Context: Representation and Reasoning. Representing and Reasoning about Context in a Mobile Environment

TLDR

The shift from bulky, desktop computers to small, portable, networked devices is changing how we view and work with computers. The goal is to adapt systems to users in any situation when interaction can occur anywhere at any time. The proposed two‑tier architecture includes a middleware layer that aggregates and maintains contextual information and a case‑based reasoning component that automatically assesses situations. We demonstrate a multi‑agent system that supplies context‑sensitive services in a mobile environment.

Abstract

Today the computer is changing from a big, grey, and noisy thing on our desk to a small, portable, and ever-networked item most of us are carrying around. This new found mobility imposes a shift in how we view computers and the way we work with them. When interaction can occur anywhere at any time it is imperative that the system adapts to the user in whatever situation the user is in. To facilitate this adaptivity we propose a two tier architecture. A middleware layer implementing a general mechanism for aggregating and maintaining contextual information. The second part offers automatic situation assessment through Case-Based Reasoning. We demonstrate a multi-agent system for supplying context-sensitive services in a mobile environment.