Contemporary Complex Systems And Their Dependability

This book presents the proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Dependability and Complex Systems (DepCoS-RELCOMEX), which took place in the Brunów Palace in Poland from 2nd to 6th July 2018. The conference has been organized at the Faculty of Electronics, Wrocław University of Science and Technology since 2006, and it continues the tradition of two other events: RELCOMEX (1977–89) and Microcomputer School (1985–95). The selection of papers in these proceedings illustrates the broad variety of topics that are investigated in dependability analyses of today’s complex systems. Dependability came naturally as a contemporary answer to new challenges in the reliability evaluation of these systems. Such systems cannot be considered only as structures (however complex and distributed) built on the basis of technical resources (hardware): their analysis must take into account a unique blend of interacting people (their needs and behaviours), networks (together with mobile properties, cloud-based systems) and a large number of users dispersed geographically and producing an unimaginable number of applications (working online). A growing number of research methods apply the latest advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computational intelligence (CI). Today’s complex systems are really complex and are applied in numerous different fields of contemporary life.

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.

Building upon a long tradition of scientifi c conferences dealing with problems of reliability in technical systems, in 2006 Department of Computer Engineering at Wrocław University of Technology established DepCoS-RELCOMEX series of events in order to promote a comprehensive approach to evaluation of system performability which is now commonly called dependability. Contemporary complex systems integrate variety of technical, information, soft ware and human (users, administrators and management) resources. Their complexity comes not only from involved technical and organizational structures but mainly from complexity of information processes that must be implemented in specific operational environment (data processing, monitoring, management, etc.). In such a case traditional methods of reliability evaluation focused mainly on technical levels are insufficient and more innovative, multidisciplinary methods of dependability analysis must be applied. Selection of submissions for these proceedings exemplify diversity of topics that must be included in such analyses: 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. In addition, this edition of the conference hosted the 5th CrISS-DESSERT Workshop devoted to the problems of security and safety in critical information systems.

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.

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.

Multistate System Reliability with Dependencies explains how to select a model of load sharing that best describes the impact of changes in reliability states of components. This is mainly achieved via a generalization of two-state system reliability analysis, where equal load sharing and local load sharing rules are commonly used. The material covers basic concepts of traditional reliability theory, including the concept of probability, failures, series and parallel systems, k-out-of-n systems, and more. It features cutting-edge theorems on the reliability analysis of multistate systems that take into account component degradation and dependencies between subsystems and components in subsystems. Other themes addressed include renewable systems and the availability analysis of multistate systems. Combining results of the reliability analysis of multistate systems with dependent components and the results of the classical renewal theory, the availability analysis of multistate systems under the assumption of imperfect renovation is also provided. Provides a thorough introduction to, and review of, recent research developments across multistate systems and systems with component dependencies Comprehensively addresses various manifestations of the load sharing system at component and system level, including models to describe them Explains how to evaluate the reliability and risk of systems with load-sharing effects

This book reports on cutting-edge theories and methods for analyzing complex systems, such as transportation and communication networks and discusses multi-disciplinary approaches to dependability problems encountered when dealing with complex systems in practice. The book presents the most noteworthy methods and results discussed at the International Conference on Reliability and Statistics in Transportation and Communication (RelStat), which took place in Riga, Latvia on October 17 – 20, 2018. It spans a broad spectrum of topics, from mathematical models and design methodologies, to software engineering, data security and financial issues, as well as practical problems in technical systems, such as transportation and telecommunications, and in engineering education.