Herwig Zeiner

SeCoS: Web of Things platform based on a microservices architecture and support of time-awareness

New types of RFID applications require an intelligent connection between real world objects and software services. This also requires a new approach in the creation of software applications. This paper describes a novel Web of Things platform. Our approach uses microservices. Each microservice can be developed independently, thereby enabling faster development cycles, easier integration and maintenance. This account summarizes the current field and presents the architecture for a state-of-the-art Web of Things platform with time awareness support that is based on microservices.ZusammenfassungNeue RFID-Applikationen erfordern eine intelligente Verknüpfung von realen Objekten mit Softwarediensten. Diese Art von Applikationen erfordert auch eine neue Herangehensweise beim Bau von komplexen Software-Services. Diese Arbeit beschreibt eine neuartige „Web der Dinge“-Plattform. Unser Ansatz baut auf einer Microservices-Architektur auf. Jedes Microservice kann unabhängig von anderen Microservices entwickelt werden. Das erleichtert den Einstieg und ermöglicht eine kontinuierliche Entwicklung. Dieser Zugang erlaubt schnellere Entwicklungszyklen sowie eine einfachere Integration und Wartung der dahinterliegenden Services. Die Web of Things-Plattform wird, inklusive der Unterstützung von Zeitaspekten, im Detail dargestellt.

Video documentation of urban areas

Abstract The massive amount of information that is currently available is challenging the ability of urban communities to organize, process, and analyze all the information they require. This paper focuses on the concepts and principles for multimedia assets (especially videos) aiming to provide easier access to geographically relevant views on urban areas. Geo-referenced videos can be a great support in the management process of urban communities. This paper explains the process of acquisition and geo-referencing videos using low cost equipment. Furthermore, it describes the architecture of a Geo-Multimedia service infrastructure which enables users to store, retrieve, and share geo-referenced video content. Via a standard and state-of-the-art Web Service interface, geographic and multimedia objects can be retrieved from the Geo-Multimedia service by systems and applications already in use for administration (e.g. street management) or marketing purposes.

NFC in the K-Project Secure Contactless Sphere—smart RFID technologies for a connected world

Representatives from the entire RFID supply chain have come together to form a consortium to work on the K-Project Secure Contactless Sphere (SeCoS). The aims of the project are to develop a Web of Things platform with built-in NFC support which places the highest demands on security and protection of privacy. Research will be carried out in three important thematic fields to enable secure mobile NFC applications. The first research activity focuses on defining the service architecture and implementing the core components of the Web of Things application platform, which is built on a message driven paradigm. The second research activity develops and assesses security and privacy policy enhancing technologies for NFC devices. The third research activity aims at achieving higher data rates with NFC systems through innovative design solutions. Finally, the project shows the research results in concrete demonstrators.ZusammenfassungVertreter der gesamten RFID-Versorgungskette haben sich für das K-Projekt Secure Contactless Sphere (SeCoS) zusammengefunden. Das Ziel im Projekt ist es, eine Web der Dinge-Applikationsplattform mit eingebauter NFC-Unterstützung zu bauen, unter Berücksichtigung von hohen Sicherheits- und Datenschutzanforderungen. Es wird in drei thematischen Bereichen geforscht, um sichere mobile NFC-Applikationen zu ermöglichen. Im ersten Forschungsbereich wird an der Definition einer Servicearchitektur und deren Web of Things-Plattform-Implementierung gearbeitet, welche auf einem „Message-orientierten Paradigma“ aufbaut. Im zweiten Bereich wird eine umfassende Methodik zur Nutzung von NFC-Technologie unter Gewährleistung der Privatsphäre aller Parteien entwickelt. Der dritte Forschungsbereich arbeitet an einer Erhöhung von Datentransferraten für NFC unter Verwendung neuer innovativer Designlösungen. Schließlich werden die Forschungsergebnisse in konkreten Demonstratoren gezeigt.

Making business processes adaptive through semantically enhanced workflow descriptions

The research presented in this paper describes a methodology for making business processes described in BPEL adaptive by using semantically enhanced workflow descriptions. Based on widely used technologies for business process management in service oriented architectures new methods are introduced. They enable flexible process execution and service selection while maintaining the required level of resilience and security in such sensitive settings. An evaluation of the systems performance shows that the overhead introduced by the dynamic service selection is minor, given that the impact of adaptability on the entire process execution is extremely positive.

Safe Bicycle Parking Platform Based on RFID Technology

In order to deter bike thieves, we have designed and implemented a theft prevention system for bicycles based on RFID technology. Bikes can be stored in areas monitored by custom designed base stations without the need for visual or contact identification. The system is implemented with Web of Things technology, using a RESTful and a streaming server API, to facilitate communication between the embedded electronics and the back end service. The system is tested by deploying RFID technology in several environments to determine the viability of the platform.

Agile Service Oriented Architecture with Adaptive Processes Using Semantically Annotated Workflow Templates

Although WS-BPEL is a widely used language for modeling executable business processes in service oriented architectures it is almost impossible to dynamically bind services at runtime taking complex constraints and optimisation goals into account. The approach presented in this paper uses semantically annotated workflow templates and extensions to introduce adaptability which enables agile service oriented architectures. The technological solution will be validated in a critical infrastructure environment where resilience and security play an important role.

Optimised scheduling in human–robot collaboration – a use case in the assembly of printed circuit boards

Abstract Advances in the technologies of sensors and lightweight robots increasingly enable direct physical interaction between humans and robots. This so-called human–robot collaboration is supposed to offer more flexibility in production processes, as opposed to fully automated processes. The aim of this contribution is to describe an integer linear programming model which optimally coordinates the distribution of tasks between humans and robots in a realistic production process of printed circuit boards (PCBs), where the objective is to minimise the completion time of a board. In addition, we discuss an extended case wherein a whole set of different boards is to be assembled, which is highly relevant for low volume production with a high degree of customisation. After stating an extended integer linear programming (ILP) formulation, we propose two practical approaches for solving the computationally more complex second scenario: an order-based heuristic approach and a matheuristic applying a truncated variant of the ILP model with different sequencing strategies. The computational evaluation based on a real-world use case from the PCB industry underlines the efficacy of the matheuristic approach for obtaining a good overall makespan.

A Dataset and a Comparison of Out-of-Order Event Compensation Algorithms.

Event processing is order and time sensitive and therefore assumes temporally correct ordered event streams, even in distributed systems, to be able to create correct results. In this work we discuss implementations of four different out-of-order event compensation algorithms that use different kinds of dynamic time-out buffering techniques, and we compare those to a static buffering method. This is an approach which is generally applicable and easy to integrate for existing distributed systems such as for Internet of Things applications. For the evaluation, specific datasets were recorded, which are introduced in this paper, and which are freely available under a Creative Commons license. Results show, that even with a restrictive buffer setting, most of the out-of-order events can be compensated. Dynamic time-out buffering is still a trade-off between reaction time and out-of-order event compensation, but it is useful in various applications.

A Domain Specific Language for Robot Programming in the Wood Industry - A Practical Example.

Domain Specific Languages (DSL) are being used in several fields of industry. This paper shows how a DSL can be used in the wood industry, automizing some tasks through the use of robots. In this paper we also implement a syntax to define robot instructions inside a high-level abstraction layer to simplify these instructions and to develop a reliable tool for developers in order to avoid errors and allow for faster development. This paper also covers considerations on how to choose the kind of DSL that best fulfills our requirements and provides an example described in detail.

Towards an Architecture for collaborative Human Robot Interaction in Physiotherapeutic Applications

We present an architecture for collaborative Human Robot Interaction (HRI) in physiotherapeutic applications. Our aim is to improve the therapeutic effect by dynamically adapting the task and increasing the users trust in the robot. First, we derive a set of social skills to enable collaborative activities in a rehabilitation task. Afterwards, we present specific software modules implementing these skills and integrate them in a software architecture inspired by human cognitive abilities.