Optimizing the utility function-based self-adaptive behavior of context-aware systems using user feedback

Abstract

The vision of ubiquitous computing is about numerous devices embedded in our every-day environment, designed to serve humans in a non-obtrusive manner while minimizing the required user attention. These devices are expected to seamlessly monitor context changes and adapt their behavior and functionality to maximize the user benefit. However, designing the self-adaptive logic of such systems is far from trivial. This paper discusses a utility function-based approach for specifying the adaptive behavior of component-based context-aware systems. Although this approach allows for completely autonomous self-adaptive behavior, it also leverages potential user feedback by adjusting and optimizing its behavior. It is argued that this approach provides significant improvement to the adaptive behavior of a system while maintaining the required user attention to a minimum. At the same time, it keeps the complexity involved in the development of such context-aware, self-adaptive applications to a reasonably low level. © 2008 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.