arXiv subjects

Seng W. Loke

Publications and source records attributed to Seng W. Loke.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Energy-Efficient UAV-Assisted IoT Data Collection via TSP-Based Solution Space Reduction

This paper presents a wireless data collection framework that employs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to efficiently gather data from distributed IoT sensors deployed in a large area. Our approach takes into account the non-zero communication ranges of the sensors to optimize the flight path of the UAV, resulting in a variation of the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). We prove mathematically that the optimal waypoints for this TSP-variant problem are restricted to the boundaries of the sensor communication ranges, greatly reducing the solution space. Building on this finding, we develop a low-complexity UAV-assisted sensor data collection algorithm, and demonstrate its effectiveness in a selected use case where we minimize the total energy consumption of the UAV and sensors by jointly optimizing the UAV's travel distance and the sensors' communication ranges.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2023

Context Query Simulation for Smart Carparking Scenarios in the Melbourne CDB

The rapid growth in Internet of Things (IoT) has ushered in the way for better context-awareness enabling more smarter applications. Although for the growth in the number of IoT devices, Context Management Platforms (CMPs) that integrate different domains of IoT to produce context information lacks scalability to cater to a high volume of context queries. Research in scalability and adaptation in CMPs are of significant importance due to this reason. However, there is limited methods to benchmarks and validate research in this area due to the lack of sizable sets of context queries that could simulate real-world situations, scenarios, and scenes. Commercially collected context query logs are not publicly accessible and deploying IoT devices, and context consumers in the real-world at scale is expensive and consumes a significant effort and time. Therefore, there is a need to develop a method to reliably generate and simulate context query loads that resembles real-world scenarios to test CMPs for scale. In this paper, we propose a context query simulator for the context-aware smart car parking scenario in Melbourne Central Business District in Australia. We present the process of generating context queries using multiple real-world datasets and publicly accessible reports, followed by the context query execution process. The context query generator matches the popularity of places with the different profiles of commuters, preferences, and traffic variations to produce a dataset of context query templates containing 898,050 records. The simulator is executable over a seven-day profile which far exceeds the simulation time of any IoT system simulator. The context query generation process is also generic and context query language independent.

cs.DB↗

arXiv2023

Towards Human-Centred Crowd Computing: Software for Better Use of Computational Resources

Internet-connected smart devices are increasing at an exponential rate. These powerful devices have created a yet-untapped pool of idle resources that can be utilised, among others, for processing data in resource-depleted environments. The idea of bringing together a pool of smart devices for ``crowd computing'' (CC) has been studied in the recent past from an infrastructural feasibility perspective. However, for the CC paradigm to be successful, numerous socio-technical and software engineering (SE), specifically the requirements engineering (RE)-related factors are at play and have not been investigated in the literature. In this paper, we motivate the SE-related aspects of CC and the ideas for implementing mobile apps required for CC scenarios. We present the results of a preliminary study on understanding the human aspects, incentives that motivate users, and CC app requirements, and present our future development plan in this relatively new field of research for SE applications.

cs.SE↗

arXiv2023

From Traditional Adaptive Data Caching to Adaptive Context Caching: A Survey

Context information is in demand more than ever with the rapid increase in the number of context-aware Internet of Things applications developed worldwide. Research in context and context-awareness is being conducted to broaden its applicability in light of many practical and technical challenges. One of the challenges is improving performance when responding to a large number of context queries. Context Management Platforms that infer and deliver context to applications measure this problem using Quality of Service (QoS) parameters. Although caching is a proven way to improve QoS, transiency of context and features such as variability and heterogeneity of context queries pose an additional real-time cost management problem. This paper presents a critical survey of the state-of-the-art in adaptive data caching with the objective of developing a body of knowledge in cost- and performance-efficient adaptive caching strategies. We comprehensively survey a large number of research publications and evaluate, compare, and contrast different techniques, policies, approaches, and schemes in adaptive caching. Our critical analysis is motivated by the focus on adaptively caching context as a core research problem. A formal definition for adaptive context caching is then proposed, followed by identified features and requirements of a well-designed, objective optimal adaptive context caching strategy.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2023

Reinforcement Learning Based Approaches to Adaptive Context Caching in Distributed Context Management Systems

Performance metrics-driven context caching has a profound impact on throughput and response time in distributed context management systems for real-time context queries. This paper proposes a reinforcement learning based approach to adaptively cache context with the objective of minimizing the cost incurred by context management systems in responding to context queries. Our novel algorithms enable context queries and sub-queries to reuse and repurpose cached context in an efficient manner. This approach is distinctive to traditional data caching approaches by three main features. First, we make selective context cache admissions using no prior knowledge of the context, or the context query load. Secondly, we develop and incorporate innovative heuristic models to calculate expected performance of caching an item when making the decisions. Thirdly, our strategy defines a time-aware continuous cache action space. We present two reinforcement learning agents, a value function estimating actor-critic agent and a policy search agent using deep deterministic policy gradient method. The paper also proposes adaptive policies such as eviction and cache memory scaling to complement our objective. Our method is evaluated using a synthetically generated load of context sub-queries and a synthetic data set inspired from real world data and query samples. We further investigate optimal adaptive caching configurations under different settings. This paper presents, compares, and discusses our findings that the proposed selective caching methods reach short- and long-term cost- and performance-efficiency. The paper demonstrates that the proposed methods outperform other modes of context management such as redirector mode, and database mode, and cache all policy by up to 60% in cost efficiency.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2023

Poisoning Attacks and Defenses in Federated Learning: A Survey

Federated learning (FL) enables the training of models among distributed clients without compromising the privacy of training datasets, while the invisibility of clients datasets and the training process poses a variety of security threats. This survey provides the taxonomy of poisoning attacks and experimental evaluation to discuss the need for robust FL.

cs.CR↗

arXiv2022

Designed to Cooperate: A Kant-Inspired Ethic of Machine-to-Machine Cooperation

This position paper highlights an ethic of machine-to-machine cooperation and machine pro-sociality, and argues that machines capable of autonomous sensing, decision-making and action, such as automated vehicles and urban robots, owned and used by different self-interested parties, and having their own agendas (or interests of their owners) should be designed and built to be cooperative in their behaviours, especially if they share public spaces. That is, by design, the machine should first cooperate, and then only consider alternatives if there are problems. It is argued that being cooperative is not only important for their improved functioning, especially, when they use shared resources (e.g., parking spaces, public roads, curbside space and walkways), but also as a favourable requirement analogous to how humans cooperating with other humans can be advantageous and often viewed favourably. The usefulness of such machine-to-machine cooperation are illustrated via examples including cooperative crowdsourcing, cooperative traffic routing and parking as well as futuristic scenarios involving urban robots for delivery and shopping. It is argued that just as privacy-by-design and security-by-design are important considerations, in order to yield systems that fulfil ethical requirements, cooperative-by-design should also be an imperative for autonomous systems that are separately owned but co-inhabit the same spaces and use common resources. If a machine using shared public spaces is not cooperative, as one might expect, then it is not only anti-social but not behaving ethically. It is also proposed that certification for urban robots that operate in public could be explored.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2022

From Distributed Quantum Computing to Quantum Internet Computing: an Overview

The possibility of quantum computing has been proposed decades ago, at least as far back as the 1980s, and distributed quantum computing has been studied around two decades ago. Recent times have seen experimental successes and advances in quantum computer hardware and in quantum networking, leading towards the quantum Internet. We provide in this paper an overview of concepts and ideas in distributed quantum computing since over two decades ago as well as look at recent efforts in the area, and consider how, with the development of the quantum Internet, distributed quantum computing is evolving into quantum Internet computing.

cs.DC↗

arXiv2022

The Rise of Quantum Internet Computing

This article highlights quantum Internet computing as referring to distributed quantum computing over the quantum Internet, analogous to (classical) Internet computing involving (classical) distributed computing over the (classical) Internet. Relevant to quantum Internet computing would be areas of study such as quantum protocols for distributed nodes using quantum information for computations, quantum cloud computing, delegated verifiable blind or private computing, non-local gates, and distributed quantum applications, over Internet-scale distances.

cs.ET↗

arXiv2022

A Unified Approach to Semantic Information and Communication based on Probabilistic Logic

Traditionally, studies on technical communication (TC) are based on stochastic modeling and manipulation. This is not sufficient for semantic communication (SC) where semantic elements are logically connected, rather than stochastically correlated. To fill this void, by leveraging a logical programming language called probabilistic logic (ProbLog), we propose a unified approach to semantic information and communication through the interplay between TC and SC. On top of the well-established existing TC layer, we introduce a SC layer that utilizes knowledge bases of communicating parties for the exchange of semantic information. These knowledge bases are logically described, manipulated, and exploited using ProbLog. To make these SC and TC layers interact, we propose various measures based on the entropy of a clause in a knowledge base. These measures allow us to delineate various technical issues on SC such as a message selection problem for improving the knowledge base at a receiver. Extending this, we showcase selected examples in which SC and TC layers interact with each other while taking into account constraints on physical channels and efficiently utilizing channel resources.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2022

A Unified View on Semantic Information and Communication: A Probabilistic Logic Approach

This article aims to provide a unified and technical approach to semantic information, communication, and their interplay through the lens of probabilistic logic. To this end, on top of the existing technical communication (TC) layer, we additionally introduce a semantic communication (SC) layer that exchanges logically meaningful clauses in knowledge bases. To make these SC and TC layers interact, we propose various measures based on the entropy of a clause in a knowledge base. These measures allow us to delineate various technical issues on SC such as a message selection problem for improving the knowledge at a receiver. Extending this, we showcase selected examples in which SC and TC layers interact with each other while taking into account constraints on physical channels.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2021

Internet of Things in Space: A Review of Opportunities and Challenges from Satellite-Aided Computing to Digitally-Enhanced Space Living

Recent scientific and technological advancements driven by the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), distributed computing and data communication technologies have opened up a vast range of opportunities in many scientific fields - spanning from fast, reliable and efficient data communication to large-scale cloud/edge computing and intelligent big data analytics. Technological innovations and developments in these areas have also enabled many opportunities in the space industry. The successful Mars landing of NASA's Perseverance rover on February 18, 2021 represents another giant leap for mankind in space exploration. Emerging research and developments of connectivity and computing technologies in IoT for space/non-terrestrial environments is expected to yield significant benefits in the near future. This survey paper presents a broad overview of the area and provides a look-ahead of the opportunities made possible by IoT and space-based technologies. We first survey the current developments of IoT and space industry, and identify key challenges and opportunities in these areas. We then review the state-of-the-art and discuss future opportunities for IoT developments, deployment and integration to support future endeavours in space exploration.

cs.DC↗

arXiv2019

Achieving Ethical Algorithmic Behaviour in the Internet-of-Things: a Review

The Internet-of-Things is emerging as a vast inter-connected space of devices and things surrounding people, many of which are increasingly capable of autonomous action, from automatically sending data to cloud servers for analysis, changing the behaviour of smart objects, to changing the physical environment. A wide range of ethical concerns has arisen in their usage and development in recent years. Such concerns are exacerbated by the increasing autonomy given to connected things. This paper reviews, via examples, the landscape of ethical issues, and some recent approaches to address these issues, concerning connected things behaving autonomously, as part of the Internet-of-Things. We consider ethical issues in relation to device operations and accompanying algorithms. Examples of concerns include unsecured consumer devices, data collection with health related Internet-of-Things, hackable vehicles and behaviour of autonomous vehicles in dilemma situations, accountability with Internet-of-Things systems, algorithmic bias, uncontrolled cooperation among things, and automation affecting user choice and control. Current ideas towards addressing a range of ethical concerns are reviewed and compared, including programming ethical behaviour, whitebox algorithms, blackbox validation, algorithmic social contracts, enveloping IoT systems, and guidelines and code of ethics for IoT developers - a suggestion from the analysis is that a multi-pronged approach could be useful, based on the context of operation and deployment.

cs.CY↗

arXiv2019

Towards Robotic Things in Society

Emerging are so-called smart things embedded with computational, sensing, networking and actuation capabilities, from smart bins to smart park benches, as well as the proliferation of autonomous vehicles and robots in an increasingly wide range of applications. This is not only an increased in automation affecting and hopefully improving daily life, but also calls for thinking about what a society saturated with such robotic things (i.e., smart things and robots) might look like. This paper discusses five aspects of a vision of Internet connected robotic things (or Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT)) occupying and operating in public spaces, from streets, parks to shopping malls. We discuss, highlighting issues, with the notion of an entourage of drones and robots accompanying people in public places, the idea of creating environments or envelopes suitable for robot function, the idea of societies of robotic things, and governance for robotic things in public spaces.

cs.CY↗

arXiv2019

Robot-Friendly Cities

Robots are increasingly tested in public spaces, towards a future where urban environments are not only for humans but for autonomous systems. While robots are promising, for convenience and efficiency, there are challenges associated with building cities crowded with machines. This paper provides an overview of the problems and some solutions, and calls for greater attention on this matter.

cs.CY↗

arXiv2019

Cooperative Automated Vehicles: a Review of Opportunities and Challenges in Socially Intelligent Vehicles Beyond Networking

The connected automated vehicle has been often touted as a technology that will become pervasive in society in the near future. One can view an automated vehicle as having Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, being able to self-drive, sense its surroundings, recognise objects in its vicinity, and perform reasoning and decision-making. Rather than being stand alone, we examine the need for automated vehicles to cooperate and interact within their socio-cyber-physical environments, including the problems cooperation will solve, but also the issues and challenges. We review current work in cooperation for automated vehicles, based on selected examples from the literature. We conclude noting the need for the ability to behave cooperatively as a form of social-AI capability for automated vehicles, beyond sensing the immediate environment and beyond the underlying networking technology.

cs.AI↗

arXiv2015

The Internet of Flying-Things: Opportunities and Challenges with Airborne Fog Computing and Mobile Cloud in the Clouds

This paper focuses on services and applications provided to mobile users using airborne computing infrastructure. We present concepts such as drones-as-a-service and fly-in,fly-out infrastructure, and note data management and system design issues that arise in these scenarios. Issues of Big Data arising from such applications, optimising the configuration of airborne and ground infrastructure to provide the best QoS and QoE, situation-awareness, scalability, reliability, scheduling for efficiency, interaction with users and drones using physical annotations are outlined.

cs.CY↗

arXiv2010

EcoHomeHelper: An Expert System to Empower End-Users in Climate Change Action

Climate change has been a popular topic for a number of years now. Computer Science has contributed to aiding humanity in reducing energy requirements and consequently global warming. Much of this work is through calculators which determine a user's carbon footprint. However there are no expert systems which can offer advice in an efficient and time saving way. There are many publications which do offer advice on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but to find the advice the reader seeks will involve reading a lot of irrelevant material. This work built an expert system (which we call EcoHomeHelper) and attempted to show that it is useful in changing people's behaviour with respect to their GHG emissions and that they will be able to find the information in a more efficient manner. Twelve participants were used. Seven of which used the program and five who read and attempted to find advice by reading from a list. The application itself has current implementations and the concept further developed, has applications for the future.

cs.CY↗