SPECIAL NOTICE -- INVITATION TO WORK WITH NIST ON THE SOFTWARE-RELATED ISSUES OF PERVASIVE COMPUTING

Notice Date

October 19, 2000

Contracting Office

National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div.,100 Bureau Drive Stop 3572, Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-3572

ZIP Code

20899-3572

E-Mail Address

Alden Dima (alden.dima@nist.gov)

Description

Pervasive computing is characterized by convergence of personal computing, embedded systems and computer networking. Its mobile and adaptive nature will be driven by dynamic software whose correctness and reliability will be crucial to the success of pervasive computing. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is working with industry to address the software infrastructure, tools and techniques needed to create, manage, measure, test and debug pervasive services and applications. Part of this effort involves the creation of test beds for various pervasive computing technologies. Of particular interest is the development of a network-enabled, microcontroller-based module for a component-based pervasive computing architecture. Low cost is a key aspect of pervasive computing because "true" pervasiveness will require the deployment of huge numbers of embedded systems. However, standardized hardware and software networking support is often weak for these inexpensive processors. Many software architectures also impose an artificial distinction between low-end devices and high-end platforms such as desktop computers. This distinction creates a two-tier architecture that introduces extra cost, complexity and standardization issues. NIST plans to develop tools to simulate, test and evaluate pervasive computing software architectures to better understand the related standardization and measurement issues. This work is centered on the development and use of a layered pervasive computing model which incorporates the human user. Simulation of the overall issues associated with pervasive computing software architectures requires executable models of human users. Software tools to model the human user while performing simulations of pervasive computing systems will be crucial. NIST is inviting parties interested in these software issues to contribute software and/or work with NIST to develop specifications, software tools, test methods, and pervasive computing test beds. If interested, please contact Alden Dima at alden.dima@nist.gov, NIST 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8970, Bldg 820, Room 562, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 by November 30, 2000. For further information, please visit our Web site at http://www.nist.gov/aroma.

Web Link

http://www.nist.gov/aroma (http://www.nist.gov/aroma)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001023/SPMSC008.HTM (W-293 SN5046X2)