Taxonomy of cooperative adaptation level for cooperative adaptive mobile applications

Abstract

Adaptive mobile applications (AMAs) are software systems designed to dynamically adjust their behavior in response to contextual changes. When multiple AMAs coexist on the same device, they create an ecosystem of heterogeneous applications with distinct functionalities, interaction models, and sensor requirements. This diversity enables opportunities for cooperative adaptation, where applications synchronize their behavior for collective benefit. Building on prior work that identified cooperation as a key dimension of adaptive mobile systems, this study proposes a refined taxonomy of cooperation levels for AMAs. The taxonomy is validated through case studies and formal specification methods, demonstrating its theoretical soundness and practical applicability. The findings advance the understanding of cooperative adaptation mechanisms and provide structured guidance for designing and classifying cooperative AMAs.