Developing adaptive groupware applications using a mobile component framework

Abstract

A need exists to develop groupware systems that adapt to available resources and support user mobility. This paper presents DACIA, a system that provides mechanisms for building such groupware applications. Using DACIA, components of a groupware application can be moved to different hosts during execution, while maintaining communication connectivity with groupware services and other users. DACIA provides mechanisms that simplify building groupware for domains where users are mobile. New collaboration features can be also more easily implemented. DACIA is also applicable to non-mobile environments. We show its applicability to building groupware applications that can be reconfigured at run-time to adapt to changing user demands and resource constraints, for example, by relocating services or introducing new services. This paper describes the architecture of DACIA and its use in building adaptable groupware systems.