Instant matchmaking: simple, secure virtual extensions to ubiquitous computing environments

• Ubicomp 2006, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference of Ubiquitous Computing

Compelling ubiquitous computing applications will need to seamlessly integrate devices and resources in the environment surrounding a user with their own personal devices and data. Previous work has addressed this problem by enabling the user to simply take their data with them wherever they go. In this paper, we present a much more flexible and powerful approach: the ``instant matchmaker'', a device that allows a user to seamlessly and securely connect his local computing environment with his other personal resources virtually over a network connection. The matchmaker, embodied in a cell phone or other personal device, simultaneously provides a simple, intuitive user experience, and enables extremely fine-grained control over access to resources. We have implemented a cell-phone based matchmaker and explored its use in a secure media sharing application. The concept, however, is very general and can be embodied in different types of devices and used to enable a wide range of secure applications.

citation

Smetters, D. K. ; Balfanz, D. ; Durfee, G. E. ; Smith, T. ; Lee, K. Instant matchmaking: simple, secure virtual extensions to ubiquitous computing environments. Ubicomp 2006, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference of Ubiquitous Computing; 2006 September 17-21; Irvine; CA. Berlin: Springer Verlag; 2006; LNCS 4206: 477-494.