Skip to main content

A Constraint-Based Approach to Context

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 8175))

Abstract

Finding a shared understanding of context that is both theoretically coherent and operationalizable – e.g., for application in robotics, intelligent agent systems, or e-coaching products – is a significant challenge currently present in context research. This paper tries to capture the myriad of factors that together shape the multifaceted notion of context by conceptualizing the boundaries of contexts as a multitude of constraints within which actors operate. Within this ‘constraint-based approach’, context is broken down into different types, distinguishing between external and internal, as well as individual and shared contexts. In addition, it introduces vocabulary to differentiate between types of context transitions. This vocabulary is used to explain misinterpretations of context and misunderstandings between actors about the current context. Finally, the paper proposes a way of understanding context synchronization (or, context conflict resolution) between actors through context negotiation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Akman, V., Surav, M.: The use of situation theory in context modeling. Computational Intelligence 13(3), 427–438 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrew, A., Borriello, G., Fogarty, J.: Toward a systematic understanding of suggestion tactics in persuasive technologies. In: de Kort, Y., IJsselsteijn, W.A., Midden, C., Eggen, B., Fogg, B.J. (eds.) PERSUASIVE 2007. LNCS, vol. 4744, pp. 259–270. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bosse, T., Hoogendoorn, M., Klein, M., Treur, J., van der Wal, C.N., van Wissen, A.: Modelling collective decision making in groups and crowds: Integrating social contagion and interacting emotions, beliefs and intentions. Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems Journal (JAAMAS) 27(1), 52–84 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clitheroe Jr., H., Stokols, D., Zmuidzinas, M.: Conceptualizing the context of environment and behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J.: Foundations of Social Theory. Belknap, Cambridge (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Devlin, K.: Logic and information. Cambridge UP, New York (1991)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Dignum, F., Morley, D., Sonenberg, E., Cavedon, L.: Towards socially sophisticated bdi agents. In: Proc. of 4th International Conference on MultiAgent Systems, pp. 111–118 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmonds, B.: Complexity and context-dependency. In: Foundations of Science. Springer (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gero, J., Smith, G.: Context, situations, and design agents. Knowledge-Based Systems 22(8), 600–609 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, J.: Notes on formalizing context. In: Kehler, T., Rosenschein, S. (eds.) Proc. of the Fifth National Conference on Artificial Intelligence, pp. 555–560. Morgan Kaufmann (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nissenbaum, H.: Technology, Policy, and the Integrity of Social Life. Stanford UP, Stanford (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostrom, E.: Collective action and the evolution of social norms. The Journal of Economic Perspectives 14(3), 137–158 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T.: The Social System. Routledge, New York (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rensink, R., O’Regan, J., Clark, J.: To see or not to see: The need for attention to perceive changes in scenes. Psychological Science 8, 368–373 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokols, D.: Conceptual strategies of environmental psychology. John Wiley & Sons, New York (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokols, D.: Transformational process in people-environment relations, pp. 233–252. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Traum, D., Rickel, J., Gratch, J., Marsella, S.: Negotiation over tasks in hybrid human-agent teams for simulation-based training. In: Proceedings of the Second International Joint Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, AAMAS 2003, pp. 441–448. ACM, New York (2003)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Young, H.: Social norms and economic welfare. European Economic Review 42, 821–830 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann, A., Lorenz, A., Oppermann, R.: An operational definition of context. In: Kokinov, B., Richardson, D.C., Roth-Berghofer, T.R., Vieu, L. (eds.) CONTEXT 2007. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 4635, pp. 558–571. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

van Wissen, A., Kamphorst, B., van Eijk, R. (2013). A Constraint-Based Approach to Context. In: Brézillon, P., Blackburn, P., Dapoigny, R. (eds) Modeling and Using Context. CONTEXT 2013. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 8175. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40972-1_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40972-1_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-40971-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-40972-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics