Generic API Research Articles

Implementing generic PaaS deployment API: repackaging and deploying applications on heterogeneous PaaS platforms

The cloud platform-as-a-service (PaaS) model provides developers with the ability to deploy and manage their applications remotely in the cloud and pay only for actual usage hours. Currently, there is no standard API for PaaS deployment and management; each PaaS provider [e.g., Google AppEngine (GAE), OpenShift (OS), Cloud Foundry (CF), and Windows Azure] has its own proprietary APIs. This lack of standardisation adds a layer of complexity to application deployment and migration between heterogeneous PaaS platforms because of API incompatibility. A standard (generic) PaaS deployment API overcomes the previously mentioned PaaS API heterogeneity. A generic open-source API, namely the COAPS API, has been proposed to support deployment and management of applications on CF and OS PaaS platforms. This work implements COAPS deployment API to include the GAE PaaS. Whereas both CF and OS PaaS platforms use the same application packaging, deploying the same application on GAE requires application repackaging. We evaluated our work using a case study in which the same application is automatically deployed on CF and GAE.

Implementing generic PaaS deployment API: repackaging and deploying applications on heterogeneous PaaS platforms

Implementing generic PaaS deployment API: repackaging and deploying applications on heterogeneous PaaS platforms

A generic API for load balancing in distributed systems for big data management

SummaryDistributed systems for big data management very often face the problem of load imbalance among nodes. To address this issue, there exist almost as many load balancing strategies as there are different systems. When designing a scalable distributed system geared towards handling large amounts of information, it is often not so easy to anticipate which kind of strategy will be the most efficient to maintain adequate performance regarding response time, scalability, and reliability at any time. Based on this observation, we describe a generic API to implement and experiment any strategy independently from the rest of the code, prior to a definitive choice for instance. We then show how existing load balancing strategies used by famous systems could be implemented with this API. We also present how this work has helped us implement load balancing on our distributed system and modify the behavior of our strategy in a few lines of code. This led us to easily perform various experiments to determine the most efficient scheme for our system. This paper is an extension to our work presented at Workshop on Parallel and Distributed Computing for Big Data Applications (WPBA) 2014. We detail here more experiments and extend the use of the API to a broad class of big data storage systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Specification of generic APIs, or

Specification based on Floyd-Hoare logic, using pre- and post-conditions, is common in languages aimed at high integrity software. Such pre/postcondition specifications are geared towards verification of code. While this specification technique has proven quite successful in the past 40 years, it has limitations when applied to API specification, particularly specification of generic interfaces. API-oriented design and genericity is of particular importance in modern large-scale software development. In this situation, algebraic specification techniques have a significant advantage. Unlike pre/post-based specification, which deals with the inputs and outputs of one operation at a time, algebraic specification deals with the relationships between the different operations in an API, which is needed in the specification of generic APIs.

A generic security API for symmetric key management on cryptographic devices

We present a new symmetric key management API for cryptographic devices intended to implement security protocols in distributed systems. Our API has a formal security policy and proofs of security in the symbolic model, under various threat scenarios. This sets it apart from previous APIs such as RSA PKCS#11, which are under-specified, lack a clear security policy and are often subject to attacks. Our design is based on the principle of explicitness: the security policy for a key must be given at creation time, and this policy is then included in any ciphertext containing the key. Our API also contains novel features such as the possibility of insisting on a freshness check before accepting an encrypted key for import. To show the applicability of our design, we give an algorithm for automatically instantiating the API commands for a given key management protocol and apply it on the Clark–Jacob protocols suite.

SLA-driven Federated Cloud Networking: Quality of Service for Cloud-based Software Defined Networks

Since the cloud paradigm becomes more and more popular for the dynamic resources allocation, new techniques and performance improvements for scalability as well as new cloud services on all three layers of the cloud stack were developed. Furthermore, another well covered topic is cloud federation concerning processing power and strength. However, the flexibility of the cloud is limited in terms of network services and federated networking between autonomous cloud data-center. With the promising opportunities of Software Defined Networking (SDN), this gap can be closed and enables cloud environments to establish networking federations between autonomous data-centers and virtual network partitioning in a single cloud infrastructure.In this paper we are introducing and describing an architectural approach for a generic layered model and API based software architecture to orchestrate and federate heterogeneous networks. In particular, we present an architecture that enables Quality of Service (QoS) aware configurations of network resources in a cloud infrastructure of one data-center and federated networking between different SDN based cloud networks over and above the data-center network edge. Furthermore, this architecture uses a Service Level Agreement (SLA) protocol and language to expose Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and to negotiate appropriated QoS constrains which are applied to the virtually sliced underlying network substrate. In this way, capabilities of the orchestration and the current utilization of the network are building the foundation for dynamic negotiated SLAs and the within guaranteed QoS of network resources. The approach presented in this paper will change today's IT landscape and allows every organization to purchase required network characteristics on demand.

Methods for co-simulation of multi-scale models

Event Abstract Back to Event Methods for co-simulation of multi-scale models Jerker Nilsson1, Ekaterina Brocke1, Mikael Djurfeldt2, 3*, Upinder S. Bhalla4, Jeanette Hellgren-Kotaleski1, 5 and Michael Hanke6 1 KTH, CB/CSC, Sweden 2 KTH, PDC, Sweden 3 INCF, Sweden 4 NCBS, India 5 Karolinska Institute, Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Sweden 6 KTH, Dept. Mathematics, Sweden In multi-scale models, multiple scales, and even physical formalisms, are used in a single model [1] while simulation tools in computational neuroscience are usually specialized for a single scale and formalism [2, 3, 4]. One possibility when solving such models is to use a co-simulation methodology. Co-simulation allows model components to be simulated by different tools, running simultaneously while exchanging data. However, a naive coupling of numerical methods for different models may lead to unexpected numerical problems going far beyond those which could be expected from the individual components. With the ultimate goal of extending the MUSIC API [5] for multi-scale modeling through co-simulation by integration of numerical solvers, we have examined ways of moving beyond trial-and-error and ad-hoc methods [6, 7] when coupling solvers. We show techniques for how synchronization in bi-directional communication as well as error control [8] can be achieved in a framework motivated by waveform relaxation methods. We apply these techniques when simulating a reduced MAPK model [6] in a spine in the context of the electrical activity of the whole neuron. The model exhibits bistability. It switches from the inactive to the active stable state after current injection to the soma. In our model, the stimulus of 0.09 nA causes a Ca2+ elevation of 1 uM in the spine during the stimulation period of 5 s. This condition is sufficient to switch on P-MAPK and phosphorylate potassium channels. The electrical part of the model is formulated using Hodgkin-Huxley formalism while biochemistry is formulated by the reaction-rate equations. This model gives us a stiff problem with a coupling strength varying along the integration. We compare different techniques for achieving a balance between efficiency of coupling and accuracy of integration. This analysis will be used to set up the requirements for a generic API to perform co-simulation and, in particular, identify the signals which need to be propagated by a multi-scale API.

Jabber-based Cross-Domain Efficient and Privacy-Ensuring Context Management Framework

in pervasive environments, context-aware applications require a global knowledge of the context information distributed in different spatial domains in order to establish context-based interactions. Therefore, the design of distributed storage, retrieval, and dissemination mechanisms of context information across domains becomes vital. In such environments, we envision the necessity of collaboration between different context servers distributed in different domains; thus, the need for generic APIs and protocol allowing context information exchange between different entities: context servers, context providers, and context consumers. As a solution this paper proposes ubique, a distributed middleware for context-aware computing that allows applications to maintain domain-based context interests to access context information about users, places, events, and things - all made available by or brokered through the home domain server. This paper proposes also a new cross-domain protocol for context management which ensures the privacy and the efficiency of context information dissemination. It has been robustly built upon the Jabber protocol which is a widely adopted open protocol for instant messaging and is designed for near real-time communication. Simulation and experimentation results show that ubique framework well supports robust cross-domain context management and collaboration.

Innovation in Generic API Synthesis and Manufacture

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEEditorialNEXTInnovation in Generic API Synthesis and ManufactureTrevor LairdCite this: Org. Process Res. Dev. 2012, 16, 3, 365Publication Date (Web):March 7, 2012Publication History Published online7 March 2012Published inissue 16 March 2012https://doi.org/10.1021/op300038xCopyright © 2012 American Chemical SocietyRIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views3204Altmetric-Citations2LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (108 KB) Get e-AlertsSUBJECTS:Manufacturing,Materials,Pharmaceuticals,Physical and chemical processes Get e-Alerts

GeoNote: A Web Service for Geographic Data Annotation in Biodiversity Information Systems

Biodiversity studies are often based on the use of data associated with eld observations. These data are usually associated with a geographic location. Most of existing biodiversity information systems provides support for storing and querying geographic data. Annotation services, in general, are not supported. This paper presents an annotation web service to correlate biodiversity data with geographic information. We use superimposed information concepts for constructing a Web service for annotating vector geographic data. The Web service speci cation includes the de nition of a generic API for handling annotations and the de nition of a data model for storing them. The solution was validated through the implementation of a prototype for the biodiversity domain considering a potential usage scenario.

Generic interface architecture supporting cognitive resource management in future wireless networks

The proliferation of different wireless technologies has led to fragmentation of interfaces and APIs that are used to control and manage air interfaces and wireless links. The emergence of new networking and application concepts that support increasingly heterogeneous access methods, especially when combined with future cognitive radio technologies, significantly increase the already high complexity of development projects and software architectures. Dissimilar wireless interfaces also complicate the development of middleware components for higher layers of the protocol stack. In this article we present a new generic interface and API architecture that has been developed and prototyped in several different wireless platforms to address these problems. We introduce the basic framework of the architecture, and explain how generic and open interfaces can significantly lower development and deployment costs. The developed interface architecture can be seen as a lower level middleware, or as an enabling technology to implement different technology transparent network middlewares. We also briefly comment about prototyping and standardization status of technology.

Multiscale modeling through MUSIC multi-simulation: Modeling a dendritic spine using MOOSE and NeuroRD

The nervous system encompasses structure and phenomena at different spatial and temporal scales from molecule to behavior. In addition, different scales are described by different physical and mathematical formalisms. The dynamics of second messenger pathways can be formulated as stochastic reaction-diffusion systems [1] while the electrical dynamics of the neuronal membrane is often described by compartment models and the Hodgkin-Huxley formalism. In neuroscience, there is an increasing need and interest to study multi-scale phenomena where multiple scales and physical formalisms are covered by a single model. While there exists simulators/frameworks, such as GENESIS and MOOSE [3], which span such scales (kinetikit/HH-models), most software applications are specialized for a given domain. Here, we report about initial steps towards a framework for multi-scale modeling which builds on the concept of multi-simulations [2]. We aim to provide a standard API and communication framework allowing parallel simulators targeted at different scales and/or different physics to communicate on-line in a cluster environment. Specifically, we show prototype work on simulating the effect on receptor induced cascades on membrane excitability. Electrical properties of a compartment model is simulated in MOOSE, while receptor induced cascades are simulated in NeuroRD [4,7] . In a prototype system, the two simulators are connected using PyMOOSE [5] and JPype [6]. The two models with their different physical properties (membrane currents in MOOSE, molecular biophysics in NeuroRD), are joined into a single model system. We demonstrate the interaction of the numerical solvers of two simulators (MOOSE, NeuroRD) targeted at different spatiotemporal scales and different physics while solving a multi-scale problem. We analyze some of the problems that may arise in multi-scale multi-simulations and present requirements for a generic API for parallel solvers. This work represents initial steps towards a flexible modular framework for simulation of large-scale multi-scale multi-physics problems in neuroscience.

Some Thoughts on Generic API Manufacture

Some Thoughts on Generic API Manufacture

Minimizing dependencies within generic classes for faster and smaller programs

Generic classes can be used to improve performance by allowing compile-time polymorphism. But the applicability of compile-time polymorphism is narrower than that of runtime polymorphism, and it might bloat the object code. We advocate a programming principle whereby a generic class should be implemented in a way that minimizes the dependencies between its members (nested types, methods) and its generic type parameters. Conforming to this principle (1) reduces the bloat and (2) gives rise to a previously unconceived manner of using the language that expands the applicability of compile-time polymorphism to a wider range of problems. Our contribution is thus a programming technique that generates faster and smaller programs. We apply our ideas to GCC's STL containers and iterators, and we demonstrate notable speedups and reduction in object code size (real application runs 1.2x to 2.1x faster and STL code is 1x to 25x smaller). We conclude that standard generic APIs (like STL) should be amended to reflect the proposed principle in the interest of efficiency and compactness. Such modifications will not break old code, simply increase flexibility. Our findings apply to languages like C++, C#, and D, which realize generic programming through multiple instantiations.

An evaluation of the performance impact of generic group communication APIs

This paper presents an evaluation of the performance impact of two generic group communication APIs, namely Hedera and jGCS, over three well-known group communication systems, namely JGroups, Spread and Appia. The evaluation compared the performance of different configurations of the three group communication systems in a local clustered environment, under different message and cluster sizes, both in standalone mode and when used as plug-ins for the two generic APIs. The results show that there are significant differences in the overhead imposed by each generic API with respect to the performance of the three group communication systems, when used in standalone mode, and that those differences are strongly related to variations in message and also to the way the generic APIs and their plug-in mechanisms are implemented. Based on those results, the paper discusses some of the circumstances upon which it would be worth implementing group communication using the investigated systems.

Unified Link Layer API: A generic and open API to manage wireless media access

We present the Unified Link Layer API (ULLA) framework: an open and extensible API framework that incorporates a number of requirements related to a wide range of applications, including multi-mode and cross-layer optimisation scenarios. This work has been mainly motivated by the complexity and interoperability problems related to the large number of wireless APIs available today. ULLA provides database and object oriented service abstractions to applications through a generic query mechanism, a method to setup asynchronous notifications and a command interface. It encapsulates link level heterogeneity by defining a unified model for link technologies. We describe design details, various implementation options and discuss how the proposed ULLA design provides an extensible, scalable and platform independent framework, enabling seamless link access and control in various types of device platforms. Application programming using ULLA is illustrated using code examples. Numerous usage scenarios for ULLA are presented, highlighting unified access to heterogeneous link standards while encouraging application innovation.

Special Issue on Voice Over IP—Theory and Practice

Special Issue on Voice Over IP—Theory and Practice

GridLab—a grid application toolkit and testbed

In this paper we present the new project called GridLab which is funded by the European Commission under the Fifth Framework Programme. The GridLab project, made up of computer scientists, astrophysicists and other scientists from various application areas, will develop and implement the grid application toolkit (GAT) together with a set of services to enable easy and efficient use of Grid resources in a real and production grid environment. GAT will provide core, easy to use functionality through a carefully constructed set of generic higher level grid APIs through which an application will be able to call the grid services laying beneath in order to perform efficiently in the Grid environment using various, dramatically wild application scenarios.

An authorization framework for metacomputing applications

To span administrative boundaries, metacomputing systems require the integration of strong authentication and authorization methods. The problem is complicated because different components of the system may have different security policies. This paper presents a distributed model for authorization that we have integrated with the Prospero Resource Manager, a metacomputing resource allocation system developed at USC. The integration of authorization with PRM was accomplished through the specification of a policy language and the use of a Generic Authorization and Access-control API (GAA API). The language supports the specification of diverse authorization policies including ACLs, capabilities and lattice-based access controls. The GAA API provides a uniform authorization service interface for facilitating access control decisions and requesting authorization information about a particular resource. We describe a prototype of our system.

An architecture for adaptive QoS and its application to multimedia systems design

We describe a prototype implementation of a distributed multimedia system that generalizes the concept of QoS to all layers of its software architecture. Each layer deals with QoS at its appropriate level of abstraction using a generic API for communicating QoS parameters and values to layers above and below. The aggregation of these parameters and values is called a service contract. This architecture provides a hierarchical framework to design adaptive multimedia systems. Furthermore, the API allows for reporting of contract violations as well as dynamic renegotiation of the contract terms. A proof-of-concept multimedia system was built to evaluate the proposed architecture. Key components of this system are: a graphical user interface that dynamically requests the quality expected by the user to lower level components, a dynamic network service that efficiently matches network resources to user requirements and a processor scheduler which schedules tasks according to their execution requirements. Our experience with this system showed that the proposed architecture is an efficient framework for building adaptive multimedia systems.