Abstract
Nowadays, we are experiencing an increasing use of mobile and embedded devices. These devices, aided by the emergence of new wireless technologies and software paradigms, among other technological conquests, are providing means to accomplish the vision of a new era in computer science. In this vision, the way we create and use computational systems changes drastically for a model where computers loose their “computer appearance.” Their sizes were reduced, cables were substituted by wireless connections, and they are becoming part of everyday objects, such as clothes, automobiles, and domestic equipments.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Service-Oriented Architecture: Collection of services communicating with each other. Services are self-contained and do not depend on the context or state of other services.
Mobile Devices: Any low-sized portable device used to interact with other mobile devices and resources from smart spaces. Examples of mobile devices are cellular phones, smart phones, PDAs, notebooks and tablet PCs.
Context Information: Any relevant information regarding the environment and its users. Smart spaces can use context information to deliver personalized services to users.
Embedded Devices: An embedded device is a special-purpose computer system, which is completely encapsulated by the device it controls. Examples of embedded devices include home automation products, like thermostats, sprinklers and security monitoring systems.
Test Bed: In the context of software engineering, an execution environment configured for testing software.
Intermittent Resources: Both in a grid and smart space, intermittent resources are any kind of resource, as computers or services, which may appear or disappear at any time.
Grid Services: A kind of web service. Grid services extend the notion of web services through the adding of concepts regarding the WSRF specification, such as statefull services.
Peer-to-Peer: Architecture for distributed applications without central control where each participant acts both as client and server.
Sensor Networks: Network of many, spatially distributed devices using sensors to monitor conditions at different locations, such as temperature, sound, vibration, pressure, motion or pollutants.