Janusz Kacprzyk

Wojciech Zamojski

Jacek Mazurkiewicz

Jarosław Sugier

Tomasz Walkowiak

DepCoS – RELCOMEX is an annual series of conferences organized by Wrocław University of Technology to promote a comprehensive approach to evaluation of system performability which is now commonly called dependability. In contrast to classic analyses which were concentrated on reliability of technical resources and structures built from them, dependability is based on multi-disciplinary approach to theory, technology and maintenance of a system considered to be a multifaceted amalgamation of technical, information, organization, software and human (users, administrators, supervisors, etc.) resources. Diversity of processes being realized (data processing, system management, system monitoring, etc.), their concurrency and their reliance on in-system intelligence often severely impedes construction of strict mathematical models and calls for application of intelligent and soft computing methods. This book presents the proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Dependability and Complex Systems DepCoS-RELCOMEX, which took place in Brunów Palace, Poland, from 30th June to 4th July, 2014. The articles selected for this volume illustrate the variety of topics that must be included in system dependability analysis: tools, methodologies and standards for modelling, design and simulation of the systems, security and confidentiality in information processing, specific issues of heterogeneous, today often wireless, computer networks or management of transportation networks.

Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Dependability and Complex Systems DepCoS-RELCOMEX. June 30 – July 4, 2014, Brunów, Poland

This book presents papers on various problems of dependability in computer systems and networks that were discussed at the 14th DepCoS-RELCOMEX conference, in Brunów, Poland, from 1st to 5th July 2019. Discussing new ideas, research results and developments in the design, implementation, maintenance and analysis of complex computer systems, it is of interest to researchers and practitioners who are dealing with dependability issues in such systems. Dependability analysis came as a response to new challenges in the evaluation of contemporary complex systems, which should be considered as systems of people – with their needs and behaviours –interacting with technical communication channels (such as mobile activities, iCloud, Internet of Everything) and online applications, often operating in hostile environments. The diversity of topics covered, illustrates the variety of methods used in this area, often with the help of the latest results in artificial and computational intelligence.

Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on Dependability of Computer Systems DepCoS-RELCOMEX, July 1–5, 2019, Brunów, Poland

Engineering in Dependability of Computer Systems and Networks

Typical contemporary complex system is a multifaceted amalgamation of technical, information, organization, software and human (users, administrators and management) resources. Complexity of such a system comes not only from its involved technical and organizational structure but mainly from complexity of information processes that must be implemented in the operational environment (data processing, monitoring, management, etc.). In such case traditional methods of reliability analysis focused mainly on technical level are usually insufficient in performance evaluation and more innovative methods of dependability analysis must be applied which are based on multidisciplinary approach to theory, technology and maintenance of systems operating in real (and very often unfriendly) environments. This monograph presents selected new developments in such areas of dependability research as system modelling, tools and methodologies for system analysis, data security, secure system design and specific dependability aspects in specialized technical applications. Many practical cases illustrate the universal rule that complexity and multiplicity of system processes, their concurrency and their reliance on embedded intelligence (human and artificial) significantly impedes construction of strict mathematical models and calls for application of intelligent and soft computing methods.

Complex Systems and Dependability

This book presents selected papers from the Fifteenth International Conference on Dependability of Computer Systems (DepCoS-RELCOMEX), which illustrate the diversity of theoretical problems in analysis of performability, reliability and security of contemporary computer systems. Covering also methodologies and practical tools involved in this field, it is a valuable reference resource for scientists, researchers, practitioners and students who are dealing with these subjects. Established in 2006, DepCoS-RELCOMEX is an annual conference series organised by Wrocław University of Science and Technology. It focuses on the dependability and performability of contemporary computer systems – topics that can provide solutions to new challenges in evaluation of their reliability and efficiency. Since they are probably the most complex technical systems ever engineered by humans, the organization of modern computer systems cannot be modelled and analysed solely as structures (however complex and distributed) built only on the basis of technical resources. Instead they should be considered as a unique blend of interacting people (their needs and behaviours), networks (together with mobile properties, iCloud organisation, Internet of Everything) and a large number of users dispersed geographically and producing an unimaginable number of applications. This new, interdisciplinary approach is developing a continually increasing range of methods which apply also the latest findings in artificial intelligence (AI) and computational intelligence (CI).

Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Dependability of Computer Systems DepCoS-RELCOMEX, June 29 – July 3, 2020, Brunów, Poland

Theory and Applications of Dependable Computer Systems

DepCoS – RELCOMEX is an annual series of conferences organized by the Institute of Computer Engineering, Control and Robotics (CECR), Wrocław University of Technology, since 2006. Its idea came from the heritage of the other two cycles of events: RELCOMEX Conferences (1977 – 89) and Microcomputer Schools (1985 – 95) which were then organized by the Institute of Engineering Cybernetics, the previous name of CECR. In contrast to those preceding meetings focused on the conventional reliability analysis, the DepCoS mission is to develop a more comprehensive approach to computer system performability, which is now commonly called dependability. Contemporary technical systems are integrated unities of technical, information, organization, software and human resources. Diversity of the processes being realized in the system, their concurrency and their reliance on in-system intelligence significantly impedes construction of strict mathematical models and calls for application of intelligent and soft computing methods. The submissions included in this volume illustrate variety of problems that need to be explored in the dependability analysis: methodologies and practical tools for modeling, design and simulation of the systems, security and confidentiality in information processing, specific issues of heterogeneous, today often wireless, computer networks, or management of transportation networks.

Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Dependability and Complex Systems DepCoS-RELCOMEX, September 9-13, 2013, Brunów, Poland

New Results in Dependability and Computer Systems

This monograph presents original research results on selected problems of dependability in contemporary Complex Information Systems (CIS). The ten chapters are concentrated around the following three aspects: methods for modelling of the system and its components, tasks – or in more generic and more adequate interpretation, functionalities – accomplished by the system and conditions for their correct realization in the dynamic operational environment. While the main focus is on theoretical advances and roadmaps for implementations of new technologies, a much needed forum for sharing of the best practices is also presented. CIS systems, being the most complex yet most reliable technical structures engineered by man, present many challenges throughout their lifecycle. Difficulties in modelling, design, implementation and maintenance come not only from involved, widely distributed technical and organizational structures (comprising both hardware and software resources), but even more from complexity of the information processes (data processing, monitoring, resource allocation, dynamic reconfiguration, etc.) which are realized in the operational, often hostile environment. Furthermore, all the issues need to be dealt with taking into account a number of additional factors, such as uncertainties of human interactions, safety criteria and security demands or economic and environmental constrains.

Dependability Problems of Complex Information Systems

Dependability analysis is the recent approach to performance evaluation of contemporary systems which tries to cope with new challenges that are brought with their unprecedented complexity, size and diversity. Especially in case of computer systems and networks such evaluation must be based on multidisciplinary approach to theory, technology, and maintenance of systems which operate in real (and very often unfriendly) environments. As opposed to “classic” reliability which focuses mainly on technical aspects of system functioning, dependability studies investigate the systems as multifaceted and sophisticated amalgamations of technical, information and also human resources. This monograph presents selected new developments in such areas of dependability research as mathematical models, evaluation of software, probabilistic assessment, methodologies, tools, and technologies. Intelligent and soft computing methods help to resolve fundamental problems of dependability analysis which are caused by the fact that in contemporary computer systems it is often difficult to find a relation between system elements and system events (the relation between reasons and results) and it is even more difficult to define strict mathematical models with “analytical” relationships between such phenomena.

Jarosław Sugier

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