A context-aware data management system for ubiquitous computing applications

Abstract

One of the factors that differentiates ubiquitous computing from traditional distributed computing is context. Context, such as time, location, and situation, allows a system to adapt to the current surroundings in order to facilitate the use of the computational environment. In this paper, we present a file system for ubiquitous computing applications that is context-aware. Context is used to support the types of applications and devices that are found in ubiquitous computing spaces. Novel features of the system include how the view of data adapts to the activity being currently performed and how user data is imported into the local environment. Our system is evaluated as part of a ubiquitous computing infrastructure deployed in a seminar room to investigate issues of performance, scalability, and usability.