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Complex_system (including recent related patents.)
Complex systemComplex systems have a number of properties, some of which are listed below. It is also often used as a broad term addressing a research approach which includes ideas and techniques from chaos theory, artificial life, evolutionary computation and genetic algorithms. Systems thinking is another approach which attempts to study systems in a holistic way, to take account of the kinds of complexity found in complex systems. Table of contents showTocToggle("show","hide") 1 Features of complex systems 1.1 Emergence 1.2 Relationships are short-range 1.3 Relationships are non-linear 1.4 Relationships contain feedback loops 1.5 Complex systems are open 1.6 The parts cannot contain the whole 1.7 Complex systems have a history 1.8 Complex systems are nested 1.9 Boundaries are difficult to determine Features of complex systems Emergence What distinguishes a complex system from a merely complicated one is that some behaviors and patterns emerge in complex systems as a result of the patterns of relationship between the elements. Emergence is perhaps the key property of complex systems and a lot of work is being done to try to understand more about its nature and the conditions which will help it to occur. Relationships are short-range Typically, the relationships between elements in a complex system are short-range, that is information is normally received from near neighbours. The richness of the connections means that communications will pass across the system but will probably be modified on the way. Relationships are non-linear There are rarely simple cause and effect relationships between elements. A small stimulus may cause a large effect, or no effect at all. Relationships contain feedback loops Both negative (damping) and positive (amplifying) feedback are key ingredients of complex systems. The effects of an agent's actions are fed back to the agent and this, in turn, affects the way the agent behaves in the future. This set of constantly adapting nonlinear relationships lies at the heart of what makes a complex system special. Complex systems are open Complex systems are open systems - that is, energy and information are constantly being imported and exported across system boundaries. Because of this, complex systems are usually far from equilibrium: even though there is constant change there is also the appearance of stability. The parts cannot contain the whole There is a sense in which elements in a complex system cannot "know" what is happening in the system as a whole. If they could, all the complexity would have to be present in that element. Yet since the complexity is created by the relationships between elements that is simply impossible. A corollary of this is that no element in the system could hope to control the system. Complex systems have a history The history of a complex system is important and cannot be ignored. Even a small change in circumstances can lead to large deviations in the future. Complex systems are nested Another key aspect of complex adaptive systems is that the components of the system - usually referred to as agents - are themselves complex adaptive systems. For example, an economy is made up of organisations, which are made up of people, who are systems of organs controlled by their nervous systems and endocrine systems, which are made up of cells - all of which, at each level in the hierarchy, are complex adaptive systems. Boundaries are difficult to determine It is usually difficult to determine the boundaries of a complex system. The decision is usually based on the observer's needs and prejudices rather than any intrinsic property of the system itself. For instance, the boundary of an individual human being may appear easy to determine but a little more thought will show some of the ambiguities. For instance, are clothes inside or outside the boundary? If someone stares at you across a room or crowded train, especially in a lustful or aggressive way, have they invaded your boundary? When do waste products, such as hair or nail clippings, cease to be part of the body (certainly, those who practise magic feel that they remain within the boundaries)?This article is adapted from from Wikipedia All Wikipedia article text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World with CD-ROM by John D. Sterman An Introduction to Genetic Algorithms (Complex Adaptive Systems) by Melanie Mitchell The Power of Events: An Introduction to Complex Event Processing in Distributed Enterprise Systems by David Luckham Why Stock Markets Crash : Critical Events in Complex Financial Systems by Didier Sornette The Computational Beauty of Nature: Computer Explorations of Fractals, Chaos, Complex Systems, and Adaptation by Gary William Flake Advances in Genetic Programming (Complex Adaptive Systems) by Kenneth E. Kinnear Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with StarLogo by Vanessa Stevens Colella Self-Organized Criticality : Emergent Complex Behavior in Physical and Biological Systems by Henrik Jeldtoft Jensen The Emergence of Everything: How the World Became Complex by Harold J. Morowitz Complex Responsive Processes in Organizations: Learning and Knowledge Creation (Complexity and Emergence in Organizations) by Ralph D. Stacey Advances in Genetic Programming, Vol. 2 (Complex Adaptive Systems) by Peter J. Angeline Genetic Programming 1996: Proceedings of the First Annual Conference (Complex Adaptive Systems) by John R. Koza Advances in Genetic Programming, Vol. 3 (Complex Adaptive Systems) by Lee Spector Adaptive Software Development: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Complex Systems by James A. Highsmith III Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams: Explorations in Massively Parallel Microworlds (Complex Adaptive Systems) by Mitchel Resnick Recent Complex_system related patents From USPTO: 6715116: Memory data verify operation 6714201: Apparatuses, methods, computer programming, and propagated signals for modeling motion in computer applications 6713752: Methods of sampling a surface having a micro-texture 6712160: Leadless sub assembly for downhole detection system 6712021: Water pressure regulator 6711877: Food product handling machine 6711703: Hard/soft error detection 6711556: Fuzzy logic controller optimization 6709829: Methods and compositions for detection of disease 6709459: Radial implant system 6708515: Passive spray coolant pump 6707432: Polarization control of parabolic antennas 6706952: Arabidopsis gene encoding a protein involved in the regulation of SAR gene expression in plants 6706406: Composite steel structural plastic sandwich plate systems 6705503: Electrical motor driven nail gun 6705451: Method and apparatus for distributing articles from a conveyor 6704889: Enhanced embedded logic analyzer 6704873: Secure gateway interconnection in an e-commerce based environment 6704788: Method and apparatus for transmitting and reassembling packetized data in large scale networks 6704766: Method and apparatus for dynamically controlling the execution of a request handler on a processor resource 6704689: Complexity index methodology for the analysis of run life performance 6703599: Proximity sensor with adaptive threshold 6703214: Lipid uptake assays 6702029: Tubing anchor 6701514: System, method, and article of manufacture for test maintenance in an automated scripting framework 6701345: Providing a notification when a plurality of users are altering similar data in a health care solution environment 6700936: Many-carrier transmission system and a receiver therefor 6700506: Bus arrival notification system and methods related thereto 6697894: System, apparatus and method for providing maintenance instructions to a user at a remote location 6697824: Relationship management in an E-commerce application framework 6697641: Method and system for improving communication 6695073: Rock drill bits, methods, and systems with transition-optimized torque distribution 6694467: Low power testing of very large circuits 6694464: Method and apparatus for dynamically testing electrical interconnect 6694286: Method and system for monitoring the condition of an individual machine 6694196: Method and apparatus for creating time-optimal commands for linear systems 6694148: Transmit power control for MCPA-equipped based stations 6694125: System and method for extending the range of a base unit 6691802: Internal power source for downhole detection system 6691298: Memory management in embedded system with design time object instantiation 6689537: Photosensitive litographic printing plate and method for making a printing plate 6689226: Decontaminating organic gel and use thereof for decontaminating surfaces 6687861: Memory tester with enhanced post decode 6687855: Apparatus and method for storing information during a test program 6687816: Configuration caching 6687761: Process control methods and apparatus with distributed object management 6687540: Discrimination of supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia events 6687087: System and method for visually indicating usage of magnetic tape cartridges 6686306: Supported dual transition metal catalyst systems |