Connecting the physical world with pervasive networks

ACM SIGARCH Computer Architecture News, 2002

Computers, 2012

The Smart Grid vision imposes a new approach towards energy supply that is more affordable, reliable and sustainable. The core of this new vision is the use of advanced technology to monitor power system dynamics in real time and identify system in stability. In order to implement strategic vision for energy management, it is possible to identify three main areas of investigation such as smart generation, smart grid and smart customer. Focusing on the latter topic, in this paper we present an application specifically designed to monitor an industrial site with particular attention to power consumption. This solution is a real time analysis tool, able to produce useful results to have a strategic approach in the energy market and to provide statistic analysis useful for the future choices of the industrial company. The application is based on a three layers architecture. The technological layer uses a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to acquire data from the electrical substations. The middleware layer faces the integration problems by processing the raw data. The application layer manages the data acquired from the sensors. This WSN based architecture represents an interesting example of a low cost and non-invasive monitoring application to keep the energy consumption of an industrial site under control. Some of the added value features of the proposed solution are the routing network protocol, selected in order to have an high availability of the WSN, and the use of the WhereX middleware, able to easily implement integration among the different architectural parts.

ACM SIGOPS Operating Systems Review, 2002

Handbook of Information and Communication Security, 2010

Studies in Computational Intelligence, 2009

As initially envisioned by Mark Weiser, pervasive environments are the trend for the future of information systems. Heterogeneous devices, from small sensors to framework computers, are all linked though ubiquitous networks ranging from local peer-to-peer wireless connections to the world-wide Internet. Managing such environments, so as to benefit from its full potential of available resources providing information and services, is a challenging issue that covers several research fields like data representation, network management, service discovery. . . However, some issues have already been tackled independently by the database community, e.g. for distributed databases or data integration. In this survey, we analyze current trends in pervasive environment management through database principles and sketch the main components of our ongoing project SoCQ, devoted to bridging the gap between pervasive environments and databases.

Sensors, 2014

The acceptance and usability of context-aware systems have given them the edge of wide use in various domains and has also attracted the attention of researchers in the area of context-aware computing. Making user context information available to such systems is the center of attention. However, there is very little emphasis given to the process of context representation and context fusion which are integral parts of context-aware systems. Context representation and fusion facilitate in recognizing the dependency/relationship of one data source on another to extract a better understanding of user context. The problem is more critical when data is emerging from heterogeneous sources of diverse nature like sensors, user profiles, and social interactions and also at different timestamps. Both the processes of context representation and fusion are followed in one way or another; however, they are not discussed explicitly for the realization of context-aware systems. In other words most of the context-aware systems underestimate the importance context representation and fusion. This research has explicitly focused on the importance of both the processes of context representation and fusion and has streamlined their existence in the overall architecture of context-aware systems' design and development. Various applications of context representation and fusion in context-aware systems are also highlighted in this OPEN ACCESS Sensors 2014, 14 9629

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2009

In this work we introduce a formal model for studying networks of tiny artifacts, the static synchronous sensor field model (SSSF). The model consider that these devices communicate among them by means of a communication graph. A sensor field interacts with the environment with input/output data streams. We start analyzing the behavior of networks in which at every step each sensor takes a new input data item and outputs (with some possible latency) an output data item. Accordingly we introduce adequate performance measures like latency, message number, or message length. We study two sensing problems the Average Monitoring and the Alerting problems. For the Average Monitoring problem we give upper bounds on the latency, number of required messages and their size and optimal algorithms to solve it in specific topologies. We show that the Alerting problem can be solved with sensing devices of constant memory. When the SSSFs are allowed to use only devices with constant memory capacity we demonstrate that the decisional version of the functions computed by such SSSFs are in the class DSPACE(max(n, m)) where n is the number of nodes of the communication graph and m its number of edges. If in this kind of SSSFs we consider the possibility of using more non-sensing tiny devices than input data streams we show that monitoring a property that is polynomial time computable can be solved by SSSFs of polynomial size and latency with respect to the number of input data streams.

Ambient Intelligence, 2005

Visions of ambient intelligence and ubiquitous computing involve integrating tiny microelectronic processors and sensors into everyday objects in order to make them "smart." Smart things can explore their environment, communicate with other smart things, and interact with humans, therefore helping users to cope with their tasks in new, intuitive ways. Although many concepts have already been tested out as prototypes in field trials, the repercussions of such extensive integration of computer technology into our everyday lives are difficult to predict. This article is a first attempt to classify the social, economic, and ethical implications of this development.

Computer Communications and Networks, 2009

Recent advances in wireless sensor network technology have provided robust and reliable solutions for sophisticated pervasive computing applications such as inhospitable terrain environmental monitoring. We present a case study for developing a real-time pervasive computing system, called OASIS for optimized autonomous space in situ sensor-web, which combines ground assets (a sensor network) and space assets (NASA's earth observing (EO-1) satellite) to monitor volcanic activities at Mount St. Helens. OASIS's primary goals are: to integrate complementary space and in situ ground sensors into an interactive and autonomous sensorweb, to optimize power and communication resource management of the sensorweb and to provide mechanisms for seamless and scalable fusion of future space and in situ components. The OASIS in situ ground sensor network development addresses issues related to power management, bandwidth management, quality of service management, topology and routing management, and test-bed design. The space segment development consists of EO-1 architectural enhancements, feedback of EO-1 data into the in situ component, command and control integration, data ingestion and dissemination and field demonstrations.

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2006

Creating applications based on data from individual sensor nodes is typically a two-tiered process: Firstly, a (potentially large) number of sensor nodes is deployed in order to gather comprehensive datasets. After analyzing the collected data, algorithms are then installed on the individual nodes and iteratively fine-tuned using a collect-and-analyze procedure. This approach is not only time consuming, but also prone to errors: the two separate steps of data collection and data analysis complicate algorithm development; the absence of programming abstractions in embedded systems programming languages often introduces hard-todetect runtime errors; and the lack of modern integrated development environments (IDEs) does not allow for quick trial-and-error prototyping. To mitigate those effects, we have developed JSense -a hardware abstraction layer for modern sensor nodes that allows for Java-based access to all sensor and actuator controls. It supports an IDE-based centralized development cycle with real-time debugging of a particular sensor environment, as well as the use of not-yet-available sensor and actuator hardware on each node, such as positioning information. Using JSense, designers of sensor-based environments can quickly try out a combination of situations and observe in real-time the data collection processes of their nodes, while programmers are able to prototype applications in their favorite Java-IDE in a hardware independent fashion, even taking into account not-yet-deployed node hardware.

Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2004

We consider a problem of finding the effectiveness of applying varying amounts of motion in fields of autonomous unmanned vehicles performing group search operations. These fields are typically deployed to provide extended coverage over that provided by a single sensor in spatially extended search regions. The autonomous nature of these distributed sensing assets is attributable to constraints on communications bandwidth and manpower. Due to the potential large cost discrepancy between fielding moving searchers and fixed searchers, the potential benefit of searcher motion relative to that achievable by deployment of larger numbers of fixed nodes is a critical operational consideration. We build a parametric analytical model of searcher performance for fields of moving searchers, and through a perturbation analysis examine the effectiveness of searcher motion vice nonmotion in terms of numbers of searchers required to achieve similar goals. Numerical simulations support the conclusions that are obtained.

International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, 2013

The use of a spatially distributed set of sensors has become a cost-effective approach to achieve surveillance coverage against moving targets. As more sensors are utilized in a collaborative manner, the optimal placement of sensors becomes critical to achieve the most efficient coverage. In this paper, we develop a numerical optimization approach to place distributed sets of sensors to perform surveillance against moving targets over extended areas. In particular, we develop a genetic algorithm solution to find spatial sensor density functions that maximize effectiveness against moving targets, where the surveillance performance of individual sensors is dependent on their absolute position in the region as well as their relative position to both the expected target(s) and any asset that is being protected. The density function representation of optimal sensor locations is shown to provide a computationally efficient method for determining sensor asset location planning. We illustrate the effective performance of this method on numerical examples based on problems of general area surveillance and risk-based surveillance in protection of an asset.

ACM Transactions on Multimedia Computing, Communications, and Applications, 2005

Video-based sensor networks can provide important visual information in a number of applications including: environmental monitoring, health care, emergency response, and video security. This article describes the Panoptes video-based sensor networking architecture, including its design, implementation, and performance. We describe two video sensor platforms that can deliver high-quality video over 802.11 networks with a power requirement less than 5 watts. In addition, we describe the streaming and prioritization mechanisms that we have designed to allow it to survive long-periods of disconnected operation. Finally, we describe a sample application and bitmapping algorithm that we have implemented to show the usefulness of our platform. Our experiments include an in-depth analysis of the bottlenecks within the system as well as power measurements for the various components of the system.

The International Journal of Robotics Research

Suppose that ball-shaped sensors wander in a bounded domain. A sensor does not know its location but does know when it overlaps a nearby sensor. We say that an evasion path exists in this sensor network if a moving intruder can avoid detection. In ‘ Coordinate-free coverage in sensor networks with controlled boundaries via homology', Vin de Silva and Robert Ghrist give a necessary condition, depending only on the time-varying connectivity data of the sensors, for an evasion path to exist. Using zigzag persistent homology, we provide an equivalent condition that moreover can be computed in a streaming fashion. However, no method with time-varying connectivity data as input can give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of an evasion path. Indeed, we show that the existence of an evasion path depends not only on the fibrewise homotopy type of the region covered by sensors but also on its embedding in spacetime. For planar sensors that also measure weak rotation and...

International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, 2017

The continuous growth of the Internet of Things in recent years has meant it is increasingly more present, as Internet of Things scenarios such as smart homes and smart cities become part of our everyday lives. The Internet of Things devices involved can be divided into two categories in most Internet of Things scenarios. The devices can constitute a black box with specific sensors which complicates their configuration, for example, wearable products. Other Internet of Things devices can be composed through configurable microcontrollers, enabling customizable environments to be designed. However, the necessary tools and knowledge for programming and configuring microcontrollers are not accessible to everyone. This article proposes a run-time deployment and management system through the Constrained Application Protocol that bridges the gap between end users and customizable environments. With our system, end users can incorporate new sensors or actuators in their installed microcontroller without having to access and program the microcontroller board. Rather, they can manage the resources of the Constrained Application Protocol servers through an accessible and transparent Web user interface.

Electronic Markets, 2009

Components and Services for IoT Platforms, 2016

During the last years, there are tremendous improvements in the domain of embedded devices. To begin with, the new process technologies enable the underline hardware to become smaller, cheaper, and more powerful. This trend in conjunction to the improvements at networking infrastructure enables the majority of the devices to be extended with communication capabilities. Hence, embedded devices nowadays are able to connect, interact, and cooperate with their surrounding environment. This new platform paradigm, also known as "Internet of Things" (IoT), is as a network of objects (or things) capable of detecting and communicating information between each other. Defining things and recognizing what a particular thing is and what it represents in the context of IoT requires a careful analysis of what philosophers, such as the Aristotle and Philoponus have to say and how their philosophical thoughts can transcend into the near future. Specifically, in the work "The Categories" Aristotle gives strikingly general and exhaustive account of things that are beings. According to this opinion, beings include substance, quantity, quality, as well as relation among others. Hence, from the philosophical point of view, the word "things" is

Euro-Par 2003 Parallel Processing, 2003

In this paper, we present TOTA ("Tuples On The Air"), a novel middleware to coordinate the movements of a large number of autonomous components (i.e. agents) in a ubiquitous computing scenario. The key idea in TOTA is to rely on spatially distributed tuples for both representing contextual information and supporting uncoupled and adaptive interactions between application components. The TOTA middleware takes care both of propagating tuples across a network on the basis of application-specific rules and of adaptively reshaping the resulting distributed structures accordingly to changes in the network structures. Application agents-via a simple API-can locally sense such distributed structures to achieve context-awareness and to effectively coordinate their movements.

Soft Computing, 2015

Wireless sensor networks are battery-powered ad hoc networks in which sensor nodes that are scattered over a region connect to each other and form multi-hop networks. Since these networks consist of sensors that are battery operated, care has to be taken so that these sensors use energy efficiently. This paper proposes an optimized hierarchical routing technique which aims to reduce the energy consumption and prolong network lifetime. In this technique, the selection of optimal cluster head (CHs) locations is based on artificial fish swarm algorithm that applies various behaviors such as preying, swarming, and following to the formulated clusters and then uses a fitness function to compare the outputs of these behaviors to select the best CHs locations. To prove the efficiency of the proposed technique, its performance is analyzed and compared to two other well-known energy efficient routing techniques: low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH) technique and particle swarm optimized (PSO) routing technique. Simulation results show the stability and efficiency of the proposed technique. Simulation results show that the proposed method Communicated by V. Loia.

Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, 2010

In this paper the architecture and functionality of a personalized body motion sensitive training system based on auditive feedback is discussed. The system supports recognition of body motion using body worn sensors and gives the user feedback about his or her current status in adaptively selecting audio files accompanying the speed and path of exercise.

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2005

This contribution defines a metrics and proposes a solution for the problem of agents inaccessibility in multi-agent systems. We define the stand-in pattern for knowledge maintenance and remote presence in distributed agent systems with inaccessibility. Our implementation has been designed and tested in the A-globe agent platform. We also present a set of measurements quantifying agents' inaccessibility in our domain and comparing the usefulness of different inaccessibility solution methods as a function of overall accessibility.

Smart Learning Environments, 2018

The paper deals with the design of Smart Learning Environments (SLEs). Over and above that, it's about the interconnection between SLEs and the internet of things. With the question of how an interdisciplinary approach can contribute to the design of SLEs together with the disciplines of education, computer science and architecture the study empirically applies data collected in 2016. The empirical research was initiated by consolidating the findings from transdisciplinary analyses of the literature in a hypothetical model for designing SLEs. This model pooled success factors from different spheres of influence and served as a tool for empirical research. A triangulation was used for facilitating a model-validation in the context of 7 expert interviews, 7 questionnaires as well as a workshop with training experts. The data analysis resulted in the development of a holistic, socio-technical framework.