Special Issues
Special Issues of The Computer Journal
1. "Agent Technologies for Sensor Networks"
Sensor networks are increasingly seen as a solution to the problem of performing wide-area monitoring and surveillance within many environmental, security and military scenarios. Such networks consist of multiple sensors, deployed over a wide area, connected through a communication network (wired or otherwise). To ensure minimal human intervention the sensors within these networks should be able to self-organise, autonomously manage their own resources, and co-ordinate their behaviour to achieve system wide goals.
The distributed nature of these networks, and the autonomous behaviour expected of them, naturally lend themselves to a multi-agent methodology, and many of the technical challenges posed by these systems (e.g. decentralised control, co-ordination, resource allocation) form the basis of main-stream research within the agent community. However, such systems pose many additional challenges, not least how to manage limited computation and energy resources, constrained communication, and unreliable or fault prone network components within a dynamic and uncertain environment. Furthermore, the increasing availability of sensor network data, and the need to make use of it in real-time for informed decision making, requires the development of intelligent agents that can autonomously acquire data from these networks, and perform information processing tasks such as fusion, inference and prediction.
Thus, this special issue will focus on research that extends and applies agent technologies, both within the networks themselves (where agents represent the actual sensors), and also for the collection and processing of sensor network data. As such, topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Agent based management of sensor networks
• Novel paradigms for sensor network management (e.g. game theoretic and market-oriented programming approaches).
• Co-ordination and planning
• Adaptive and learning agents for sensor networks
• Energy and resource aware sensor networks
• Emergent behaviour
• Computational issues
• Data fusion and aggregation within sensor networks
• Reasoning with incomplete or uncertain information
• Security and trust in sensor networks
• Applications and real-world deployments of sensor networks
• Agent-based architectures for sensor networks
• Agent-based simulation of sensor networks
• Reliability, efficiency, and fault tolerance
Important Dates
Submission Deadline: 1st August 2009
Acceptance Notice: 1st November 2009
Final Manuscripts Due: 1st January 2010
Publication Date: To be confirmed
Submission Guidelines
The work submitted must be in the form of high quality, original papers, which are not simultaneously submitted for publication elsewhere. The papers should be formatted according to the journal style. The papers must be submitted via the journal web submission route (please indicate that the submission is for “the special issue on ATSN” in the cover letter) and simultaneously submit a PDF version of complete manuscript to acr@ecs.soton.ac.uk. Submitted papers will be peer reviewed according to their originality, quality and relevance to this special issue and the journal.
Guest Editor
Alex Rogers
School of Electronics and Computer Science
University of Southampton, UK
Email: acr@ecs.soton.ac.uk
2. "Algorithms, Protocols, and Future Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks"
The remarkable advances of embedded micro-sensing MEMS and wireless communication technologies have promoted the development of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) which offer a new opportunity for pervasive and context-aware monitoring of physical environments. However, due to their limited resources and energy, WSNs can face many significant design challenges, and furthermore the WSN’s deployment and topology will also influence the detection capability of a WSN. Once deployed, maintaining network operations (such as coverage and communication) while preserving sensors’ energy is also a critical issue. To track objects, we need localization algorithms to accurately locate the objects and data aggregation algorithms to efficiently collect sensing data. Since sensors are often prone to error, security and fault-tolerance algorithms are necessary.
Recently, WSNs have been standardized by ZigBee and IEEE 802.15.4. In addition, mobile and vehicular sensor networks have opened a new frontier of research in WSNs. With mobility, sensor nodes can be dispatched to certain locations to conduct various missions. With WSNs and RFIDs together, we can develop many novel and e-life applications. The above are some of the many challenges of WSNs.
This special issue of The Computer Journal solicits the submission of papers on state-of-the-art research in algorithms, protocols, and future applications for WSNs. Submitted papers may address, but are not limited, to the following subjects:
- Network deployment and self-organization
- Adaptive topology management
- Network coverage and connectivity
- Communication protocol designs
- Energy and resource management
- Detection and tracking
- Localization algorithms
- Query processing and data aggregation
- Cross-layer designs and optimization algorithms
- Mobile and hybrid sensor networks
- Vehicular sensor networks
- ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 networks
- Novel applications of WSNs
- RFID techniques and applications
- Simulation frameworks and real-world testbeds
- Security and fault-tolerance algorithms
- Performance modeling and analysis
Guest Editors
You-Chiun Wang, National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan. Email: wangyc@cs.nctu.edu.tw
Tomoaki Ohtsuki, Keio University, Japan. Email: ohtsuki@ics.keio.ac.jp
Athanasios (Thanos) Vasilakos, University of Western Macedon, Greece. Email: vasilako@ath.forthnet.gr
Ashutosh Sabharwal, Rice University, USA. Email: ashu@rice.edu
Yuh-Shyan Chen, National Taipei University, Taiwan. Email: yschen@mail.ntpu.edu.tw
Yu-Chee Tseng, National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan. Email: yctseng@cs.nctu.edu.tw
Submission Guidelines
Only original and unpublished high-quality research papers are considered, and manuscripts must be in English. Instructions for authors can be found in http://comjnl.oxfordjournals.org/. The papers must be submitted via the journal web submission route (submission site is: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/compj) (Please provide a cover letter to indicate that the submission is for “the special issue on Algorithms, Protocols, and Future Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks”) and simultaneously submit the PDF version of complete manuscript with its serial number to Dr. You-Chiun Wang (e-mail: wangyc@cs.nctu.edu.tw).
Important Dates
Manuscript submission deadline: 2009/08/31
Notification of acceptance: 2009/12/15
Submission of final revised paper: 2010/1/15
Publication of special issue: around 2010
Further details.
3. "Multimedia Security and Privacy (MSP)"
Multimedia technologies are vital in many areas of computing and networks, and privacy and security issues are emerging rapidly as a
key problem area in such systems. Thus, this special issue (SI) of The Computer Journal solicits the submission of papers on state-of the-art research in multimedia security and privacy. In particular, extended versions of papers presented at the following conferences: MPIS 2009 and CSA 2009, are encouraged to submit to this special
issue. The extended version of paper must have at least 30% fresh material over and above the corresponding conference paper.
Submissions should be high-quality original unpublished research articles, not currently under review for another journal or conference.
Instructions for Authors
Submissions must conform to the layout, format and page limit guidelines of The Computer Journal. Authors must follow the
guidelines provided in the manuscript preparation instructions.
A copy of submitted papers should also be forwarded in PDF format by email to: Prof. Shiuh-Jeng Wang with “SI Submission – MSP, The Computer Journal” as the subject. The submission must include a cover letter containing the title, abstract, authors and the corresponding author's name and affiliation along with the manuscript. All papers will be rigorously refereed based on originality, high scientific quality, organisation and relevance to this special issue. For further questions or inquiries, you may also contact: Prof. Chin-Feng Lee.
Important dates
Manuscripts Due: February 28, 2010
Notification of Acceptance/Rejection/Revision: June 30, 2010
Final Manuscript Due: August 15, 2010
Publication Date: 1Q or 2Q 2011 (Tentative)
Further details.
4. "Special Issue on Massively Multi-Agent Systems (MMAS)"
New information systems and recent applications (ubiquitous computing, networking, transport, etc.) are often
distributed, large scale, open, heterogeneous and characterized by a dynamic environment. Millions of software
entities or electronic devices with computing facilities are connected to each other, and are required to behave coherently,
often in pursuit of extremely complex and distributed goals in dynamic environments. Challenges in modeling,
implementing, deploying and controlling these systems are significant.
Massively multi-agent systems provide a suitable design paradigm and an implementation method for such systems.
The infrastructure of massively multi-agent systems include technologies such as grid computing together with
semantic annotation that can be combined with agent technologies. A new system design approach -- society-centered design --
may be realized by embedding participatory technologies in human society. Applications include large-scale navigation,
scientific or social simulations, e-science, e-homes, e-offices and e-cities.
This special issue will highlight leading research efforts in coordination and control in MMAS, and applications of MMAS.
Specific areas of Interest include but are not limited to:
- Massively Multi-Agent Infrastructures
- Massively Multi-Sensor Systems
- Self-Organization Technologies for Massively Multi-Sensor Systems
- Design and Analysis of Massively Multi-Agent Systems
- Large-scale Participatory Technologies
- Massively Multi-Agent Coordination and Control
- Integrating Massively Multi-agent Systems and Social Worlds
- Applications of Massively Multi-Agent Systems
- Massively Multi-Agent Simulation
- Mega-Scale Navigation
- General Issues in Massively Multi-Agent Systems
Important Dates
Submission Deadline: November 15, 2009
Acceptance Notice: February 28, 2010
Final Manuscript Due: March 31, 2010
Publication Date: To be confirmed.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions should be high quality, previously unpublished original papers, not currently under review for another journal or conference.
Papers should be formatted according to the
manuscript preparation instructions of the Computer Journal.
Additionally, to be considered for the special issue, authors must include a cover letter clearly indicating that the submission
is for the special issue on "Massively Multi-Agent Systems."
There are two steps involved in submitting a paper:
(1) Submit through the journal's manuscript central web-based paper handling system.
(2) Submit a PDF version of the complete manuscript by email to jamali@agents.usask.ca.
All papers will be peer reviewed based on originality, scientific quality, and relevance to the special issue and the journal.
Guest Editors:
Nadeem Jamali (Corresponding Editor)
Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan
176 Thorvaldson Bldg, 110 Science Place
Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5C9, Canada
Phone: +1-306-966-2579
e-mail: jamali@cs.usask.ca
Zahia Guessoum
LIP6, University of Paris 6
104 avenue du Président Kennedy, 75016 Paris
e-mail: zahia.guessoum@lip6.Fr
Toshiharu Sugawara
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Waseda University
3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
e-mail: sugawara@waseda.jp
5. "Learning and Intelligent Optimisation"
This special issue solicits papers exploring the boundaries and uncharted territories between machine learning, artificial intelligence, operations research, and mathematical programming. We especially invite papers from the field of learning and intelligent optimisation. The large variety of heuristics and metaheuristics for hard optimisation problems raises numerous interesting and challenging issues. Practitioners are confronted with the difficult and time-consuming task of selecting the most appropriate method, in many cases through an expensive algorithm configuration and parameter tuning process, and subject to a steep learning curve. Scientists seek theoretical insights and demand a sound experimental methodology for evaluating algorithms and assessing their strengths and weaknesses. A necessary prerequisite for this effort is a clear separation between the algorithm and the experimenter, who, in too many cases, is "in the loop" as a crucial intelligent learning component. Both issues are related to designing and engineering ways of "learning" about the performance of different techniques, and ways of using past experience about algorithm behaviour for improving its performance in the future.
Intelligent learning schemes for mining the knowledge obtained from different runs or during a single run can improve the algorithm development and design process and facilitate the application of high-performance optimisation methods. Combinations of algorithms can further improve the robustness and performance of the individual components provided that sufficient knowledge of the relationship between problem instance characteristics and algorithm performance is obtained.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Metaheuristics such as tabu search, iterated local search, evolutionary algorithms, memetic algorithms, ant colony optimisation, and particle swarm optimisation
- Hybridisations of metaheuristics with other techniques for optimisation
- Supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement learning applied to heuristic search
- Reactive search optimisation (RSO)
- Self-adaptive algorithms
- Hyperheuristics
- Algorithm portfolios and off-line tuning methods
- Multiscale and multilevel methods
- Algorithms for dynamic, stochastic and multi-objective problems
- Interface(s) between discrete and continuous optimization
- Experimental analysis and modeling of algorithms
- Theoretical foundations
- Parallelization of optimisation algorithms
- Memory-based optimisation
** Relationship with the LION 4 Conference **
The special issue will be composed of invited papers being significant extensions of papers presented at LION 4, an annual conference on the topics described above. However, the call for papers will also be distributed publicly, and the special issue is certainly open to new submissions not related to LION 4. These papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. In general, refereeing and the selection of papers will be carried out according to the standards of the Computer Journal.
** Special Issue Editors **
Dr. Roberto Battiti
Universita' di Trento, Italy
Email: roberto.battiti@unitn.it
Web: http://lion.dit.unitn.it/~battiti/
Dr. Christian Blum
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Email: cblum_at_lsi.upc.edu
Web: http://www.lsi.upc.edu/~cblum/
** Important Dates **
Manuscript submission deadline: June 30, 2010 Final paper acceptance decision (provisional): December 31, 2010
6. "Special Issue on Discovery Science (DS)"
The Computer Journal is soliciting submissions based on an open call for papers for a Special Issue on Discovery Science (DS), to provide a leading forum for timely, in-depth presentation of recent advances in algorithms, theories, and applications in the field of DS, which first started as a national project for investigating the automated discovery process with scientific approach in Japan involving more than 100
researchers in 1998. This project gave birth to a series of international conferences with the same name, which have been held successfully twelve times over a dozen years. This special issue capitalises on the success of the DS conferences, but also provides an open competition for all researchers who wish to present relevant research results.
Contributions should be submitted via the Computer Journal's Manuscript Central, and they must be accompanied by a cover letter from the authors that clearly states that the submission is for the special issue
on Discovery Science.
Papers are solicited concerning automatic scientific knowledge discovery, data mining, machine learning, intelligent data analysis, theory of learning, and their application to knowledge discovery.
The submission deadline is
28th February 2010 and the Special Issue Guest Editor will be Prof Einoshin Suzuki.
This special issue is expected to appear in 2011.
Guest Editors:
Einoshin Suzuki
Akihiro Yamamoto
Alípio M. Jorge
Vítor Santos Costa
João Gama
Related Links:
Archives of International Conference on Discovery Science Series
Twelfth International Conference on Discovery Science (DS'09)
