Design and challenges of a semantics-based framework for context-aware services

Location-based ubiquitous services have evolved significantly during the last years and are reaching a maturity phase, relying primarily on the experience gained and the utilisation of recent technologies. This paper presents a context-aware platform for mobile devices in dynamic environments, which uses Semantic Web technologies to model context information and advanced interactive map-based interfaces for accommodating pedestrians. To demonstrate the approach, a prototype has been developed and a number of further extensions are analysed. Building and using this system has enabled us to identify the main challenges that need to be addressed for realising the objectives of next generation semantics-based pervasive information systems.