A General-Purpose Context Modeling Architecture for Adaptive Mobile Services

Abstract

Abstract. Mobile context-aware computing aims at providing services that are optimally adapted to the situation in which a given human actor is. An open problem is that not all mobile services need contextual information at the same level of abstraction, or care for all aspects of the user's situation. It is therefore impossible to create a unique context model that is useful and valid for all possible mobile services. In this paper we present a compromise: a three-tiered context modeling architecture that offers high-level mobile services a certain freedom in choosing what contextual parameters they are interested in, and on what abstraction level. We believe the proposal offers context modeling power to a wide range of high-level mobile services, thus eliminating the need for each service to maintain complete context models (which would result in severe modeling redundancy if many services run in parallell). Each mobile service must only maintain those parts of the context model that are applicationdependent and specific to the mobile service in question. We exemplify the use of the context model by discussing its application to a mobile learning system.

Dealing with variability in context-aware mobile software

“…In a recent work on mobile services by Pederson et al (2008) we have found many interesting similarities with our approach, especially in the context model. One of their first statements is that different applications cater for different aspects of the user's context, which means that a unique context model for different applications is not a viable solution.…”

Exploiting personal web servers for mobile context-aware applications

“…In a recent work on mobile services by Pederson et al (2008), we have found many interesting points that we share in our approach. One of their first statements is that different applications cater for different aspects of the user's context, which means that a unique context model for different applications is not a viable solution.…”

COIVA: context‐aware and ontology‐powered information visualization architecture

“…Vazquez 50 presents a framework for intelligent and global context‐awareness, and serendipitous collaboration even with remote objects and services. In 51 Pederson et al present a three‐tiered context‐modeling architecture in which lower level, medium‐level, and higher level context models are distinguished. In addition, Aura 52 is an architectural system for ubiquitous computing with a special focus on context awareness, including context switching based on user mobility.…”