Showing papers on "Context awareness published in 2004"

Ontology based context modeling and reasoning using OWL

Abstract: Here we propose an OWL encoded context ontology (CONON) for modeling context in pervasive computing environments, and for supporting logic-based context reasoning. CONON provides an upper context ontology that captures general concepts about basic context, and also provides extensibility for adding domain-specific ontology in a hierarchical manner. Based on this context ontology, we have studied the use of logic reasoning to check the consistency of context information, and to reason over low-level, explicit context to derive high-level, implicit context. By giving a performance study for our prototype, we quantitatively evaluate the feasibility of logic based context reasoning for nontime-critical applications in pervasive computing environments, where we always have to deal carefully with the limitation of computational resources.

Location-aware computing comes of age

Abstract: At the core of invisible computing is context awareness, the concept of sensing and reacting to dynamic environments and activities. Location is a crucial component of context, and much research in the past decade has focused on location-sensing technologies, location-aware application support, and location-based applications. With numerous factors driving deployment of sensing technologies, location-aware computing may soon become a part of everyday life.

Ambient intelligence: a multimedia perspective

Abstract: Ambient intelligence opens up a world of unprecedented experiences. The interaction of people with electronic devices will change as context awareness, natural interfaces, and ubiquitous availability of information come to fruition. Ambient intelligence is going to impose major challenges on multimedia research. Distributed multimedia applications and their processing on embedded static and mobile platforms will play a major role in the development of ambient-intelligent environments. The requirements that ambient-intelligent multimedia applications impose on the mechanisms users apply to interact with media call for paradigms substantially different from contemporary interaction concepts. The complexity of media will continually increase in terms of volume and functionality, thus introducing a need for simplicity and ease of use. Therefore, the massively distributed, integrated use of media will require replacing well-known interaction vehicles, such as remote control and menu-driven search and control, with novel more intuitive, and natural concepts. This article reviews the concept of ambient intelligence and elaborates on its relation with multimedia. (The "Advances in media processing" sidebar gives insight into the developments that have set the stage for this new step forward.) The emphasis is on qualitative aspects, highlighting those elements that play a role in realizing ambient intelligence. Multimedia processing techniques and applications are key to realizing ambient intelligence, and they introduce major challenges to the design and implementation of both media-processing platforms and multimedia applications. Technology will not be the limiting factor in realizing ambient intelligence. The ingredients to let the computers disappear are already available, but the true success of the paradigm will depend on the ability to develop concepts that allow natural interaction with digital environments. We must build these digital environments with the invisible technology of the forthcoming century. The role of intelligent algorithms in this respect is apparent because it is the key enabling factor for realizing natural interaction.

Wearable Systems for Health Care Applications

Abstract: Objectives: Wearable systems can be broadly defined as mobile electronic devices that can be unobtrusively embedded in the user’s outfit as part of the clothing or an accessory In particular, unlike conventional mobile systems, they can be operational and accessed without or with very little hindrance to user activity To this end they are able to model and recognize user activity, state, and the surrounding situation: a property, referred to as context sensitivity Wearable systems range from micro sensors seamlessly integrated in textiles through consumer electronics embedded in fashionable clothes and computerized watches to belt worn PCs with a head mounted display The wearable computing concept is part of a broader framework of ubiquitous computing that aims at invisibly enhancing our environment with smart electronic devices The goal of the paper is to provide a broad overview of wearable technology and its implications for health related applications Methods: We begin by summarizing the vision behind wearable computing We then describe a framework for wearable computing architecture and the main technological aspects Finally we show how specific properties of wearable systems can be used in different health related application domains Results: Wearable computing is an emerging concept building upon the success of today’s mobile computing and communication devices Due to rapid technological progress it is currently making a transition from a pure research stage to practical applications Many of those applications are in health related domains, in particular, health monitoring, mobile treatment and nursing Conclusions: Within the next couple of years wearable systems and more general ubiquitous computing will introduce profound changes and new application types to health related systems In particular they will prove useful in improving the quality and reducing the cost of caring for the aging population

Context awareness and adaptation in mobile learning

Abstract: This study investigates the importance of context-awareness and adaptation in mobile learning. Context-aware mobile learning that senses mobile environment and reacts to changing context during learning process has four interaction modes with three mobile entities of different mobility. Contexts in mobile learning are categorized into six dimensions that form a context space. Several mobile learning systems are examined according to the definition of context-aware mobile learning. Challenging issues of context awareness and adaptation are explored.

MoCA: A Middleware for Developing Collaborative Applications for Mobile Users

Abstract: The Mobile Collaboration Architecture is a middleware architecture for developing and deploying context-aware collaborative applications for mobile users. MoCA comprises client and server APIs, a set of core services for registering applications, the ability to monitor and infer the execution context of mobile devices, and an object-oriented framework for instantiating and customizing server proxies according to applications’ specific adaptation and context-processing requirements. MoCA facilitates the development of distributed programs that require access to individual and group context to define application-specific and dynamic adaptations. MoCA’s design focuses on simplicity, extensibility, scalability, protocol heterogeneity, and application customization.

Multidimensional data modeling for location-based services

Abstract: With the recent and continuing advances in areas such as wireless communications and positioning technologies, mobile, location-based services are becoming possible.Such services deliver location-dependent content to their users. More specifically, these services may capture the movements and requests of their users in multidimensional databases, i.e., data warehouses, and content delivery may be based on the results of complex queries on these data warehouses. Such queries aggregate detailed data in order to find useful patterns, e.g., in the interaction of a particular user with the services.The application of multidimensional technology in this context poses a range of new challenges. The specific challenge addressed here concerns the provision of an appropriate multidimensional data model. In particular, the paper extends an existing multidimensional data model and algebraic query language to accommodate spatial values that exhibit partial containment relationships instead of the total containment relationships normally assumed in multidimensional data models. Partial containment introduces imprecision in aggregation paths. The paper proposes a method for evaluating the imprecision of such paths. The paper also offers transformations of dimension hierarchies with partial containment relationships to simple hierarchies, to which existing precomputation techniques are applicable.

Adaptive middleware for context-aware applications in smart-homes

Abstract: We propose an adaptive middleware design for context-aware applications that abstracts the applications from the sensors that provide context. Further, we use application-specific utility functions to choose, given multiple alternatives for providing a specific context, one alternative at any time that provides the context for all applications, whilst maximising the applications' total "satisfaction" with the quality of context from the chosen provider. Our middleware also implements autonomic properties, such as self-configuration and resilience to failures, in the provision of context information to context-aware applications.

Cofields: a physically inspired approach to motion coordination

Abstract: As computing becomes increasingly pervasive, autonomous computers are going to be embedded in everyday objects in our physical environment. In such scenarios, mobility itself will be pervasive. Mobile users, mobile devices, computer-enabled vehicles, and mobile software components will define a dynamic, networked world in which a large set of autonomous components will interact with each other to orchestrate their activities. We focus on the problem of coordinating autonomous agent's movements in a distributed environment. Orchestrating mobile autonomous agents can take inspiration from the laws of physics. Agent's movements could be driven by locally perceived computational force fields, or cofields, generated by the agents themselves and propagated through an embedded infrastructure.

Towards connectivity management adaptability: context awareness in policy representation and end-to-end evaluation algorithm

Abstract: An infrastructure based on multiple heterogeneous access networks is one of the leading enablers for the emerging pervasive and ubiquitous computing paradigm, in which the optimal management of diverse networking resources is a challenging problem. This paper presents a context-aware policy mechanism and related end-to-end evaluation algorithm for adaptive connectivity management of multi-access wireless networks. A policy is used to express the criteria for adaptive selection of the best local and remote network interfaces. The best connection can then be used for the establishment of a channel as well as the maintenance of on-going data transmission. Rich context information is considered in the policy representation with respect to user profile and preference, application characteristics, device capability, and network QoS condition. The decision of the best access networks to be used is made on the basis of an end-to-end evaluation process. The decision can be made in both Master-Slave and Peer-to-Peer modes. The paper focuses on the methods for policy representation and connection evaluation algorithm. A case study is presented to show the usability of the proposed policy mechanism and decision-making algorithm in the adaptive management of heterogeneous networking resources.

A context-aware middleware for applications in mobile Ad Hoc environments

Abstract: Novel ubiquitous computing applications such as intelligent vehicles, smart buildings, and traffic management require special properties that traditional computing applications do not support, such as context-awareness, massive decentralisation, autonomous behaviour, adaptivity, proactivity, and innate collaboration. This paper presents a new computational model and middleware that reflect support for the required the properties. The sentient object model is proposed by the CORTEX1 project to support the construction of ubiquitous applications. A flexible, run-time reconfigurable component-based middleware has been built to provide run-time support to engineer the sentient object programming paradigm. An application infrastructure using sentient objects to enable cooperation between autonomous and proactive vehicles has been implemented to demonstrate the appropriateness of the computational model and the validity of the middleware for pervasive mobile ad hoc computing.

WatchMe: Communication and Awareness Between Members of a Closely-Knit Group

Abstract: WatchMe is a personal communicator with context awareness in a wristwatch form; it is meant to keep intimate friends and family always connected via awareness cues and text, voice instant message, or synchronous voice connectivity. Sensors worn with the watch track location (via GPS), acceleration, and speech activity; this is classified and conveyed to the other party, where it appears in iconic form on the watch face. When a remote person with whom this information is shared examines it, their face appears on the watch of the person being checked on. The working prototype was used as the focus of interviews to gauge the desirability of such a device.

Applying case-based reasoning and multi-agent intelligent system to context-aware comparative shopping

Abstract: Comparative shopping is a promising web service in the field of mobile commerce. This paper aims to propose a context-aware comparative shopping. Multi-agent intelligent architecture is adopted to implement the autonomous negotiation mechanism between buyers and sellers. To automatically estimate user preferences to determine the best purchase, case-based reasoning and negotiation mechanism are utilized. We developed a prototype system and experiment to show the possibility of the mechanism proposed in this paper. We found that our mechanism with multi-agents yields more pay-off, total sales, and wins than the system without those features.

A light-weight component model for peer-to-peer applications

Abstract: Mobile peer-to-peer (P2P) computing applications involve collections of heterogeneous and resource-limited devices (such as PDAs or embedded sensor-actuator systems), typically operated in ad-hoc completely decentralized networks and without requiring dedicated infrastructure support. Short-range wireless communication technologies together with P2P networking capabilities on mobile devices are responsible for a proliferation of such applications, yet these applications are often complex and monolithic in nature due to the lack of lightweight component/container support in these resource-constrained devices. We describe our lightweight software component model P2Pcomp that address the development needs for mobile P2P applications. An abstract, flexible, and high-level communication mechanism among components is developed via a ports concept, supporting protocol independence, location independence, and (a)synchronous invocations; dependencies are not hard-coded in the components, but can be defined at deployment or runtime, providing late-binding and dynamic rerouteability capabilities. Peers can elect to provide services as well as consume them, services can migrate between containers, and services are ranked to support quality-of-service choices. Our lightweight container realization leverages the OSGi platform and can utilize various P2P communication mechanisms such as JXTA. A "smart space" application scenario demonstrates how P2Pcomp supports flexible and highly tailorable mobile P2P applications.

Method to enhance user interface and target applications based on context awareness

Abstract: A method ( 100 ) to enhance user interface and target applications based on context awareness can include tracking ( 102 ) the number of times an event occurs during a given time, tracking ( 104 ) the time between user initiated events, generating ( 112 ) a pattern from the tracking steps, associating ( 113 ) the pattern with a user profile, and configuring ( 116 ) the user interface and the operation of an application based on the user profile. The tracking steps can track usage of the user interface at different times, dates, locations or in different environments or contexts as detected by changes in time of day, date, location, environmental input, user habit, or user application. The pattern can optionally be generated ( 114 ) dynamically corresponding with changes in the user profile. In this regard, the method can dynamically adapt ( 118 ) configurable options based on a detected change in context.

Context Aware Personalized Ad Insertion in an Interactive TV Environment

Abstract: The growth of digital television over satellite, cable as well as terrestrial networks has driven advertisers to ‘better target” users by local personalized advertisements, which generates qualified lead for future sales. Context awareness in ITV applications can be used as a powerful tool to deliver most relevant and personalized ad based on user’s context. In this paper we have proposed architecture for context aware real time selection and insertion of advertisements into the live broadcast stream by taking into consideration the user’s current and past contextual information. Our approach is based on aggregating a past sequence of individual contexts and associating the current user activity to those past contexts to determine the best ad to be delivered relevant to the current activity.

Methods and apparatus for connecting an intimate group by exchanging awareness cues and text, voice instant messages, and two-way voice communications

Abstract: A personal communicator with context awareness in a wristwatch form for connecting intimate friends and family via awareness cues and text, voice instant message, or synchronous voice connectivity. Sensors worn with the watch produce raw data tracking location (via GPS), acceleration, and speech activity. The raw data is classified and conveyed to the other party, where it appears in iconic form on the watch face. When a remote person with whom this information is shared examines it, their face appears on the watch of the person being checked on.

Context Awareness for MOBIlearn: Creating an engaging learning experience in an art museum

Abstract: The MOBIlearn project aims to develop a re-usable architecture for delivering mobile learning experiences. A key component of this architecture is a context-awareness subsystem that is intended to tailor the content and options made available to a learner, depending on their current situation, preferences, and learning history. The context awareness subsystem has been developed alongside a hierarchical model of context, and has been subjected to formative evaluation. With reference to our context model, preliminary user trials, and input from museum staff, we describe the planned deployment of this system in an art museum learning scenario.

Modelling Context: An activity theory approach

Abstract: In this paper, we review different context classification systems that have been used to define elements of context. Although existing classification systems cover various types of context, in the development of context aware applications, only a few types of context have been used. In this work, we aim to build a context classification model based on Activity Theory that provides a basis both for dialogue amongst context awareness researchers and for the implementation of a context awareness architecture.

Mobile Context Aware Systems: The Intelligence to Support Tasks and Effectively Utilise Resources

Abstract: The complex usage of mobile devices coupled with their limited resources in terms of display and processing suggests that being able to understand the context of the user would be beneficial. In this paper we present a model that describes context as a dynamic process with historic dependencies. We also describe software architecture to support this model, and evaluate its effectiveness in a mobile learning scenario. Preliminary results from our evaluation suggest important issues for consideration in the continuing development of context aware systems and interfaces, including the need for appropriate representation of contextual data to the user, and maintaining a balance between effective support and intrusion.

Utilising context ontology in mobile device application personalisation

Abstract: Context Studio, an application personalisation tool for semi-automated context-based adaptation, has been proposed to provide a flexible means of implementing context-aware features. In this paper, Context Studio is further developed for the end users of small-screen mobile devices. Navigating and information presentation are designed for small screens, especially for the Series 60 mobile phone user interface. Context ontology, with an enhanced vocabulary model, is utilized to offer scalable representation and easy navigation of context and action information in the UI. The ontology vocabulary hierarchy is transformed into a folder-file model representation in the graphical user interface. UI elements can be directly updated, according to the extensions and modifications to ontology vocabularies, automatically in an online system. A rule model is utilized to allow systematic management and presentation of context-action rules in the user interface. The chosen ontology-based UI model is evaluated with a usability study.

Method and apparatus for enabling context awareness in a wireless system

Abstract: Techniques and structures are disclosed for implementing context awareness within a wireless system.

Context awareness for group interaction support

Abstract: In this paper, we present an implemented system for supporting group interaction in mobile distributed computing environments. First, an introduction to context computing and a motivation for using contextual information to facilitate group interaction is given. We then present the architecture of our system, which consists of two parts: a subsystem for location sensing that acquires information about the location of users as well as spatial proximities between them, and one for the actual context-aware application, which provides services for group interaction.

An integrated context model: bringing activity to context

Abstract: This paper presents ongoing research on context modelling. A review of past research in context awareness shows that researchers have defined and classified context differently. This leads to different views of context amongst different researchers. Moreover, existing context definitions and classifications are ambiguous and therefore it is difficult to carry them forward into design and implementation work. The main aim of this research is to provide a context model that covers key elements of context that researchers should take into account in their designs. Moreover, the relationships between elements are provided by this model. The model provides researchers and practitioners with an integrated point of reference for considering the elements of context and their relationships. This model can then be used as a framework in their implementation of context aware systems.

Finding meaningful uses for context-aware technologies: the humanistic research strategy

Abstract: Human-computer interaction (HCI) is undergoing a paradigm change towards interaction that is contextually adapted to rich use situations taking place "beyond the desktop". Currently, however, there are only few successful applications of context-adapted HCI, arguably because use scenarios have not been based on holistic understanding of the society, users, and use situations. A humanistic research strategy, utilized at the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology, aims to structure the innovation and evaluation of scenarios for future technologies. Population trends and motivational needs are analyzed to recognize psycho-socially relevant design opportunities. Ethnography, ethnomethodology, bodystorming, and computer simulations of use situations are conducted to understand use situations. The goal of design is to empower users by supporting their autonomy and control. Three design cases illustrate the approach. The paper showcases an emerging framework for informed innovation of use potentials.

Mobile agents: can they assist with context awareness?

Abstract: This position paper argues that the mobile agents paradigm is a useful and important technology enabling pervasive and ubiquitous computing. Context awareness drives adaptability of pervasive computing systems. It is asserted that mobile agents capable of discovering, extracting, interpreting and validating context will make significant contribution to increasing efficiency, flexibility and feasibility of pervasive computing systems.

Trust Context Spaces: An Infrastructure for Pervasive Security in Context-Aware Environments

Abstract: The issue we have focused on in the broad area of security for Pervasive Computing is maintaining trust in an interactive environment. Our solution is based on the premise that computers and implicit interaction mechanisms must function in accordance with the explicit parameters of physical human-human interaction. Otherwise, this results in imbalances between the physical and virtual worlds, which leads to ”windows of vulnerability”. Our solution presented requires an infrastructure of pervasive and context sensing technology, to provide entity mapping, policy and trust management services. We also investigate generating cryptographic keys using the context available The underlying technology is based on the Smart-Its context sensing, computation and communications platform.

Modeling and generating context-aware agent-based applications with amended colored Petri nets

Abstract: Context-awareness is become more crucial in mobile distributed computing systems. However, sophisticated modeling methods to analyze context-aware systems are still very few. Among those, the Colored Petri Net (CPN) is promising because it is proven to be useful for modeling system dynamics and concurrency control in more efficient ways. However, to support managing multiple configurations of components of context-aware applications, some features need to be added to specialize the CPNs. To address these challenges, our research has two idea: (a) to decompose a system into several meaningful subsystems, each of which we will call a pattern, and (b) to separate context from the patterns to realize context-pattern independence. Hence, we propose a modeling methodology to represent and analyze a context-aware agent-based system, which tends to be highly complex. We introduce CPNs as a method of capturing the dynamics of this contextual change. We define CPNs and a way to apply them in context-aware agent-based systems. We also describe a prototype system that we have developed called CPN Generator, which translates CPN specification into Java programs.

A unified application service model for ubihome by exploiting intelligent context-awareness

Abstract: We propose a unified ubiHome application service model which provides user-centered services by exploiting intelligent context-awareness. Recently, most of research related to smart home focused on the infrastructure rather than a user, and did not consider effective use of context. Such approaches are not appropriate for a user-centered interface, intelligent home control, flexible extension of application service, etc. In this paper, we design a unified ubiHome application service model by exploiting ubi-UCAM (unified context-aware application model). The proposed model provides services corresponding to a user's intention and also supports flexible interaction between a user and ubiHome environment. It provides personalized ubiHome environment to each user. The proposed model contributes flexible interaction between a user and ubiHome environment. And it provides personalized ubiHome environment to a user and simplifies extension of various application services. Therefore, the proposed model helps ubiquitous applications obtain users' context and provide adaptive applications flexibly.

A formal treatment of context-awareness

Abstract: Context-aware computing refers to a computing paradigm in which the behavior of individual components is determined by the circumstances in which they find themselves to an extent that greatly exceeds the typical system/environment interaction pattern common to most modern computing. The environment has an exceedingly powerful impact on a particular application component either because the latter needs to adapt in response to changing external conditions or because it relies on resources whose availability is subject to continuous change. In this paper we seek to develop a systematic understanding of the quintessential nature of context-aware computing by constructing a formal model and notation for expressing context-aware computations. We start with the basic premise that, in its most extreme form, context should be made manifest in a manner that is highly local in appearance and decoupled in fact. Furthermore, we assume a notion of context that is relative to the needs of each individual component, and we expect context-awareness to be maintained in a totally transparent manner with minimal programming effort. We construct the model from first principles, seek to root our decisions in these formative assumptions, and make every effort to preserve minimality of concepts and elegance of notation.