JXTA, In the Support of User Migration Across Smart Spaces

Abstract

?Smart Spaces? are environments with traditional computing hardware as well as embedded computers, information appliances, and multi-modal sensors. The goal of a smart space is to sense, recognise and understand the tasks that are being undertaken by users of the space, and respond in a way that brings tangible benefits to the users in the execution of those tasks. In the area of Smart Space research, information about the user is generally encapsulated in what is called ?context information?. However, recent research into Smart Spaces has primarily focussed on isolated environments where user tasks are limited to within a single Smart Space. Little research has been undertaken into what support is needed for users that migrate between Smart Space environments. This project describes the development of MIGRA, a system that allows for the dynamic interconnection and efficient exchange of user context information between Smart Space environments. A key challenge for MIGRA is the management of context information to ensure it reflects the inherent diversity of Smart Space users. A core aspect to the implementation of MIGRA described in this writing is the investigation into the applicability of using the peer-to-peer JXTA software infrastructure to support user migration.