An Ontology-based Conceptual Model for Composing Context-Aware Applications

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An Ontology-basedConceptual Model for
ComposingContext-Aware Applications

• Eleni Christopoulou, Christos Goumopoulos,
• Ioannis Zaharakis Achilles Kameas
• R.A. Computer Technology Institute, DAISy group
• Patras, Greece

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Context-aware UbiComp applications

• Ambient environments
• dynamic and heterogeneous
• Context
• physical, environmental and personal information
• Decouple UbiComp application composition from
  context acquisition, representation and management

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Plug/synapse model 1/2

• High-level conceptual model
• artefacts are components of UbiComp applications
• plugs make visible the artefacts properties,
  capabilities and services to people and to other
  artefacts
• synapses are associations between two compatible
  plugs
• Users can compose UbiComp applications simply by
  creating associations between the artefacts

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Plug/synapse model 2/2

• Application developers point of view
• plugs are context-providers that offer high-level
  abstractions for accessing context
• synapses represent users preferences and needs
  and the emerging behavior of a UbiComp
  application
• Service infrastructures perspective
• plugs are reusable building blocks for context
  rendering
• synapses determine the context of operation for
  each artefact

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Context plug/synapse model

• A context-provider component (plug) reads input
  sensor data and outputs
• low level context information time, temperature,
  etc.
• high-level context information activity, state,
  mood, etc.
• An artefact from its own experience and use has
• low level context information acquired from its
  own sensors
• high level context information - interpretation
  of its low level context information
• An artefact gets context information through
  synapses from other artefacts plugs
• information from a third-person experience

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The study UbiComp application

• Open/Close plug ? eBooks state low level
  context
• Switch On/Off plug ? eLamps state low level
  context
• eLamps ability to provide light high level
  context
• e.g. lights color, selected luminosity

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GAS Ontology
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Enhancing GAS Ontology

• Mixed communities of artefacts and plants
• Incorporation of new concepts
• ePlant, eEntity
• Need of a context management and reasoning
  process
• definition of a plants state and behaviour

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Our vision 1/2

• The combination and cooperation of artefacts ?
  the continuous formation of new societies
• provide services not existing initially in the
  individuals
• The formation of such emergent societies depends
  on
• space and time
• knowledge about previous local interactions,
  previous configured teams, successfully achieved
  goals or possible failures
• Need to model and embed
• social memory
• enhanced context memory
• shared experiences

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Our vision 2/2

• Evolving multi-dimensional ontologies
• non-functional descriptions, rules and
  constraints of application
• dynamic behaviour and interactions
• An open and universally available and accessible
  core ontology
• evolved into higher goal, application and context
  specific one during the society life-time
• Ontologies of specific application domains can be
  proprietary

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Fin.

• Thank you for your attention!