Configuration of smart environments made simple combining visual modeling with semantic metadata and reasoning

We present an approach that combines semantic metadata and reasoning with a visual modeling tool to enable the goal-driven configuration of smart environments for end users. In contrast to process-driven systems where service mashups are statically defined, this approach makes use of embedded semantic API descriptions to dynamically create mashups that fulfill the user's goal. The main advantage of the presented system is its high degree of flexibility, as service mashups can adapt to dynamic environments and are fault-tolerant with respect to individual services becoming unavailable. To support end users in expressing their goals, we integrated a visual programming tool with our system. This tool enables users to model the desired state of their smart environment graphically and thus hides the technicalities of the underlying semantics and the reasoning. Possible applications of the presented system include the configuration of smart homes to increase individual well-being, and reconfigurations of smart environments, for instance in the industrial automation or healthcare domains

User-friendly Configuration of Smart Environments

Abstract—The configuration of smart homes represents a difficult task for end-users. We propose a goal-driven approach to this challenge, where users express their needs using a graphical configuration environment. Our system then uses semantic descriptions of devices in the user’s surroundings to derive a plan to reach the desired situation. We are able to satisfy complex demands using only first-order logic, which makes this system flexible yet fast. The focus of this paper is to demonstrate how to achieve high usability of the proposed system without burdening users with the underlying semantic technologies. Our initial demo supports setting the ambient temperature, alarms, and media playback, but the use of semantics allows to extend the system with many different kinds of services in a decentralized way. I