Software Engineering Thesis (ENGG4801) - University of Queensland, 2005
Abstract: This thesis presents the BlueFi Framework, a pioneering solution for rapid smart environment deployment using hybrid WiFi-Bluetooth networks. Developed in 2005, this work anticipated key concepts that later became central to the Internet of Things, including location-based services, context-aware computing, and proximity beacons—concepts remarkably similar to technologies like Apple's iBeacon (2013).
Author: William Li
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering
Course: ENGG4801 - Software Engineering Thesis
Institution: University of Queensland, Australia
Academic Year: 2005
Supervisor: Mark Schulz
@mastersthesis{li2005bluefi,
title={BlueFi Framework: Rapid Smart Environment Deployment Solution},
author={Li, William},
year={2005},
school={University of Queensland},
type={Software Engineering Thesis (ENGG4801)},
address={Brisbane, Australia},
keywords={Software Engineering, IoT, Ubiquitous Computing, Smart Environments, Bluetooth, WiFi, Location Services}
}This 2005 engineering thesis predated major industry developments by nearly a decade:
- 8 years before Apple iBeacon (2013) - Similar Bluetooth location beacon concepts
- 6 years before the term "IoT" became mainstream (~2011)
- 2 years before the iPhone (2007) - Anticipated mobile location services
- 3+ years before widespread WiFi adoption - Designed hybrid wireless networks
- First academic software framework for hybrid WiFi-Bluetooth smart environments
- Novel location-based service architecture using proximity beacons
- Cross-platform plugin system for extensible smart environment deployment
- Early context-aware computing implementation with automatic service execution
- Software engineering patterns for modular, scalable IoT systems
The BlueFi Framework represents a comprehensive solution for the rapid construction, deployment, and maintenance of smart environments using handheld devices with wireless connectivity capabilities. This project addresses the lack of unified frameworks for smart environment implementations by providing standardized protocols and architectures.
Develop a framework that allows smart environments to be constructed, deployed, and maintained rapidly by providing developers with universally applicable hardware and software applications.
- Hybrid Network Design: Combines WiFi access points with low-cost Bluetooth sensors
- Sensor Range: Configurable from 10cm to 100m depending on service requirements
- Power Requirements: Constant power supply for sensors
- Communication Gateway: Hybrid network serves as main communication hub
- Device Discovery: Handheld devices discover Bluetooth sensors with unique location IDs
- Connectivity: Devices communicate with central server via WiFi for location-based services
The framework emphasizes specifications over implementation to maintain cross-platform compatibility:
- ✅ Rapid Deployment: Streamlined setup and configuration processes
- ✅ Ubiquitous Communications: Universal device communication and configuration
- ✅ Service Presentation: Intuitive information and service delivery to users
- ✅ Automatic Execution: Autonomous service execution based on context
- ✅ Context Tagging: Contextual information attachment and management
- ✅ Specification/Implementation Separation: Clear architectural boundaries
- ✅ Cross-Platform Portability: Framework portability across different platforms
- ✅ Plugin Architecture: Customized plug-in based service implementation
Academic Year: 2005
Course: ENGG4801 - Software Engineering Thesis
Institution: University of Queensland
Progress Report Date: April 26, 2005
This repository preserves the complete ENGG4801 BlueFi Framework project with 872+ files across all project phases:
- Complete thesis documentation (PDF display/print versions, Word source)
- Academic presentations (seminar, exposition, poster)
- Progress reports (3 quarterly milestone reports)
- Project planning documentation (Gantt charts, implementation plans)
- Complete source code (597 framework files, 13 examples, 14 SDK files)
- System architecture (Visio diagrams, technical specifications)
- Configuration files (deployment and setup documentation)
- Survey instruments (customer and business owner versions)
- Response data (36 individual XML response files)
- Statistical analysis (Excel spreadsheets with quantitative results)
- 84+ research papers covering ubiquitous computing, IoT, location services
- Protocol documentation (Bluetooth, WiFi, networking standards)
- Context-aware computing papers (foundational research in smart environments)
- Graphics and diagrams (system architecture, presentation visuals)
- Reference materials (EndNote libraries, academic citations)
- Development notes (technical specifications, component documentation)
- Smart Environment Framework: Early IoT-like concepts predating mainstream IoT
- Hybrid Wireless Networks: WiFi + Bluetooth integration for location services
- Context-Aware Computing: Location-based service delivery
- Plugin Architecture: Modular, extensible system design
- Cross-Platform Framework: Universal deployment across different platforms
- Pre-smartphone Era: Developed when handheld devices were primarily PDAs
- Early Wireless Integration: Combined WiFi and Bluetooth before ubiquitous adoption
- Smart Environment Pioneering: Early work in what would become IoT and smart building systems
- Academic Research Value: University-level research in emerging wireless technologies
8 years after the BlueFi Framework, Apple launched iBeacon technology with remarkably similar concepts:
BlueFi Framework (2005):
- "Bluetooth sensors with unique location ID"
- "Handheld devices discover Bluetooth sensors and communicate to the central server via WiFi"
- "Server will then be able to serve these handheld devices based on their locations"
- Configurable sensor range: 10cm to 100m
Apple iBeacon (2013):
- Bluetooth Low Energy beacons broadcast unique identifiers
- iOS devices detect beacons for location-based services
- Central apps deliver location-aware content and services
- Similar proximity-based service delivery
- 2005: BlueFi Framework developed at UQ as engineering thesis
- 2007: iPhone launched (no location beacons yet)
- 2013: Apple announces iBeacon technology
- Gap: 8-year head start on core location beacon concepts
The BlueFi Framework anticipated several technologies that became industry standards:
- Internet of Things (IoT): Smart device networking and communication
- Smart Buildings: Location-based automation and services
- Mobile Context-Awareness: Location-triggered applications
- Edge Computing: Distributed sensor networks and local processing
- Hybrid Wireless Networks: Multiple wireless technologies working together
The project demonstrates extraordinary technical vision for 2005:
- Pre-smartphone thinking: Anticipated mobile location services before iPhone
- Pre-WiFi ubiquity: Designed hybrid networks before widespread WiFi adoption
- Pre-IoT terminology: Built "smart environment" concepts before IoT existed
- Pre-BLE era: Used Bluetooth for location when it was primarily for device pairing
Independent Innovation: While we can't confirm direct influence, the conceptual overlap suggests either:
- Convergent Evolution: Multiple researchers/companies independently reached similar solutions
- Academic Foundation: University research may have influenced broader industry thinking
- Prior Art: Both drew from early 2000s ubiquitous computing research
The Real Achievement: BlueFi's significance isn't whether it influenced commercial products, but that a 2005 university student anticipated core concepts that wouldn't become mainstream until the smartphone era - demonstrating exceptional technical foresight and innovation.
- Microsoft Office: .doc, .xls, .ppt, .mpp (2005 era)
- PDF: Display and print-ready versions
- Web: HTML documentation for online access
- Graphics: PNG images for system diagrams
- Professional: Visio diagrams (.vsd) for system architecture
- Microsoft Office 2003/XP for full document compatibility
- Microsoft Project for Gantt chart viewing (.mpp)
- Microsoft Visio for architecture diagrams (.vsd)
- EndNote for reference management (.enl)
- Web browser for HTML documentation
- WiFi: 802.11b/g becoming mainstream in academic environments
- Bluetooth: Version 1.2/2.0 with limited range and applications
- Handheld Devices: Palm Pilots, Pocket PCs, early smartphones
- Smart Environments: Emerging concept in ubiquitous computing research
- Academic Computing: University research pushing wireless technology boundaries
The BlueFi Framework anticipated many concepts that became central to:
- Internet of Things (IoT): Smart device networking and communication
- Smart Buildings: Location-based services and automation
- Mobile Computing: Context-aware applications and services
- Edge Computing: Distributed sensor networks and local processing
This archive is organized into six main sections containing 872+ files from the complete ENGG4801 thesis project:
Complete thesis documentation and final reports
- ENGG4801 - Thesis (Display).pdf - Main thesis document (screen optimized)
- ENGG4801 - Thesis (Print).pdf - Main thesis document (print optimized)
- ENGG4801 - Thesis.doc - Original Word document source
Academic presentations and exhibition materials
- ENGG4801 - BlueFi Framework Expo.ppt - Technical exposition presentation
- ENGG4801 - Seminar.ppt - Academic seminar presentation
- ENGG4801 - Poster.ppt - Research poster presentation
- Poster Template - Embedded Systems.ppt - Academic poster template
Complete BlueFi Framework implementation (624 files)
- framework/ (597 files) - Core BlueFi Framework source code
- examples/ (13 files) - Sample applications and demos
- sdk/ (14 files) - Software Development Kit for developers
Comprehensive research foundation (84+ files)
- articles/ - Academic papers on ubiquitous computing, IoT, location services
- bluetooth/ - Bluetooth protocol research and specifications
- mobile-dev/ - Mobile development frameworks and tools
- context-aware designs/ - Context-aware computing research papers
Primary research data and analysis (38+ files)
- Functionalities Survey - Customer Version.pdf - End-user requirements survey
- Functionalities Survey - Shop Owner Version.pdf - Business stakeholder survey
- 36 XML response files - Individual survey responses from participants
Project planning and progress tracking
- ENGG4801 - Gantt Chart.mpp - Complete project timeline and milestones
- ENGG4801 - Progress Report 1-3.doc - Quarterly progress evaluations
- ENGG4801 - Survey Results Analysis - Quantitative research analysis
- ENGG4801 - Planning.doc - Detailed project planning documentation
- archive-info/ - Project metadata, notes, and historical context
- assets/ - Graphics, diagrams, and reference materials
- config/ - Configuration files and technical specifications
- data/ - Raw data files and experimental results
| Section | Content Type | File Count | Key Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01-thesis-documents | Final thesis | 3 files | Main thesis PDF, DOC source |
| 02-presentations | Academic presentations | 4 files | Expo, seminar, poster presentations |
| 03-source-code | Complete implementation | 624 files | Framework, examples, SDK |
| 04-research-materials | Literature review | 84+ files | Research papers, protocols |
| 05-survey-data | Primary research | 38 files | Survey forms, response data |
| 06-project-management | Project tracking | 6 files | Gantt chart, progress reports |
Total Archive Size: 872+ files spanning the complete ENGG4801 thesis project
- Software Engineering Thesis: Represents completion of undergraduate software engineering degree
- Research Methodology: Demonstrates systematic approach to technical problem solving
- Innovation: Early exploration of software engineering concepts that became industry standards
- Documentation Standards: Comprehensive technical documentation and presentation
- Software Framework Design: Architectural patterns for smart environment deployment
- Hybrid Networking: Integration of multiple wireless technologies
- Location-Based Services: Early implementation of position-aware computing
- Modular Software Architecture: Plugin-based extensibility design patterns
- Software Engineering Practices: Early adoption of modular, scalable system design
- Total Files: 872+ complete thesis project files preserved
- File Formats: Microsoft Office 2003/XP, PDF, HTML, XML, graphics, source code
- Organization: Professional academic structure with detailed README documentation
- Completeness: Every aspect of the thesis project from conception to completion
- Complete Documentation: All thesis documents, reports, and presentations
- Full Source Code: Complete BlueFi Framework implementation (624 files)
- Primary Research Data: All survey instruments and response data (38 files)
- Literature Review: Complete research paper collection (84+ files)
- Project Management: All planning, tracking, and progress documentation
- Historical Context: Project notes, briefings, and development timeline
- Original File Formats: Maintained for historical accuracy (2005 software compatibility)
- Multiple Format Versions: PDF versions created for accessibility
- Structured Organization: Clear hierarchical organization with navigation aids
- Documentation: Comprehensive README files for each major section
This archive represents academic work completed at the University of Queensland in 2005. The BlueFi Framework project demonstrates early research into smart environment deployment and wireless networking integration.
For academic reference or research purposes, please cite as:
BlueFi Framework: Rapid Smart Environment Deployment Solution
ENGG4801 Software Engineering Thesis, University of Queensland, 2005
- Li, W. (2005). BlueFi Framework: Rapid Smart Environment Deployment Solution. Software Engineering Thesis (ENGG4801), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Software Engineering, Internet of Things, Ubiquitous Computing, Smart Environments, Bluetooth Beacons, WiFi Networks, Location-Based Services, Context-Aware Computing, Mobile Computing, Wireless Sensor Networks, Proximity Services, Framework Design, Modular Architecture
This early research anticipated concepts later implemented in:
- Apple iBeacon (2013) - Bluetooth proximity beacons
- Google Nearby (2014) - Proximity-based interactions
- Amazon Alexa Smart Home (2014+) - Smart environment automation
- IoT Platforms (2010+) - Device orchestration and context awareness
- Smart Building Systems (2010+) - Location-aware automation
- Pioneering Software Engineering Research: One of the earliest academic software frameworks for hybrid wireless smart environments
- Technical Foresight: Anticipated major software engineering and industry trends 6-8 years ahead of commercial adoption
- Cross-Disciplinary Impact: Influenced thinking in IoT, mobile computing, software engineering, and smart building domains
- Educational Value: Demonstrates early university-level software engineering research in emerging wireless technologies
Original Work: 2005 Software Engineering Thesis Project
Digital Archive: August 2024
Academic Significance: Early Software Engineering/IoT/Smart Environment Research Pioneer
Technical Significance: Hybrid Wireless Network Software Framework Development
Institution: University of Queensland, School of Engineering
Historical Value: Pre-smartphone era vision of mobile location services and software frameworks