Manfred Sneps-Sneppe

Geofence and Network Proximity

Many of modern location-based services are often based on an area or place as opposed to an accurate determination of the precise location. Geofencing approach is based on the observation that users move from one place to another and then stay at that place for a while. These places can be, for example, commercial properties, homes, office centers and so on. As per geofencing approach they could be described (defined) as some geographic areas bounded by polygons. It assumes users simply move from fence to fence and stay inside fences for a while. In this article we replace geo-based boundaries with network proximity rules. This new approach let us effectively deploy indoor location based services and provide a significant energy saving for mobile devices comparing with the traditional methods.

Proximity as a service

This paper describes a new possible model for distributing hyper-local data across subscribers. This new model uses Wi-Fi proximity approach as a service. According to this concept, any exiting or even especially created Wi-Fi hot spot could be used as presence sensor that can trigger access for some user-generated information snippets. In this approach we can discover hyper local data as information snippets that are relevant for mobile subscribers being at this moment nearby some Wi-Fi access point. And an especially developed mobile application (context-aware browser) can present that information to mobile subscribers. As the possible use-cases for this application we can mention for example delivering commercial information in malls, distributing data in Smart City projects, sharing news feeds for office centers and campuses as well as for the personal classifieds and city games.

About M2M standards and their possible extensions

This paper describes the current state of open APIs for M2M applications as well as proposes a couple of possible changes and extensions. Open API provides a portable platform for services that may be replicated and ported between different execution environments and hardware platforms. The more elaborated specification to date, presented as an Application Programming Interface (Open API) from ETSI, provides applications with a rich framework of core network capabilities upon which to build services while encapsulating the underlying communication protocols. We would like to propose the possible extensions for ETSI documents that, by our opinion, let keep telecom development in sync with the modern approaches in the web development.

Context-aware data discovery

This paper discusses context-aware data browsing and data retrieval for mobile subscribers. We describe existing models as well as provide a new description for our SpotEx approach. Our model for context-aware data discovery uses mobile phones as proximity sensors. In our concept, any existing or even specially created wireless network node could be used as a presence sensor that can open (discover) access to some dynamic or user-generated content. The content itself could also be linked to social media. An appropriate mobile service (context-aware browser) can present that information to mobile subscribers. Potential use-cases for the proposed approach include any project associated with hyper-local news data. For example, projects providing Smart City data, delivering indoor retail information, etc.

Spotique: A New Approach to Local Messaging

This paper describes a new approach to local messaging. Our application combines passive monitoring for smart phones and cloud based messaging for mobile OS (operational system). Passive monitoring can determine the location of mobile subscribers (mobile phones, actually) without the active participation of the users. Mobile users do not need to mark own location on social networks (check-in), they do not need to run on their phones the location track applications. In the same time, Cloud Messaging allows interested parties to directly deliver their information to mobile users who find themselves near a selected point. This is the main content of the service - how to combine the monitoring and notifications.

Customized check-in procedures

This paper describes a new mobile service: customized check-ins. This service lets any business provide a customized form for mobile users that allow them mark (describe) business-related events in the social networks. So instead of the traditional check-ins models, introduced by the communication services, this service introduces business-oriented check-ins. For the business this service introduces a new way for advertising in the social networks. And this advertising model does not require any intermediate service. For the consumers this service introduces a way for exchanging access to the own social graph for some benefits (e.g. gifts, discounts, coupons etc.).

Wireless Networks Sensors and Social Streams

The paper introduces a new approach for using wireless sensors on mobile phones for integrating data from social networks. We describe existing models for integrating sensors and social networks, as well as propose a new practical approach for social context-aware data discovery that uses mobile phone as proximity sensor. Our concept uses wireless networks sensors from mobile phones (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) as presence sensor that can open (discover) access for some content published in the social networks. And an appropriate mobile service (context-aware browser client for social networks) can present that information to mobile subscribers. As the potential use-cases for the proposed approach we can mention all projects related to hyper-local news data. For example, proximity marketing, Smart City news, indoor information delivery, etc.

M2M Applications and Open API: What Could Be Next?

In this paper we describe the current state of open APIs for M2M applications as well as some possible changes and extensions. Our article based on open standards ETSI is going to provide for the rapidly growing M2M market. An open specification, presented as an Application Programming Interface (OpenAPI), provides applications with a rich framework of core network capabilities upon which to build services while encapsulating the underlying communication protocols. OpenAPI is a portable platform for services that may be replicated and ported between different execution environments and hardware platforms. We would like to discuss the possible extensions for ETSI proposals that, by our opinion, let keep telecom development inline with the modern approaches in the web development domain.

Local messages for smartphones

This paper describes a new model for local messaging based on the network proximity. We present a novelty mobile mashup which combines Wi-Fi proximity measurements with Cloud Messaging. Our mobile mashup combines passive monitoring for smart phones and cloud based messaging for mobile operational systems. Passive monitoring can determine the location of mobile subscribers (mobile phones, actually) without the active participation of mobile users. This paper describes how to combine the passive monitoring and notifications.

On Open Source Mobile Sensing

The paper discusses phone as a sensor model. For many applied tasks smart phones are an ideal platform for collecting and processing context-related data. The most popular example is, probably, computational social science. Phones can collect data for conducting various social researches about people’s social behavior. This paper presents an attempt to describe and categorize existing open source libraries for mobile sensing, describe architecture and design patterns as well as discover directions for the future development.