Context Aware Service Allocation in Personal Area Networks
Johannes Jansson · 2004
Portable devices such as cellular phones, PDAs, and laptops, are getting more and more powerful and are popular with users. One way to make these devices even more useful is to interconnect them in a Personal Area Network (PAN), and via this PAN a single dual interface device can enable all local devices to access services in other networks. To be able to reach the devices in the PAN from outside in a simple manner, some location independent form of addressing may be used. One attractive approach is to use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). For a user anywhere in the Internet, SIP enables them to reach a user within this PAN by an address that does not depend on where the user is located. To make life more convenient for the callee, the selection of device for an incoming multimedia invitation can be made automatically, by utilizing context information when selecting the device. Consequently, a method is needed for allocating services to the devices that are most suitable for the service and for the moment. The current context in the PAN will affect this decision. This context information includes current status and capabilities of devices, the user, and their surroundings. The environment of a PAN is dynamic and thus this context information may change. This knowledge has to be reflected in the service allocation. This thesis will investigate and propose a method for how this service allocation is best performed. To be able to investigate this problem and develop a suitable method, knowledge in several areas is needed. First of all an understanding is needed of the concept of `context' and how it can be used when making decisions about service allocation. Furthermore, a method for collecting and managing context information has to be used.