Using Feature Models for Distributed Deployment in Extended Smart Home Architecture

TL;DR

This paper proposes using extended feature models to manage the complex deployment of smart home applications across distributed platforms including cloud and mobile devices, addressing variability and deployment constraints.

Contribution

It introduces an extension of feature modeling with deployment constraints tailored for distributed smart home architectures, providing a structured approach to deployment management.

Findings

Extended feature models effectively represent deployment variability.

Deployment constraints improve deployment planning accuracy.

Model example demonstrates practical applicability.

Abstract

Nowadays, smart home is extended beyond the house itself to encompass connected platforms on the Cloud as well as mobile personal devices. This Smart Home Extended Architecture (SHEA) helps customers to remain in touch with their home everywhere and any time. The endless increase of connected devices in the home and outside within the SHEA multiplies the deployment possibilities for any application. Therefore, SHEA should be taken from now as the actual target platform for smart home application deployment. Every home is different and applications offer different services according to customer preferences. To manage this variability, we extend the feature modeling from software product line domain with deployment constraints and we present an example of a model that could address this deployment challenge.