Efficient data representation for XML in peer-based systems

Purpose - New directions in the provision of end-user computing experiences mean that the best way to share data between small mobile computing devices needs to be determined. Partitioning large structures so that they can be shared efficiently provides a basis for data-intensive applications on such platforms. The partitioned structure can be compressed using dictionary-based approaches and then directly queried without firstly decompressing the whole structure. Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes an architecture for partitioning XML into structural and dictionary elements and the subsequent manipulation of the dictionary elements to make the best use of available space. Findings - The results indicate that considerable savings are available by removing duplicate dictionaries. The paper also identifies the most effective strategy for defining dictionary scope. Research limitations/implications - This evaluation is based on a range of benchmark XML structures and the approach to minimising dictionary size shows benefit in the majority of these. Where structures are small and regular, the benefits of efficient dictionary representation are lost. The authors' future research now focuses on heuristics for further partitioning of structural elements. Practical implications - Mobile applications that need access to large data collections will benefit from the findings of this research. Traditional client/server architectures are not suited to dealing with high volume demands from a multitude of small mobile devices. Peer data sharing provides a more scalable solution and the experiments that the paper describes demonstrate the most effective way of sharing data in this context. Social implications - Many services are available via smartphone devices but users are wary of exploiting the full potential because of the need to conserve battery power. The approach mitigates this challenge and consequently expands the potential for users to benefit from mobile information systems. This will have impact in areas such as advertising, entertainment and education but will depend on the acceptability of file sharing being extended from the desktop to the mobile environment. Originality/value - The original work characterises the most effective way of sharing large data sets between small mobile devices. This will save battery power on devices such as smartphones, thus providing benefits to users of such devices

Context-based Grouping and Recommendation in MANETs

International audienceWe propose in this chapter a context grouping mechanism for context distribution over MANETs. Context distribution is becoming a key aspect for successful context-aware applications in mobile and ubiquitous computing environments. Such applications need, for adaptation purposes, context information that is acquired by multiple context sensors distributed over the environment. Nevertheless, applications are not interested in all available context information. Context distribution mechanisms have to cope with the dynamicity that characterizes MANETs and also prevent context information to be delivered to nodes (and applications) that are not interested in it. Our grouping mechanism organizes the distribution of context information in groups whose definition is context based: each context group is defined based on a criteria set (e.g. the shared location and interest) and has a dissemination set, which controls the information that can be shared in the group. We propose a personalized and dynamic way of defining and joining groups by providing a lattice-based classification and recommendation mechanism that analyzes the interrelations between groups and users, and recommend new groups to users, based on the interests and preferences of the user

Macs: A Practical Approach to Mobile Content Sharing over Ad Hoc Networks

Mobile phones are increasingly equipped with features that allow them to self-generate digital content, and they possess larger storage capacity. With the increased trend of information sharing, promoted by web2.0 applications and the success of peer-to-peer in the wired world, the ability for users to share content on their mobile devices is engaging. Most mobile content sharing solutions work over infrastructure-based networks, such as the internet or the mobile phone network. However, network connectivity is not always available or, at least, affordable. On the other hand, the proliferation of feature-rich mobile devices implies that a mass of digital content can be found nearby. In this context, mobile content sharing applications tailored to ad hoc networks may come in handy for impromptu and ubiquitous sharing. This work studies the feasibility of such solutions through a practical approach, consisting of developing a prototype application. After extensive performance evaluation, it is concluded that ad-hoc-based content sharing is efficiently possible on mobile devices

Mobile Peer-to-peer Data Dissemination with Resource Constraints 1

Peer-to-peer data dissemination in a mobile ad-hoc environment is characterized by three resource constraints, including energy, communication bandwidth, and storage. Most of the existing studies deal with these constraints separately. In this paper we propose an algorithm called RANk-based DIssemination (RANDI), which provides an integral treatment to the three constraints. The contribution is in determining how to prioritize the reports in terms of their relevance, when to transmit the reports, and how many to transmit. We experimentally compare RANDI with 7DS and PeopleNet, two mobile peer-to-peer dissemination algorithms. The results show that RANDI significantly outperforms both algorithms. 1

Epidemic-Style Information Dissemination in Large-Scale Wireless Networks

Steen, M.R. van [Promotor