MUSIC is a focused initiative that aims at developing a comprehensive open-source software development framework that facilitates the development of self-adapting, reconfigurable software that seamlessly adapts to the highly dynamic user and execution context, and maintains a high level of usefulness and usability across context changes. The development of self-adapting applications entails new challenges for developers. In addition to functional aspects, the developer has to consider the application’s dependencies on context and the application’s adaptation capabilities to context changes.

To address these challenges, MUSIC provides a middleware-based approach where the middleware is responsible for context monitoring, adaptation reasoning and application reconfiguration. The middleware requires knowledge of the application structure and constraints, meaning that it should understand a software system’s architecture. Thus, architecture models are available at runtime describing the information the middleware needs. Beyond the MW support, MUSIC also provides methods, notations and tools for developing, validating and encoding the architecture models.

To understand the benefits and weaknesses of the proposed approach, MUSIC is performing two trial developments; each developing a suite of applications targeting scenarios and user groups typical of mobile computing in the information society:

1. The RATP¹ trial consists of a set of MUSIC demonstrators that relate to the Metro traveller’s needs and will be demonstrated using the RATP infrastructure. This trial targets a large and varied user group. The RATP trial scenario is described in deliverable D21.1.
2. The SatCom Installation trial relates to technicians performing installation and alignment of satellite antennas at customer sites and thus targets specialized technical personnel and work related tasks rather than the general public and general talks as in the RATP case. The SatCom Installation trial is described in deliverable D23.1.

Beyond the assessment of the MUSIC framework, the trials also serve to demonstrate and promote the MUSIC technology outside the project and beyond the duration of the project.


¹ The Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP/Autonomous Operator of Parisian Transports) is the major transit operator responsible for public transportation in Paris and its surroundings. It is under the authority of the Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF), the Paris region transit authority. Its operational divisions include the Paris Métro system (16 lines), part of the RER, an extensive bus system, and three tram lines. It also operates the Montmartre funicular.

About the trials in MUSIC

Two organisations will field trial the MUSIC platform during the lifetime of the project. They are RATP (France) and Integrasys (Spain). Details about the RATP trial are available here.  Detail on the SatCom Installation Trial is available here.  Work on both trials is progressing well todate (i.e. at April 2009).

Commercial Products used in MUSIC

Details on their commercial software products can be obtained as follows:

Integrasys Satellite Monitoring product :

http://www.integrasys-sa.com/Products.html

SatMotion: Wireless Remote Satellite Monitoring Solutions on Cellular & Wi-Fi Devices. Brochure and “Look and Feel"

http://www.integrasys-sa.com/wifi.pdf
http://www.integrasys-sa.com/look_feel/pocket/SatmotionAdvanced.html

CONTROLSAT: Satellite Signal Monitoring and line-up System for Teleports

http://www.integrasys-sa.com/controlsat.pdf

ALUSAT: Network Management and Analysis Tool providing remote recovery capabilities on failing Satellite Interactive Terminals

http://www.integrasys-sa.com/alusat.pdf

Links to the demos

Details will be made available at a later update of the MUSIC web site.