We examine the reduction in efficiency in a system where each processor has a sequence of tasks and must synchronize with other processors after each task is done. This occurs, for example, in many stepwise simulations. In OpenMP, the only explicit synchronization is the barrier, which causes all processors to wait for the slowest one. This is problematic when the tasks take variable amounts of...

In many applications, it is desirable to work with signatures that are short, and yet wheremanymessages from different signers be verified very quickly. RSA signatures satisfy the latter condition, but are generally thousands of bits in length. Recent developments in pairing-based cryptography produced a number of “short” signatures which provide equivalent security in a fraction of the space. ...

We consider a single-item, periodic-review, serial, multi-echelon inventory system, with linear inventory holding and penalty costs. In order to facilitate shipment consolidation and capacity planning, we assume the system has implemented periodic batching: each stage is allowed to order at given equidistant times. Further, for each stage except the most downstream one, the reorder interval is ...

A true Video-on-Demand (VOD) system provides the ultimate flexibility in video services by allowing users to select any video programs, at any time, and to perform any VCR-like user interactions. To allow true VOD, one approach is to have a dedicated video stream for each customer. This is expensive, especially when multiple identical video streams are sent to multiple customers accessing the s...

In this paper, we investigate the performance of different dispatching and scheduling heuristics for batching tools in a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility (wafer fab) by means of discrete event simulation. Because the processing times of lots on batching tools are quite large compared to those of other processes, careful batching decisions may have a great impact on the performance of th...

Dynamic neural network toolkits such as PyTorch, DyNet, and Chainer offer more flexibility for implementing models that cope with data of varying dimensions and structure, relative to toolkits that operate on statically declared computations (e.g., TensorFlow, CNTK, and Theano). However, existing toolkits—both static and dynamic—require that the developer organize the computations into the batc...

What do well-known techniques such as gather/scatter for input/output, code downloading for system extension, message batching, mobile agents, and deferred calls for disconnected operation have in common? Despite being rather different techniques, all of them share a common piece of design (and, possibly, implementation) as their cornerstone: the BATCHING design pattern. All techniques mentione...

This study analyzes impacts by batch picking on picker blocking in narrow-aisle order picking, and determines appropriate batch formations for a better order picking throughput. We present multiple-pick analytical models to offer insights about picker blocking in batch picking. Several simulation studies over a variety of batching situations scrutinize order batching situations which give throu...