Bringing pervasive embedded networks to the service cloud: a lightweight middleware approach

The emergence of novel pervasive networks that consist of tiny embedded nodes have reduced the gap between real and virtual worlds. This paradigm has opened the Service Cloud to a variety of wireless devices especially those with sensorial and actuating capabilities. Those pervasive networks contribute to build new context-aware applications that interpret the state of the physical world at real-time. However, traditional Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA), which are widely used in the current Internet are unsuitable for such resource-constraint devices since they are too heavy. In this research paper, an internetworking approach is proposed in order to address that important issue. The main part of our proposal is the Knowledge-Aware and Service-Oriented (KASO) Middleware that has been designed for pervasive embedded networks. KASO Middleware implements a diversity of mechanisms, services and protocols which enable developers and business processing designers to deploy, expose, discover, compose, and orchestrate real-world services (i.e. services running on sensor/actuator devices). Moreover, KASO Middleware implements endpoints to offer those services to the Cloud in a REST manner. Our internetworking approach has been validated through a real healthcare telemonitoring system deployed in a sanatorium. The validation tests show that KASO Middleware successfully brings pervasive embedded networks to the Service Cloud

Wireless sensor network-based system for measuring and monitoring road traffic

Nowadays, the measure and classification of vehicles in road traffic is accomplished by inductive loops placed under the pavement. These inductive loops allow monitoring vehicle passing by means of different configurations which provide us a number of data in order to control several parameters of the traffic (vehicle speed, traffic congestion and traffic accidents, between others). The major objective of this paper is to analysis an alternative to magnetic loops: the Wireless Sensor Networks. Firstly, a state of the art about road traffic control is described. Secondly, an alternative system based on Wireless Sensor Networks is analyzed. Network architecture for this WSN will be specified. It is not a trivial task because of the hard constraints of the small devices which compose the WSNs. In previous papers [1], we have proposed a methodology that facilitates the WSNs design for supporting real time applications such as traffic control applications. This design methodology has been used in order to obtain a WSN that reaches the real time requirements of a monitoring traffic application for intelligent roads. In the short term, the aim is to define a simulation model based on the designed WSN. To conclude, we have introduced a section about possible future directions in the smart roads field

A Development Methodology to Facilitate the Integration of Smart Spaces into the Web of Things

How to create or integrate large Smart Spaces (considered as mash-ups of sensors and actuators) into the paradigm of ?Web of Things? has been the motivation of many recent works. A cutting-edge approach deals with developing and deploying web-enabled embedded devices with two major objectives: 1) to integrate sensor and actuator technologies into everyday objects, and 2) to allow a diversity of devices to plug to Internet. Currently, developers who want to use this Internet-oriented approach need have solid understanding about sensorial platforms and semantic technologies. In this paper we propose a Resource-Oriented and Ontology-Driven Development (ROOD) methodology, based on Model Driven Architecture (MDA), to facilitate to any developer the development and deployment of Smart Spaces. Early evaluations of the ROOD methodology have been successfully accomplished through a partial deployment of a Smart Hotel

QoS in wireless sensor networks: survey and approach

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a computer wireless network composed of spatially distributed and autonomous tiny nodes -- smart dust sensors, motes -, which cooperatively monitor physical or environmental conditions. Nowadays these kinds of networks support a wide range of applications, such as target tracking, security, environmental control, habitat monitoring, source detection, source localization, vehicular and traffic monitoring, health monitoring, building and industrial monitoring, etc. Many of these applications have strong requirements for end-to-end delay and losses during data transmissions. In this work we have classified the main mechanisms that have been proposed to provide Quality of Service (QoS) in WSN at Medium Access Control (MAC) and network layers. Finally, taking into account some particularities of the studied MAC- and network-layer protocols, we have selected a real application scenario in order to show how to choose an appropriate approach for guaranteeing performance in a WSN deployed application

Pervasive surveillance-agent system based on wireless sensor networks: design and deployment

Nowadays, proliferation of embedded systems is enhancing the possibilities of gathering information by using wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Flexibility and ease of installation make these kinds of pervasive networks suitable for security and surveillance environments. Moreover, the risk for humans to be exposed to these functions is minimized when using these networks. In this paper, a virtual perimeter surveillance agent, which has been designed to detect any person crossing an invisible barrier around a marked perimeter and send an alarm notification to the security staff, is presented. This agent works in a state of 'low power consumption' until there is a crossing on the perimeter. In our approach, the 'intelligence' of the agent has been distributed by using mobile nodes in order to discern the cause of the event of presence. This feature contributes to saving both processing resources and power consumption since the required code that detects presence is the only system installed. The research work described in this paper illustrates our experience in the development of a surveillance system using WNSs for a practical application as well as its evaluation in real-world deployments. This mechanism plays an important role in providing confidence in ensuring safety to our environment

Vaspin in atherosclerotic disease and cardiovascular risk in axial spondyloarthritis: a genetic and serological study

Background: Vaspin is a novel anti-inflammatory adipokine associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease and inflammation in chronic inflammatory conditions different from axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Given the high incidence of CV disease (mainly due to accelerated atherosclerosis) exhibited by axSpA patients, we wondered if vaspin could also be a key molecule in this process. However, data on the role of vaspin regarding atherosclerotic disease in the context of axSpA is scarce. For this reason, we aimed to evaluate the implication of vaspin, at the genetic and serological level, in subclinical atherosclerosis and CV risk in axSpA. Methods: This study included 510 patients diagnosed with axSpA. Carotid ultrasound (US) was performed to evaluate the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. Three vaspin gene variants (rs2236242, rs7159023, and rs35262691) were genotyped by TaqMan probes. Serum vaspin levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA® v.11.1. Results: Serum vaspin levels were significantly higher in female patients than in males and also in obese patients when compared to those with normal weight (p < 0.05). At the genetic level, we disclosed that the minor allele of rs2236242 (A) was associated with lower serum vaspin levels in axSpA, while the rs7159023 minor allele (A) was linked to higher serum levels (p < 0.05). When the three polymorphisms assessed were combined conforming haplotypes, we disclosed that the TGC haplotype related to high serum levels of vaspin (p = 0.01). However, no statistically significant association was observed between vaspin and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, both at the genetic and serological level. Conclusions: Our results revealed that vaspin is linked to CV risk factors that may influence on the atherosclerotic process in axSpA. Additionally, we disclosed that serum vaspin concentration is genetically modulated in a large cohort of patients with axSpA.This work was partially supported by funds of a NEXT-VAL grant (NVAL17/10) (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria IDIVAL) awarded to FG. RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship (grant CP16/00033) from the “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” (ISCIII) and co-funded by the European Social Fund, ESF). SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program (RD16/0012/0009) from ISCIII and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL (PREVAL18/01). LL-G is supported by funds of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from ISCIII (grant CP16/00033, co-funded by the ESF). OG is beneficiary of a grant funded by Xunta de Galicia, Consellería de Educación, Universidade e Formación Profesional and Consellería de Economía, Emprego e Industria (GAIN), GPC IN607B2019/10

Enabling the deployment of ubiquitous smart spaces : an architectural and methodological approach based on the web of things

La visión de un mundo poblado de objetos inteligentes ha sido una constante desde los albores de la telefomunicación contemporanea a finales del siglo XIX. Sin embargo, fue Mark Weiser quien, a inicios de los años 90, estableció los fundamentos de la Computación Ubicua, esencial para la definición de un nuevo concepto de interconexión de objetos llamado el Internet de las Cosas. Este nuevo paradigma extendió la capilaridad del Internet original integrando dispositivos con capacidades sensoriales en estrecha relación con escenarios de la vida real. Normalmente, estos escenarios se contextualizan en aplicaciones verticales, por ejemplo, Smart Cities, Industria 4.0, Coche Conectado o Salud Personal. Un reto importante para la expansión del Internet de las Cosas es la eliminación de la gran fragmentación tecnológica que afecta a aspectos tales como las plataformas hardware, modelos de programación y servicios, semántica o seguridad. Esta tesis doctoral describe una solución holística que simplifica la complejidad del Internet de las Cosas a través de dos paradigmas interrelacionados: la Web de las Cosas y las Metodologas de Desarrollo dirigidas por Modelos. En primer lugar, la tesis propone una arquitectura de referencia denominada Web of Things Open Platform (WoTOP), cuyo objetivo es la orquestación de la interoperabilidad entre diferentes tecnologías y estándares del Internet de las Cosas para crear un ecosistema heterogeneo de recursos sensoriales y de lógica de negocio. Esta arquitectura también incluye una capa de dominio de aplicación que define un API para facilitar el acceso a esos recursos mediante tecnologías web. WoTOP está basado en una arquitectura abierta que puede extenderse y modificarse dependiendo de las necesiades de los proyectos concretos. La tesis incluye la descripción de una versión ligera de WoTOP, llamada μWoTOP, diseñada para ser embebida en dispositivos móviles que serviría, por ejemplo, como plataforma para desarrollar aplicaciones que se alimentan de sensores móviles conectables como wearables para soluciones de salud personal. En segundo lugar, con el objetivo de explorar la universalización de las tecnologías del Internet de las Cosas, el framework propuesto define la metodología Model-Driven Resource-Oriented (MDRO), para el desarrollo de redes de objetos inteligentes. La metodología MDRO esta pensada para ser utilizada por usuarios sin conocimientos concretos en lenguajes de programación ni modelado. La ventaja principal de utilizar la metodología MDRO reside en el soporte y automatic a l durante el desarrollo de servicios para espacios inteligentes. Estas caractersticas se logran a través de mecanismos de verificación semántica de los modelos así como su transformación automatizada a código de programa. La metodología MDRO se complementa con un entorno de desarrollo basado en un lenguaje de modelado ad hoc diseñado como extensión de UML, denominado Smart Space Modeling Language (SSML). Para la validación de las contribuciones descritas, se evaluó el desempeño de una implementación de referencia de WoTOP través de un entorno simulado basado en el modelo M/G/l de teoría de colas que demuestra la capacidad de escalabilidad de la plataforma a la vez que se define como herramienta para dimensionar recursos de despliegues reales de espacios inteligentes. En concreto, con esta herramienta se diseño un conjunto de servicios para edificios inteligentes incluyendo confort ambiental, localization, parking y gestión de recursos. Adicionalmente, se documentó el uso de la metodología MDRO junto con una implementación funcional de su entorno de desarrollo para el despliegue de servicios reales en un Laboratorio de Experiencias de Espacios del Futuro, en particular para el control de consumo de energía, control ambiental y seguridad. Estos servicios se desplegaron sobre una infraestructura de espacio inteligente basada en la arquitectura WoTOP. ----------ABSTRACT---------- The vision of a world populated by smart objects has been a constant since the dawn of contemporary telecommunication in the late nineteenth century. However, it was Mark Weiser who, in the early 1990s, established the fundamentals of Pervasive Computing, which were essential for the foundation of a new concept of object interconnection called the Internet of Things (IoT). This recent paradigm has extended the capillarity of the original Internet integrating devices with sensorial capabilities in close relation with the real scenarios, to implement applications for Smart Cities, Industry 4.0, Connected Car or Personal Health. An ultimate challenge for the spreading of IoT is the removal of the current high technological fragmentation that affects aspects such as hardware platforms, programming models and services, semantics and security. The doctoral thesis describes a holistic solution that simplifies the complexity of the Internet of Things through contributions on two connected paradigms: Web of Things and Model-Driven Development Methodologies. Firstly, the thesis proposes a reference architecture called Web of Things Open Platform (WoTOP), which aims at orchestrating interoperability between different technologies and standards of the Internet of Things, to create an enriched ecosystem of sensorial and logical resources. This architecture also includes an application domain layer that defines an API to enable the access to those resources through web technologies. WoTOP is based on an open architecture so it can be extended and modified depending on the needs of specific projects. The thesis also includes a light version of WoTOP, ready to be embedded in mobile devices to serve, for example, as a framework to develop applications involving mobile-connectable sensors (e.g. wearables for personal health solutions). Secondly, in order to explore the universalization of IoT technologies, the proposed framework provides a Model-Driven Resource-Oriented (MDRO) methodology for the development of smart objects networks. MDRO is designed to be used by users without specific knowledge in modeling and programming languages. The main advantage of using MDRO lies in the support and automation during the development of services for smart spaces. These characteristics are achieved through the semantic verification mechanisms of the models as well as their automated transformation into program code. The MDRO methodology is complemented by a development environment which is based on an ad-hoc modeling language designed as an UML extension, the Smart Space Modeling Language (SSML). For validation, the performance of WoTOP implementation has been evaluated through a simulated environment based on a Queueing Theory M/G/1 model, which demonstrates the scalability of the platform at the same time that serves as a tool to size real deployments. In particular, a set of services for smart buildings considering ambient, localization, parking and resources management features have been designed using the tool. Additionally, the MDRO methodology together with a functional version of its associated development environment has been used to deliver several real services in the Experience Lab of Future Spaces, in particular of energy consumption, ambient control and security. These services were deployed on a smart space infrastructure based on the WoTOP architecture

Modelling QoS for wireless sensor networks

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a wireless network composed of spatially distributed and tiny autonomous nodes — smart dust sensors, motes —, which cooperatively monitor physical or environmental conditions. Nowadays these kinds of networks support a wide range of applications, such as target tracking, security, environmental control, habitat monitoring, source detection, source localization, vehicular and traffic monitoring, health monitoring, building and industrial monitoring, etc. Generally, these applications have strong and strict requirements for end-to-end delaying and loosing during data transmissions. In this paper, we propose a realistic scenario for application of the WSN field in order to illustrate selection of an appropriate approach for guaranteeing performance in a WSN-deployed application. The methodology we have used includes four major phases: 1) Requirements analysis of the application scenario; 2) QoS modeling in different layers of the communications protocol stack and selection of more suitable QoS protocols and mechanisms; 3) Definition of a simulation model based on an application scenario, to which we applied the protocols and mechanisms selected in the phase 2; and 4) Validation of decisions by means of simulation and analysis of results. This work has been partially financed by the “Universidad Politécnica de Madrid” and the “ Comunidad de Madrid” in the framework of the project CRISAL - M0700204174

Trade-off between performance and energy consumption in wireless sensor networks

Nowadays WSNs support applications such as target tracking, environmental control or vehicles traffic monitoring. Generally, these applications have strong and strict requirements for end-to-end delaying and loosing during data transmissions. In this paper, we propose a practical scenario for application of the WSN field in order to illustrate selection of an appropriate approach for guaranteeing performance in a WSN-deployed application. The methodology we have used includes four major phases: 1) Requirements analysis of the application scenario; 2) QoS modelling in different layers of the communications protocol stack and selection of more suitable QoS protocols and mechanisms; 3) Definition of a simulation model based on an application scenario, to which we applied the protocols and mechanisms selected in phase 2; 4) Validation of decisions by means of simulation; and 5) analysis of results. This work has being partially developed in the framework of the CRISAL - M0700204174 project (partially funded by “Universidad Politécnica de Madrid” and “Comunidad de Madrid”, Spain)

Genre Differences on Visual Perception of Color Range and Depth of Field

Visual perception is the result of the integration of various related factors of the observed object and its environment. In this study we evaluated the impact of tridimensional form on color perception and the angle from the horizontal plane of a set of similar objets on the depth of field perception between young men and women. A panel half magenta and half white placed at the end of a black box, folded either concaved or convexed to alter the chromatic effect perceived were used to determine tridimensional form on color perception. Four sets of identical sticks where the angle from the horizontal plane varied for each, were used to determine the effect of spatial distribution of depth of field perception. The parameters taking into account were age, genre, associated visual defects for each individual evaluated. Our results show that the tridimensional form alters color perception but the range of color perceived was larger for women whereas depending on the angle from the horizontal plane we found genre differences on the depth of field perception