An evidential fusion approach for activity recognition in ambient intelligence environments

With the growing emergence of ambient intelligence, ubiquitous computing, sensor networks and wireless networking technologies, “ubiquitous networked robotics” is becoming an active research domain of intelligent autonomous systems. It targets new innovative applications in which robotic systems will become part of these networks of artifacts to provide novel capabilities and various assistive services anywhere and anytime, such as healthcare and monitoring services for elderly in Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) environments. Situation recognition, in general, and activity recognition, in particular, provide an added value on the contextual information that can help the ubiquitous networked robot to autonomously provide the best service that meet the needs of the elderly. Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence and its derivatives are an efficient tool to handle uncertainty and incompleteness in smart homes and ubiquitous computing environments. However, their combination rules yield counter-intuitive results in high conflicting activities. In this paper, we propose a new approach to support conflict resolution in activity recognition in AAL environments. This approach is based on a new mapping for conflict evidential fusion to increase the efficiency and accuracy of activity recognition. It gives intuitive interpretation for combining multiple sources in all conflicting situations. The proposed approach, evaluated on a real world smart home dataset, achieves 78% of accuracy in activity recognition. The obtained results outperform those obtained with the existing combination rules.     

Enabling personalisation of remote elderly assistance

One of the goals of Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) solutions is to extend the time that elderly people can live independently in their preferred environments by using ICT technologies for personal healthcare. However, in order to be optimal, remote monitoring services and health-related interventions should be strongly personalised to specific individuals’ requirements, preferences, abilities and motivations, which can vary among the elderly, and even dynamically evolve over time for the same person depending on changing user needs and context-dependent conditions. In this paper we present an End User Development (EUD) tool for the personalisation of context-dependent assistance by non-technical users in the AAL domain. In particular, we have considered applications for remotely monitoring and assisting elderly people at home through sending multimedia messages and reminders, as well as changing the state of various domestic appliances (e.g. lamps, heating system, TV) and devices available in the context surrounding the user. The design and development of the tailoring environment has been carried out in an iterative manner, informed by the feedback that was gathered through empirical evaluations done with older adults and caregivers.

     

Service-oriented smart home applications: composition, code generation, deployment, and execution

A smart home usually has a variety of devices or home appliance, instead of designing software for a specific home, this paper proposes a service-oriented framework with a set of ontology systems to support service and device publishing, discovery of devices and their services, composition of control software using existing control services that wrap devices, deployment, and execution of the composed service in an computing environment, monitoring the execution, and recovery from device failure. The ontology systems specify semantic information about devices, services, and workflows used in various smart home, and users can compose and recompose services for their specific needs. New devices, workflows, and services can be added into ontology. Most of the steps in this process can be automated including code generation. For example, service composition will be carried out in three steps: abstract workflow design, function construction, and device discovery, and different codes can be generated for different computing platforms such as Java and Open Services Gateway initiative environments. In this way, a variety of smart home can be constructed rapidly using the framework by discovery and composition using existing services and workflows. This paper illustrates this framework using a media control example to illustrate the ontology, discovery, composition, deployment, execution, monitoring, and recovery.     

Self-configuring agents for ambient assisted living applications

Ambient assisted living (AAL) is advocated as the technological solution that will enable the elderly population to maintain their independence for a longer period of time than would otherwise be the case. The inherently heterogeneous nature of AmI environments and special requirements of the elderly population pose new challenges for the design and implementation of AAL systems. Thus, the development of these systems demands a context-aware, open, scalable, and distributed software technology that incorporates both intelligent and autonomic reconfiguration techniques. In this contribution, we focus on the design and implementation challenges of an agent-based AAL system that incorporates self-configuring tasks, by means of applying autonomic computing to software agents’ internal architecture. We use an agent-based system for tracking elderly people’s activity using common commercially available electronic devices as case study. We have validated our approach focusing on response time (a main concern in AAL) using different tests and the results are satisfactory.     

高职院校数字化校园建设中的关键技术

本文针对目前数字化校园建设所遇到的问题,提出以数据积累思想为主线,体系结构模型为网络基础层、应用支撑层,信息服务层三层。底层网络设施是基础,数据存储、高性能计算和数据库系统提供底层应用服务;应用支撑层和信息服务层提供应用开发环境与应用服务功能。所有内部的资源和服务在统一部署下通过门户发布,形成数字化校园的统一窗口的配置方案。     

A simulation-based approach for dynamic process management at web service platforms

Web services technology is being adopted as a viable deployment approach for future distributed software systems that enable business-to-business and business-to-consumer interactions across the open and dynamic internet environment. Recent research is focused on developing support technologies for web service discovery, on-demand service composition, and robust execution to facilitate web services based deployment of business processes. Developing techniques to cope with the volatile and open nature of the web during execution of composite services at the service platform is essential for delivering reliable and acceptable performance in this new process delivery framework. In this paper, we propose a simulation-based framework to guide scheduling of composite service execution. Online simulation of the dynamics of the open environment is used for scheduling service requests at the service platform. Comparison of the look-ahead simulation for different scheduling policies with the current execution state provides guidelines for service execution in order to cope with system volatility. We have implemented a prototype of the proposed framework and illustrate the feasibility of our approach with experimental studies.     

Seamless semantic enrichment of services in assistive environments

The paper proposes a methodology and a tool-based support for the development of semantic services in ambient-assisted living (AAL)-oriented assistive environments. A review of existing approaches in this area is conducted. The review covers a variety of AAL platforms from which universAAL has been chosen for the experimental implementation. The paper presented the iterative development methodology of service semantics, which facilitates the efficient creation of error-free services in AAL platforms. The features needed for the realization of the methodology are implemented as a universAAL platform extension named the annotation-based semantic enrichment. The proposed approach is assessed in the context of a sample scenario in which the services promoting universal access for elderly people or otherwise impaired persons are developed. The assessment results are used to highlight the added value of the presented work and to identify potential areas of future improvement.     

Enhancing portability with multilingual ontology-based knowledge management

Information systems in multilingual environments, such as the EU, suffer from low portability and high deployment costs. In this paper we propose an ontology-based model for multilingual knowledge management in information systems. Our unique feature is a lightweight mechanism, dubbed context, that is associated with ontological concepts and specified in multiple languages. We use contexts to assist in resolving cross-language and local variation ambiguities. Equipped with such a model, we next provide a four-step procedure for overcoming the language barrier in deploying a new information system. We also show that our proposed solution can overcome differences that stem from local variations that may accompany multilingual information systems deployment. The proposed mechanism was tested in an actual multilingual eGovernment environment and by using real-world news syndication traces. Our empirical results serve as a proof-of-concept of the viability of the proposed model. Also, our experiments show that news items in different languages can be identified by a single ontology concept using contexts. We also evaluated the local interpretations of concepts of a language in different geographical locations.     

Modeling the user state for context-aware spoken interaction in ambient assisted living

Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) systems must provide adapted services easily accessible by a wide variety of users. This can only be possible if the communication between the user and the system is carried out through an interface that is simple, rapid, effective, and robust. Natural language interfaces such as dialog systems fulfill these requisites, as they are based on a spoken conversation that resembles human communication. In this paper, we enhance systems interacting in AAL domains by means of incorporating context-aware conversational agents that consider the external context of the interaction and predict the user’s state. The user’s state is built on the basis of their emotional state and intention, and it is recognized by means of a module conceived as an intermediate phase between natural language understanding and dialog management in the architecture of the conversational agent. This prediction, carried out for each user turn in the dialog, makes it possible to adapt the system dynamically to the user’s needs. We have evaluated our proposal developing a context-aware system adapted to patients suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases, and provide a detailed discussion of the positive influence of our proposal in the success of the interaction, the information and services provided, as well as the perceived quality.     

From low-level programming to full-fledged industrial model-based development: the story of the Rubus Component Model

Developing distributed real-time systems is a complex task that has historically entailed specialized handcraft. In this paper, we propose a retrospective on the (r)evolutionary changes that led to the transition from low-level programming to industrial full-fledged model-based development embodied by the Rubus Component Model and its tool-ecosystem. We focus on the needs, challenges, and solutions of a 15-year-long evolution journey of a software development approach that has gone from low-level and manual programming to a highly automated environment offering modeling, analysis, and development of vehicular software systems with multi-criticality for deployment on single- and multi-core platforms.

     

Component-based development of Web-enabled eHome services

In this paper we will take a look at the inside of connected homes, which build up complex IT systems. The building blocks of such systems are electronic devices, networks, and services, which empower the user to interact with his environment. Web-enabled eHome services offer functionality to the user by abstracting from devices and realize connectivity in three dimensions: (1) inner connectivity, (2) outer connectivity, and (3) integrative connectivity. Generations of Web-enabled eHome services have been developed based on proprietary hard- and software. Today, an extensible and modular platform is required for forward-looking design and implementation of such services. We describe a new view on component-based development of Web-enabled eHome services. While there is an adequate framework (open service gateway initiative) for the development of state-of-the-art Web-enabled eHome services, there is no knowledge about the system and service structure and its architecture in detail. We propose an 3-layer system structure (called PowerArchitecture), which incorporates several established design ideas and show how this cookbook makes system architects and developers life easier.     

A survey of security issue in multi-agent systems

Multi-agent systems have attracted the attention of researchers because of agents’ automatic, pro-active, and dynamic problem solving behaviors. Consequently, there has been a rapid development in agent technology which has enabled us to provide or receive useful and convenient services in a variety of areas such as banking, transportation, e-business, and healthcare. In many of these services, it is, however, necessary that security is guaranteed. Unless we guarantee the security services based on agent-based systems, these services will face significant deployment problems. In this paper, we survey existing work related to security in multi-agent systems, especially focused on access control and trust/reputation, and then present our analyses. We also present existing problems and discuss future research challenges.     

Computation Orchestration

The widespread deployment of networked applications and adoption of the internet has fostered an environment in which many distributed services are available. There is great demand to automate business processes and workflows among organizations and individuals. Solutions to such problems require orchestration of concurrent and distributed services in the face of arbitrary delays and failures of components and communication. We propose a novel approach, called Orc for orchestration, that supports a structured model of concurrent and distributed programming. This model assumes that basic services, like sequential computation and data manipulation, are implemented by primitive sites. Orc provides constructs to orchestrate the concurrent invocation of sites to achieve a goal – while managing time-outs, priorities, and failure of sites or communication.     

The reflective mobile agent paradigm implemented in a smart office environment

Ubiquitous systems will integrate computers invisibly and unobtrusively in everyday objects. Data will be catched from single or multi-sensor devices and will be used for context extraction. New location-based services will be adapted to user preferences. For this the ubiquitous system needs to know user profiles, likings, and habits. As the user moves, these information must be made available at the new location of the user. Either the user carries the data on wearable or portable computers or the smart environment takes responsibility for transporting them. The amount of new devices and services makes an efficient use by centralized systems very difficult. The idea presented in this paper is that a virtual reflection of the user represented by a mobile agent accompanying in the smart environment. Mobile agents offer a possibility to encapsulate information of a person and the person’s preferences and perform location-based services of the ubiquitous system in the name of the user. Security and privacy are major concerns of such an agent system. This paper describes a ubiquitous mobile agent system named UbiMAS which has security extensions to provide high protection of agents and significant personal data. UbiMAS is applied in the smart doorplate project as part of a smart office environment.     

An edge-based platform for dynamic Smart City applications

A Smart City is a cyber–physical system improving urban behavior and capabilities by providing ICT-based functionalities. An infrastructure for Smart City has to be geographically and functionally extensible, as it requires both to grow up with the physical environment and to meet the increasing in needs and demands of city users/inhabitants. In this paper, we propose iSapiens, an IoT-based platform for the development of general cyber–physical systems suitable for the design and implementation of smart city services and applications. As distinguishing features, the iSapiens platform implements the edge computing paradigm through both the exploitation of the agent metaphor and a distributed network of computing nodes directly scattered in the urban environment. The platform promotes the dynamic deployment of new computing nodes as well as software agents for addressing geographical and functional extensibility. iSapiens provides a set of abstractions suitable to hide the heterogeneity of the physical sensing/actuator devices embedded in the system, and to support the development of complex applications. The paper also furnishes a set of methodological guidelines exploitable for the design and implementation of smart city applications by properly using iSapiens. As a significant case study, the design and implementation of a real Smart Street in the city of Cosenza (Italy) are shown, which provides decentralized urban intelligence services to citizens.     

The deployment and evaluation of a bioinformatics grid platform - The HUST_Bio_Grid

This paper reports our experience in the deployment of the Hust_Bio_Grid platform, which is a grid sub-platform that is specifically tailored towards the needs of bioinformatics. It enables the collaboration of multiple research institutes and facilitates the sharing of resources such as hardware, database software tools, etc. In particular, this paper presents a case study that addresses the deployment and reuse of services and applications through a standardized easy to use interface. It discusses the deployment of services including the requirements, the interface and the deployment process as a whole. Selected example services are discussed and relevant performance evaluations are presented. Through this scheme, all users including domain specific experts as well as generic software developers can contribute and deploy their own applications to the grid platform in a simple and efficient way. Thus, the actual functionality of the overall platform and the usability thereof is defined through the actual consumers and their specific needs.     

Location-based services deployment and demand: a roadmap model

The advancements in mobile, wireless and positioning technologies have enabled applications and services such as route guiding and emergency call-out assistance. These and other similar services have become known as ‘location-based services’ (LBS). The literature on LBS development and deployment addresses technological issues (for example, usability and integration) and issues related to LBS implementation—including LBS business models, adoption and customer concerns and requirements. In the study presented here LBS development and deployment were investigated from a case study perspective and the LBS landscape is explored and analyzed. The study finds that while the regulatory environment has played a critical role as a success factor in the markets investigated some of innovative business approaches may have been equally important as customer demand generators. Economies on the road to deploying LBS should therefore focus on creating a supportive environment encouraging the development of services, which meet the identified needs and requirements of the target customer market.     

CoCaMAAL: A cloud-oriented context-aware middleware in ambient assisted living

Research into ambient assisted living (AAL) strives to ease the daily lives of people with disabilities or chronic medical conditions. AAL systems typically consist of multitudes of sensors and embedded devices, generating large amounts of medical and ambient data. However, these biomedical sensors lack the processing power to perform key monitoring and data-aggregation tasks, necessitating data transmission and computation at central locations. The focus here is on the development of a scalable and context-aware framework and easing the flow between data collection and data processing. The resource-constrained nature of typical wearable body sensors is factored into our proposed model, with cloud computing features utilized to provide a real-time assisted-living service. With the myriad of distributed AAL systems at play, each with unique requirements and eccentricities, the challenge lies in the need to service these disparate systems with a middleware layer that is both coherent and flexible. There is significant complexity in the management of sensor data and the derivation of contextual information, as well as in the monitoring of user activities and in locating appropriate situational services. The proposed CoCaMAAL model seeks to address such issues and implement a service-oriented architecture (SOA) for unified context generation. This is done by efficiently aggregating raw sensor data and the timely selection of appropriate services using a context management system (CMS). With a unified model that includes patients, devices, and computational servers in a single virtual community, AAL services are enhanced. We have prototyped the proposed model and implemented some case studies to demonstrate its effectiveness.     

A feature-oriented approach for developing reusable product line assets of service-based systems

Service orientation (SO) is a relevant promising candidate for accommodating rapidly changing user needs and expectations. One of the goals of adopting SO is the improvement of reusability, however, the development of service-based system in practice has uncovered several challenging issues, such as how to identify reusable services, how to determine configurations of services that are relevant to users’ current product configuration and context, and how to maintain service validity after configuration changes. In this paper, we propose a method that addresses these issues by adapting a feature-oriented product line engineering approach. The method is notable in that it guides developers to identify reusable services at the right level of granularity and to map users’ context to relevant service configuration, and it also provides a means to check the validity of services at runtime in terms of invariants and pre/post-conditions of services. Moreover, we propose a heterogeneous style based architecture model for developing such systems.