Now showing 1 - 10 of 24
  • Publication
    Agent-based coordination for the sensor web
    The approach described advocates the use of a multi-agent system, and specifically the use of multi-agent distributed constraint optimisation algorithms. Developing software for low powered sensing devices introduces several problems to be addressed; the most obvious being the limited computational resources available. In this paper we discuss an implementation of ADOPT, a pre-existing algorithm for distributed constraint optimisation, and describe how it has been integrated with a reflective agent platform developed for resource constrained devices, namely Agent Factory Micro Edition (AFME). The usefulness of this work is illustrated through the canonical multi-agent coordination problem, namely graph colouring.
      16038Scopus© Citations 2
  • Publication
    Agent migration and communication in WSNs
    Intelligent agents offer a viable paradigm for enabling AmI applications and services. As WSN technologies are anticipated to provide an indispensable component in many application domains, the need for enabling the agent paradigm to encompass such technologies becomes more urgent. The resource-constrained ad-hoc nature of WSNs poses significant challenges to conventional agent frameworks. In particular, the implications for agent functionality and behaviour in a WSN context demand that issues such as unreliable message delivery and limited power resources, amongst others, be considered. In this paper, the practical issues of agent migration and communication are considered in light of WSN constraints. The discussion is illustrated through a description of approaches adopted by Agent Factory Micro Edition (AFME).
    Scopus© Citations 21  1403
  • Publication
    Coordinated intelligent power management and the heterogeneous sensing coverage problem
    One of the most important factors to be considered when developing an application for a wireless sensor network (WSN) is its power consumption. Intelligent power management (IPM) for a WSN is crucial in maximizing the operational longevity. An established regime for achieving this is through the opportunistic hibernation of redundant nodes. Redundancy, however, has various definitions within the field of WSNs and indeed multiple protocols, each operating using a different definition, coexist on the same node. In this paper, we advocate the use of an MAS as an appropriate mechanism by which different stake-holders, each desiring to hibernate a node in order to conserve power, can collaborate. The problem of node hibernation for the heterogeneous sensing coverage areas is introduced and the manner by which it can be solved using ADOPT, an algorithm for distributed constraint optimization, is described. We illustrate that the node hibernation strategy discussed here is more useful than the traditional stack-based approach and motivate our discussion using IPM as an exemplar.
    Scopus© Citations 11  853
  • Publication
    Implicitly influencing the interactive experience
    Enabling intuitive interaction in system design remains an art more than a science. This difficulty is exacerbated when the diversity of device and end user group is considered. In this paper, it is argued that conventional interaction modalities are unsuitable in many circumstances and that alternative modalities need be considered. Specifically the case of implicit interaction is considered, and the paper discusses how its use may lead to more satisfactory experiences. Specifically, harnessing implicit interaction in conjunction with the traditional explicit interaction modality, can enable a more intuitive and natural interactive experience. However, the exercise of capturing and interpreting implicit interaction is problematic and is one that lends itself to the adoption of AI techniques. In this position paper, the potential of lightweight intelligent agents is proposed as a model for harmonising the explicit and implicit components of an arbitrary interaction.
      351
  • Publication
    Implicitly and intelligently influencing the interactive experience
    Enabling intuitive interaction in system design remains an art more than a science. This difficulty is exacerbated when the diversity of device and end user group is considered. In this paper, it is argued that conventional interaction modalities are unsuitable in many circumstances and that alternative modalities need be considered. Specifically the case of implicit interaction is considered, and the paper discusses how its use may lead to more satisfactory experiences. Specifically, harnessing implicit interaction in conjunction with the traditional explicit interaction modality, can enable a more intuitive and natural interactive experience. However, the exercise of capturing and interpreting implicit interaction is problematic and is one that lends itself to the adoption of AI techniques. In this position paper, the potential of lightweight intelligent agents is proposed as a model for harmonising the explicit and implicit components of an arbitrary interaction.
      567
  • Publication
    Virtual sensor networks : an embedded agent approach
    Many documented instances of existing research on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) use deployments that either fall short of, or barely meet, the resource requirements of the application. In this paper, it is envisaged that future WSN deployments will far exceed the resource requirements of any one single application. In a similar fashion to the use of virtual machines on a mainframe, sub-networks of adequate resources will be carved out of the entire deployment to fulfil the requirements of multiple applications. These will be hosted simultaneously on the network, and in many cases, certain WSN nodes will form a component in a number of these Virtual Sensor Networks (VSN). Such VSNs will also be dynamic in nature, adapting resources as nodes go offline. An additional requirement of such networks will be to engage in opportunistic power management, such as node hibernation, while the networks are adapting. In this paper, a solution for both of these issues is proposed, underpinned by a Multi-Agent System (MAS) resident on individual nodes. This solution facilitates both the practical operation of adaptive VSNs, while ensuring aggregate energy consumption can be minimised.
    Scopus© Citations 14  2582
  • Publication
    EDLA tradeoffs for wireless sensor network target tracking
    The number of active nodes in a WSN deployment governs both the longevity of the network and the accuracy of applications using the network’s data. As node hibernation techniques become more sophistocated, it is important that an accurate evaluation methodology is employed to ensure fair comparisons across different techniques. Examining both energy and accuracy ensures a claim of increased longevity for a particular technique can be contrasted against its associated drop, if any, in application accuracy. This change can also be as a result of increased latency and the accuracy encapsulates many aspects of WSN performance in one metric. In this work, we detail the first in a series of simulation experiments designed to demonstrate the tradeoffs for a WSN and we employ mobility tracking as the application to benchmark accuracy. Additionally, we demonstrate experimental evidence for a potential adaptive mobility tracking protocol.
      2198Scopus© Citations 8
  • Publication
    Coordinated intelligent power management and the heterogeneous sensing coverage problem
    One of the most important factors to be considered when developing an application for a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is its power consumption. Intelligent Power Management (IPM) for a WSN is crucial in maximising the operational longevity. An established regime for achieving this is through the opportunistic hibernation of redundant nodes. Redundancy, however, has various definitions within the field of WSNs and indeed multiple protocols, each operating using a different definition, coexist on the same node. In this paper, we advocate the use of a MAS as an appropriate mechanism by which different stake-holders, each desiring to hibernate a node in order to conserve power, can collaborate. The problem of node hibernation for the heterogeneous sensing coverage areas is introduced and the manner by which it can be solved using ADOPT, an algorithm for distributed constraint optimisation, is described. We illustrate that the node hibernation strategy discussed here is more useful than the traditional stack-based approach and motivate our discussion using intelligent power management as an exemplar.
    Scopus© Citations 11  884
  • Publication
    Intelligent agile agents: active enablers for ambient intellgence
    This paper advocates the use of mobile intentional agents as a key enabler in the delivery of ambient intelligence. Ambient computing as an ideal demands levels of functional attainment that have hithertofar not been realised. Ambient applications demand that the computing application be subsumed into the everyday context in an unobtrusive manner with interaction modalities such that they are natural, simple and appropriate to both the individual user and their associated context.
      148
  • Publication
    Diversity & interoperability : wireless technologies in ambient assisted living
    Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) demands the seamless integration of a range of technologies such that the particular needs of the elderly may be met. Given the heterogeneity of the elderly population, in their needs and circumstances amongst others, this is a significant challenge. In essence, it demands that a disparate suite of technologies be deployed, integrated, managed and interacted with in a seamless and intuitive fashion. In this paper, how this heterogeneity may be managed is discussed. In particular, the use of ontologies and middleware are proposed as potential solutions to this heterogeneity problem.
      645