On the Security of Bluetooth Low Energy in Two Consumer Wearable Heart Rate Monitors/Sensing Devices

Since its inception in 2013, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has become the standard for short-distance wireless communication in many consumer devices, as well as special-purpose devices. In this study, we analyze the security features available in Bluetooth LE standards and evaluate the features implemented in two BLE wearable devices (a Fitbit heart rate wristband and a Polar heart rate chest wearable) and a BLE keyboard to explore which security features in the BLE standards are implemented in the devices. In this study, we used the ComProbe Bluetooth Protocol Analyzer, along with the ComProbe software to capture the BLE traffic of these three devices. We found that even though the standards provide security mechanisms, because the Bluetooth Special Interest Group does not require that manufacturers fully comply with the standards, some manufacturers fail to implement proper security mechanisms. The circumvention of security in Bluetooth devices could leak private data that could be exploited by rogue actors/hackers, thus creating security, privacy, and, possibly, safety issues for consumers and the public. We propose the design of a Bluetooth Security Facts Label (BSFL) to be included on a Bluetooth/BLE enabled device’s commercial packaging and conclude that there should be better mechanisms for informing users about the security and privacy provisions of the devices they acquire and use and to educate the public on protection of their privacy when buying a connected device

Leveraging Resources on Anonymous Mobile Edge Nodes

Smart devices have become an essential component in the life of mankind. The quick rise of smartphones, IoTs, and wearable devices enabled applications that were not possible few years ago, e.g., health monitoring and online banking. Meanwhile, smart sensing laid the infrastructure for smart homes and smart cities. The intrusive nature of smart devices granted access to huge amounts of raw data. Researchers seized the moment with complex algorithms and data models to process the data over the cloud and extract as much information as possible. However, the pace and amount of data generation, in addition to, networking protocols transmitting data to cloud servers failed short in touching more than 20% of what was generated on the edge of the network. On the other hand, smart devices carry a large set of resources, e.g., CPU, memory, and camera, that sit idle most of the time. Studies showed that for plenty of the time resources are either idle, e.g., sleeping and eating, or underutilized, e.g. inertial sensors during phone calls. These findings articulate a problem in processing large data sets, while having idle resources in the close proximity. In this dissertation, we propose harvesting underutilized edge resources then use them in processing the huge data generated, and currently wasted, through applications running at the edge of the network. We propose flipping the concept of cloud computing, instead of sending massive amounts of data for processing over the cloud, we distribute lightweight applications to process data on users\u27 smart devices. We envision this approach to enhance the network\u27s bandwidth, grant access to larger datasets, provide low latency responses, and more importantly involve up-to-date user\u27s contextual information in processing. However, such benefits come with a set of challenges: How to locate suitable resources? How to match resources with data providers? How to inform resources what to do? and When? How to orchestrate applications\u27 execution on multiple devices? and How to communicate between devices on the edge? Communication between devices at the edge has different parameters in terms of device mobility, topology, and data rate. Standard protocols, e.g., Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, were not designed for edge computing, hence, does not offer a perfect match. Edge computing requires a lightweight protocol that provides quick device discovery, decent data rate, and multicasting to devices in the proximity. Bluetooth features wide acceptance within the IoT community, however, the low data rate and unicast communication limits its use on the edge. Despite being the most suitable communication protocol for edge computing and unlike other protocols, Bluetooth has a closed source code that blocks lower layer in front of all forms of research study, enhancement, and customization. Hence, we offer an open source version of Bluetooth and then customize it for edge computing applications. In this dissertation, we propose Leveraging Resources on Anonymous Mobile Edge Nodes (LAMEN), a three-tier framework where edge devices are clustered by proximities. On having an application to execute, LAMEN clusters discover and allocate resources, share application\u27s executable with resources, and estimate incentives for each participating resource. In a cluster, a single head node, i.e., mediator, is responsible for resource discovery and allocation. Mediators orchestrate cluster resources and present them as a virtually large homogeneous resource. For example, two devices each offering either a camera or a speaker are presented outside the cluster as a single device with both camera and speaker, this can be extended to any combination of resources. Then, mediator handles applications\u27 distribution within a cluster as needed. Also, we provide a communication protocol that is customizable to the edge environment and application\u27s need. Pushing lightweight applications that end devices can execute over their locally generated data have the following benefits: First, avoid sharing user data with cloud server, which is a privacy concern for many of them; Second, introduce mediators as a local cloud controller closer to the edge; Third, hide the user\u27s identity behind mediators; and Finally, enhance bandwidth utilization by keeping raw data at the edge and transmitting processed information. Our evaluation shows an optimized resource lookup and application assignment schemes. In addition to, scalability in handling networks with large number of devices. In order to overcome the communication challenges, we provide an open source communication protocol that we customize for edge computing applications, however, it can be used beyond the scope of LAMEN. Finally, we present three applications to show how LAMEN enables various application domains on the edge of the network. In summary, we propose a framework to orchestrate underutilized resources at the edge of the network towards processing data that are generated in their proximity. Using the approaches explained later in the dissertation, we show how LAMEN enhances the performance of applications and enables a new set of applications that were not feasible

Análise Comparativa de Protocolos em Smart Home: Considerações em Conectividade

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Tecnológico. Sistemas de Informação.Smart Home é a casa que conecta todos os tipos de dispositivos eletrônicos entre si através da internet, permitindo que eles sejam remotamente controlados, monitorados ou acessados. Smart Home já faz parte de 0,77% das famílias em todo o mundo em 2016, espera-se crescer para 2,97% até 2020, aproximadamente 44,1 milhões de famílias, trazendo a convergência de uma série de áreas como: entretenimento, segurança, gerenciamento de energia e saúde. O bloco fundamental na construção da rede doméstica em Smart Home são os protocolos de comunicação. Os dispositivos que fazem parte de Smart Homes formam uma rede local onde as comunicações são ativadas por diferentes protocolos. Como a maioria dos dispositivos são concebidos por empresas diferentes, com diferentes padrões e tecnologias, existe um grande problema na sua conectividade. Visando o desafio de conectividade, este trabalho pretende analisar os principais protocolos de dispositivos sem fio utilizados em redes doméstica que são Bluetooth LE, ZigBee, Z-Wave e o Thread e comparar os mesmos nos desafios em conectividade, como intemporalidade, autogestão, confiabilidade,  banda, consumo de energia e autenticação. Smart Home is the house that connects all types of electronic devices to each other over the internet, allowing them to be remotely controlled, monitored or accessed. Smart Home is already part of 0.7% of family's houses worldwide in 2016, it is expected to grow to 2.97% by 2020, approximately 44.1 million houses, bringing the convergence of a number of areas such as: entertainment, security, energy management and health. The fundamental block in the construction of the home network in Smart Home are the communication protocols. Devices that are part of Smart Homes make a local network where communications are activated by different protocols. As most devices are designed by different companies with different standards and technologies, there is a big problem with their connectivity. Aiming at the challenge of connectivity, this paper intends to analyze the main protocols of wireless devices used in domestic networks that are Bluetooth LE, ZigBee, Z-Wave and Thread and compare them in connectivity challenges such as timelessness, self management, reliability, Bandwidth, power consumption and authentication

Ubiquitous health monitoring system for seniors

The Ubiquitous Health Monitoring System for Seniors is a prototype for an implantable module that is designed to eliminate critical delays in receiving medical attention upon the development of a heart attack. In particular, the prototype is to detect the onset of heart attacks in real time, and to use a Bluetooth wireless link to signal the patient\u27s mobile phone to dial emergency personnel in the event of an abnormality. The unit also records and logs the temperature of the user. Since the unit holds a GPS in it the current position of the user can be constantly monitored and by this the paramedics can arrive at the patient\u27s current location without any delay. The health monitoring system enables seniors to stay in their homes rather than in a medical institution which, in turn, cuts down the cost of medical care to a great extent

Beyond the beam : evaluation and application of handheld X-ray fluorescence in archaeology

The starting point of this project was to bridge the gap between the Departments of Analytical Chemistry and Archaeology. Archaeology has evolved from a more historically and art-historically orientated field of research to a fully emancipated science, comfortably adopting GIS, 3D modelling and chemical analysis to serve its own needs. The rapidly evolving field of XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis and the development of a new generation of lightweight, high-performance handheld XRF analysers promised new possibilities for in situ elemental determination. The primary aim of this research project was to evaluate the applicability of such a handheld XRF analyser when used in archaeological contexts and to develop a comprehensible protocol for data-processing. To fulfil these objectives, the Olympus Innov-X handheld XRF analyser was obtained and characterised and a work methodology was developed applying established lab protocols used in analytical chemistry. This instrument was then employed in three archaeological case studies where it investigated respectively the provenance of post-medieval Flemish stove-tiles, the origin and distribution of Iron Age red-painted pottery from Mount Kemmel and related sites, and the geochemical composition of archaeological soil features in the Yustyd valley (Russia) during excavations in 2011. The research combined different XRF techniques, with a central role for handheld XRF spectrometry in all selected archaeological applications. In addition, the measurements of both µ-XRF (micro-XRF) and TXRF (Total Reflection XRF) were used to act as a point of reference for the handheld measurements, since reference materials for the archaeological materials under focus are not available, and Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the pigment in the red-painted pottery. Methodology and characterization of handheld XRF analysers The first part of this thesis consists of three chapters which deal with X-ray fluorescence in general and the instrumentation and methodology that were used in this work. These chapters serve as an introduction to and point of reference for the rest of the thesis. Chapter 1 (Introduction) introduces the research and provides a broader context by placing it in the general evolution of XRF analysis in archaeology and by discussing current issues concerning the validity of handheld XRF. The chosen research strategy and the aims and objectives of this research are also discussed. Chapter 2 (Methodology) provides an overview of the instrumentation that was used in this research and the sample preparation and data processing techniques that were applied per instrument and project. The methodology is applicable to the three archaeological test cases. Chapter 3 (Evaluation of commercial handheld XRF: selecting the right tool for archaeological research) describes the evaluation of six commercially available handheld XRF analysers. The instruments are tested on their performance, stability and ease of use, using a set of standard reference materials and archaeological applications. The characterization of the Olympus Innov-X Delta handheld XRF analyser is another focus of this chapter. The characterization is essential for understanding the potential of the instruments, interpreting the results and configuring an ideal set-up. In the field. The application of hXRF in archaeological research projects In part 2 of the thesis, the hXRF analyser is taken into the field, where it is confronted with three archaeological test cases (Chapters 4-6). The first application is the archaeological and archaeometrical investigation of two ‘virtual dwellings’ in the Yustyd valley (Altai Republic, Russian Federation). In the summer of 2011, two Bronze Age geometric stone settings of the type ‘virtual dwelling’ were excavated by Belgian and Russian archaeologists in the Yustyd valley in the Altai mountains. During this campaign, handheld XRF analysis was used to perform a geochemical survey of the excavated structures in order to see if the soil features, as encountered during excavation, had a different chemical composition than the surrounding soil and if their composition could be attributed to a specific use of the monuments. Soil samples were taken to be further investigated by means of TXRF spectroscopy, a technique with very low detection limits often used for the ultra-trace analysis of particles. Even though we strongly believe in the potential of hXRF for geoarchaeological survey, the results for this study were rather limited. Possibly the harsh environmental conditions and barren soil influenced the results and their interpretation. Another factor might be the archaeological site itself: it is possible that the impact of the activities on the site, some four millennia ago, was too limited to leave traces today. The archaeological levels on the site not only appear to be featureless, but might have been so in origin. Any ritual, funerary or day-to-day use of the sites might have been minimal and not detectable by the chosen XRF technique. Chapter 5 presents the second and most extensive case study: an archaeometrical investigation of Flemish late and post-medieval stove-tiles by means of hXRF and µ-XRF. Stove-tiles are no uncommon goods in Flemish excavations, their origin, however, is unknown since no pottery workshops with evidence of stove-tile production have been found in excavation. The combination of these techniques was used to determine the chemical composition of these tiles and by comparison with locally produced pottery and raw clay, to determine their provenance. Furthermore, the impact of tile-stoves and their imagery as a symbol of status and a representation of identity was discussed and interpreted in relation to the archaeometrical results. The hXRF analyses of the whiteware stove-tiles delivered consistent results showing well-defined groups within the research material, corroborating with the results of the µ-XRF analysis. The study clearly set the whiteware stove-tiles apart from the Antwerp maiolica: either the tiles are imported as a finished product, or the clay was imported and locally used for stove-tile production. The results of the redware stove-tiles on the other hand were more complex. The hXRF results diverged considerably from those of the µ-XRF analysis, giving a completely different view on the relation between the comparative material and the stove-tiles themselves. For now, this divergence is explained by the difference between the two XRF techniques and the detailed measurements that can be taken with the µ-XRF instrument as opposed to the larger beam size of the hXRF instrument and the interference of exterior contamination that is inevitable with handheld XRF. The third and last case study (Chapter 6) covers a provenance-study of Iron Age red-painted pottery. The goal was to investigates whether the red-painted pottery, found on several Iron Age sites in Belgium and Northern France and referred to as Kemmelware, was actually produced in the Mount Kemmel hill fort. hXRF was employed to determine the elemental composition of the pottery while Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the pigment used for the red slip decorations. The investigation proved very interesting, as the hXRF data clearly demonstrated connections between the Iron Age settlement of Mount Kemmel and those of Kooigembos, Houplin-Ancoisne and Elversele, which can support the hypothesis that the pottery was produced in Kemmel and then distributed to other Iron Age sites. The Houplin-Ancoisne dataset gave evidence of two types of red-painted pottery: one group clearly diverged from the Kemmelware and can be labelled as locally produced red-painted pottery. The pottery from Hove was also chemically and technologically different, again indicating local production. Since only a limited number of sites were investigated, it would be interesting to extend the research with material from other Iron Age settlements, especially from sites in northern France. That way, it might be possible to further delineate the area where the influence of Mount Kemmel is perceptible. Conclusions, future perspectives and final thoughts By now it is clear that there is no such thing as easy answers where chemical analysis of archaeological samples is concerned. It is, however, through extensive application that we can further develop a methodology that allows us to limit the unknown factors that are always present when working with very heterogeneous materials as ceramics and soils. Only by using a lab protocol – also when working in the field –, by attentive monitoring of the data acquisition and by following predetermined steps of data processing, qualitative data can be obtained. In order for hXRF to become fully integrated in archaeology, it must be stressed that archaeologists need to understand the science behind XRF spectrometry and data processing in order to correctly evaluate the produced results and to translate them into an archaeological interpretation. Moreover, knowledge of the chemical process and the composition and variability of archaeological materials will prove indispensable in formulating the most successful research strategies. We hope that this contribution has been a step forwards for a true integration of hXRF into archaeology. In contrast to applying hXRF as a fancy technique because of its publication possibilities, this true integration implies the correct application of hXRF using the protocols and knowhow developed by analytical chemistry and implementing it in an archaeological manner. True integration also means that hXRF analysis in archaeology must not be seen as the sole purpose of a research, but rather as the means to answering well determined archaeological research questions

Toward New Ecologies of Cyberphysical Representational Forms, Scales, and Modalities

Research on tangible user interfaces commonly focuses on tangible interfaces acting alone or in comparison with screen-based multi-touch or graphical interfaces. In contrast, hybrid approaches can be seen as the norm for established mainstream interaction paradigms. This dissertation describes interfaces that support complementary information mediations, representational forms, and scales toward an ecology of systems embodying hybrid interaction modalities. I investigate systems combining tangible and multi-touch, as well as systems combining tangible and virtual reality interaction. For each of them, I describe work focusing on design and fabrication aspects, as well as work focusing on reproducibility, engagement, legibility, and perception aspects

Application of Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks to Achieve Intelligent Microgrids: A Promising Approach towards a Global Smart Grid Deployment

Smart Grids (SGs) constitute the evolution of the traditional electrical grid towards a new paradigm, which should increase the reliability, the security and, at the same time, reduce the costs of energy generation, distribution and consumption. Electrical microgrids (MGs) can be considered the first stage of this evolution of the grid, because of the intelligent management techniques that must be applied to assure their correct operation. To accomplish this task, sensors and actuators will be necessary, along with wireless communication technologies to transmit the measured data and the command messages. Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSANs) are therefore a promising solution to achieve an intelligent management of MGs and, by extension, the SG. In this frame, this paper surveys several aspects concerning the application of WSANs to manage MGs and the electrical grid, as well as the communication protocols that could be applied. The main concerns regarding the SG deployment are also presented, including future scenarios where the interoperability of different generation technologies must be assured

Snowboard, Ski, and Skateboard Sensor System Application

The goal of this project was develop a sensor for the commercial market for skiers, snowboarders, and skateboarders that can give them the data such as speed, elevation, pressure, temperature, flex, acceleration, position, and other performance data such as trick characterization. This was done by using a variety of sensors, including a GPS, flex sensors, accelerometer, and others to provide data such as speed, position, position, and temperature. The sensors were placed in an external polycarbonate casing attached to the ski or board by using an adhesive pad on the bottom of the casing. These sensors then transmit the data via a microcontroller to either an LCD screen displaying a simple application or a memory system. The user can then access and analyze this data using Matlab code to interpret its relevancy. Using this system, performance data was recorded to analyze tricks such as spins and jumps