Kindergarten: A novel communication mechanism for mobile context-aware applications

Abstract

Mobile context-aware applications have specific needs regarding data communications and position sensing, that current standard hardware is still not able to fulfill. Current mechanisms are inadequate for applications that need constant communications because of their high power needs and low precision when used to measure the physical indoor position of a mobile device. For this reason the authors have created a new, flexible and inexpensive technology that aims to solve both the needs of communication and position estimation on mobile platforms. This new network type uses recently developed technology to minimize power consumption, leading to a longer battery life and maximizing the precision of the position sensing of the device. Finally, on top of their hardware platform they have devised a software layer, named Kindergarten, which allows high-level languages to interact with the underlying hardware.