1
Towards Pervasive Computing
Towards Pervasive Computing
Vandana Dhingra1 and Tanvi Rustagi2
Apeejay College of Engineering, Sohna
E-mail: 1Vandana_dua_2000@yahoo.com, 2trustagi@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Pervasive computing is a new dimension of personal computing that integrates mobile communication,
ubiquitous embedded computer system, consumer electronics and power of Internet. It is a rapidly developing area
of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The term refers to the increasing integration of ICT into
people’s lives and environments, made possible by the growing availability of microprocessors with inbuilt
communications facilities. Pervasive computing has many potential applications, from health and home care to
environmental monitoring and intelligent transport systems.
In this paper, we have discussed about how pervasive computing is different from traditional computing, its evolution
from its predecessor fields, various issues related to pervasive computing and discussed various other research
areas that are required to be studied with pervasive computing.
Keywords—Ubiquitous Computing, Pervasive Computing Systems (PCS), Mobile Computing, Distributed
computing, Human-Computer Interaction.
INTRODUCTION
P
ervasive or Ubiquitous computing has the potential to
radically transform the way people interacted with
computers [4]. The key idea behind pervasive computing is
to deploy a wide variety of computing devices throughout
living and working spaces. These devices coordinate with
each other and network services with the goal of providing
people with universal access to their information and
seamlessly assisting them in completing their task.
Pervasive computing thus marks a major shift in focus
away from the actual computing technology and towards
people and their needs, so instead of manually managing
their computing environment by for example copying files
between devices or converting between data formats user
simply access their applications and their data whenever
and wherever they need. With its vision of ubiquitous
information access, pervasive computing significantly
impacts computing devices and their deployment in
addition to conventional desktop and server computers,
pervasive computing environments encompass many
different devices of various sizes and capabilities, including
PDA cell phones, video game consoles, robotic dogs.
Furthermore, in addition to well-administered and
controlled computing server rooms with racks of
computers, computing devices are now everywhere, often
embedded in places not typically associated with
computing, such as living rooms. Laboratories and server
rooms with racks of computers, computing devices are not
everywhere often embedded in places not typically
associated with computing such as living rooms. Pervasive
computing systems (PCS) and services may lead to a
greater degree of user knowledge of, or control over, the
surrounding environment, whether at home, or in an office
or car. They may also show a form of ‘intelligence’. For
instance, a ‘smart’ electrical appliance could detect its own
impending failure and notify its owner as well as a
maintenance company, to arrange a repair. Pervasive
computing has been in development for almost 15 years but
still remains some way from becoming a fully operational
reality. Some core technologies have already emerged,
although the development of battery technologies and user
interfaces pose particular challenges. It may be another 5–10
year before complete PCS become widely available [5].
This depends on market forces, industry, public perceptions
and the effects of any policy/regulatory frameworks.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
TRADITIONAL NETWORKING AND A
PERVASIVE COMPUTING?
Rather than using the network to connect computers that
are being used directly by people, these appliances
communicate over networks such that people do not
directly monitor the communication between machines and
programs. The majority of these communications will occur
in an end-to-end structure that does not include a human at
any point. The number of machines connected to the
Internet has been increasing at an exponential rate and will
continue to grow at this rate as the existing networks of
embedded computers, including those that already exist
within our automobiles, are connected to the larger, global
network, and as new networks of embedded devices are
constructed in our homes and offices. The kinds of devices
that will be used to access the Internet are no longer
confined to desktops and servers, but include small devices
with limited user interface facilities (such as cell phones
and PDAs); wireless devices with limited bandwidth,
94
computing power, and electrical power; and embedded
processors with severe limitations on the amount of
memory and computing power available to them. Many of
these devices are mobile, changing not only geographic
position, but also their place in the topology of the network.
Unlike traditional Desktop Computers and existing
networks, the new devices will have the following
characteristics:
1. Many will have small, inexpensive processors with
limited memory and little or no persistent storage.
2. They will connect to other computing elements without
the direct intervention of users.
3. Often, they will be connected by wireless networks.
4. They will change rapidly, sometimes by being mobile,
sometime by going on and offline at widely varying
rates. Over the time, they will be replaced (or fail) far
more rapidly than is no common.
5. They will be used s source of information, often sending
that information into the center of the network to which
they are attached.
EVOLUTION OF PERVASIVE NETWORKING
Pervasive networking is said to be evolved from mobile
computing and pervasive computing [8].
Mobile Computing
It was born in the early 1990’s with the advent of fullfunction laptop computers and wireless LANs. Although
many basic principles of distributed system design
continued to apply, four key constraints of mobility forced
the development of specialized techniques. These
constraints are: (a) unpredictable variation in network
quality; (b) lowered trust and robustness of mobile
elements; (c) limitations on local resources imposed by
weight and size constraints; (d) concern for battery power
consumption. Mobile computing is still a very active and
evolving field of research, whose body of knowledge
awaits codification. The results achieved so far can be
grouped into the following broad topics:
 mobile networking, including Mobile IP, ad-hoc
protocols, and techniques for improving
 mobile information access, including disconnected
operation, bandwidth-adaptive file access, and selective
control of data consistency.
 support for adaptative applications, including transcoding by proxies and adaptive resource management
 system-level energy saving techniques, such as energyaware adaptation, variable-speed processor scheduling,
energy-fair ad hoc networking, and energy-sensitive task
and memory management
 location sensitivity, including location sensing and
location-aware system behaviour.
Mobile and Pervasive Computing (CoMPC–2008)
Distributed Systems
The field of distributed systems arose at the intersection of
personal computers and local area networks. The research
that followed from the mid-1970 through the early 1990’s
created a conceptual framework and algorithmic base that
has proven to be of enduring value in all work involving
two or more computers connected by a network—whether
mobile or static, wired or wireless, sparse or pervasive.
This body of knowledge spans many areas.
 Remote communication, including protocol layering.
 Remote procedure call, the use of timeouts, and the use
of end-to-end arguments in placement of functionality.
 fault tolerance, including atomic transactions, distributed and nested transactions, and two-phase commit.
 High availability, including optimistic and pessimistic
replica control, mirrored execution, and optimistic
recovery.
 Remote information access, including caching, function
shipping, distributed file systems, and distributed
databases.
 Security, including encryption-based mutual authentication and privacy.
Remote communication
Protocol layering RPC,
end-to-end args…
Fault tolerance
ACID, two-phase commit,
nested transactions…
High Availability Distributed
Replication, rollback recovery… Systems
Mobile
Pervasive
Computing
Computing
Remote information access
Dist file systems, dist databases,
caching…
Distributed security
Encryption mutual
authentication…
Mobile networking
Mobile IP, ad hoc networks,
wireless TCP fixes…
Mobile information access
Disconnected operation
weak consistency…
Adaptive applications
proxies, transcoding agility…
Energy-aware systems
goal-directed adaptation,
disk spin-down…
Location sensitivity
GPS-waved in triangulation
context-awareness…
Smart spaces
Invisibility
Localized scalability
Uneven conditioning
Fig. 1: Evolution of Pervasive Computing from Mobile
system and Distributed Systems
95
Towards Pervasive Computing
ISSUES RELATED TO PERVASIVE
COMPUTING
There are engineering problems to be solved before many
of the envisaged applications of PCS can become a reality.
Moreover, the operation of PCS raises questions over
privacy, security, safety and environmental impact. Many
of these issues occur already with ICT such as the Internet
or mobile phones. However the potential ubiquity and
integration of PCS into the environment pose additional
challenges.
Engineering Issues
The UK Computer Research Center (UKCRC) highlights
specific issues including the current lack of low cost
technology to locate devices and the lack of suitable power
sources. Also the complexity of PCS systems means that
their communications, software and hardware are likely to
suffer from faults. These might be accidental, or the result
of deliberate attempts to damage the system. The National
Consumer Council (NCC) suggests there may be questions
over liability—for example if systems are interconnected it
will be harder to establish who is responsible if something
goes wrong. The NCC also points out that systems means
that their communications, software and hardware are
likely to suffer from faults. These might be accidental, or
the result of deliberate attempts to damage the system. [3]
The National Consumer Council (NCC) suggests there may
be questions over liability—for example if systems are
interconnected it will be harder to establish who is
responsible if something goes wrong. The NCC also points
out that faulty system may be harder to repair because of
the degree of interconnection.
Privacy, Security and Safety
Pervasive computing systems may have implications for
privacy, security and safety, as a result of their ability to [2]:
 gather sensitive data, for example on users' everyday
interactions, movements, preferences and attitudes,
without user intervention or consent;
 retrieve and use information from large databases/
archives of stored data;
 alter the environment via actuating devices.
Privacy: With personal information being collected,
transmitted and stored in greater volume, the opportunities
for data interception, theft and ‘ubiquitous surveillance’
(official and unofficial) will be heightened. PCS could be
embedded in places considered private, such as the home.
Data on many aspects of personal life could be recorded
and stored, with the risk of breaches of privacy. The advent
of pervasive computing may mean that data can be
collected without a person’s knowledge or consent. Some
argue that this could violate existing data protection law
[4]. This law also requires that personal data should be
collected for a specified purpose only. However the
opportunities for ‘data mining’ activities could be vastly
increased with PCS. Data mining involves processing large
quantities of data to spot patterns and trends. In terms of
consumer data, this can lead to more effective targeted
marketing. However, because data mining activities can
detect unknown relationships in data, some argue that there
is the potential to violate existing legislation. There is
debate over how privacy can be protected while still
realizing the benefits of pervasive Computing, and whether
new legislation will be required.
Safety and Security: Pervasive computing also gives rise to
debate over safety. Integrated transport systems could
involve road vehicles having actuating devices that
intervene in the driving process, possibly responding to
hazards more quickly than humans. For example, the new
Mercedes S-Class features an active braking system that
can detect rapidly slowing vehicles in front, activating the
brakes without driver intervention. While this may help
avoid accidents, there are also potential risks, for example
if the security of the vehicle’s controlling software is
breached. Similar concerns exist over prospective PCS
applications in domiciliary care. Breaches of security could
expose vulnerable individuals to malicious acts within their
own homes—for example the withholding or overprescribing of medications.
Technological Measures: It is argued that privacy, safety
and security can be better protected if appropriate
procedures and protocols are integrated into PCS at the
design level rather than implemented retrospectively. Three
measures are frequently cited as vital in establishing robust
security measures:
 the volume of transmitted data should be kept to a
minimum;
 data that require transmission should be encrypted and
sent anonymously (without reference to the owner);
 security should be treated as an ongoing and integral
element of PCS.
These principles are accepted by many centers of PCS
research and development. However, consumer groups
such as the NCC say that developers need to give more
consideration to privacy issues. The NNC argues that in the
case of RFID, 6 privacy issues were considered only late in
development and have still not been fully addressed.
Environment
While the consumption of natural resources might be
reduced through the miniaturization of PCS devices, any
gains are likely to be offset by technological proliferation.
This may be compounded by problems of treating
microelectronic waste embedded in other objects and has
implications for recycling because of the possibility of such
waste contaminating recycling channels. While some of
these issues are likely to be covered by the transposition
into UK law of the EC Directive on Waste Electrical and
96
Electronic Equipment, further action (including further
regulation) may be required.
Health
Non-ionizing radiation is a by-product of the wireless
signals that are likely to be used to connect pervasive
computing devices into broader networks. As these devices
may be carried close to the body (more so than current
ICT) and remain constantly activated, there may be
increased risk from exposure of body tissues to the
potentially damaging effects of such radiation.
Digital Divide
There is a risk of technological and social isolation for
those who do not use the technology (whether it be through
choice, lack of income or skills). For instance, banking,
education and retail services are likely to be delivered
through PCS embedded within smart homes; this could
lead to some consumers being deprived of access and
freedom of choice. Pervasive computing could improve the
lives of those with illnesses and disabilities, and the elderly.
However, it is widely agreed that in order for these groups
to benefit from PCS, their needs and capabilities should be
considered from an early stage in the design of the system.
OVERLAP WITH OTHER RESEARCH AREAS
Mobile and Pervasive Computing (CoMPC–2008)
CONCLUSION
Pervasive computing will be a fertile source of challenging
research problems in computer systems for many years to
come. Solving these problems will require us to broaden
our discourse on some topics, and to revisit long-standing
design assumptions in others. We will also have to address
research challenges in areas outside computer systems.
These areas include human-computer interaction
(especially multi-modal interactions and human-centric
hardware designs), software agents (with specific relevance
to high-level proactive behavior), and expert systems and
artificial intelligence (particularly in the areas of decision
making and planning). Capabilities from these areas will
need to be integrated with the kinds of computer systems
capabilities. Pervasive computing will thus be the crucible
in which many disjoint areas of research are fused. When
describing his vision, Weiser was fully aware that attaining
it would require tremendous creativity and effort by many
people, sustained over many years. The early decades of
the 21st century will be a period of excitement and ferment,
as new hardware technologies converge with research
progress on the many fundamental problems discussed in
this paper. Like the Frontier of the American West in the
early 19th century, pervasive computing offers new
beginnings for the adventurous and the restless—a rich
open space where the rules have yet to be written and the
borders yet to be drawn.
REFERENCES
Fig. 2: Mobile and pervasive computing overlap with other
research areas
Figure 2 presents a broader perspective of the research
challenges we face in this area. As this figure shows,
mobile and pervasive computing share many research
topics with other areas of research. For example, a research
project that sits at the intersection of Security and Mobile
Computing is Grey. Grey area at intersection seeks to
develop a secure and flexible framework for access control
to both physical and virtual resources. In this framework, a
user exercises and delegates her authority using her smart
phone.
[1] “Towards a Pervasive Computing Benchmark”, Anand
Ranganathan, Jalal Al-Muhtadi, Jacob Biehl, Brian Ziebart,
Roy H. Campbell and Brian Bailey in Proceedings of the 3rd
International Conf. on Pervasive Computing and
Communications Workshops (PerCom 2005 Workshops).
[2] Roy H. Campbell, Jalal Al-Muhtadi, Prasad Naldurg,
Geetanjali Sampemane, Dennis Mickunas, M., “Towards
Security and Privacy for Pervasive Computing”,in
Proceeding of Third International Conference on Software
Reliability.
[3] Weiser, M., “The Computer for the 21st Century,” Scientific
Am., Sept., 1991, pp. 94–104; reprinted in IEEE Pervasive
Computing, Jan–Mar. 2002, pp. 19–25.
[4] Weiser, M., Hot topics: Ubiquitous computing, IEEE
computer, October, 1993.
[5] Banavar, G. et al., “Challenges: An Application Model for
Pervasive Computing,” Proc. 6th Ann. ACM/IEEE Int’l
Conf. Mobile Computing and Networking (Mobicom 2000),
ACM Press, 2000, pp. 266–274.
[6] Saha, D., A Mukherjee “Pervasive Computing: A paradigm
for the 21st Century”. IEEE. March, 2003. Published by
IEEE.
[7] “At what cost pervasive? A social computing view of
mobile computing systems”, Dryer, D.C., Eisbach, C. and
Ark, W.S., p. 65 Published in IBM Journal, Volume 38,
number, 49, 1999.
[8] Satyanarayanan, M. “Pervasive Computing: Vision and
challenges,” IEEE Personal Communication, Aug. 2001,
PP. 10–17.
Towards Pervasive Computing
97