Adaptive middleware for context-aware applications in smart-homes

Abstract

We propose an adaptive middleware design for context-aware applications that abstracts the applications from the sensors that provide context. Further, we use application-specific utility functions to choose, given multiple alternatives for providing a specific context, one alternative at any time that provides the context for all applications, whilst maximising the applications' total "satisfaction" with the quality of context from the chosen provider. Our middleware also implements autonomic properties, such as self-configuration and resilience to failures, in the provision of context information to context-aware applications.