Thomas Dübendorfer An Extensible Infrastructure and a Representation Scheme 
for Distributed Smart Proxies of Real World Objects. TR 359, ETH Zurich, 
Institute of Information Systems, April 2001 

Abstract: 

An extensible infrastructure and a representation scheme for distributed 
smart virtual proxies of real world objects as presented in this report could 
be a foundation to make the environment smart by enhancing simple objects with 
smart virtual counterparts. Design, implementation and deployment issues of 
concepts such as virtual counterparts (Virtual Objects), proximity (Virtual 
Location), meta objects (Virtual Meta Objects and Locations), lifecycle of 
virtual counterparts (Virtual Object Manager) and a queriable persistent 
Artifact Memory are discussed.