BASE - a micro-broker-based middleware for pervasive computing

Abstract

Pervasive computing environments add a multitude of additional devices to our current computing landscapes. Specialized embedded systems provide sensor information about the real world or offer a distinct functionality, e.g. presentation on a "smart wall". Spontaneous networking leads to constantly changing availability of services. This requires middleware support to ease application development. Additionally, we argue that an extensible middleware platform covering small embedded systems to full-fledged desktop computers is needed. Such a middleware should provide easy-to-use abstractions to access remote services and device-specific capabilities. We present a micro-broker-based approach which meets these requirements by allowing uniform access to device capabilities and services through proxies and the integration of different interoperability protocols. A minimum configuration of the middleware can be executed on embedded systems. Resource-rich execution environments are supported by the extensibility of the middleware.

Application Coordination in Pervasive Systems

“…For the prototype the middleware BASE [BSGR03] has been selected as it has been specifically designed to meet the requirements of pervasive computing. It has a lightweight but extensible core based on a micro-broker approach.…”

A dynamic platform for runtime adaptation

“…However, neither RPC nor remote object packages alone are sufficient to achieve highly reconfigurable and dynamic applications, as they typically assume relatively static hosts and connections. The BASE [16] architecture, on the other hand, explores micro-brokers for embedded devices in dynamic environments. BASE features a plug-in architecture to better shield the application developer from intricacies of the underlying network and closely resembles our network object mechanism.…”

Talking plant: integrating plants behavior with ambient intelligence

“…Other related research efforts are Gaia Román M. and Campbell R. H (19) that provides an infrastructure to spontaneously connect devices offering or using registered services. Gaia-OS requires a specific system software infrastructure using CORBA objects, while mobile devices cannot operate autonomously without the infrastructure; and BASE Román M. and Campbell R.H (20) which is a component-oriented micro-kernel based middleware, which, although provides support for heterogeneity and a uniform abstraction of services, the application programming interface requires specific programming capabilities by users Whereas all the above may be used to formulate a Human-Plant environment, no concrete solution has ever been given. The only similar solution is the one given from PlantCare, where an autonomous application is introduced that takes care of houseplants using a sensor network and a mobile robot LaMarca A. et al (21).However in this application, the emphasis is given on discussing technical challenges encountered during the deployment of the application.…”