Smart CAPs for Smart Its – Context Detection for Mobile Users

Abstract:

Context detection for mobile users plays a major role for enabling novel, human-centric interfaces. For this, we introduce a context detection scheme applicable in a self-organized sensor network, which is formed of disseminated, computer empowered sensors, referred to as Smart-Its [1]. Context-detection takes place without requiring any central point of control, and supports push as well as pull modes. Our solution is based on an in-network composition approach relying on so-called smart Context-Aware Packets (sCAPs). These packets act as a uniform interchange format, and allow single sensors to share sensed data and to cooperate to build up a meaningful context model from manifold inputs. sCAPs travel through the sensor network governed by an enclosed retrieving plan, specifying which sensors to visit in order to gain a specific piece of context information. For enhanced flexibility, the retrieving plan itself may be dynamically altered in accordance with past sensor readings.