A survey on subjecting electronic product code and non-ID objects to IP identification

Over the last decade, both research on the Internet of Things (IoT) and real-world IoT applications have grown exponentially. The IoT provides us with smarter cities, intelligent homes, and generally more comfortable lives. However, the introduction of these devices has led to several new challenges that must be addressed. One of the critical challenges facing interacting with IoT devices is to address billions of devices (things) around the world, including computers, tablets, smartphones, wearable devices, sensors, and embedded computers, and so on. This article provides a survey on subjecting Electronic Product Code and non-ID objects to IP identification for IoT devices, including their advantages and disadvantages thereof. Different metrics are here proposed and used for evaluating these methods. In particular, the main methods are evaluated in terms of their: (i) computational overhead, (ii) scalability, (iii) adaptability, (iv) implementation cost, and (v) whether applicable to already ID-based objects and presented in tabular format. Finally, the article proves that this field of research will still be ongoing, but any new technique must favorably offer the mentioned five evaluative parameters.Comment: 112 references, 8 figures, 6 tables, Journal of Engineering Reports, Wiley, 2020 (Open Access

Crocs: Cross-Technology Clock Synchronization for WiFi and ZigBee

Clock synchronization is a key function in embedded wireless systems and networks. This issue is equally important and more challenging in IoT systems nowadays, which often include heterogeneous wireless devices that follow different wireless standards. Conventional solutions to this problem employ gateway-based indirect synchronization, which suffers low accuracy. This paper for the first time studies the problem of cross-technology clock synchronization. Our proposal called Crocs synchronizes WiFi and ZigBee devices by direct cross-technology communication. Crocs decouples the synchronization signal from the transmission of a timestamp. By incorporating a barker-code based beacon for time alignment and cross-technology transmission of timestamps, Crocs achieves robust and accurate synchronization among WiFi and ZigBee devices, with the synchronization error lower than 1 millisecond. We further make attempts to implement different cross-technology communication methods in Crocs and provide insight findings with regard to the achievable accuracy and expected overhead

An Integrated Testbed for Cooperative Perception with Heterogeneous Mobile and Static Sensors

Cooperation among devices with different sensing, computing and communication capabilities provides interesting possibilities in a growing number of problems and applications including domotics (domestic robotics), environmental monitoring or intelligent cities, among others. Despite the increasing interest in academic and industrial communities, experimental tools for evaluation and comparison of cooperative algorithms for such heterogeneous technologies are still very scarce. This paper presents a remote testbed with mobile robots and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) equipped with a set of low-cost off-the-shelf sensors, commonly used in cooperative perception research and applications, that present high degree of heterogeneity in their technology, sensed magnitudes, features, output bandwidth, interfaces and power consumption, among others. Its open and modular architecture allows tight integration and interoperability between mobile robots and WSN through a bidirectional protocol that enables full interaction. Moreover, the integration of standard tools and interfaces increases usability, allowing an easy extension to new hardware and software components and the reuse of code. Different levels of decentralization are considered, supporting from totally distributed to centralized approaches. Developed for the EU-funded Cooperating Objects Network of Excellence (CONET) and currently available at the School of Engineering of Seville (Spain), the testbed provides full remote control through the Internet. Numerous experiments have been performed, some of which are described in the paper

PluralisMAC: a generic multi-MAC framework for heterogeneous, multiservice wireless networks, applied to smart containers

Developing energy-efficient MAC protocols for lightweight wireless systems has been a challenging task for decades because of the specific requirements of various applications and the varying environments in which wireless systems are deployed. Many MAC protocols for wireless networks have been proposed, often custom-made for a specific application. It is clear that one MAC does not fit all the requirements. So, how should a MAC layer deal with an application that has several modes (each with different requirements) or with the deployment of another application during the lifetime of the system? Especially in a mobile wireless system, like Smart Monitoring of Containers, we cannot know in advance the application state (empty container versus stuffed container). Dynamic switching between different energy-efficient MAC strategies is needed. Our architecture, called PluralisMAC, contains a generic multi-MAC framework and a generic neighbour monitoring and filtering framework. To validate the real-world feasibility of our architecture, we have implemented it in TinyOS and have done experiments on the TMote Sky nodes in the w-iLab.t testbed. Experimental results show that dynamic switching between MAC strategies is possible with minimal receive chain overhead, while meeting the various application requirements (reliability and low-energy consumption)

IoT Networks: Using Machine Learning Algorithm for Service Denial Detection in Constrained Application Protocol

The paper discusses the potential threat of Denial of Service (DoS) attacks in the Internet of Things (IoT) networks on constrained application protocols (CoAP). As billions of IoT devices are expected to be connected to the internet in the coming years, the security of these devices is vulnerable to attacks, disrupting their functioning. This research aims to tackle this issue by applying mixed methods of qualitative and quantitative for feature selection, extraction, and cluster algorithms to detect DoS attacks in the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) using the Machine Learning Algorithm (MLA). The main objective of the research is to enhance the security scheme for CoAP in the IoT environment by analyzing the nature of DoS attacks and identifying a new set of features for detecting them in the IoT network environment. The aim is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the MLA in detecting DoS attacks and compare it with conventional intrusion detection systems for securing the CoAP in the IoT environment. Findings The research identifies the appropriate node to detect DoS attacks in the IoT network environment and demonstrates how to detect the attacks through the MLA. The accuracy detection in both classification and network simulation environments shows that the k-means algorithm scored the highest percentage in the training and testing of the evaluation. The network simulation platform also achieved the highest percentage of 99.93% in overall accuracy. This work reviews conventional intrusion detection systems for securing the CoAP in the IoT environment. The DoS security issues associated with the CoAP are discussed

A MAC protocol for quality of service provisioning in adaptive biomedical wireless sensor networks

Doctorate program on Electronics and Computer EngineeringNew healthcare solutions are being explored to improve the quality of care and the quality of life of patients, as well as the sustainability and efficiency of the healthcare services. In this context, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) constitute a key technology for closing the loop between patients and healthcare providers, as WSNs provide sensing ability, as well as mobility and portability, essential characteristics for wide acceptance of wireless healthcare technology. Despite the recent advances in the field, the wide adoption of healthcare WSNs is still conditioned by quality of service (QoS) issues, namely at the medium access control (MAC) level. MAC protocols currently available for WSNs are not able to provide the required QoS to healthcare applications in scenarios of medical emergency or intensive medical care. To cover this shortage, the present work introduces a MAC protocol with novel concepts to assure the required QoS regarding the data transmission robustness, packet delivery deadline, bandwidth efficiency, and energy preservation. The proposed MAC protocol provides a new and efficient dynamic reconfiguration mechanism, so that relevant operational parameters may be redefined dynamically in accordance with the patients’ clinical state. The protocol also provides a channel switching mechanism and the capacity of forwarding frames in two-tier network structures. To test the performance of the proposed MAC protocol and compare it with other MAC protocols, a simulation platform was implemented. In order to validate the simulation results, a physical testbed was implemented to replicate the tests and verify the results. Sensor nodes were specifically designed and assembled to implement this physical testbed. New healthcare solutions are being explored to improve the quality of care and the quality of life of patients, as well as the sustainability and efficiency of the healthcare services. In this context, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) constitute a key technology for closing the loop between patients and healthcare providers, as WSNs provide sensing ability, as well as mobility and portability, essential characteristics for wide acceptance of wireless healthcare technology. Despite the recent advances in the field, the wide adoption of healthcare WSNs is still conditioned by quality of service (QoS) issues, namely at the medium access control (MAC) level. MAC protocols currently available for WSNs are not able to provide the required QoS to healthcare applications in scenarios of medical emergency or intensive medical care. To cover this shortage, the present work introduces a MAC protocol with novel concepts to assure the required QoS regarding the data transmission robustness, packet delivery deadline, bandwidth efficiency, and energy preservation. The proposed MAC protocol provides a new and efficient dynamic reconfiguration mechanism, so that relevant operational parameters may be redefined dynamically in accordance with the patients’ clinical state. The protocol also provides a channel switching mechanism and the capacity of forwarding frames in two-tier network structures. To test the performance of the proposed MAC protocol and compare it with other MAC protocols, a simulation platform was implemented. In order to validate the simulation results, a physical testbed was implemented to replicate the tests and verify the results. Sensor nodes were specifically designed and assembled to implement this physical testbed. Preliminary tests using the simulation and physical platforms showed that simulation results diverge significantly from reality, if the performance of the WSN software components is not considered. Therefore, a parametric model was developed to reflect the impact of this aspect on a physical WSN. Simulation tests using the parametric model revealed that the results match satisfactorily those obtained in reality. After validating the simulation platform, comparative tests against IEEE 802.15.4, a prominent standard used in many wireless healthcare systems, showed that the proposed MAC protocol leads to a performance increase regarding diverse QoS metrics, such as packet loss and bandwidth efficiency, as well as scalability, adaptability, and power consumption. In this way, AR-MAC is a valuable contribution to the deployment of wireless e-health technology and related applications.Novas soluções de cuidados de saúde estão a ser exploradas para melhorar a qualidade de tratamento e a qualidade de vida dos pacientes, assim como a sustentabilidade e eficiência dos serviços de cuidado de saúde. Neste contexto, as redes de sensores sem fios (wireless sensor networks - WSN) são uma tecnologia chave para fecharem o ciclo entre os pacientes e os prestadores de cuidados de saúde, uma vez que as WSNs proporcionam não só capacidade sensorial mas também mobilidade e portabilidade, caracteristicas essenciais para a aceitação à larga escala da tecnologia dos cuidados de saúde sem fios. Apesar dos avanços recentes na área, a aceitação genérica das WSNs de cuidados de saúde ainda está condicionada por aspectos relacionados com a qualidade de serviço (quality of service - QoS), nomeadamente ao nível do controlo de acesso ao meio (medium access control - MAC). Os protocolos MAC actualmente disponíveis para WSNs são incapazes de fornecer a QoS desejada pelas aplicações médicas em cenários de emergência ou cuidados médicos intensivos. Para suprimir esta carência, o presente trabalho apresenta um protocolo MAC com novos conceitos a fim de assegurar a QoS respeitante à robustez de transmissão de dados, ao limite temporal da entrega de pacotes, à utilização da largura de banda e à preservação da energia eléctrica. O protocolo MAC proposto dispõe de um novo e eficiente mecanismo de reconfiguração para que os parâmetros operacionais relevantes possam ser redefinidos dinamicamente de acordo com o estado de saúde do paciente. O protocolo também oferece um mecanismo autónomo de comutação de canal, bem como a capacidade de encaminhar pacotes em redes de duas camadas. Para testar o desempenho do protocolo MAC proposto e compará-lo com outros protocolos MAC foi implementada uma plataforma de simulação. A fim de validar os resultados da simulação foi também implementada uma plataforma física para permitir replicar os testes e verificar os resultados. Esta plataforma física inclui nós sensoriais concebidos e construídos de raiz para o efeito. Testes preliminares usando as plataformas de simulação e física mostraram que os resultados de simulação divergem significativamente da realidade, caso o desempenho dos componentes do software presentes nos componentes da WSN não seja considerado. Por conseguinte, desenvolveu-se um modelo paramétrico para reflectir o impacto deste aspecto numa WSN real. Testes de simulação efectuados com o modelo paramétrico apresentaram resultados muito satisfatórios quando comparados com os obtidos na realidade. Uma vez validada a plataforma de simulação, efectuaram-se testes comparativos com a norma IEEE 802.15.4, proeminentemente usada em projectos académicos de cuidados de saúde sem fios. Os resultados mostraram que o protocolo MAC conduz a um desempenho superior no tocante a diversas métricas QoS, tais como perdas de pacotes e utilização de largura de banda, bem como no respeitante à escalabilidade, adaptabilidade e consumo de energia eléctrica. Assim sendo, o protocolo MAC proposto representa um valioso contributo para a concretização efectiva dos cuidados de saúde sem fios e suas aplicações

Building distributed sensor network applications using BIP

International audienceThe exponential increase in the demands for the deployment of large-scale sensor networks, makes the efficient development of functional applications necessary. Nevertheless, the existence of scarce resources and the derived application complexity, impose significant constraints and requires high design expertise. Consequently, the probability of discovering design errors, once the application is implemented, is considerably high. To address these issues, there is a need for the availability of early-stage validation, performance evaluation and rapid prototyping techniques at design time. In this paper we present a novel approach for the co-design of mixed software/hardware applications for distributed sensor network systems. This approach uses BIP, a formal framework facilitating modeling, analysis and implementation of real-time embedded, heterogeneous systems. Our approach is illustrated through the modeling and deployment of a Wireless Multimedia Sensor Network (WMSN) application. We emphasize on its merits, notably validation of functional and non-functional requirements through statistical model-checking and automatic code generation for sensor network platforms