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Pervasive Computing

Removing the Barriers to Commercialisation of Ubiquitous Applications

Project lead: Mobile VCE - Virtual Centre of Excellence in Mobile and Personal Communications Ltd

Total project costs: £2.3m

Project Goal: Accelerating Commercialisation of Ubiquitous Services - a vital future revenue stream for telecom operators, service & content providers, and (one of) the largest consumer markets for pervasive computing. Such services can in principle be deployed using 'new wireless' (eg Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMAX) but are not yet, because of practical service delivery challenges. Delivery of ubiquitous services over the heterogeneous mix of existing networks and new access technologies is hindered today by barriers to deployment and commercial adoption in three critical areas - usage/usability, network and service. Specific, targeted, innovative yet practical solutions and approaches are proposed.
* The programme has very strong industry leadership, harnessing top UK academic teams (5/5*) with proven research record, essential for success. The project combines research innovation with a strong industry consensus mechanism needed for exploitation.

Mobile Network Optimisation Through Advanced Simulation

Project lead: Multiple Access Communications Limited (MAC Ltd)

Total project costs:   £1.06m

The optimisation of large-scale mobile telecommunications networks is currently a slow and labour-intensive process. Although tools are available to assist in this process, the algorithms and procedures used are relatively simplistic. In this project we will force a paradigm shift in the manner in which these networks are analysed and optimised by developing new, sophisticated network simulation models that can be used to assess, in near real-time, the impact of proposed changes to the network configuration. This will allow 'what if' scenarios to be assessed based on changes within the network that occur from hour-to-hour or even from minute-to-minute. This research will ultimately lead to autonomous, self-optimising networks that are capable of reacting to rapid, unpredictable changes in the network traffic. Networks of this nature will require less drive-testing and optimisation effort and they will allow operators to offer services at a lower cost.

Co-ordinated Management of Intelligent Pervasive Spaces (CMIPS)

Project lead: Thales Research and Technology (UK) Ltd.

Total project costs:  £770k

The CMIPS project will develop a proof of concept pervasive management system to provide co-ordinated management of the various orthogonal systems (HVAC, lighting and security systems, etc.) within buildings, particularly in the tertiary sector (offices, schools, etc.). The primary objective is energy management by developing building assessment techniques and dynamically personalised micro-environments, within the context of overall energy efficiency policies. The technology developed in the project is applicable to both existing and new buildings. The project innovations are in building intelligence assessment and benchmarking, policy management, intelligent agents and self-organising sensor networks. The consortium comprises an engineering consultancy (Arup), a technology provider (Thales Research & Technology) and an academic partner (University of Reading) with relevant expertise in the modern built environment

PRISM (PeRvasive Infrastructure and Services for Media):An Infrastructure for Digital Britain

Project lead: British Broadcasting Corporation

Total project costs:  £2.9m

At the heart of an intelligent connected world is an infrastructure of pervasive media services providing context-based digital media content. This project aims to prototype a pervasive digital media infrastructure based on grid and web services, that provides high-performance content storage, meta-data mark-up, discovery, context-based re-purposing within a secure, rights-protected environment with predictable quality of service. The project proposes an innovative deployment of a foundation infrastructure in conjunction with an existing BBC/BT online content pilot. The infrastructure aims to pilot the cornerstone of a media infrastructure for Digital Britain; providing support for leisure applications via broadcasting services for broadcasters and community groups; education services for schools and lifelong learning; and content services for a pervasive digital media economy.

PIPES (Personalised Information from Prioritised Environmental Sensing)

Project Lead:  BT

Total Project costs: £1.2m

The modern built environment is underpinned by communication and utilities infrastructures. There is a need to monitor and maintain the  media, e.g. pipes and cables, as well as the supporting structures, such as tunnels, ducts, manholes etc. that make up the physical manifestation of these infrastructures. This project aims to develop a system which provides timely, relevant information on infrastructure integrity to a range of interested users, for example by integrating monitoring data with communication infrastructures to make logistics more efficient. The project will go beyond isolated approaches to provide a more holistic monitoring and information-delivery system.  Autonomous AI techniques will enable the operation and connectivity of heterogeneous devices to self-organise, according to user priorities.