Object-oriented Programming Techniques Research Articles

AdEPar Integrated Simulation and Implementation Environment for DSP

The AdEPar (Advanced Educational Parallel) integrated simulation and implementation environment for Digital Signal Processing (DSP) has been designed and implemented to serve as a test-bed for various scheduling, simulation, and code generation problems as well as a real-time implementation tool for DSP algorithms that could be mapped onto the proposed parallel pipelined architecture. The integrated environment fully exploits all types of concurrency present in DSP algor ithms and addresses practical issues such as processor and memory constraints, architec tural features of DSP processors in the target architectures, debugging of parallel programs, and development of high-level programming environments. The AdEPar software DSP environment is based on object-oriented programming techniques. Because DSP computation objects and graphics objects of AdEPar are separated from each other carefully, the software system portability is guaranteed. This programming approach saves time and effort to develop an environ ment based on a graphical user interface.

Exploring the Difficulties of Learning Object-Oriented Techniques

:Object-oriented (OO) analysis, design, and programming techniques have emerged as potential solutions to the software crisis. However, learning OO techniques can be a difficult process. This study investigates students’ perceptions of the difficulties in learning and using OO techniques. Two groups of students who had recently completed a sixteen-week course on OO systems development participated in the study. Cognitive mapping techniques implemented with group support system (GSS) technology were used to gather information on the students’ perceptions. The groups used the GSS to identify what was difficult about learning and using OO techniques, classify these concepts into categories, rank the relative importance of each category, and determine the relationships among the categories. Importance rankings of the categories show that learning basic object concepts was most important to and most difficult for the students, followed by design issues, and programming techniques. Composite cognitive maps of the shared perceptions of group members suggest that educators and industry trainers can reduce the difficulties of learning OO concepts by teaching simplified methodologies and controlling difficulties of the programming environment.

Decision support for conceptual bridge design

A knowledge based, decision support tool for the conceptual design of bridges is described. The system incorporates a restructured version of a knowledge base (KB) for conceptual bridge design. The restructuring results in a KB which can be readily altered and extended by system users who are not expert knowledge engineers. This is achieved by using a novel form of KB in which the knowledge is fragmented into separate concepts associated with design solutions. The system also includes a new style of user interface which provides a critiquing style of interaction with the KB only interacting with the user when it detects a possible error or a more suitable design solution. The new system has been developed using object oriented programming techniques which result in a structured and robust style of KB.

Overcoming the Limitations of a Connection Table Description: A Universal Representation of Chemical Species

The following paper describes a new model for the representation of chemical structures in information processing. This representation overcomes the limitations of connection tables designed to only represent chemical structures with bonds localized between two atoms. The representation introduced is based on the separation of the σ- and π-electrons of bonds and the delocalization of electrons also across more than two atoms. It also allows the description of chemical compounds containing multicenter or coordinative bonds. The representation was implemented using object-oriented programming techniques. The important classes of the developed class library are introduced.

Object-oriented development of software systems for power system simulations

The software systems developed for power system simulations have evolved into such complicated systems that the applied design practices appear inadequate to support further enhancement and maintenance. The major obstacles stem directly or indirectly from the conventional function-oriented software development methodologies. To overcome the drawbacks of these methodologies, this paper proposes applying an object-oriented technology for power system software development. As an illustration of this approach, the object modeling technique (OMT), an object-oriented software development methodology, is used to develop a distribution network analysis system. With this technique, a generic distribution circuit object model (DCOM) is designed based on the real-world concepts and implemented with object-oriented programming techniques. The developed DCOM is capable of supporting a wide range of distribution applications and allowing modification and maintenance over a long period of time. The performed case study has demonstrated that object-oriented technology, when applied to each stage of software development, can help achieve complicated tasks in power system simulations.

A prototype recipe management system in batch processes

A prototype knowledge-based system for recipe management in batch chemical processes is presented in this paper. The recipe management system (RMS) consists of three main modules: a plant topology module (PTM), a product recipe module (PRM) and a recipe transformation module (RTM). The PTM was designed to represent the equipment units in the process flowsheet and the PRM was designed to represent the recipes defined in SP88 Part 1 (draft 10). The RTM was designed to carry out the task of recipe transformation. The mechanism of the RMS is demonstrated through two examples and the results have clearly demonstrated that the challenge of efficient recipe transformation and management can be solved using object-oriented programming and artificial intelligence techniques.

Database design for a multi-scale spatial information system

Abstract Growth in the available quantities of digital geographical data has led to major problems in maintaining and integrating data from multiple sources, required by users at differing levels of generalization. Existing GIS and associated database management systems provide few facilities specifically intended for handling spatial data at multiple scales and require time consuming manual intervention to control update and retain consistency between representations. In this paper the GEODYSSEY conceptual design for a multi-scale, multiple representation spatial database is presented and the results of experimental implementation of several aspects of the design are described. Object-oriented, deductive and procedural programming techniques have been applied in several contexts: automated update software, using probabilistic reasoning; deductive query processing using explicit stored semantic and spatial relations combined with geometric data; multiresolution spatial data access methods combining poini,...

Database design for a multi-scale spatial information system

Abstract Growth in the available quantities of digital geographical data has led to major problems in maintaining and integrating data from multiple sources, required by users at differing levels of generalization. Existing GIS and associated database management systems provide few facilities specifically intended for handling spatial data at multiple scales and require time consuming manual intervention to control update and retain consistency between representations. In this paper the GEODYSSEY conceptual design for a multi-scale, multiple representation spatial database is presented and the results of experimental implementation of several aspects of the design are described. Object-oriented, deductive and procedural programming techniques have been applied in several contexts: automated update software, using probabilistic reasoning; deductive query processing using explicit stored semantic and spatial relations combined with geometric data; multiresolution spatial data access methods combining poini, line, area and surface geometry; and triangulation-based generalization software that detects and resolves topological inconsistency.

Dynamically Extensible Objects in a Class-Based Language

Object-oriented programming techniques allow the construction of reusable and extensible code. However, class-based languages have poor support for implementing type-orthogonal behaviour and extending nonleaf classes, which result in implementations with poor performance or limited functionality. This paper presents dynamic slots, a mechanism used to build efficient implementations of type-orthogonal abstractions. Dynamic slots can be statically type-checked and have been integrated into the BETA programming language. Measurements of a persistent store show that they significantly improve performance.

Concurrent object-oriented programming using term graph rewriting techniques

The generalized computational model of Term Graph Rewriting Systems is used as the basis for expressing concurrent object-oriented programming techniques exploiting the fine grain highly parallel features of TGRS in a language independent fashion that renders it able to act as the basis for developing specific languages based on object-orientation but also to study and compare existing approaches to the modelling of object-oriented programming techniques such as delegation, various forms of inheritance, etc.

A rule-based and object-oriented AI programming language

This paper presents a new artificial intelligence programming language called ROOP which is machine independent and has the ability to deal with logical programming in general. ROOP is a multiple paradigm language which combines rule-based, procedure, logic and object-oriented programming techniques.

Object-oriented programming techniques in vehicle dynamics simulation

Described in this paper is a novel approach for the object-oriented computer modelling of vehicle dynamics. The key feature of the method is to represent the mechanical system as a collection of concatenated transmission elements carrying out component-related tasks autonomously and in a coordinate-free manner. This is accomplished by applying differential geometric concepts to the generation of the dynamical equations. The result is a computer library which can be used as a building-block system for generating vehicle dynamics simulation programs.

Design of an artificial simulator for analyzing route choice behavior in the presence of information system

Computer simulation is often-used methodology to study travel behavior as a cost effective alternative to field studies. In this study, we utilize PC-based computer simulation to study the effects of information on route choice and learning. Building on the efforts of a prior stage of simulation, further experiments that utilize an expanded traffic network and provide various levels of information to subjects, have been designed. This framework allows us to investigate both pretrip and en route route-choice behavior, and capture the effect of different levels of information of drivers' learning and adaptive processes that are being undertaken in these experiments. The experiments were designed in two stages. In the first stage, a simple, two route-alternative traffic network was developed. Experiments conducted with this network provided extensive comments from participants, which were modeled using object-oriented programming techniques to produce a better subsequent design. The data from the first stage was analyzed using neural network techniques and the network was trained using back-propagation. The second stage of experiments utilized a multiple-route, expanded network with pretrip and/or en route information, and varying levels of information. The data obtained in this stage is being analyzed using recurrent neural networks. This paper describes the design and analysis of the first stage of experiments, and the redesign of the network simulation using experience gained in the first stage. The design of the network simulation involved the following steps: requirements analysis, database design, specifications of user-computer interface, design of shortest path module, software development, and prototype testing and refinement. The simulator was developed using an object-oriented programming language, C++. The object-oriented features included inheritance, class hierarchy, message passing and concurrence. A recurrent neural network has been built for future modeling of the data obtained in the second stage of experiments. This neural network will be used to predict subjects' choices of whether or not to follow the system-provided advice, depending on past experience. An important feature of the neural network is that the decisions at previous nodes, will be used as an input at subsequent nodes. This allows us to model participants route choice behavior at every node, that is at every decision point.

A prototype KBS for recipe management in batch chemical processes

A prototype knowledge-based system for recipe transformation and management in batch chemical processes is presented in this paper. The system, named as recipe management system (RMS), consists of a knowledge base, a data base, and an user interface. The basic architecture of the RMS is described and two important issues, knowledge representation and natural language processing, are discussed. The aim of the system is to provide the process engineer a tool to simplify the recipe transformation process and to help the control engineer to control the recipe management activity. Object-oriented programming technique and key word analysis technique are employed in the RMS.

A Macintosh application program for simulating shear-sense indicators using object-oriented programming

Kinematic indicators play an increasingly important role in the interpretation of rocks that experienced deformation in the deep crust. Because most ductile shear zones lack clearly offset markers, small-scale structures such as asymmetric porphyroclast tails, porphyroblast inclusion trails, and composite planar (S-C) fabrics usually provide the only records of the sense of displacement. Field observations and analog models have demonstrated that these types of structures can yield reliable shear-sense information, but no single quantitative model has been able to simulate the diverse geometries exhibited by known shear-sense indicators. We have developed such program for Macintosh computers, using object-oriented programming techniques. The program, named ShearSense, demonstrates that the development of most abundant shear-sense indicators is governed by a small number of kinematic variables and that it may be possible to read shear strain magnitude from structural geometries. The program also illustrates the potential of object-oriented programming for computer simulation of geologic phenomena.

An Intelligent design environment for conceptual process design

Conceptual process design is a multiagent, distributed problem-solving activity that can be significantly enhanced with the aid of several individual intelligent ssytems. It is quite difficult to develop such intelligent systems on the basis of existing expert-system shells because of the complexity of conceptual process design. In this paper, the characteristics and requirements of conceptual process design are first analyzed, and then an intelligent design environment (Meta-COOP) for conceptual process design is presented. Meta-COOP is based on object-oriented programming (OOP) techniques and coded in C ++. This environment provides such distinct features as the integration of various knowledge-representation and inference methods, and deals with multimedia information. An intelligent system for the conceptual design of heat exchanger networks (IDIS-CDHEN) provides an application of this intelligent design environment, and a demonstration of its methodology.

Subtyping Inheritance and Its Application in Languages for Symbolic Computation Systems

Application of object-oriented programming techniques to design and implementation of symbolic computation systems is investigated. We show the significance of certain correctness problems, occurring in programming environments based on specialization inheritance, due to use of method redefinition and polymorphism. We propose a solution to these problems, by defining a mechanism of subtyping inheritance and the prototype of an object-oriented programming language for a symbolic computation system. We devise the subtyping inheritance ESI (Enhanced Strict Inheritance) by lifting to programming language constructs a given model of subtyping, which is established by a monotonic (covariant) subtyping rule. Type safeness of language instructions is proved.The adoption of ESI allows to model method and class specialization in a natural way. The ESI mechanism verifies the type correctness of language statements by means of type checking rules and preserves their correctness at run-time by a suitable method lookup algorithm.

Experience of CAD application for the software design of a control and measuring system with changeable configuration

A method of software design for measurement and control systems with changeable configuration is presented. This method is used for the data acquisition system of the pulse thermonuclear “ANGARA-5” installation. The description of the system composition is produced by means of a computer-aided design tool. This description is saved in the special data base and is used by the system software for automatic initialisation of the real hardware. Any change of the connection scheme and device types does not require a new design of the system software. It is only necessary to edit the scheme inside the data base. This method requires object-oriented programming techniques and the hierarchical structure of the system. At the same time the full documentation about the system structure is produced.

Object oriented matrix classes for use in a finite element code using C++

AbstractThis paper presents a new method of writing finite element programs using the programming approach known as object oriented programming (OOP). More specifically, the C++ language is used to illustrate the key OOP concepts. In addition to the OOP finite element examples, a detailed discussion of OOP techniques in the creation of a generalized matrix library is presented. The C++ language is used in this paper because it is more suited to numerical programs than a pure OOP language such as Smalltalk. The efficiency, flexibility and maintainability of the C++ program are shown to be superior to a comparable version written in a non‐OOP language, such as FORTRAN. The matrix library contains a number of matrix objects that are useful for specific types of matrix related problems. Different sparse storage schemes are implemented for each different type of matrix. A large number of functions are provided for each matrix type in order to implement many common matrix operations. In applications, the OOP paradigm allows the functions to be used in a very simple way that is common to all the matrix types. The sample finite element code included in this paper is primarily intended to illustrate the key concepts of OOP style. This paper explains how to set up a finite element hierarchy, material hierarchy and how to integrate this with the matrix hierarchy (library). Thus, a completely object oriented finite element program can be written.

Parallel switched circuit simulation on networked workstations

A parallel nonlinear switched circuit simulator based on a modified waveform-Newton (WN) algorithm is implemented on a cluster of workstations linked by Ethernet. The secant method is integrated into the WN algorithm to detect efficiently zero-crossings that control switch operations. The program is written in C+ +, taking advantage of object-oriented programming techniques. Interprocessor communication is implemented by TCP/IP, to transmit floating-point numbers in a simple architecture-independent manner. Network tests conducted on the 156 subnet in the Berkeley.EDU domain show that the communication overhead is not very high. Absolute speed-ups of a factor of two have been demonstrated with five workstations for some test cases.