Ubiquitous and contextual identifier resolution for the real-world wide web

Identifier resolution is presented as a way to link the physical world with virtual applications and services. In this paradigm, designed to support nomadic users, the user employs a handheld, wirelessly connected, sensor-equipped device to read identifiers associated with physical entities. The identifiers are resolved into virtual resources or actions related to the physical entities. We have integrated identifier resolution with the Web so that it can be deployed as ubiquitously as the Web, in the infrastructure and on wirelessly connected handheld devices. We present a new way for users to specify relevant contextual parameters by a combination of sensing and navigation on the Web. In particular, they capture resolution services and applications in their local context. We use the Web to invoke resolution services, with a new model of ‘physical’ web form-filling. We propose a new scheme for binding identifiers to resources, to promote services and applications linking the physical and virtual worlds.