Travel-light: A Model for the Dynamic Assembly of Mega Machines

Abstract

This paper proposes a new ubiquitous computing architecture named Travel-light, in which service computers form a computing infrastructure that allows a small mobile device such as a PDA or a smart phone to organize as many service computers as needed to form a mega machine. The mega machine will be powerful and able to provide a user with a familiar computing environment regardless of the users location. The paper presents the architecture, protocols, and implementation approaches of the mega machine based on the Travel-light architecture. The initial evaluation on the implementation is satisfactory. The proposed architecture enables users to perform presentations away from home with a PDA, to work in a familiar computing environment even on a visiting site, and to collaborate through a communal computer.