Computer Networks Laboratory

Shigaku Tei Professor	Hirokuni Kurokawa Assistant Professor

Research Web-based e-learning support systems In this research, we have been developing several systems which can provider personalized learning supports to a learner according to his/her situations using RBR and CBR. Ubiquitous Learning In this research, we have designed a ubiquitous learning framework based on behavior analysis. Based on the framework, we have been developing ubiquitous learning applications and a set of ubiquitous learning tools, such as ubiquitous pupil's bags, ubiquitous learning tables, and ubiquitous learning rooms Realtime Education Environment RIDEE(Realtime Interactive Distance Education Environment) This research started in 2000, as an application of Japan Gigabit Network, to provide a new platform for supporting real-time and interactive distance educational activities over high-speed network. By now, we have developed following core subsystems : RIDEE-CCP: Communication Control Platform; RIDEE-FCS: Floor Control System; RIDEE-SPS: Slide Presentation System RIDEE system has been used in a regular distance lecture course between our university and the University of Yamanashi since 2002. In 2004, RIDEE-SPS has been enhanced by a new subsystem RIDEE-UIM (Understanding Information Management). This subsystem has been used in a distance lecture experiment performed in our university. Network Camera Control This research proposed a method for network camera remote control in realtime distance education environment. The basic idea is "pseudo-surface based control", by which the zooming and angle speed, etc. can be controlled automatically, reducing the working-load of the lecturer who is using the network camera. To verify our basic idea, a network camera control simulator was developed, using Java-3D technology. This system was improved in 2004 to support the design of network camera system used in distance lectures. As an application of this idea, autopilot control based on pseudo-surface, was developed and verified by the simulator. The simulation system was exhibited in an exhibition, "Business Creation in Tohoku 2004". Education Courses Members of our laboratory taught the following courses in AY2004. Undergraduate courses Communication Networks Computer Languages Algorithm and Data Structure Graduate courses Computer Communications and Networking (801) Distributed Algorithms (808) Programming Languages (CV2) Supervising students 4 Ph.D students, 6 master students, 10 seniors did their research work under the supervision of the professors in the lab. Some of them made presentation in international conferences, andother domestic conferences. Some of them published papers in refereed Journals. Theses 3 Masters and 8 seniors finished their theses in AY2004 and graduated. SCCP SCCP titled "the seminar of computer networks" in the 1st and 2nd semesters were held. Around 15 students attended the projects, and there were 20 times meetings totally. Contribution to local region Professors of this laboratory helped for preparation and operation of U. Aizu Computer Science Summer Camp. A professor in this laboratory made big contribution to the PC KOSHIEN (PC contest sponsored by the Fukushima prefecture). A professor served as representative in Tohoku-Branch of Information Processing Society, Japan. A professor gave an open lecture on the title "ubiquitous services using RF-IDtags", organized by Fukushima Prefecture.

Refereed Journal Papers

[aiguo-01:2004]	Shengguo Sun, Mizuo Kansen, Tongjun Huang, Aiguo He, and Zixue Cheng. A Web-based Educational Support System by Analyzing Learning Order and Reaction Patterns. IPSJ Journal, 46(2):327-336, 2005.
	In recent years, rapid development on web-based contents and learning support systems has been made. More and more support methods not only based on the level and ability of learners, but also considering learner's psychological states, have been proposed. But since the psychological states are very complicated, how to understand learner's psychological states becomes an important problem to be solved. In this research, we provide a method to grasp learner's psychological states and the change of them by using two viewpoints of learning order patterns and the reaction patterns in learning process. We analyze the learner's habits bycombining the two viewpoints. Whena learner takes actions that are different from his learning habits, the system infers the reason to understand the change of learner's psychological states. Based on the proposed method, a web-based support system is developed.
[z-cheng-01:2004]	S. Sun, M. Kansen, T. Huang, A. He, and Z. Cheng. A Web-based Educational Support System by Analyzing Learning Order and Reaction Patterns,. IPSJ Journal., Vol. 46(2):327-336, 2005.
	In recent years, rapid development on Web-based contents and learning support systems has been made . More and more support methods not only based on the level and ability of learners, but also considering learners' psychological states, have been proposed. But since the psychological states are very complicated, how to understand learners' psychological states becomes an important problem to be solved. In this research, we provide a method to grasp learners' psychological states and the change of the psychological states by using two viewpoints of learning order patterns and the reaction patterns in learning process. We analyze the learner's learning habits by combining the two viewpoints. When a learner takes actions that are di??erent from his/her learning habits, the system infers the reason to understand the change of learner's psychological states. Basedon the proposedmethod, aWeb-based support system is developed.
[z-cheng-02:2004]	Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, Zixue Cheng, and Senro Saito. Ryuki: A Model for Zone-based Network Weather Information on the Internet. International Journal of Interconnection Networks (JOIN), Vol. 5(3):205-220, 2004.
	In this paper, a zone-based model for monitoring network status is proposed

Referred Proceeding Papers

[aiguo-02:2004]	Aiguo He, Zixue Cheng, Tongjun Huang, and Yue Zhao. Pseudo-Surface based Network Camera Smart Control. In Yoshitaka Shibata Timothy K. Shih, editor, The International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications (AINA2005) Vol. 2, pages 586-590, New York, Mar. 2005. Tamkang University, IEEE Computer Society.
	Network camera is widely used in a lot of fields, such as remote monitoring, video conference. However, in almost network camera systems, the camera remote control is realized by using a remote controller or a personal computer with a crude user interface. This kind of control methods are not effective in the situation such as real time distance class where a smart operation is needed for the teacher. This article proposes a Pseudo-Surface Based Control method for network camera remote control. This method can improve the operativeness of the network camera control without using special devices other than a control computer. The effectiveness of this method was proven by a simulation system. In this article the principle of this method is described, and several examples of it are introduced.
[aiguo-03:2004]	Zixue Cheng, Shengguo Sun, Mizuo Kansen, Tongjun Huang, and Aiguo He. A Personalized Ubiquitous Education Support Environment by Comparing Learning Instructional Requirement with Learner's Behavior. In Yoshitaka Shibata Timothy K. Shih, editor, The International Conference on Advanced Information Networking and Applications (AINA2005) Vol. 2, pages 567-573, New York, Mar. 2005. Tamkang University, IEEE Computer Society.
	With the progress of ubiquitous techniques and devices, such as RF-ID and sensors, etc., invisible computers are embedded in one's life and working environment, such as applicants, furniture, stationeries etc. Research on ubiquitous environment becomes very important. On the other hand, E-learning using WWW has been studying prosperously. Merging creatively the techniques in the two fields to construct a support environment of ubiquitous learning is demanded. Specially, the ubiquitous learning environment is suitable for outdoor learning to increase the students in middle school and high school for increasing their experiences and knowledge from real world, not only from text books. In this paper, we propose a new personalized ubiquitous learning support environment where every learner's behavior or learning habit can be sensed and observed precisely. By comparing them with learning instructional requirement set by an instructor, the learner's situation can be grasped. Personalized support suitable for the learner's situation can be provided to the learner. The proposed environment will be very useful for promoting ubiquitous learning.
[aiguo-04:2004]	Aiguo He and Zixue Cheng. A Design of Understanding Information Management System for Realtime Interactive Distance Education Environment. In Cun-Gen Cao and Yue-Fei Sui, editors, 2nd International Conference on Knowledge Economy and Development of Science and Technology(KEST2004), pages 89-95, Beijing, Sep. 2004. Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Siences(CAS), Institute of Knowledge Economy, Tokyo, Tsinghua University Press.
	A real-time interactive distance lecture is a joint work between the lecturer and the students mutually away, and the understanding information from the students is important for the lecturer. Understanding information collection cannot be eAEciently accomplished by the video/audio channels between the lecturer and the students. This paper proposed a method for the understanding information management in real-time interactive distance education environment. The basic idea, its design, implementation and application are described.
[aiguo-05:2004]	Zhaomin Zhang, Aiguo He, and Daming. Wei. Whiteboard Functions in a Mobile Teleconference System for Homecare Services. In Zhiyong Pen Atsushi Kara Daming wei, Hui Wang and Yanxiang He, editors, 4th International Conference on Computer and Information Technology(CIT2004), pages 927-931, Wuhan, China, Sep. 2004. Wuhan University, China, IEEE Computer Society.
	A teleconference systemviamobileinternet connections is developed for homecare services. An important purpose of such a system is the realization of real time instruction from a service station (doctors) to service providers (nurses) in mobile conditions. In this paper, we present a whiteboard system as an interactive communication platform between the station site and home site. The following features of this system are summarized: 1) two distinct layers including image layer and memo layer used to save mouse motion; 2) snapshot from an USB camera to get medical images or illustrations showing to all participant's computers of a teleconference; 3) synchronization of any data and operations (such as displaying a image, drawing line, and so on) within all participants' computers; 4) realization via mobile internet connections, where communication abilities are limited.
[z-cheng-03:2004]	Zixue Cheng, Shengguo Sun, Mizuo Kansen, Tongjun Huang, and Aiguo He. A Personalized Ubiquitous Education Support Environment by ComparingLearning Instructional Requirement with Learner's Behavior. In USW05 (Ubiquitous Smart World 05). IEEE computer society, Mar. 2005.
[z-cheng-04:2004]	Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, Senro Saito, and Zixue Cheng. Zone-based Routing Algorithm for Congestion Control over the Internet. In Timothy K. Shih and Yoshitaka Shibata, editors, The proceedings of 19th IEEE International Conference on Advance Information Networking and Applications (AINA2005), pages pp. 453-458. IEEE, Mar 2005.
[z-cheng-05:2004]	Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, S. Sakashita, Z. Cheng, and S. Saito. Quality of Service for the Zone on the Internet. In Springer-Verlag, editor, Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) 3090, Information Networking,, pages 430-439, Aug. 2004.
[z-cheng-06:2004]	Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, Zixue Cheng, and Senro Saito. Information Flow Model and Estimations for Services on the Internet. In Leonard Barolli, editor, proc. of 18th IEEE International Conference on Advance Information Networking and Applications (AINA2004), pages 499-505. IEEE, March 2004.
	In this paper, an information flow model for services on the internet is proposed

Academic Activities

[z-cheng-07:2004]	Z. Cheng, Mar 2005. Program Committee member, session chair, AINA05
[z-cheng-08:2004]	Z. Cheng, Apr. 2004. Representative of university of Aizu in Tohoku Branch of Information Processing Society, Japan , Organized the 2nd workshop of Tohoku Branch of Information Processing Society, Japan, held in Aizu
[z-cheng-09:2004]	Z. Cheng, Apr. AY2004. Member of DPS SIG Committee, Information Processing Society, Japan Patents

Patents

[z-cheng-10:2004]

Zixue Cheng et al. The learning support system, learning support methods and computer programs for them. Applicant: Fukushima Prefecture Applied No.: tokugan 2004-283213., Sept 2004.

Ph.D. and Other Theses

[z-cheng-11:2004]	Ryo Ito. Master Thesis: SYABERANDOSERU:A Satchel with Reminding Functions using Ubiquitous Devices, University of Aizu, 2004. Master Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z
[z-cheng-12:2004]	Masataka Egawa. Master Thesis: An Information Management Infrastructure for Supporting Interactive Ubiquitous Learning, University of Aizu, 2004. Master Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z
[z-cheng-13:2004]	Hiroshi Ono. Master Thesis: A Method of Grasping Learner's Actions for Personalized Learning Support in Ubiquitous Learning Environment, University of Aizu, 2004. Master Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z
[z-cheng-14:2004]	Tomomi Imazato. Graduation Thesis: A Support System for Danger Avoidance by Monitoring Experimental Situations in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment, University of Aizu, 2004. Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z
[z-cheng-15:2004]	Takuya Higashi. Graduation Thesis: A Personalized Learning Support System Considering Difficult Degree of a Problems and Similarity between Problems Using Case-Based Reasoning, University of Aizu, 2004. Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z
[z-cheng-16:2004]	Kentaro Akiyama. Graduation Thesis: A Method for Motivating Pupils by Managing Learning and Playing Situations in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment, University of Aizu, 2004. Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z
[z-cheng-17:2004]	Tomohiro Hosokawa. Graduation hesis: Development of a Ubiquitous Desk for Collecting Learner's Context with RF-IDand Sensors in a Ubiquitous Learning Environment, University of Aizu, 2004. Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z
[z-cheng-18:2004]	Takuya Ikeda. Graduation Thesis: Development of the dynamic match making system suitable for the situation between private teachers and students, University of Aizu, 2004. Thesis Advisor: Cheng, Z

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