An end user context framework for handset-based studies

End user context information is seen as one of the most important components in developing more personalized mobile services and applications. The practical impact of context/context-awareness research and new opportunities in the field provided by emerging data collection methods such as handset-based measurements (i.e, collecting smartphone usage data directly from the users' devices) have induced new highly interesting large scale empirical context studies, but also quite diverse usage of the term context itself. When talking about context it is necessary to unambiguously state how it is understood in the particular work. On one hand the term should be positioned with the existing and commonly understood general definitions, but on the other hand it should also be acknowledged that especially an empirical research paper can grasp only some specific aspects or elements of context. This paper proposes an end user context framework that attempts to clarify the use of the term context in handset-based measurement related studies. The framework is partly based on the experimental experience accumulated in our own handset panel studies. While helping researchers to communicate and position the end user context elements used, the framework helps other stakeholders, such as service providers and application developers, to identify research most relevant for their particular needs.