Pavel Kriz

Improving Indoor Localization Using Bluetooth Low Energy Beacons

The paper describes basic principles of a radio-based indoor localization and focuses on the improvement of its results with the aid of a new Bluetooth Low Energy technology. The advantage of this technology lies in its support by contemporary mobile devices, especially by smartphones and tablets. We have implemented a distributed system for collecting radio fingerprints by mobile devices with the Android operating system. This system enables volunteers to create radio-maps and update them continuously. New Bluetooth Low Energy transmitters (Apple uses its “iBeacon” brand name for these devices) have been installed on the floor of the building in addition to existing WiFi access points. The localization of stationary objects based on WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and their combination has been evaluated using the data measured during the experiment in the building. Several configurations of the transmitters’ arrangement, several ways of combination of the data from both technologies, and other parameters influencing the accuracy of the stationary localization have been tested.

Troubleshooting Assistance Services in Community Wireless Networks

We have identified new services intended for users and administrators of community wireless networks. Troubleshooting assistance services will assist the users during solution of communication problems, gathering data for expert analysis, informing the user about the state of the network (including outages), and so forth. Network administrators will be provided with a unique tool supporting the network analysis, operation, and development. We have mainly focused on the use cases and prerequirements—the problem of topology discovery.

An Artificial Player for a Turn-Based Strategy Game

This paper describes the design of an artificial intelligent opponent in the Empire Wars turn-based strategy computer game. Several approaches to make the opponent in the game, that has complex rules and a huge state space, are tested. In the first phase, common methods such as heuristics, influence maps, and decision trees are used. While they have many advantages (speed, simplicity and the ability to find a solution in a reasonable time), they provide rather average results. In the second phase, the player is enhanced by an evolutionary algorithm. The algorithm adjusts several parameters of the player that were originally determined empirically. In the third phase, a learning process based on recorded moves from previous games played is used. The results show that incorporating evolutionary algorithms can significantly improve the efficiency of the artificial player without necessarily increasing the processing time.

Reflection of Intelligent E-Learning/Tutoring - The Flexible Learning Model in LMS Blackboard

The article encompasses the theoretical background and practical concept of teaching/learning through online courses as an example of smart solution of e-learning system adjusting to individual learning preferences, including students’ reflection on the individualized online instruction. First, the ‘Unlocking the Will to Learn’ concept by C.A. Johnston is introduced and implemented in the research design. Second, the pedagogical experiment reflecting individual learning style preferences is conducted. For this phase of research the e-application was designed which considers learners’ individual characteristics and consequently generates the online course content adjusted to them. Finally, learners’ feedback after studying in the course is presented.

Techniques for dynamic deployment of modules in context-aware Android applications

This paper presents the design and implementation details of mobile applications that support dynamic deployment of additional functionality without the need to restart the application or to interact with the user. This ability is the starting point that allows us to create context-aware applications that may download and provide new functions according to particular context. Mobile devices (smartphones) have a lot of sensors that can be used to determine the state of the environment and the users context. But current mobile applications are able to adapt themselves with predefined functions and to predefined contexts only. Our contribution enables these applications to react to particular situations that were unknown at the time the user installed the application and with functions that did not exist at that time.

Provisioning of application modules to Android devices

The Google Android platform supports provisioning of packaged applications to an Android device. However, an existing approach requires users interaction during the installation of a new application or its modules. We present a new approach to dynamic modules loading which enables provisioning of new modules to Android device dynamically without the interaction with the user. It will allow complex applications to adapt to the surrounding conditions and requirements of the user by downloading additional code from a server or a neighboring peer device. In our solution we propose to replace the default application class-loader with a custom one while employing some existing mechanisms of class-loading from APK packages at the Android platform.

An Ad Hoc Mobile Cloud and Its Dynamic Loading of Modules into a Mobile Device Running Google Android

This paper introduces Ad Hoc Mobile Cloud (m-cloud) Computing solution, describes its advantages and practical use-cases, e.g. during disaster recovery or mobile network overload during actions involving masses of people. A basic concept of an M-client M-client Server architecture which supports creation and existence of m-clouds is presented further in the text. Principle of a client (an m-client) with variable thickness, a basic building block and thus a necessary component of m-clouds, is discussed. The paper also describes dynamic module loading within an m-client. The Google Android platform has been used for our implementation.

Intelligent e-Learning/Tutoring – The Flexible Learning Model in LMS Blackboard

An insight into a current concept of teaching/learning is introduced in this paper. The article encompasses two main areas which inherently blend together: didactic area representing the theoretical background and the practical level covering the real current educational situation in teaching/learning through online courses. The paper introduces an example of smart solution of e-learning system adjusting to individual learning preferences of each student.

E-application for individualized e-learning

This paper deals with the e-application (plug-in) designed for the online course where individual learning preferences were reflected. The content is structured in several parts: (1) introduction to the learning styles theory, (2) research objective and design, including the Johnstons concept, (3) plug-in description and implementation in the course and (4) feedback collected from the course participants. The research was held at the Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, and involved 105 respondents.

Computer-aided OSPF network design tool

This article deals with an experimental version of the software used to visualize the network, provide the possibility to simulate topological and configuration changes, analyze and redesign the network. This tool was successfully deployed in the HKFree community wireless network, consisting of a large number of routers that use the OSPF routing protocol. Its primary purpose is to assist the network administrators in solving problems, creating and maintaining documentation and designing future changes.