complete and Realistic Integrated Server
Loading Solution
o SQRL Report Abstracts
o Student Finds Cure For Bugged Software
o 16th Advanced Information Systems Engineering Conference,
Riga, Latvia
o eValid: A Quick Summary
o International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems and
Software
o 13th International WWW Conference
o QTN Article Submittal, Subscription Information
========================================================================
eValid Integrated with Intel VTune
We are pleaed to announce successful integration of the eValid
Website Testing and Analysis Suite with Intel's VTune Enterprise
Analyzer for Web Applications. The VTune + eValid performance
analysis and load generation solution is available for use
immediately.
VTune + eValid Solution Summary
The VTune + eValid solution is aimed at two groups:
o Developers, who need a reliable way to create realistic load and
measure performance under real world conditions. eValid tests
are easy to create, totally realistic, and simulate real users'
activities -- no matter how complex. Test scenarios are easy to
compose from functional tests.
o Testers, who need to produce simulations of complex performance
and load testing scenarios to thoroughly exercise systems before
release. eValid's loading -- achieved through multiple parallel
browser on one or more machines -- is unequaled for server load
accuracy, power, and flexibility. Very complex and large test
scenarios that can simulate 1000's of users are very easy to
create and manage.
Please see this page for a complete solution description that
outlines the VTune + eValid solution advantages:
<http://www.soft.com/eValid/Application.Notes/vtune/overview.html>
The VTune system is fully described at:
<http://www.intel.com/software/products/vtune/enterprise/features.htm>
Special Short Term Pricing
There are introductory prices for the VTune + eValid combined
offering that include a substantial reduction over the regular VTune
and eValid prices if purchased separately:
<http://www.soft.com/eValid/Application.Notes/vtune/pricelist.html>
========================================================================
SQRL Report No. 12
Hierarchical Interface-based Supervisory Control
Part I: Serial Case
R.J. Leduc, B.A. Brandin, M. Lawford, W.M. Wonham
Abstract: In this paper we present a hierarchical method that
decomposes a system into two subsystems, and restricts the
interaction of the subsystems by means of an interface. We present
definitions for two types of interfaces (represented as discrete-
event systems (DES)), and define a set of interface consistency
properties that can be used to verify if a DES is nonblocking and
controllable. Each clause of the definitions can be verified using
only one of the two subsystems; thus the complete system model never
needs to be constructed, offering potentially significant savings in
computational effort. Additionally, the development of clean
interfaces facilitates re-use of the component subsystems. Finally,
we examine a simple example to illustrate the method.
SQRL Report No. 13:
Hierarchical Interface-based Supervisory Control
Part II: Parallel Case
R.J. Leduc, M. Lawford, W.M. Wonham
Abstract: In this paper we present a hierarchical method that
decomposes a discrete-event system (DES) into a high level subsystem
which communicates with n >= 1 parallel low level subsystems through
separate interfaces, which restrict the interaction of the
subsystems. We first review the setting for the serial case (n =1),
and then generalize it for n >= 1. We define an interface and a set
of interface consistency properties that can be used to verify if a
DES is nonblocking and controllable. Each clause of the definition
can be verified using a single subsystem; thus the complete system
model never needs to be stored in memory, offering potentially
significant savings in computational resources. We provide
algorithms for verifying these new properties, and briefly discuss
the computational complexity of the method. Finally we present an
application to a large manufacturing example with an estimated
closed-loop state space size of 7 X 10^21.
========================================================================
Stevens Graduate Student Finds Reliable Cure for Bugged Software
HOBOKEN, N.J. - Software failures plague our lives. Software
Engineering experiments at Stevens Institute of Technology recently
proved that bug infested software can be run with great reliability
without having to fix the bug. A wireless communication protocol was
implemented in C++ by a master's student, Kevin Yao, under the
direction of Industry Research Professor Larry Bernstein of Stevens'
Computer Science Department, along with Associate Professor Yu-Dong
Yao of Stevens Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The complexity of the algorithm led to a memory leak that was
undetected until the wireless software package was stressed. Rather
than finding and fixing the leak, a fault tolerant library was bound
into the package and the defect was contained. The package ran
reliably.
"This is a clear before-and-after case," said Professor Bernstein,
"that will convince skeptics of the merits of improving the
reliability of software by constraining the execution domain of the
software product. The merits of software engineering concepts of
architecture design, functional testing, scalability, stress testing
and reliability testing were demonstrated in the project."
Those wishing to contact Professors Bernstein and Yao, or Mr. Yao,
for further information on the project may arrange an interview
through the media contact listed above the headline. Established in
1870, Stevens offers baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees in
engineering, science, computer science, management and technology
management, as well as a baccalaureate in the humanities and liberal
arts, and in business and technology. The university, located
directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, has a total
enrollment of about 1,740 undergraduates and 2,600 graduate
students. Additional information may be obtained from its web page
at www.stevens-tech.edu. For the latest news about Stevens, visit
its new online news publication, StevensViews, at
www.StevensNewsService.com.
Contact:
Patrick A. Berzinski
Associate Director of Media Relations
Editor, StevensViews
Stevens Institute of Technology
Tel: 201-216-5687
Fax: 201-216-8247
E-mail: pberzins@stevens-tech.edu
Website: www.StevensNewsService.com
Forwarded by:
Larry Bernstein
Industry Research Professor
Computer Science
Stevens Institute of Technology
http:Attila.Stevens-tech.edu/~lbernste
========================================================================
The 16th Conference on Advanced Information Systems Engineering:
CAiSE*04
http://www.cs.rtu.lv/caise2004/
Riga, Latvia
7-11 June 2004
Since the late 1980's, the CAiSE conferences provide a forum for the
presentation and exchange of research results and practical
experiences within the field of Information Systems Engineering. In
June 2004 the conference will be held in Riga, Latvia - one of the
most beautiful cities in the world. Riga is also an important center
of research and development in the Baltic States. CAiSE*04 aims at
bringing together researchers, users, and practitioners in the field
of information systems engineering. The conference program will
feature paper presentations, workshops, tutorials, and interactive
panel sessions.
CAiSE*04 is organized by the Faculty of Computer Science and
Information Technology, Riga Technical University. The conference
will be held in the Riga Congress Centre located in downtown Riga,
close to the picturesque Old Town and city's business district.
CONFERENCE THEME
The conference theme of CAiSE*04 is Knowledge and Model Driven
Information Systems Engineering for Networked Organizations.
Modern businesses and IT systems are facing an ever more complex
environment characterized by openness, variety, and change.
- Organizations are becoming less self-sufficient and increasingly
dependent on business partners and other actors. These trends
call for openness of business as well as IT systems, i.e. the
ability to connect and interoperate with other systems.
- Organizations are experiencing ever more variety in their
business, in all conceivable dimensions. The different
competencies required by the workforce are multiplying. In the
same way, the variety in technology is overwhelming with a
multitude of languages, platforms, devices, standards, and
products.
- Organizations need to manage an environment that is constantly
changing and where lead times, product life cycles, and partner
relationships are shortening. The demand of having to constantly
adapt IT to changing technologies and business practices has
resulted in the birth of new ideas which may have profound
impact on the information systems engineering practices in
future years, such as autonomic computing, component and
services marketplaces and dynamically generated software.
These trends pose a number of challenges to both the operational
systems and the development processes of the organization, its work
practice, and its IT systems. In order to cope with increasingly
complex business and IT environments, organizations need effective
instruments for managing their knowledge about these environments.
Essential among these instruments are models, i.e. representations
of aspects of reality including the domain of work, the processes,
and the context. Models come in a variety of forms, formal or
informal; describing static or dynamic aspects; representing agents,
processes, or resources; focusing on business or IT aspects, etc. To
realize the full potential of models, there is a need for a business
and technology architecture as well as a way of working that place
the models firmly in the center and let them be the driving force in
analysis, design, implementation, deployment and use of systems and
services. This implies developing not only new modeling languages
but also new ways of developing models, which incorporate in a
participatory manner all stakeholders involved.
In addition to the special theme, topics relevant for submissions to
CAiSE*04 include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Methodologies, Models, and Tools for IS Development
- Requirements Engineering for IS
- Model Driven Architectures
- Enterprise Modeling Methods and Tools
- Service Oriented and Mobile Computing
- E-government Strategies and Applications
- Knowledge, Information and Data Quality
- Web Content Management and Distribution
- Workflow Systems
- Knowledge Management
- Model and Software Reusability
- Data Warehousing & OLAP
- Metadata and Ontologies
- Support for Co-operative Work
- Innovative Database Technologies
- Distributed, Mobile, and Open Architectures
- Agent-Oriented Technologies
- Languages and Protocols for IS
- Component-Ware and IS
- IS Reengineering
- IS Usability and Interfaces to IS
- Simulation in IS Development
- Semantic Web
General Chair:
Janis Grundspenkis
Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology,
Riga Technical University, 1 Kalku, LV-1658, Riga, Latvia
jgrun@cs.rtu.lv
Program Co-chairs:
Anne Persson
Department of Computer Science, University of Skvvde,
PO Box 408, SE-54128, Skvvde, Sweden
anne.persson@ida.his.se
Janis Stirna
Department of Computer and Systems Sciences,
Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University,
Forum 100, SE-16440, Kista, Sweden
js@dsv.su.se
========================================================================
eValid: A Quick Summary
http://www.e-valid.com
Readers of QTN probably are aware of SR's eValid technology offering
that addresses website quality issues.
Here is a summary of eValid's benefits and advantages.
o InBrowser(tm) Technology. All the test functions are built into
the eValid browser. eValid offers total accuracy and natural
access to "all things web." If you can browse it, you can test
it. And, eValid's unique capabilities are used by a growing
number of firms as the basis for their active services
monitoring offerings.
o Functional Testing, Regression Testing. Easy to use GUI based
record and playback with full spectrum of validation functions.
The eVmanage component provides complete, natural test suite
management.
o LoadTest Server Loading. Multiple eValid's play back multiple
independent user sessions -- unparalleled accuracy and
efficiency. Plus: No Virtual Users! Single and multiple
machine usages with consolidated reporting.
o Mapping and Site Analysis. The built-in WebSite spider travels
through your website and applies a variety of checks and filters
to every accessible page. All done entirely from the users'
perspective -- from a browser -- just as your users will see
your website.
o Desktop, Enterprise Products. eValid test and analysis engines
are delivered at moderate costs for desktop use, and at very
competitive prices for use throughout your enterprise.
o Performance Tuning Services. Outsourcing your server loading
activity can surely save your budget and might even save your
neck! Realistic scenarios, applied from multiple driver
machines, impose totally realistic -- no virtual user! -- loads
on your server.
o HealthCheck Subscription. For websites up to 1000 pages, eValid
HealthCheck services provide basic detailed analyses of smaller
websites in a very economical, very efficient way.
o eValidation Managed Service. Being introduced this Fall, the
eValidation Managed WebSite Quality Service offers comprehensive
user-oriented detailed quality analysis for any size website,
including those with > 10,000 pages.
Resellers, Consultants, Contractors, OEMers Take Note
We have an active program for product and service resellers. We'd
like to hear from you if you are interested in joining the growing
eValid "quality website" delivery team. We also provide OEM
solutions for internal and/or external monitoring, custom-faced
testing browsers, and a range of other possibilities. Let us hear
from you!
========================================================================
International Symposium on
Performance Analysis of Systems and Software (ISPASS-2004)
March 10-12, 2004
Austin, Texas
The IEEE International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems
and Software provides a forum for sharing advanced academic and
industrial R&D work focused on performance analysis in the design of
computer systems and software. Research insight into performance
issues of hardware and software components of computers are welcome.
Authors are invited to submit previously unpublished work for
possible presentation at this conference. Papers are solicited in
fields including the following:
- Microprocessor, memory and disk performance issues
- Performance of software
- Impact of hardware and software optimizations on performance
- Tuning of application code
- Tuning of system code
- Performance of computer networks
- Benchmarking
- Workload characterization
- Simulation
- Analytical models
- Statistical approaches
- Performance metrics
- Tracing, profiling and simulation tools
- Bottleneck identification
- Power and thermal modeling
- Performance validation
- Characterization of emerging applications
- Case studies
GENERAL CHAIRS:
Craig Chase, Univ. of Texas at Austin; Email: chase@ece.utexas.edu;
Nasr Ullah, Motorola; Email: nasr.ullah@motorola.com
PROGRAM CHAIR:
Lizy John, Univ. of Texas at Austin; Email: ljohn@ece.utexas.edu
========================================================================
WWW2004 CALL FOR PAPERS/SUBMISSIONS
The Thirteenth International World Wide Web Conference
May 17-22, 2004 New York City, NY USA
http://www2004.org/
The WWW2004 conference will be held in Manhattan at the Sheraton
Hotel. The technical program will include refereed paper
presentations, alternate track presentations, plenary sessions,
panels, and poster sessions. Tutorials and workshops will precede
the main program, and a Developers Day, devoted to in-depth
technical sessions designed specifically for Web developers, will
follow.
WWW2004 seeks original papers describing research in all areas of
the Web. Papers should not have been published or be in submission
at another conference or journal. Topics include but are not limited
to:
Applications
Browsers and User Interfaces
Data Mining
Electronic Commerce (potential papers should be submitted to the EC'04
Conference, which is co-located with WWW2004)
Mobility and Wireless Access
Performance and Reliability
Search
Security and Privacy
Semantic Web
Web Engineering
Submissions should present original reports of substantive new work.
Papers should properly place the work within the field, cite related
work, and clearly indicate the innovative aspects of the work and
its contribution to the field. Papers will be peer-reviewed by at
least 3 reviewers from an International Program Committee. Accepted
papers will appear in the conference proceedings published by the
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and will also be
accessible to the general public via http://www2004.org/.
Authors are not required to transfer copyright. Papers must be
submitted electronically in PDF format, and must be formatted using
the ACM proceedings format. Detailed formatting requirements will be
available on http://www2004.org/. The official language of the
conference is English. Inquiries can be sent to www2004-pc-
chairs@cs.wpi.edu.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS
Marc Najork, Microsoft Research
Craig Wills, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
========================================================================
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QUALITY TECHNIQUES NEWSLETTER
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