Abstract
Distributed systems emerged in the last decade as a more efficient way of sharing networked resources, allowing cooperating processes to be executed in remote computers with possibly distinct architectures and operating systems. This paper presents the motivations that may lead to the usage of distributed architectures in the support of telecommunications services, particularly multimedia services. It also gives an overview of one distributed architecture, ANSA, which was used to implement a prototype of a distributed multimedia service, briefly described.

Abstract
The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), standardized by 3GPP, can be seen as a way of offering Internet services, such as the Web access, electronic mail or instant messaging, through any access technology, in terms of terminals and networks. This paper presents a proposal to solve the problem of the dynamic adaptation of multimedia services provided in the Web context. The proposed solution is based on the real-time generation of user interfaces conditioned by the user context. The solution is mainly characterized by the approach used for resolving the existing dependencies among user interface variables and by the mechanism for acquiring the user context information, which uses the Parlay middleware.

Abstract
This chapter presents a proposal to solve the problem of the adaptation of multimedia services in mobile contexts. The chapter combines context-awareness techniques with user interface modeling to dynamically adapt telecommunications services to user resources, in terms of terminal and network conditions. The solution is mainly characterized by the approach used for resolving the existing dependencies among user interface variables, which is based on the constraints theory. The experiments and tests carried out with these techniques demonstrate a general improvement of the adaptation of multimedia services in mobile environments, in comparison to systems that do not dynamically integrate the user context information in the adaptation process.

Abstract
The integration of multiple network access technologies in the terminal is one of the most important trends in 4G networks. This integration places telecommunications service providers, and in particular operators, under the significant challenge of being able to transform their services in order to adapt them to a great variety of delivery contexts. This paper describes a generic methodology for the adaptation of telecommunications services provided in the context of an operator. A number of scenarios are examined which show how Parlay middleware can be used by trusted service providers to easily access network resources and context information for enhancing location-based and adaptable multimedia telecommunications services.

Abstract
The current heterogeneous world of networks and terminals combined with the generalized mobility of users pose telecommunications operators and service providers the challenge of dynamically adapt the services they provide. This paper presents a proposal to solve the problem of the adaptation of multimedia services in mobile contexts. The paper combines context-awareness techniques with user interface modeling and description to dynamically adapt telecommunications services to user resources, in terms of terminal and network conditions. The solution is mainly characterized by the approach used for resolving the existing dependencies among user interface variables, which is based on the constraints theory, and by the mechanism for acquiring the user context information, which uses the Parlay/OSA interfaces. The experiments and tests carried out with these techniques demonstrate a general Improvement of the adaptation of multimedia services in mobile environments, in comparison to systems that do not dynamically integrate the user context information in the adaptation process. © 2008 Academy Publisher.

Abstract
In VESPER1, the concept of VHE is being implemented and validated through the provision of a VHE system and various services to make use of it. This paper describes one of these services and presents how it validates VHE architecture aspects related with service adaptation to terminals and network, connection establishment, service personalization, session continuity/mobility and service advertisement. The paper also discusses some VHE usage scenarios of the resource discovery feature, showing how it plays an important role particularly in what concerns the ubiquitous service availability through the VHE platform.