Newcastle University

01 May 2013

Hybrid Event-B: Adding Continuous Behaviour to Event-B
Venue: CLT 701
Speaker(s): Dr Richard Banach, School of Computer Science, Manchester University.

07 May 2013

Two refinement-based approaches to verifying linearisability
Venue: CLT. 701
Speaker(s): Brijesh Dongol, Sheffield University, UK.

Linearisability is the key correctness criterion for concurrent implementations of data structures shared by multiple processes. In this talk we present a proof of linearisability of the lazy implementation of a set due to Heller et al. The lazy set presents one of the most challenging issues in verifying linearisability: a linearisation point of an operation set by a process other than the one executing it...

07 May 2013

Dependability Tech Chat: Martin Mansfield
Venue: CLT. sixth floor, room 602
Speaker(s): Martin Mansfield.

14 May 2013

On the changing role of data in embedded systems and systems of systems: challenges for modelling and analysis
Venue: CLT. 701
Speaker(s): Boudewijn Haverkort, University of Twente, Amsterdam.

Over the last decade we have witnessed an increasing use of data measurements and data processing in embedded systems. Where in the past the data processing was limited, if present at all, to the handling of a small number of "on-off control signals", more recently much more complex sensory data is being captured, processed and used to improve system performance and dependability...

16 May 2013

Design of Future Integrated Systems: A Cyber-physical Systems Approach
Venue: CPD Room (M413) Merz Court
Speaker(s): Radu Marculescu, Carnegie Mellon University.

In this talk, we address some fundamental issues related to the modeling and optimization of power and performance of next generation of integrated systems while taking a cyber-physical approach. As such, the focus of the design methodology is not only on establishing an efficient communication between the computational elements, but also on including time, communication, and feedback-based control as intrinsic components of the programming model; this goal allows us generalize the classical computational paradigm such that more direct interaction between the cyber-system and physical world becomes possible.

20 May 2013

Investigating Pretty Good Privacy
Venue: CLT. 701
Speaker(s): Dr Matthew Sorell, University of Adelaide, Australia.

In this talk, we consider how Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) works and demonstrate that while the encrypted payload might be secure in a mathematical sense, there are other modes of analysis which exploit weaknesses in PGP, and how it is used, to provide insight into communications, conversation, and payload. The talk will draw on real-life investigative experience in a high profile case in Australia...

21 May 2013

Zero-knowledge proofs
Venue: CLT.701
Speaker(s): Jens Groth, UCL, UK

I will give an introduction to zero-knowledge proofs with a particular emphasis on non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs, where the proof consists of a single message sent from the prover to the verifier. We have in the last years achieved significant efficiency advances and non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs have grown from being a purely theoretical concept to being efficient enough to be used in practical applications.

21 May 2013

Dependability Tech Chat: John Nicholson
Methods for Non-Functional Requirements Composition in Systems of Systems based on Service-oriented Architectures

23 May 2013

Improving healthcare devices and systems
Culture Lab Kitchen Talk
Venue: Culture Lab, Space 2
Speaker(s): Prof. Harold Thimbleby

This talk will be of interest to computer scientists, clinicians, medical physicists and to patients. It exposes and addresses the culture that leads to persistent substandard systems, and introduces an approach (blending human factors and computer science) that can be used to improve design, for healthcare in particular, but also for any other critical area. In our labs, we can reduce wrong dose errors by factors of ten.

28 May 2013

Process Abstraction, Choreographies, and Design
Venue: CLT. 701
Speaker(s): Professor Mathias Weske, University of Potsdam, Germany.

The explicit representation of business processes and their enactment are important aspects of information systems design and implementation. In this talk, current trends in business process management are highlighted. Based on fundamentals of process orchestrations, we start by discussing business process abstraction...