Hamid Mukhtar

User Preferences-Based Automatic Device Selection for Multimedia User Tasks in Pervasive Environments

Multimedia task composition involves automatic matching and selection of multimedia services across various devices in the pervasive environment. During the composition process, various QoS attributes are considered for selection of the service components implementing those services. However, the existing approaches about multimedia service composition do not consider users perspective about utilizing services and devices. The automatic selection of service components keeps the user out of the whole process. The result is that the end-user may not always be satisfied with the final set of automatically chosen components and devices. In this paper, we propose a solution for multimedia task composition based on user preferences vis-a-vis device capabilities. User tasks are defined in terms of abstract services, which may also specify their requirements. Both of these criteria are considered simultaneously and a quantitative model for selection of service components and devices is presented.

A model for resource specification in mobile services

The proliferation of small devices and the increase in number of services created by various vendors for such devices have made SOA a primary choice for mobile software developers. However, due to software and hardware platforms heterogeneity, it is not always possible to use the write-once, use-everywhere approach. The main problem comes due to the varying capability of mobile devices and the unavailability of means to know resource requirements of mobile services.n We believe that there is a need to be able to specify resource requirements so that mobile application developers could explicitly enumerate their requirements, when it comes to interoperability with other services. Towards this objective, we consider the requirements of mobile services, identified from CC/PP, a generic model of resource specification on mobile devices. We then extend the existing CC/PP model and integrate it with the SCA model for SOA. Our approach does not violate any of the CC/PP or SCA specification, while remaining neutral to the underlying technologies and platforms. An important aspect of our approach is that resources can be specified abstractly as well as concretely.

Dynamic User Task Composition Based on User Preferences

As the number of devices in a pervasive environment is increased, the number of components available on the network also grows rapidly. In such cases, it is possible to compose various applications through a combination of different sets of components. Considering the multifaceted problem of having varying device capabilities supporting a different set of protocols, and each device hosting a number of components providing the same functionality, it becomes very difficult to choose a particular device hosting a required component which can be the best-fit for the user. This becomes practically impossible when the required components are distributed across various devices in the networked environment.n We propose a solution for dynamic user task composition considering user preferences, device capabilities, and heterogeneity of communication protocols. With our proposed approach, a user task can be instantiated in different environments using a different set of devices and components, depending upon their capabilities and user preferences. We propose mechanisms for modeling device capabilities and user preferences and for modeling the user task as a graph. We then propose algorithms for selection of devices based on user preferences and task requirements. Since the underlying network is also modeled as a graph, we describe an algorithm for mapping of services in the user task on to the components distributed across devices in the pervasive environment. We also give an overview of our initial implementation and some results of our evaluations.

Session Mobility of Multimedia Applications in Home Networks Using UPnP

With the increasing demand for multimedia contents and with the increased usage of small hand-held devices, a user in a home network has a number of devices at hand which may offer similar multimedia services but with varying capabilities. The user may choose one device for using a particular multimedia service at one time, and change to another device at another time. The user may, however, continue using the same service and maintain his previous session on the new device without restarting a new session. In this paper, we describe how UPnP can be used for transferring a multimedia session from a device to another in a home network. The procedure for transfer of session is based on the UPnP audio video architecture. We also describe our prototype implementation.

A quantitative model for user preferences based on qualitative specifications

With an increasing number of devices having varying capabilities and with different types of network access mechanisms, an ordinary user will consider various tradeoffs for selecting one particular device over the other for execution of his task in an ad hoc environment. We propose a model for specifying user preferences so that the selection of the best device for the user is automated.n Users specify their preferences and constraints qualitatively, which are then mapped on to a quantitative utility model. Preferences can be specified both for users liking and dislike. We analyze the theory of TCP-nets as a formal model for representing and reasoning with qualitative preferences, and show how it can be used to create a quantitative preference model. Using an example scenario, the application of our model is shown and its utility against simple additive models is discussed.

A Policy-Based Approach for Resource Specification in Small Devices

A distributed application can be implemented as components, which might be available on a single host or distributed across various hosts. However, in a pervasive environment, such applications cannot be described statically in terms of the required components. This is because in such environments, the device participation is dynamic and the components described in application may not be available at the time of execution of the application. We believe that the description of the application must be generated dynamically at the time of its execution, in terms of the components available at that time. We present an approach in which an application is described in terms of abstract services, which are resolved into concrete components at runtime.When mapping services to components, their resource requirements are matched apart from their functional interfaces. Resources are also specified at both abstract and concrete levels. Only those components are selected whose interfaces and concrete resource requirements match with the abstract service interfaces and abstract resource requirements. The application composition is specified in SCA and CC/PP is used for resource specification using SCA policies.

RSM Based Optimization of Chemical and Enzymatic Transesterification of Palm Oil: Biodiesel Production and Assessment of Exhaust Emission Levels

Current study presents RSM based optimized production of biodiesel from palm oil using chemical and enzymatic transesterification. The emission behavior of biodiesel and its blends, namely, POB-5, POB-20, POB-40, POB-50, POB-80, and POB-100 was examined using diesel engine (equipped with tube well). Optimized palm oil fatty acid methyl esters (POFAMEs) yields were depicted to be 47.6 ± 1.5, 92.7 ± 2.5, and 95.4 ± 2.0% for chemical transesterification catalyzed by NaOH, KOH, and NaOCH3, respectively, whereas for enzymatic transesterification reactions catalyzed by NOVOZYME-435 and A. n. lipase optimized biodiesel yields were 94.2 ± 3.1 and 62.8 ± 2.4%, respectively. Distinct decrease in particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) levels was experienced in exhaust emissions from engine operating on biodiesel blends POB-5, POB-20, POB-40, POB-50, POB-80, and POB-100 comparative to conventional petroleum diesel. Percentage change in CO and PM emissions for different biodiesel blends ranged from −2.1 to −68.7% and −6.2 to −58.4%, respectively, relative to conventional diesel, whereas an irregular trend was observed for NOx emissions. Only POB-5 and POB-20 showed notable reductions, whereas all other blends (POB-40 to POB-100) showed slight increase in NOx emission levels from 2.6 to 5.5% comparative to petroleum diesel.

Persuasive Healthcare Self-Management in Intelligent Environments

An important feature of the intelligent environments is that they monitor user activities and help them in making decisions based on their progress in activities. Many such environments have been designed previously for healthcare management. However, more than often users are reluctant to consider the feedback from the environment alone. So we consider experts recommendations and social network of the user as additional entities that form part of the intelligent environment. However, unlike traditional approaches, they influence the user indirectly through various persuasion techniques. The main idea is to change the behavior of the user for improving healthcare management. In this article we identify salient features of our framework for healthcare self-management in intelligent environments that combines ubiquitous and social computing as persuasion media. The framework enables social interactions between the patients, doctors, and other users in their online social community through a web portal as well as through their smart phones. Both users behavior and preferences are taken into account to help them in adopting healthy behavior. This is done by using different persuasion strategies created on the basis of the users behavior model. As a case study we consider diabetes self-management in this article.

A Graph-Based Approach for Ad hoc Task Composition Considering User Preferences and Device Capabilities

Ad hoc user task composition involves automatic matching and selection of services across various devices in the pervasive environment. Existing service composition approaches mostly do not consider network heterogeneity or devices capabilities simultaneously. This limits the composition mechanism, as not all the devices will be able to use the same set of network protocols. The user preferences are also not considered when selecting a particular service or device. In this paper, we propose a solution for ad hoc user task composition based on a graph-theoretic approach. We model both the user task and the underlying network services, along with their requirements and capabilities, as graphs. The heterogeneity of communication protocols is also considered in the graph. After an early elimination of unnecessary devices, and hence services, from the network services graph, based on user preferences and task requirements, a matching is performed between the user task graph and the simplified network services graph to achieve the composed user application.

Using Adaptive Feedback for Promoting Awareness about Physical Activeness in Adults

Physical activities play important role in having better health. However, due to the nature of our jobs, most of us have developed sedentary habits and it is very seldom that we find dedicated time for exercise or other physical activities. Sedentary behavior has been identified as an important factor in preventing good health and there is a need to push adults to carry out physical activities regularly, on daily basis. The purpose of the current research is to find how we can effectively use mobile phone technology to raise awareness about sedentary behavior in users and how we can persuade users to do physical activities. For this purpose, we developed a mobile application called Sedentaware. We describe different mobile application prototypes and experiments that were conducted on adult users for preventing sedentary behavior in order to promote physical activities among adults. Our final prototype that is able to motivate the users to take corrective actions, after detecting prolonged sedentary behavior, uses an adaptive model based on each users progress. We identify some human and software design factors and describe why our previous approaches did not work before arriving at the final one. The results of user experiments and performance evaluations are also discussed.