Modeling and analysis of functionality in eHome systems: dynamic rule-based conflict detection

The domain of eHome systems is a special application-area for pervasive computing. Many different kinds of devices are introduced to the home area to provide functionality for enhanced comfort or security. A similar level of heterogeneity can be found at the software level: many different vendors supply eHome systems with drivers and services, which intend to compute sensor information and trigger devices in the eHome. This multi-level heterogeneity leads to system faults in terms of deadlocks and unpredictable or disillusioning behavior. We call these error conditions conflicts. Pervasive systems, especially eHome systems, is only useful and thus successful, if such conflicts can be handled properly. In this paper, we analyze eHome systems with respect to types of conflicts and discuss how conflicts can be detected. We show that the dynamic conflict detection is reasonable and possible by a rule-based conflict detection. The detection is well-founded on a formal specification and is seamlessly integrated into the paradigm of component-based software construction