A Formal Framework for Community Computing

In this paper we introduce a novel framework for pervasive computing called PICO (Pervasive Information Community Organization). PICO allows distributed computing and communication capabilities at higher and lower levels of abstraction, resulting in a significant improvement in current models of information systems for dynamic applications such as telemedicine, manufacturing, and crisis management. In PICO, sensors, devices, and actuators are used at low levels to collect environmental information and to influence the environment. Software agents working on behalf of the low level entities form logical communities to provide application-specific services. The major contribution of this paper is the introduction of the community computing concept as a framework for collaboration among software agents. In this paper we present formal models for representing physical devices, software agents, and computing communities. Additionally, we describe a prototype proof of concept implementation to validate the proposed framework.