Title: Applying context-aware techniques to design remote assisted living applications

Authors: Alexandre Sztajnberg, Andre Luiz B. Rodrigues, Leila N. Bezerra, Orlando G. Loques, Alessandro Copetti, Sergio T. Carvalho

Addresses: Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Eletronica, Departamento de Informatica e Ciencia da Computacao, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 524/6 andar – Maracana, Rio de Janeiro 20550-900, Brazil. ' Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Eletronica, Departamento de Informatica e Ciencia da Computacao, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 524/6 andar – Maracana, Rio de Janeiro 20550-900, Brazil. ' Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Eletronica, Departamento de Informatica e Ciencia da Computacao, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 524/6 andar – Maracana, Rio de Janeiro 20550-900, Brazil. ' Instituto de Computacao, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Rua Passo da Patria 156 – Bloco E/3 andar, Sao Domingos Niteroi 24210-240, Brazil. ' Instituto de Computacao, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Rua Passo da Patria 156 – Bloco E/3 andar, Sao Domingos Niteroi 24210-240, Brazil. ' Instituto de Informatica, Universidade Federal de Goias (UFG), Bloco IMF I, sala 239 – Campus II – Samambaia – Caixa Postal 131, Goiania, CEP 74001-970, Brazil

Abstract: We present an architecture that includes two essential services to compose the supporting infrastructure required by context-aware applications: a Context Service, that provides access to context information, and a Discovery Service. A reference implementation, based on Web Services technology, was used to develop a remote assisted living application, which relies on ambient sensors, placed in each room, to capture context information and on a combo medical appliance to perform blood pressure measurements on the patient, according to a care plan prescribed by a doctor. The collected set of context data may be transmitted to a monitoring centre and also interpreted locally using medical knowledge; the identification of a patient|s abnormal condition can activate local actions or send an emergency message to a monitoring centre. This infrastructure can help a doctor to monitor and assist the patient while he or she is performing daily activities and may also help improving the patient|s treatment compliance and quality of life.

Keywords: context-aware applications; ubiquitous computing; remote assisted living; e-health; electronic healthcare; context information; discovery service; web services; ambient sensors; care plans; medical appliances; blood pressure measurements; patient monitoring; remote monitoring; patient treatment compliance; patient quality of life.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIPM.2009.030833

International Journal of Functional Informatics and Personalised Medicine, 2009 Vol.2 No.4, pp.358 - 378

Published online: 08 Jan 2010 *

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