UbiVal: Fundamental Approaches to Validation of Ubiquitous Computing Applications and Infrastructures
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Computer Science
Abstract
Mark Weiser's vision of ubiquitous computing, in which computers become transparently and seamlessly woven into the many activities of our daily lives, is slowly becoming a reality. Researchers have created prototype ubiquitous computing environments such as 'smart homes' that can automatically sense the presence of a resident in a particular room and change some aspect of the environment of the room such as turning on the lights, or 'smart museums' that can play recorded information about the museum artefact a visitor is standing in front of. There seem to be limitless possibilities for the kinds of environments and applications that can be developed for ubiquitous computing, yet the very nature of ubiquitous computing creates new and significant challenges for engineers who would like to build these environments and applications. Anybody who has ever used a computer has experienced the extreme frustration of using a software package that doesn't work the way it's supposed to, or that unceremoniously crashes in the middle of its operation, or that runs extremely slowly, or that transmits sensitive information such as credit card numbers over untrusted networks. For ubiquitous computing to achieve true transparent and seamless integration with its surroundings, it is important to prevent such mishaps, crashes, inefficiencies and insecurities from happening to the greatest extent possible. This project will define and implement a suite of sound, systematic methods that engineers can use to create correctly functioning, efficient and secure ubiquitous computing environments and applications. The research will be conducted and evaluated using the smart urban spaces and applications being developed in another ubiquitous computing project called Cityware.
Publications
Chatzikokolakis K
(2009)
Foundations of Software Science and Computational Structures
Musolesi M
(2009)
CAR: Context-Aware Adaptive Routing for Delay-Tolerant Mobile Networks
in IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing
Pecheur C
(2009)
A formal analysis of requirements-based testing
Sama M
(2010)
Multi-layer faults in the architectures of mobile, context-aware adaptive applications
in Journal of Systems and Software
Sama M
(2010)
Context-Aware Adaptive Applications: Fault Patterns and Their Automated Identification
in IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Sama M
(2009)
Using code instrumentation to enhance testing on J2ME
Wang Z
(2007)
Automated Generation of Context-Aware Tests
Description | (1) We developed a comprehensive suite of validation techniques and their implementation that are tailored to the specific characteristics of mobile, adaptive, context-aware ubiquitous systems. (2) We developed the necessary scientific and engineering foundations that will support the validation techniques. (3) We evaluated the validation techniques on significant cases studies in a realistic application domain of ubiquitous computing, namely smart urban spaces. |
Exploitation Route | The findings provide principled techniques for design and implementation of robust and reliable ubiquitous computing systems. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Energy Environment Healthcare Transport |
Description | The findings formed the basis for subsequent research by all PIs on modeling, analysis, verification and testing of ubiquitous computing systems. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £194,529 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I017321/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2011 |
End | 03/2013 |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £1,517 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/F013442/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2007 |
End | 03/2009 |
Description | EPSRC |
Amount | £44,383 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/E006191/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2006 |
End | 12/2006 |
Description | European Office of Aerospace Res & Dev. |
Amount | £122,697 (GBP) |
Funding ID | FA8655-10-1-3007 |
Organisation | European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 07/2013 |