Distributed Context-Aware Systems

Abstract

ResumoContext-aware systems take into account the user current context (such as location, time and activity) to enrich the user interaction with the application. In the last decade, this topic has seen numerous developments that demonstrate its relevance and usefulness, a trend that was accelerated with the recent widespread availability of powerful mobile devices (such as smartphones) that include a myriad of sensors which enable applications to capture the user environment for a large number of people.This paper examines the specific issues that occur in distributed context-aware systems, where the captured contextual information may travel a long distance before being used in an actual application. To better understand those issues, we propose a taxonomy derived from four layers that can typically be found in these systems: Capture, Inference, Distribution and Consumption. The common principles outlined in the taxonomy are then applied to some real applications, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. 2011-05-17Abstract Context-aware systems take into account the user current context (such as location, time and activity) to enrich the user interaction with the application. In the last decade, this topic has seen numerous developments that demonstrate its relevance and usefulness, a trend that was accelerated with the recent widespread availability of powerful mobile devices (such as smartphones) that include a myriad of sensors which enable applications to capture the user environment for a large number of people. This paper examines the specific issues that occur in distributed context-aware systems, where the captured contextual information may travel a long distance before being used in an actual application.To better understand those issues, we propose a taxonomy derived from four layers that can typically be found in these systems: Capture, Inference, Distribution and Consumption. The common principles outlined in the taxonomy are then applied to some real applications, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.

Contextual Awareness in Human-Advanced-Vehicle Systems: A Survey

“…Context-aware systems can be categorized into three different types, namely local/standalone, centralized and distributed [20], [28], [30]. The key differences among them lie in the way contextual information is collected and the way it is utilized to generate tangible actions.…”

“…These are systems with close coupling of sensors and actuators; that is, the measurements that determine the context of an entity and the application which triggers an action are closely coupled [28]. An example of this type is smart devices (such as phones, watches, tablets) which have a range of sensors such as GPS, accelerometer, and heart rate monitor.…”

Non-Contact Bed-Based Monitoring of Vital Signs

“…Context can be considered information that characterizes the state of an entity; an entity being a person, place or thing [122]. Context-aware systems are systems that take in contextual information and adjust accordingly [122], [123], [11].…”

“…Context can be considered information that characterizes the state of an entity; an entity being a person, place or thing [122]. Context-aware systems are systems that take in contextual information and adjust accordingly [122], [123], [11]. There are three main types of contextual information: given (user-input information), sensed (data collected intrinsically), and derived (using the information available to calculate, combine or infer additional information) [123].…”

“…This thesis examines the role of context-awareness in the system, seen working concurrently to the data processing stages. This thesis examines two types of contextual information: external context (information introduced to the system), for example contextual data input manually by a user or collected from system sensors (given and sensed, respectively), or internal context (derived by the system), for example calculated from raw data (derived) [122].…”