Simulation framework for testing context-aware ubiquitous applications

Abstract

Context-aware applications running on ubiquitous network environment exhibit complex and dynamic behaviors, as their behaviors largely depend on various contextual changes. The complex dynamicity is a barrier for effective functionality tests. We present a framework for simulating ubiquitous environment as a solution for efficient testing of context-aware ubiquitous applications. The framework provides a simulation area where users put operational components such as virtual sensors, devices, humans etc. Operational components emanate context data or receive service calls. The framework provides two information channels: one for context-data production and the other for service execution. Tested applications can easily be plugged into the channels for getting fed with context-data and making service calls. The channels are built on messaging service and semantic Web service framework, which provides loosely coupled and open standard interfacing. We show how context data is represented and how operational components are dynamically deployed and announced as independent Web service bearers. With our framework, the efficiency of testing context-aware ubiquitous applications can be significantly improved and the framework's open standardized interface makes the framework applicable to various context-aware applications