Keliang Zhou

A survey on position-based routing for vehicular ad hoc networks

Position-based routing is considered to be a very promising routing strategy for communication within vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs), due to the fact that vehicular nodes can obtain position information from onboard global positioning system receivers and acquire global road layout information from an onboard digital map. Position-based routing protocols, which are based mostly on greedy forwarding, are well-suited to the highly dynamic and rapid-changing network topology of VANETs. In this paper, we outline the background and the latest development in VANETs and survey the state-of-the-art routing protocols previously used in VANETs. We present the pros and cons for each routing protocol, and make a detailed comparison. We also discuss open issues, challenges and future research directions. It is observed that a hybrid routing protocol is the best choice for VANETs in both urban and highway environments.

From Machine-to-Machine Communications towards Cyber-Physical Systems

In recent years, cyber-physical systems (CPS) have emerged as a promising direction to enrich the interactions between physical and virtual worlds. In this article, we first present the correlations among machine-to-machine (M2M), wireless sensor networks (WSNs), CPS and internet of things (IoT), and introduce some research activities in M2M, including M2M architectures and typical applications. Then, we review two CPS platforms and systems that have been proposed recently, including a novel prototype platform for multiple unmanned vehicles with WSNs navigation and cyber-transportation systems. Through these reviews, we propose CPS is an evolution of M2M by the introduction of more intelligent and interactive operations, under the architecture of IoT. Also, we especially hope to demonstrate how M2M systems with the capabilities of decision-making and autonomous control can be upgraded to CPS and identify the important research challenges related to CPS designs.

Security and privacy in mobile cloud computing

With the development of cloud computing and mobility, mobile cloud computing has emerged and become a focus of research. By the means of on-demand self-service and extendibility, it can offer the infrastructure, platform, and software services in a cloud to mobile users through the mobile network. Security and privacy are the key issues for mobile cloud computing applications, and still face some enormous challenges. In order to facilitate this emerging domain, we firstly in brief review the advantages and system model of mobile cloud computing, and then pay attention to the security and privacy in the mobile cloud computing. By deeply analyzing the security and privacy issues from three aspects: mobile terminal, mobile network and cloud, we give the current security and privacy approaches.

M2M Communications for Smart City: An Event-Based Architecture

Machine to machine (M2M) communications will lead to dramatic changes in the applications and services offered to citizens, allowing smart city to become a reality. In this article, we first introduce the new tendency in M2M development and analyze the construction frame of application systems in smart city. Then, an event-based architecture depending on SOFIA project is built to allow the management and cooperation among M2M components by mean of event manager. Based on this architecture, we conduct a case study in a vehicular context. M2M network architecture is introduced for vehicular networks. Finally, an event processing flow of vehicle maintenance services is designed to manage the mission-critical wireless messages.

Mobile Crowd Sensing for Traffic Prediction in Internet of Vehicles

The advances in wireless communication techniques, mobile cloud computing, automotive and intelligent terminal technology are driving the evolution of vehicle ad hoc networks into the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) paradigm. This leads to a change in the vehicle routing problem from a calculation based on static data towards real-time traffic prediction. In this paper, we first address the taxonomy of cloud-assisted IoV from the viewpoint of the service relationship between cloud computing and IoV. Then, we review the traditional traffic prediction approached used by both Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) and Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communications. On this basis, we propose a mobile crowd sensing technology to support the creation of dynamic route choices for drivers wishing to avoid congestion. Experiments were carried out to verify the proposed approaches. Finally, we discuss the outlook of reliable traffic prediction.

Enabling cyber-physical systems with machine-to-machine technologies

In recent years, Cyber-Physical Systems CPS has emerged as a promising direction to enrich the interactions between physical and virtual worlds. While Machine-to-Machine M2M, Wireless Sensor Networks WSNs and CPS are quite similar in many networking aspects, there are still some major differences. In this paper, we first review several concepts and terms, including M2M, WSNs, CPS and Internet of Things IoT. Then, we conduct a case study exemplified by home M2M networks, and outline the further research proposals of M2M communications. On this basis, a case of CPS, Human-Cyber-Physical System HCPS to achieve system safety and efficiency for connected vehicles, is proposed, and the research proposals and challenges for HCPS are summarised. Finally, we carry out a comparison of M2M and CPS to demonstrate how M2M systems with the capabilities of decision-making and real-time control can be upgraded to CPS.

Cloud Manufacturing Service System for Industrial-Cluster-Oriented Application

Common technology and business demands, such as information sharing, designing and manufacturing outsourcing, order collaborating etc., among enterprises and factories in the industrial cluster area ask for public technology supports and services Recently, Cloud Manufacturing Service System (CMSS) as a novelty way to provide public and generalized manufacturing services, is put forward. In order to fulfill the real-time designing and manufacturing information interaction among the collaborative partners in an industrial cluster area, we designed an industrial-cluster-oriented CMSS and provide services for these small and medium manufacturing enterprises by means of mobile cloud system and relative technologies. The framework of CMSS is defined, and a series of corresponding enabling technologies, including virtualization of manufacturing resources, using ways of virtualized manufacturing resources, lifecycle management of manufacturing service, and compounded access control model of CMSS, are developed. At end, a lightweight application of CMSS, which can provide optimization, simulation and analysis services, is built. Our work can help to satisfy the common designing demands of industrial-cluster area partly. Also, we have performed an effective attempt of engineering applications of mobile cloud system.

IoT sensing framework with inter-cloud computing capability in vehicular networking

In order to improve convenience, efficiency, and safety in vehicular networking applications (VNA), we propose a novel business model based on platform production services (PPS), design an inter-cloud architecture, and then apply this emerging scheme to vehicle maintenance services (VMS). Both internet of things (IoT) sensing framework and inter-cloud computing architecture are the crucial factors in implementing PPS business model. In the proposed scheme, implementation concept, system architecture, and scalable applications are introduced. Then we design IoT sensing framework for VNA, including cloud services and computation level scalability, inter-cloud architecture supporting telematics applications, and telematics application scenarios. After dissecting mobile cloud computing forming mechanism, we carry out the semantic modeling analysis for inter-cloud service model, and then design a VMS event processing flow to allow the management and cooperation among diverse components by means of event manager. The performance evaluation exemplified by VMS is implemented by means of probabilistic methods. The results show that convenience and efficiency increase in VNA as compared to existing schemes.

Mobile Services for Customization Manufacturing Systems: An Example of Industry 4.0

In the context of Industry 4.0, it is necessary to meet customization manufacturing demands on a timely basis. Based on the related concepts of Industry 4.0, this paper intends to introduce mobile services and cloud computing technology into the intelligent manufacturing environment. A customization manufacturing system is designed to meet the demands of personalization requests and flexible production mechanisms. This system consists of three layers, namely, a manufacturing device layer, cloud service system layer, and mobile service layer. The manufacturing device layer forms the production platform. This platform is composed of a number of physical devices, such as a flexible conveyor belt, industrial robots, and corresponding sensors. The physical devices are connected to the cloud via the support of a wireless module. In the cloud, the manufacturing big data are processed, and the optimization decision-making mechanism pertaining to customization manufacturing is formed. Then, mobile services running in a mobile terminal are used to receive orders from customers and to inquire the necessary production information. To verify the feasibility of the proposed customization manufacturing system, we also established a customizable candy production system.

Usage-Specific Semantic Integration for Cyber-Physical Robot Systems

The multidisciplinary nature and time criticality of computing in Cyber-Physical Robot Systems (CPRS) makes it significantly different from traditional computer systems. This article attempts to create a usage-specific language called Cyber-Physical Robot Language (CPRL), which supports the CPRS design and implementation in an integrative and swift way. Multiview description and integration strategies as well as formal execution semantics for usage-specific simulation and verification are outlined. A graphic unified environment for CPRS modeling is supplied, in which several tools are integrated. A 6-DOF distributed robot system development in the environment is presented. The approach is an attempt to support CPRS design in an effective way, at the same time guaranteeing the system function and performance requirements.