Laboratory of Semantic Computing and Software Engineering

 

   Different from traditional computing, which is usually file-based and icon-driven, Semantic Computing is content-based and driven by natural language and/or other multimedia user interface.

   The field Semantic Computing includes the computing technologies, and their interactions, that may be used to extract or process the Contents and Semantics of multimedia, texts, services as well as structured data, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Semantic Computing

   Some areas of Semantic Computing have appeared as isolated pieces in individual disciplines such as computational linguistics, artificial intelligence, multimedia, database and services computing. An area that glues these pieces together into an integrated theme and addresses their synergetic interactions is highly needed by the research community and IT industry. SC not only addresses the analysis and transformation of signals (e.g., pixels, words) into useful information, it also addresses how such information can be synthesized and accessed via natural language and/or other multimedia interfaces; this is an emerging area that can be applied to both structured and unstructured data.

   The core technology of our laboratory is SemanticObjects™ that converts the capability of programs/services down to the very basic level; thus users of a semantic computing system have the maximal flexibility to compose their requests. It is declarative in the sense that users can put together their requests in terms of “structured” natural language sentences.

   The nature of SemanicObjects allows a seamless integration of the data presented at various levels and their associated tools (algorithms) with the uniform concept of object. It also allows the user to access a logical object as a set of hierarchically structured components without worrying about how they are stored physically.

   The design principles of SemanticObjects essentially back the Semantic Software Engineering (SSE) Methodology that supports the entire life cycle of software development:

   A semantic system is built by transforming fundamental user requirements (REQUIREMENTS) into a vocabulary of semantic building blocks (DESIGN) which are mapped from enterprise data objects and application tools, and SemanticObjects implements the design (IMPLEMENTATION). Additional building blocks can be added incrementally as the system evolves (MAINTENANCE). Customized GUI, instead of the default GUI provided by SemanticObjects, may be implemented by the client if desired.

   The SSE paradigm is summarized in Figure 2.

Figure 2. The SSE Software Development Process

Members

Chen-Yu (Phillip) Sheu, Ph.D. Fellow IEEE

Jiecheng Hu, Ph.D. Director

Selected Recent Publications

[1] P. C-Y. Sheu, Software Engineering and Environment - An Object-Oriented Perspective, Plenum Publishing, 1997.

[2] Chen, E., Li, T. and P. C-y Sheu .. “ A General Effective Framework for Monotony and Tough Constraint Based Sequential Pattern Mining,” Lecture Notes in Computer Science 3589 , Springe Verlagr , 458-467, 2005.

[3] C. Chubb, Y. Inagaki, P. C-y Sheu, B. Cummings, A. Wasserman, E. Head, and C. Cotman, “BioVision: An Application for the Automated Image Analysis of Histological Sections,” (accepted for publication) Neurobiology of Aging , 2006.

[4] E. Chen, S. Wang , P. C-y Sheu, “A Novel Approach to Table Detection and Analysis for Semantic Annotation,” International Journal on Tools for Artificial Intelligence , 2006,Vol. 15-3, pp. 465-480.

[5] F. Xie, P. C-Y Sheu, A. Lander, and V. Cristini, “Semantic Synthesis and Analysis of Complex Biological Systems,”, International Journal on Software Engineering & Knowledge Engineering* , Vol. 15, No. 3, 2005, pp. 547-569

[6] C. Chubb, Y. Inagaki, C. Cotman, P. Sheu, B. Cummings, "Semantic Biological Image Management and Analysis," International Journal on Tools for Artificial Intelligence , Vol. 13, No. 4, 2004, pp. 881-896

[7] Cummings, B.J., Mason, A.J.L., Kim, R.C., Sheu, P. C-Y., Anderson, A., J., “Optimization of Techniques for the Maximal Detection and Quantification of Alzheimer's-related Neuropathology with Digital Imaging,” Neurobiology of Aging , Vol. 23, pp. 161-170, 2002

[8] S. Ohara, M. Hui, T. Tsunoda, R. Paul and P. C-Y. Sheu, “Software Testing and Evaluation with a Longitudinal Database,” International Journal on Software Engineering & Knowledge Engineering , Vol. 12, No. 3, 2002, pp. 223-244

[9] J.H.Su, J.H., Nichol, K.E., Sitch, T., Sheu, P. C-y, Chubb, C., Miller, B.L, Tomaselli, K.J., Kim, R.C., Cotman, C.W., “DNA Damage and Activated Casepase-3 Expression in Neurons and Astrocytes: Evidence for Apoptosis in Frontotemporal Dementia,” Experimental Neurology, 163, pp. 9 - 19, 2000

[10] Eltefaat Shokri and P. C-Y. Sheu, “Real-Time Distributed Object Computing: An Emerging Field,” IEEE Computer , Vol. 33, No. 6, June, 2000, pp. 45-46.

[11] D. Slater, G. Healey, P. Sheu, C. W. Cotman, J. Su, A. Wasserman, R. Shankle, “Application of Color Machine Vision Methodologies to the Quantification of Cell Populations in 3-D Brain Tissue Samples,” Vol. 42.3, May/June 1998, pp. 234-240, Journal of Imaging Science and Technology, 1998.

[12] Soochan Hwang, Sang-Young Cho, Taehyung Wang, and Phillip C.-Y. Sheu, "A Fast 3-D Visualization Methodology Using Characteristic Views of Objects", International Journal of Software Engineering and Knowledge Engineering, vol. 8, no. 1, pp.97-114, 1998.

[13] X. Zhang, P. C-y Sheu, David Hecht, “Analyzing Chemical Compounds with ChemObjects,” Proceedings, International Conference on Integrated Design and Process Technology , San Diego, CA, June 2006.

[14] D.Deng, P. C-y Sheu, “Optimization of Object Relational Rules in Sensor Networks” Proceedings, IEEE International Conference on Sensor Networks, Ubiquitous, and Trustworthy Computing ( SUTC2006 ) , Taichung, Taiwan, June, 2006.

[15] F. Xie, P. C-y Sheu, A. Kitazawa, H. Yamaguchi, “SSDM – A Semantic System Development Methodology,” Proceedings, International Conference on Integrated Design and Process Technology , Beijing, China, June 2005.

[16] H. Ishii, A. Kitazawa, H. Yamaguchi, P. C-y Sheu, “Bridging Biomedical Applications and IT – A Case Study,” Proceedings, International Conference on Integrated Design and Process Technology , June 2004.

[17] Deng, D.; Wang, T.; Sheu, P.C.-Y.; Onoma, A.K.; “Model-based Testing and Maintenance”, Proceedings, IEEE International Symposium on Multimedia Software Engineering , December, Miami , FL., 2004.

[18] Deng, D.; Wang, T.; Sheu, P.C.-Y.; Maezawa, H.; Tsunoda, F.; Onoma, A.K.; “ DPSSEE: a distributed proactive semantic software engineering environment”, Multimedia Software Engineering, 2003. Proc. Fifth International Symposium on , pp. 124 – 131, 10-12 Dec. 2003.

[19] T. Wang, P. C-Y. Sheu, F. Tsunoda, H. Miezawa, and A.K. Onoma, “Personalized Web Search,” Proceedings International Symposium on Multimedia Software Enginering , Newport Beach, CA, December, 2002.

[20] Nah, Y. and Sheu, P., “Image Content Modeling for Neuroscience Databases,” Proceedings, Int'l Conf. on Software Engineering & Knowledge Engineering , Italy, July 2002.

[21] S.B. Yoo and P. C-Y. Sheu, “Describing Distributed Real-Time Objects with Logic,” Proceedings , International Conference on Integrated Design and Process Technology , Pasadena , CA , June, 2002.

[22] H. Meng, S. Ohara, T. Wang and P.C-Y. Sheu, “Testing of Object-oriented Software with Databases,” Proceedings, IEEE Computer Society 3rd International Workshop on Object-oriented Real-time Dependable Systems , San Diego , CA , Jan. 2002

[23] Phillip C-Y Sheu, Brian Cummings, Carl Cotman, Charlie Chubb, L. Hu, T. Wang, Julene Johnson, Scott Mobley, Tom Sitch, and Y. Inagaki, "An Object Relational Approach to Biomedical Database," Proceedings, International IEEE Symposium on Bio-Informatics and Biomedical Engineering (BIBE-2000), Washington, D.C., Nov. 8-10, 2000