{"id":{"repo_id":"rice","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/17600"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/rice/oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/17600","repository":{"repo_id":"rice","name":"Rice University","base_url":"https://repository.rice.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"User-centric framework for device aggregation","abstract":"As intelligent devices become affordable and wireless infrastructure becomes pervasive, the potential to combine, or aggregate, device functionality to provide a user with a better experience grows. Currently, the user must have a detailed understanding of the physical properties of the devices, the software services offered, and the dynamic behavior of the environment in order to form an appropriate aggregation. Even a small number of devices can be aggregated in many ways to perform a particular task effectively. This problem is more severe when the user is in an environment with unfamiliar devices, when a large number of devices are available, or when multiple tasks need to be performed simultaneously. This thesis presents the design and implementation of a system for the user-centric aggregation of device functionality in a dynamic environment. It supports the automated selection of device functionality for aggregation using predefined descriptions of devices and their services. It facilitates the selection of the aggregation that best matches a user's preferences using declarative policies, and it allows a user to express trade-offs between the quality of device attributes, user distraction, and aggregation stability. This approach enables a user to have a richer experience without having to constantly worry about device details and the aggregation of device functionality.","abstract_html":"As intelligent devices become affordable and wireless infrastructure becomes pervasive, the potential to combine, or aggregate, device functionality to provide a user with a better experience grows. Currently, the user must have a detailed understanding of the physical properties of the devices, the software services offered, and the dynamic behavior of the environment in order to form an appropriate aggregation. Even a small number of devices can be aggregated in many ways to perform a particular task effectively. This problem is more severe when the user is in an environment with unfamiliar devices, when a large number of devices are available, or when multiple tasks need to be performed simultaneously. This thesis presents the design and implementation of a system for the user-centric aggregation of device functionality in a dynamic environment. It supports the automated selection of device functionality for aggregation using predefined descriptions of devices and their services. It facilitates the selection of the aggregation that best matches a user's preferences using declarative policies, and it allows a user to express trade-offs between the quality of device attributes, user distraction, and aggregation stability. This approach enables a user to have a richer experience without having to constantly worry about device details and the aggregation of device functionality.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kumar, Rajnish"],"institution":"Rice University","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Zwaenepoel, Willy"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2003,"date_issued":"2003","date_published":"2003","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:10:22Z","subjects":["Computer science"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. 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This approach enables a user to have a richer experience without having to constantly worry about device details and the aggregation of device functionality."]},{"key":"dc:format.mimetype","label":"Dc Format Mimetype","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["User-centric framework for device aggregation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Zwaenepoel, Willy"],"dc:creator":["Kumar, Rajnish"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2009-06-04T06:29:20Z"],"dc:date.available":["2009-06-04T06:29:20Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2003"],"dc:description.abstract":["As intelligent devices become affordable and wireless infrastructure becomes pervasive, the potential to combine, or aggregate, device functionality to provide a user with a better experience grows. 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