Computer networks have historically considered support for mobile devices as an extra overhead to be borne by the system. Recently however, researchers have proposed methods by which the network can take advantage of mobile components. We exploit mobility to develop a fluid infrastructure: mobile components are deliberately built into the system infrastructure for enabling specific functionality that is very hard to achieve using other methods. Built-in intelligence helps our system adapt to run time dynamics when pursuing pre-defined performance objectives. Our approach yields significant advantages for energy constrained systems, sparsely deployed networks, delay tolerant networks, and in security sensitive situations. We first show why our approach is advantageous in terms of network lifetime and data fidelity. Second, we present adaptive algorithms that are used to control mobility. Third, we design the communication protocol supporting a fluid infrastructure and long sleep durations on energy-constrained devices. Our algorithms are not based on abstract radio range models or idealized unobstructed environments but founded on real world behavior of wireless devices. We implement a prototype system in which infrastructure components move autonomously to carry out important networking tasks. The prototype is used to validate and evaluate our suggested mobility control methods.

No abstract

Abstract. Recent research has shown that using a mobile element to collect and carry data mechanically from a sensor network has many advantages over static multihop routing. We have an implementation as well employing a single mobile element. But the network scalability and traffic may make a single mobile element insufficient. In this paper we investigate the use of multiple mobile elements. In particular, we present load balancing algorithm which tries to balance the number of sensor nodes each mobile element services. We show by simulation the benefits of load balancing.

A fully implantable wireless pressure sensor system was developed to monitor bladder pressures in vivo. The system comprises a small commercial pressure die connected via catheter to amplifying electronics, a microcontroller, wireless transmitter, battery, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) or computer to receive the wireless data. The sensor is fully implantable and transmits pressure data once every second with a pressure detection range of 1.5 psi gauge and a resolution of 0.02 psi. In vitro calibration measurements of the device showed a high degree of linearity and excellent temporal response. The implanted device performed continuously in vivo in several porcine studies lasting over 3 days. This system can be adapted for other pressure readings, as well as other vital sign measurements; it represents the first step in developing a ubiquitous sensing platform for telemedicine and remote patient monitoring.

No abstract

To allow for an efficient usage of an embedded device in pervasive computing environments, reliable and yet convenient user access is an important requirement. The problem becomes more complex when the accessed device is shared by the public with many different individuals. This paper first illustrates the common pitfalls and issues of establishing sessions to such devices. The paper then proposes a context-aware solution that uses different contexts to capture a usage session. The paper presents a general system design that supports a secure, selective, and identifiable user access of public shared devices with high usability. We have also implemented a prototype system to demonstrate the concept.

No abstract

No abstract