Ambient Networks defines a new kind of network architecture, which embeds support for co operation and competition between diverse network types within a common control layer. This unified networking concept can adapt to the heterogeneous environments of different radio technologies and service and network environments. Special focus is placed on facilitating both competition and co-operation of various market players, by defining interfaces which allow the instant negotiation of cooperation agreements. The Ambient Networking concept has been developed in the framework of the Ambient Networks project, which is co-sponsored by the European Union under the Information Society Technology (IST) priority of the 6th Framework Programme. The Ambient Networks project mobilised the work of researchers from over forty different organisations, both major industrial corporations and leading academic institutions, from Europe and worldwide. This book offers a complete and detailed overview of the Ambient Networking concept and its core technologies. The authors explain the problems with current mobile IP networks and the need for a new mobility-aware IP-based control architecture, before presenting the Ambient Networking concept itself and the business opportunities that it offers. The architecture, components, features and challenges of Ambient Networking are covered in depth, with comprehensive discussions of multi-radio access, generic Ambient Network signalling, mobility support, context and network management and built-in media delivery overlay control. Ambient Networks: Co-operative Mobile Networking for the Wireless World Explains the need for Ambient Networking, discussing the limitations of today’s proposed architectures, and explaining the business potential of edge networks and network co-operation. Describes Ambient Networking technology in detail, and addresses the technical challenges for implementation. Includes practical user scenarios which are fully analysed and assessed through simulation studies. Including a complete examination of the research and technologies arising from the Ambient Networks concept, Ambient Networks will be invaluable for research and development teams in networking and communications technology, as well as advanced students in electrical engineering and computer science faculties. Standardisation specialists, research departments, and telecommunications analysts will also find this a helpful resource.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 16th IFIP/IEEE International Workshop on Distributed Systems, Operations and Management, DSOM 2005, held in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2005. The 23 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 87 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on information models and metrics, security and privacy, policy-based management, deployment, auditing and tuning, performance and quality of service, routing, fault management, and distributed management.

Ambient Intelligence Perspectives contains selected papers from the first international Ambient Intelligence Forum AmIF 2008 in Hradec Kraacute;loveacute;, Czech Republic. The forum is intended as the beginning of a series of rather broadly oriented discussion opportunities for discussing interdisciplinary, if not transdisciplinary aspects of rapidly evolving areas of Ambient Intelligence. Its aims were to review and discuss recent advances and promising research trends in AmI technology, intelligent environments, methods, middleware development, as well as applications in areas such as healthcare, product lifecycle and transport services. The intention to provide an opportunity of a very broad interaction among a wide rank of A01s coming from different surroundings means a great enrichment to all participants and gives ground to the success of the conference. Finally it led towards an interesting choice of three invited and twenty-five contributed papers, which are published in this book. All papers were carefully reviewed by the international program committee. Participants from twelve countries contributed to the scientific program and established a fruitful discussion atmosphere.

"This book covers the cutting-edge aspects of AMI applications, specifically those involving the effective design, realization, and implementation of a comprehensive ambient intelligence in smart environments"--

Ambient intelligence (AmI) is an element of pervasive computing that brings smartness to living and business environments to make them more sensitive, adaptive, autonomous and personalized to human needs. It refers to intelligent interfaces that recognise human presence and preferences, and adjust smart environments to suit their immediate needs and requirements. The key factor is the presence of intelligence and decision-making capabilities in IoT environments. The underlying technologies include pervasive computing, ubiquitous communication, seamless connectivity of smart devices, sensor networks, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and context-aware human-computer interaction (HCI). AmI applications and scenarios include smart homes, autonomous self-driving vehicles, healthcare systems, smart roads, the industry sector, smart facilities management, the education sector, emergency services, and many more. The advantages of AmI in the IoT environment are extensive. However, as for any new technological paradigm, there are also many open issues and limitations. This book discusses the AmI element of the IoT and the relevant principles, frameworks, and technologies in particular, as well as the benefits and inherent limitations. It reviews the state of the art of current developments relating to smart spaces and AmI-based IoT environments. Written by leading international researchers and practitioners, the majority of the contributions focus on device connectivity, pervasive computing and context modelling (including communication, security, interoperability, scalability, and adaptability). The book presents cutting-edge research, current trends, and case studies, as well as suggestions to further our understanding and the development and enhancement of the AmI-IoT vision.

Title page -- AALIANCE - The European Ambient Assisted Living Innovation Platform -- Foreword -- Executive Summary -- Table of contents -- List of Roadmaps -- List of Scenarios -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Introduction -- Structure of the Roadmap -- Roadmapping Process -- Scope of AAL -- Technological trends and barriers in AAL -- Technological trends -- Technological barriers -- AAL for persons -- AAL for health, rehabilitation and care -- Support for chronic disease management -- Biorobotics for neuro-rehabilitation -- Support for multi-disciplinary care teams -- Consolidated view -- Coping with impairments and disabilities -- Motor disabilities -- Personal activity management and monitoring -- Physical activity -- Mental activity -- Consolidated view -- Personal and home safety and security -- Open issues -- Safety in the face of specific threats -- Activities of Daily Life oriented support -- Other "common" activities -- Shopping -- Eat and drink -- Social interaction and communication -- AAL in the community -- Social inclusion -- Participation in community activities -- Creativity, hobbies and sports -- Cultural and experience exchanges -- Entertainment and leisure -- Training the brain -- Exercise and gaming -- Mobility -- Supporting individual physical mobility -- AA-driving (cars/private vehicles) -- Public transport -- AAL at work -- Background -- Work ability -- Employers' attitudes to older workers -- Training in and for the workplace -- Issues of work-life balance -- Needs of older workers in the workplace -- Access to working space -- Assuring environmental working conditions -- Support for working -- Prevention of diseases and injuries -- Safety and health regulations -- Enabling Technologies -- Sensing -- Sensors for safety and security in the environments -- Sensors for monitoring persons -- Sensor networks.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the First European Conference on Smart Sensing and Context, EuroSSC 2006, held in Enschede, Netherlands in October 2006. The 15 revised full papers and 14 revised short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from over 50 submissions.