Managing context data for diverse operating spaces by Wenwei Xuea, Hung Keng Pungb, and Shubhabrata Senb.
Abstract:
Context-aware computing is an exciting paradigm in which applications perceive and react to changing environments in an unattended manner. To enable behavioral adaptation, a context-aware application must dynamically acquire context data from different operating spaces in the real world, such as homes, shops and persons. Motivated by the sheer number and diversity of operating spaces, we propose a scalable context data management system in this paper to facilitate data acquisition from these spaces. In our system, we design a gateway framework for all operating spaces and develop matching algorithms to integrate the local context schemas of operating spaces into a global set of domain schemas upon which SQL-based context queries can be issued from applications. The system organizes the operating space gateways as peers in semantic overlay networks and employs distributed query processing techniques over these overlays. Evaluation results on a prototype implementation demonstrate the effectiveness of our system design.
This article came up in a sweep for “semantic overlay networks.”
Encouraging recognition that results may need to vary based on physical context. Who knows? Perhaps recognition that the terminology for one domain and its journals/authors/monographs has different semantics than other domains.
Imagine that, a system that manages queries across semantic domains for users, as opposed to users having to understand all the possible semantic domains in advance to have useful query results (or better query results).
Perhaps the “context” metaphor may be a useful one in marketing topic maps. Less aggressive than “silo.” Let the client come up with that to characterize competing agencies or information sources.
“Context” in the sense of physical space is popular among the smart phone crowd so don’t neglect that as an avenue for topic maps as well. (Looking at your surroundings would mean breaking eye contact with your phone. Might miss an ad or something.)