Multi-Sensor Context-Awareness in Mobile Devices and Smart Artefacts

The use of context in mobile devices is receiving increasing attention in mobile and ubiquitous computing research. In this article we consider how to augment mobile devices with awareness of their environment and situation as context. Most work to date has been based on integration of generic context sensors, in particular for location and visual context. We propose a different approach based on integration of multiple diverse sensors for awareness of situational context that can not be inferred from location, and targeted at mobile device platforms that typically do not permit processing of visual context. We have investigated multi-sensor context-awareness in a series of projects, and report experience from development of a number of device prototypes. These include development of an awareness module for augmentation of a mobile phone, of the Mediacup exemplifying context-enabled everyday artifacts, and of the Smart-Its platform for aware mobile devices. The prototypes have been explored in various applications to validate the multi-sensor approach to awareness, and to develop new perspectives of how embedded context-awareness can be applied in mobile and ubiquitous computing

Sensing and visualizing spatial relations of mobile devices

Location information can be used to enhance interaction with mobile devices. While many location systems require instrumentation of the environment, we present a system that allows devices to measure their spatial relations in a true peer-to-peer fashion. The system is based on custom sensor hardware implemented as USB dongle, and computes spatial relations in real-time. In extension of this system we propose a set of spatialized widgets for incorporation of spatial relations in the user interface. The use of these widgets is illustrated in a number of applications, showing how spatial relations can be employed to support and streamline interaction with mobile devices

Extracting Requirements for Ubiquitous Computing Technology-based IS Using Factor Analysis

The paper describes a methodology for extracting the requirements for ubiquitous computing technology-based information system (IS) using factor analysis. The early idea of ubiquitous computing was articulated by Mark Weiser in 1988 and since then has been constantly developed. However, so far there was no any or few research on application of ubiquitous computing to IS. Prior to the development of a ubiquitous computing-based IS model necessary requirements are to be identified. To derive the requirements we refer to conventional research on ubiquitous computing, ubiquitous service and ubiquitous environment, and hence, to their characteristics. Having specified those requirements using factor analysis technique it will be easier to develop a consistent ubiquitous computing-based IS

Context Aware Adaptable Applications - A global approach

Actual applications (mostly component based) requirements cannot be expressed without a ubiquitous and mobile part for end-users as well as for M2M applications (Machine to Machine). Such an evolution implies context management in order to evaluate the consequences of the mobility and corresponding mechanisms to adapt or to be adapted to the new environment. Applications are then qualified as context aware applications. This first part of this paper presents an overview of context and its management by application adaptation. This part starts by a definition and proposes a model for the context. It also presents various techniques to adapt applications to the context: from self-adaptation to supervised approached. The second part is an overview of architectures for adaptable applications. It focuses on platforms based solutions and shows information flows between application, platform and context. Finally it makes a synthesis proposition with a platform for adaptable context-aware applications called Kalimucho. Then we present implementations tools for software components and a dataflow models in order to implement the Kalimucho platform

A service-oriented middleware for composing context aware mobile services

Recent advances in wireless networks and mobile devices have brought about new scenes for the provision of services to end-users. Besides traditional services, new ones may be provided that transparently adjust and adapt to the user context. The user would have more choice and flexibility if, besides using the services, he could also compose his own services in an ad-hoc way. This paper presents iCas, an architecture to create context-aware services on the fly and discusses its main components. Also an application scenario is briefly described

Deploying context-aware services: A case study of rapid prototyping

In this contribution, a real experience of rapid design and deployment of context-aware services for an exhibition hall is detailed. The prototype has been built on a combination of a commercial system (which has been customized and improved to satisfy the prototype needs) with an in-home developed context acquisition framework. In order to partially overcome device fragmentation issues, we have focused on the development of web-based context-aware applications. The whole system has been deployed from scratch under real constraints of time and environment. The objective has been to test the integration problems of context-aware systems, in order to infer some conclusions on what it is needed to generalize them

Model-driven methodologies for pervasive information systems development

This paper intends to introduce the concept of pervasive information systems (PIS) and the issues that arise from the software development for pervasive information systems. The model driven approach is generally described and its benefits to the software design are identified. Finally, some future directions for the usage of model driven methodologies within the development of PIS are highlighted, presenting some specific problems that nowadays that kind of methodologies have not yet been able to overcome

The system architecture of the Pocket Companion

In the Moby Dick project we design the architecture of a so-called Pocket Companion. It is a small personal portable computer with wireless communication facilities for every day use. The typical use of the Pocket Companion induces a number of requirements concerning security, performance, energy consumption, communication and size. We have shown that these requirements are interrelated and can only be met optimal with one single architecture. The Pocket Companion architecture consists of a central switch with a security module surrounded by several modules. The Pocket Companion is a personal machine. Communication, and particularly wireless communication, is essential for the system to support electronic transactions. Such a system requires a good security infrastructure not only for safeguarding personal data, but also to allow safe (financial) transactions. The integration of a security module in the Pocket Companion architecture provides the basis for a secure environment.\ud Because battery life is limited and battery weight is an important factor for the size and the weight of the Pocket Companion, energy consumption plays a crucial role in the architecture. An important theme of the architecture is: enough performance for minimal energy consumption