Ana Reyna

On blockchain and its integration with IoT. Challenges and opportunities

Abstract In the Internet of Things (IoT) vision, conventional devices become smart and autonomous. This vision is turning into a reality thanks to advances in technology, but there are still challenges to address, particularly in the security domain e.g., data reliability. Taking into account the predicted evolution of the IoT in the coming years, it is necessary to provide confidence in this huge incoming information source. Blockchain has emerged as a key technology that will transform the way in which we share information. Building trust in distributed environments without the need for authorities is a technological advance that has the potential to change many industries, the IoT among them. Disruptive technologies such as big data and cloud computing have been leveraged by IoT to overcome its limitations since its conception, and we think blockchain will be one of the next ones. This paper focuses on this relationship, investigates challenges in blockchain IoT applications, and surveys the most relevant work in order to analyze how blockchain could potentially improve the IoT.

Using Wireless Sensor Networks and Trains as Data Mules to Monitor Slab Track Infrastructures

Recently, slab track systems have arisen as a safer and more sustainable option for high speed railway infrastructures, compared to traditional ballasted tracks. Integrating Wireless Sensor Networks within these infrastructures can provide structural health related data that can be used to evaluate their degradation and to not only detect failures but also to predict them. The design of such systems has to deal with a scenario of large areas with inaccessible zones, where neither Internet coverage nor electricity supply is guaranteed. In this paper we propose a monitoring system for slab track systems that measures vibrations and displacements in the track. Collected data is transmitted to passing trains, which are used as data mules to upload the information to a remote control center. On arrival at the station, the data is stored in a database, which is queried by an application in order to detect and predict failures. In this paper, different communication architectures are designed and tested to select the most suitable system meeting such requirements as efficiency, low cost and data accuracy. In addition, to ensure communication between the sensing devices and the train, the communication system must take into account parameters such as train speed, antenna coverage, band and frequency.

Simulating SMEPP middleware

Embedded Peer-to-Peer Systems (EP2P) represent a new challenge in the development of software for distributed systems. The main objective of the SMEPP (Secure Middleware for Embedded Peer-to-Peer Systems) project is to develop a new middleware, based on a new network centric abstract model, specially designed for the above described systems, and trying to overcome the main problems of the currently existing domain specific middleware proposals. This paper presents a SMEPP Middleware component-based simulation tool. The main objective of developing this simulator is to provide a tool to enable the testing of the service model proposed for the middleware and to provide a framework to test different middleware design choices. Simulations will help us to make future decisions. Simulating SMEPP applications, that is, applications running on the SMEPP middleware and based on the API that it offers, help us to make decisions about the most requirement-satisfactory way of constructing the middleware. The simulated middleware API component represents a first approach to middleware design, and introduces some of the architectural issues that must to be solved in the near future.

File Sharing Service over a Generic P2P Simulator

This work describes a generic peer to peer (P2P) simulator for service oriented networks. The tool has been designed to test different algorithms, the version presented here includes the implementation of a collaborative file sharing service, designed to simulate different user behaviours with the goal of analyzing the impact of malicious users on this kind of service. The file sharing service proposal includes a coalition formation algorithm and a reputation mechanism to ensure service equity, based on game theory.

SocICoAP: Social Interaction with Supplementary Sensors and Actuators through CoAP in Smartphones

In the Internet of Things (IoT) a worldwide network of sensors and actuators transmit data and actuate over the Internet. Nevertheless, the deployment of sensors and actuators usually requires tools to program and configure them before they can work, and not everyone has such access. Current smartphones are provided with a large set of sensors and actuators that can be incorporated in the IoT. With the aim of achieving seamless integration, this paper presents SocICoAP, a system that enables the sharing of sensors and actuators present in smartphones and installing custom ones at run-time in microcontrollers. In this way smartphones are integrated into the IoT, not only a sensor providing data from its built-in sensors but also as a gateway for nearby deployed sensors. Furthermore, the sensor data can also be globally shared and analysed through a cloud computing integration.

Improving File Sharing Experience with Incentive Based Coalitions

The natural selfish behavior of P2P system users, has given rise to the appearance of freeriding. These users download but don’t contribute to the system, leading to a degradation of the system, and the user experiences. It becomes mandatory to find proper mechanisms to incentive cooperation among users in these systems. In this paper we provide an incentive based coalitions to improve the system welfare and users experiences. A peer that participates in a coalition lends “bandwidth” to other peers of the coalition, in exchange for utility and consequently a far better experience. Taking concepts from game theory we provide a solid ground upon which we build our mechanism . Simulated experiments support the approach, showing how encouraging participation stops freeriding and therefore improve the system performance and the user experience.