Vision and Challenges for Realising the Internet of Things

Trust: Realisation of security and trust related services usually relies on a centralised infrastructure.
In decentralised and distributed networks as described above, related infrastructure
need to be individually provided by collaborating actors. Especially features for
discovery and revocation of access rights need to be carefully managed to assure acceptance
of the supply chain actors.
4.2 Features of the CuteLoop Framework
The technical approach to realise Networked Devices Enabled Intelligence was to integrate all
the required basic functionalities covering process related interactions, the device communication
as well as the security and trust features in a framework. This framework has to be usable
on diverse heterogeneous devices, supporting various communication networks. It also
needs to serve as a type of template when implementing the required capabilities and integrating
software services, legacy systems and existing hardware like sensors, GPS or RFID readers.
The following Figure 4.2-3 presents a basic architectural structure for realising Networked
Devices Enabled Intelligence.
Interfaces to
Users/ Systems
Intelligent Features
from User/Process
point of view
Peer-to-Peer targeted
Communication
(Wireless) Connectivity
(Mesh) Networking
Support
Integration of
Existing Hardware
Using the CuteLoop Framework,
including all NDEI related Components
User
Interface
Networked Networked Devices
Devices
Enabled Enabled Intelligence
Intelligence
Multi-
Agent
System
Legacy
System
Networked Networked Devices
Devices
Enabled Enabled Intelligence
Intelligence
Example for an
Event-based Operation
Networked Networked Devices
Devices
Enabled Enabled Intelligence
Intelligence
Sensors Sensors
GPS GPS
RFID RFID Reader Reader Active Active Tags Tags
……
……
Example for
Self-Diagnosis
Communication Platform Communication Platform Communication Platform
CuteLoop
CuteLoop
Communication
Communication
Bus
Bus
Legacy
Integration
Platform
Service
Integration
Controlled
Storage Area
Service
Security Framework
Distributed Naming and
Discovery Services
User
Interface
Multi-Agent System
Controlled
Storage Area
Legacy
Integration
Platform
Legacy
System
Security Framework
Transparent Selection of
Optimal Communication Channel
CuteLoop CuteLoop template template for for a a Hardware Hardware Integration Integration API
API
User
Interface
Multi-Agent System
Service
Service
Integration
Security Framework
Transparent Confidentiality &
Integrity Services
Figure 4.2-3: Basic architectural structure for realising a Networked Devices Enabled Intelligence,
based on usage of the CuteLoop framework.
For a particular application like the indicated examples (event-based operation & selfdiagnosis),
the CuteLoop framework based platform needs to be extensible and highly customisable.
From an overall software design and an interaction pattern point of view, the NDEI
services48, as presented in the following Table 4.2-2,
are considered as the key elements of the
framework to support solution design of application cases in real world settings.
48 Service as a function that is well defined, self-contained and does not depend on the context or state of other
services [Barry02], while from the project and a more technical point of view, such services could also include
functionality provided by software agents, which would be specifically characterised by being adaptable (e.g.
to different platforms), mobile (i.e. able to change their physical location) and autonomous/ ruggedness (i.e. being
able to perform their tasks without direct intervention of humans) [Murch98, Paolucci05].
CERP-IoT – Cluster of European Research Projects on the Internet of Things
100