Seamless connectivity architecture and methods for IoT and wearable devices

Wearable and Internet of Things (IoT) devices have the potential to improve lifestyle, personalize receiving treatments or introduce assisted living for elderly people. However, service delivery depends on maintaining and troubleshooting device connectivity to smartphones, where user engagement and technology proficiency represent a possible barrier that prevents a wider adoption, especially in the elderly and disabled population. Low-cost and low-power wearable and IoT devices face challenges when operating out of range of known home networks or pared devices. We propose an architecture and methods to provide seamless connectivity (Se-Co) between devices and wireless networks while maintaining low-power, low-cost and standards compatibility. Through Se-Co, the devices connect without user interaction both in home and in unknown roaming networks while maintaining anonymity, privacy and security. Roaming networks approve data limited connectivity to unknown devices that are able to provide a valid anonymized certificate of compliance and no harm through a home provider. Se-Co enables shifting data processing, such as pattern processing using artificial intelligence, from a wearable device or smartphone towards the cloud. The proposed Se-Co architecture could provide solutions to increase usability of wearable devices and improve their wider adoption, while keeping low the costs of devices, development and services

Privacy, security, and trust issues in smart environments

Recent advances in networking, handheld computing and sensor technologies have driven forward research towards the realisation of Mark Weiser's dream of calm and ubiquitous computing (variously called pervasive computing, ambient computing, active spaces, the disappearing computer or context-aware computing). In turn, this has led to the emergence of smart environments as one significant facet of research in this domain. A smart environment, or space, is a region of the real world that is extensively equipped with sensors, actuators and computing components [1]. In effect the smart space becomes a part of a larger information system: with all actions within the space potentially affecting the underlying computer applications, which may themselves affect the space through the actuators. Such smart environments have tremendous potential within many application areas to improve the utility of a space. Consider the potential offered by a smart environment that prolongs the time an elderly or infirm person can live an independent life or the potential offered by a smart environment that supports vicarious learning