Publications

The Valiant Load-Balancing (VLB) design has been proposed for a backbone network architecture that can efficiently provide predictable performance under changing traffic matrices [1]. In this paper we show that the VLB network has optimal performance when nodes can fail, in the sense that it can support the maximal homogeneous flow for any number of node failures. We generalize the VLB design to…

We describe Castanet, an algorithm for automatically generating hierarchical faceted metadata from textual descriptions of items, to be incorporated into browsing and navigation interfaces for large information collections. From an existing lexical database (such asWordNet), Castanet carves out a structure that reflects the contents of the target information collection; moderate manual…

We are now starting to see true-facilities-based competition for wired voice and video services for the first time in many markets as the telephone and cable operators offer directly competing services. However, in the absence of regulation, services to residences and small businesses are still likely to be priced at other than truly competitive levels. This is due to the fact that prices in…

New applications for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology include embedding transponders in everyday things used by individuals, such as books, payment cards, and personal identification. While RFID technology has existed for decades, these new applications carry with them substantial new privacy and security risks for individuals. These risks arise due to a combination of aspects…

Although some reforms can happen only through legislation, some key reforms may be achievable through the courts.

We present a system to extract, visualise and analyse inter-corporation relationships disclosed by public companies in their annual reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In improving the transparency of these disclosures, we allow policymakers, analysts, investors and the general public to analyse these relationships at both the firm level and the industry level. Using…

Widespread adoption of uniform standards is essential to the smooth operation of our modern global economy. When private or-ganizations develop such standards, copyright protection of those stan-dards often creates a conºict between private intellectual property rights and society's need for standards. This conºict is especially appar-ent when a local or state government adopts a privately…

Orr's work falls on one side of a marked divide separating rule-based theories from practice-focused research. From within the tradition of workplace studies (which show themselves intermittently susceptible to rule-based assumptions), Orr argues that his predecessors failed to see the sort of improvisation and bricolage central to his analysis, for want of looking. I claim, by contrast, that it…