Middleware: Context Management in Heterogeneous, Evolving Ubiquitous Environments

Abstract

Mobile computing environments are characterized by heterogeneity - systems consisting of different device types, operating systems, network interfaces, and communication protocols. Such heterogeneity calls for middleware that can adapt to different execution contexts, hide heterogeneity from applications, and transparently and dynamically switch between network and sensor technologies. Additionally, middleware for context-aware systems must keep a context model (a model of their environment), taking into account several aspects of the environment. The more complex and heterogeneous an execution environment is, the more complicated its underlying context model. Moreover, because systems can evolve, context management must also support model evolution without restarting, reconfiguring, or redeploying applications and services. We describe a context management middleware that can efficiently handle context despite the execution environment's heterogeneity and evolution. It uses context meta-information to improve a context-aware system's overall performance