6 Context-aware applications enhanced with commonsense spatial reasoning

Abstract

A major issue in Pervasive Computing in order to design and implement context–aware applications is to correlate heterogeneous information acquired by distributed devices to provide a more comprehensive view of the context they inhabit. Although information can be geo-referenced according to quantitative models there are a number of reasons for which Qualitative Spatial Representations can be preferred in such context. The paper presents a knowledge-based approach to correlation of information coming from different sources based on Logical Commonsense Spatial Reasoning. In particular a class of models that can be exploited for reasoning about correlation is presented and a framework to provide the desired inferences within a Hybrid Logic framework is given. This framework is claimed to be enough flexible to be exploited in different application domains and an example for a Smart Home application is discussed.