Omnis - An Open Framework for Pervasive Services

This project aims to develop an open framework for services in pervasive computing environments. A pervasive computing environment is the result of a trend towards increasingly connected, ubiquitous computing devices that is being brought about by a convergence of advanced electronic (in particular, wireless) technologies and the Internet. Such an environment presents a fundamental shift away from traditional computing as applications and services are dynamically created from components during runtime. Also, a pervasive environment presents a number of unique challenges that have to be addressed. In particular, the ability to dynamically compose components is a crucial factor for success. In addition, mobility (e.g., temporary loss of connectivity) as well as device heterogeneity issues (e.g., different user interfaces) are important factors. In a pervasive environment, unlike in traditional software engineering, components come into contact at runtime and must dynamically compose with each other to form the application. This means that components must be able to discover the presence and absence of other components, negotiate possible cooperation, and collaborate to form a needed service. This project aims to create component-based software engineering techniques that meet the requirements of a pervasive environment. Based on a novel component model and contracts that address multiple concerns, we will provide seamless discovery and dynamic composition of components into services. Contracts can be considered as extended component specifications that address issues such as the component`s content, user interface, application logic, or adaptability. The vision is to characterize each component with one or more contracts that the component promises to honor. Around this component model, we will develop an infrastructure that supports automatic discovery of neighbor devices and that provide a distribution service so that components can access remote peers. Solutions to support mobile users and heterogeneous devices are required as well. To this end, contracts can be used to specify a component`s user interface capabilities or to create adaptors that support different connectivity modes.

This project aims to develop an open framework for services in pervasive computing environments. A pervasive computing environment is the result of a trend towards increasingly connected, ubiquitous computing devices that is being brought about by a convergence of advanced electronic (in particular, wireless) technologies and the Internet. Such an environment presents a fundamental shift away from traditional computing as applications and services are dynamically created from components during runtime. Also, a pervasive environment presents a number of unique challenges that have to be addressed. In particular, the ability to dynamically compose components is a crucial factor for success. In addition, mobility (e.g., temporary loss of connectivity) as well as device heterogeneity issues (e.g., different user interfaces) are important factors. In a pervasive environment, unlike in traditional software engineering, components come into contact at runtime and must dynamically compose with each other to form the application. This means that components must be able to discover the presence and absence of other components, negotiate possible cooperation, and collaborate to form a needed service. This project aims to create component-based software engineering techniques that meet the requirements of a pervasive environment. Based on a novel component model and contracts that address multiple concerns, we will provide seamless discovery and dynamic composition of components into services. Contracts can be considered as extended component specifications that address issues such as the component`s content, user interface, application logic, or adaptability. The vision is to characterize each component with one or more contracts that the component promises to honor. Around this component model, we will develop an infrastructure that supports automatic discovery of neighbor devices and that provide a distribution service so that components can access remote peers. Solutions to support mobile users and heterogeneous devices are required as well. To this end, contracts can be used to specify a component`s user interface capabilities or to create adaptors that support different connectivity modes.