CMP: A UML Context Modeling Profile for Mobile Distributed Systems

This paper proposes the context modeling profile (CMP), a lightweight UML extension, as a visual language for context models in mobile distributed systems. The resulting models visualize meta information of the context, i.e. source and validity of context information, and reflect privacy restrictions. The profile provides several well-formedness rules for context models supporting the development of context-aware mobile applications through an adequate visual modeling language. A case study is used to illustrate the approach

1 Introduction

The context of a user is an interesting research topic in mobile computing. The user context enables technologies like context-based provision, discovery and usage of services and context-aware applications [2]. These technologies seem to be a promising way to enhance the capabilities of mobile devices, making them appear more intelligent, eliminate interface restrictions and leverage the support of the user by the device.