Abstract: In this paper, we survey the current state-of-the-art in middleware and systems for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). We provide a discussion on the definition of WSN middleware, design issues associated with it, and the taxonomies commonly used to categorize it. We also present a categorization of a number of such middleware platforms, using middleware functionalities and challenges which we think will play a crucial role in developing software for WSN in the near future. Finally, we provide a short discussion on WSN middleware trends.
Abstract: Raising awareness among young people and changing their behaviour and habits concerning energy usage is key to achieving sustained energy saving. Additionally, young people are very sensitive to environmental protection so raising awareness among children is much easier than with any other group of citizens. This work examines ways to create an innovative Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) ecosystem (including web-based, mobile, social and sensing elements) tailored specifically for school environments, taking into account both the users (faculty, staff, students, parents) and school buildings, thus motivating and supporting young citizens¢ behavioural change to achieve greater energy efficiency. A mixture of open-source IoT hardware and proprietary platforms on the infrastructure level, are currently being utilized for monitoring a fleet of 18 educational buildings across 3 countries, comprising over 700 IoT monitoring points. Hereon presented is the system¢s high-level architecture, as well as several aspects of its implementation, related to the application domain of educational building monitoring and energy efficiency. The system is developed based on open-source technologies and services in order to make it capable of providing open IT-infrastructure and support from different commercial hardware/sensor vendors as well as open-source solutions. The system presented can be used to develop and offer new app-based solutions that can be used either for educational purposes or for managing the energy efficiency of the building. The system is replicable and adaptable to settings that may be different than the scenarios envisioned here (e.g., targeting different climate zones), different IT infrastructures and can be easily extended to accommodate integration with other systems. The overall performance of the system is evaluated in real-world environment in terms of scalability, responsiveness and simplicity.
Abstract: We present the conceptual basis and the initial planning for an open source management architecture for wireless sensor networks (WSN). Although there is an abundance of open source tools serving the administrative needs of WSN deployments, there is a lack of tools or platforms for high level integrated WSN management. This is because of a variety of factors, including the lack of open source management tools, the immaturity of tools that offer manageability for WSNs, the limited high level management capabilities of sensor devices and architectures, and the lack of standardization. The current work is, to our knowledge, the first effort to conceptualize, formalize and design a remote, integrated management platform for the support of WSN research laboratories. The platform is based on the integration and extension of two innovative platforms: jWebDust, a WSN operation and management platform, and OpenRSM, an open source integrated remote systems and network management platform. The proposed system architecture can support several levels of integration (infrastructure management, functionality integration, firmware management), corresponding to different use-cases and application settings.
Abstract: The Greek School Network (GSN) has developed and put into production a number of e-learning services, including synchronous and asynchronous tele-education, electronic class management, blogs, video-on-demand, podcasts and multimedia libraries. These new services complement established and accepted e-learning services, such as teleconferencing, user wikis, forums, email, electronic publishing, and e-magazines. This report presents the most prominent digital e-learning services offered by GSN, with emphasis on the asynchronous tele-education service, which is presented in detail. Its implementation platform, the Moodle course management system, is compared against well-known asynchronous open source tele-education platforms such as COSE, Claroline, Fle3, ILIAS, Manhattan, KEWL, Comentor, e-Class and Eledge. The evaluation of the asynchronous tele-education platforms is based on detailed comparisons of their characteristics and of the methodology they adopt in order to deliver educational services. The comparison is based on evaluation criteria derived from the documented experiences of research institutes and educational bodies and also from the experience of GSN itself. The paper concludes with the presentation of an extension to Moodle for implementing communities of practice (CoPs) that facilitate the creation and delivery of electronic educational open content for teachers in a synergetic manner.
Abstract: In this work we present a platform-agnostic framework for intergrating heterogeneous Smart Objects in the Web of Things. Our framework, consists of 4 different hardware platforms, Arduino, SunSPOT, TelosB, iSense. These hardware platforms are the most representative ones, as used by the relevant research community. A first contribution of our work is a careful description of the necessary steps to make such a heterogeneous network interoperate and the implementation of a network stack, in the form of a software library, named mkSense, which enables their intercommunication. Moreover, we describe the design and implementation of software library which can be used for building “intelligent software” for the Web of Things.
Abstract: In this work, we expanded the Arduino's
capabilities by adding an 802.15.4 wireless module, in order to
expose its functionality as a Web of Things node. The second
contribution of our work is a careful description of the necessary
steps to make a heterogeneous network interoperate and the
implementation of a network stack for the 4 most representative
hardware platforms, as used by the relevant research community
(Arduino, SunSPOT, TelosB, iSense), in the form of a software
library, named mkSense, which enables their
intercommunication. Moreover, we describe the design and
implementation of a software library which can be used for
building “intelligent software” for the Web of Things.
Abstract: As the Internet of Things (IOT) arises, the use of
low-end devices on a daily basis increases. The wireless nature
of communication that these devices provide raises security and
privacy issues. For protecting a user’s privacy, cryptography
offers the tool of zero knowledge proofs (ZKP). In this
paper, we study well-established ZKP protocols based on the
discrete logarithm problem and we adapt them to the Elliptic
Curve Cryptography (ECC) setting, which consists an ideal
candidate for embedded implementations. Then, we implement
the proposed protocols on Wiselib, a generic and open source
algorithmic library. For the first time, we present a thorough
evaluation of the protocols on two popular hardware platforms
equipped with low end microcontrollers (Jennic JN5139, TI
MSP430) and 802.15.4 RF transceivers, in terms of code size,
execution time, message size and energy requirements. This
work’s results can be used from developers who wish to achieve
certain levels of privacy in their applications.
Abstract: We present a unique location-based application of sensor networks. The ``Magnetize Words'' installation produces word clouds following visitors around, interacting with each other as the visitors meet in physical space. The installation can be based on either of two localization-providing platforms. The first achieves high localization accuracy while requiring visitors to carry identifying tags. The other provides low accuracy, but is fully nonintrusive.
Abstract: In this work we discuss Kafebook, a system combining popular social networking platforms
with activity input from the physical domain inside public spaces. The system is envisioned as
a means for users to augment and communicate their activities to other people in their physical
proximity through a public display, while catering for anonymity issues. We developed a
client for Android smartphones that is used as the user interface and the enabling platform,
with which users connect to the system infrastructure and interact with it. Apart from
providing access to input from social networking sites, the Android client allows for chat
between the users and music selection polls. Wireless networking is based on Bluetooth, a
widespread technology in smartphones, which enables a more pervasive mode of operation,
while utilizing it also as a proximity sensor. We deployed our system in a two-day public
event as part of an undergraduate theses showcase, receiving positive feedback from visitors.
Abstract: We present the conceptual basis and the initial planning for an open
source management architecture for wireless sensor networks (WSN). Although
there is an abundance of open source tools serving the administrative needs of
WSN deployments, there is a lack of tools or platforms for high level integrated
WSN management. The current work is, to our knowledge, the first effort to
conceptualize and design a remote, integrated management platform for the
support of WSN research laboratories. The platform is based on the integration
and extension of two innovative platforms: jWebDust, a WSN operation and
management platform, and OpenRSM, an open source integrated remote
systems and network management platform. The proposed system architecture
can support several levels of integration in order to cover to multiple,
qualitatively differentiated use-cases.