Pekka Sillberg

Data collector service - practical approach with embedded linux

Nowadays embedded systems are one of the most important application areas in information technology. Embedded systems are often used in life critical situations, where reliability and safety are more important criteria than performance. This paper presents a data collector service that has been developed based on embedded Linux, which operates as a key element in a larger intelligent alarm system. The target of this study was to test out how well a cost-efficient single-board computer could be used to gather sensory data, and how this data can be provided for the client over the public Internet. The paper describes the data collector service currently in use and its functionality and also gives a concrete example of how to utilize a microcontroller with an embedded Linux distribution. The paper presents one solution on how to utilize embedded systems for managing and controlling conditions in buildings and also environmental conditions in a smart and cost-effective way.

Embedded Linux controlled sensor network

This study utilizes a simple model for constructing sensor nodes - master controller combinations in the Internet of Things. The model combines hardware and software for embedded systems which measure a predefined set of parameters. The master controller manages several sensor nodes, collects data from them and provides data for clients. The paper introduces a proof-of-concept implementation based on the model. The implementation uses an embedded Linux based small computer and microcontroller based sensor nodes in the context of condition measurement, and represents a way to use wireless data transfer between controller and nodes. The target of this study was to test the model, to determine how well a cost-efficient single-board computer could be used to gather sensory data from several sensor nodes, and how this data can be provided for clients over the public Internet.

Portable sensor system for reliable condition measurement

Regarding sustainable development, there is a growing need to gather more and more various kinds of measurement, space, and consumption information about property. The necessity for property condition measurement is apparent and the appropriate circumstances, such as indoor air quality and suitable temperature, have an essential influence on comfort and welfare at work and, at the same time, have significance in terms of energy efficiency. This paper presents a portable prototype system for property condition measurement. The objective was to generate a reliable system that improves the quality and also the visual presentation of the collected data. The paper presents the components of the system and the technology utilized to implement the system. The results of piloting in a real-life environment, where particular focus was placed on both controlling energy efficiency and well-being at work, are also presented.

Low-energy algorithm for self-controlled Wireless Sensor Nodes

In Internet of Things (IoT), the lifespan of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) has often become an issue. Sensor nodes are typically battery powered. However, high energy consumption by Radio Frequency (RF) module limits the lifespan of sensor nodes. In conventional WSN, the frequency of data transmission is normally fixed or adjusted according to requests from the gateway. In this paper, we present a WSN system for intelligent sensing. We propose a low-energy algorithm for sensor data transmission from sensor nodes for such system. In this algorithm, the sensor nodes are able to self-control their data transmission according to the trends of data. We adopt Adaptive Duty Cycle for adjustment of data transmission frequency and Compressive Sensing (CS) for sensor data compression. The simulation results show that Collective Transmission with CS-based data compression achieves 83.34% of RF energy reduction for the best-case transmission and 83.31% of RF energy reduction in the worst-case transmission, compared to the Continuous Transmission.

Towards the utilization of crowdsourcing in traffic condition reporting

The use of traffic information in map applications designed for stand-alone navigation devices as well as in mobile devices has become a common trend. This information is often governed by the various service providers with little or non-existent feedback from the users. Using a wide user base it is possible to collect information on traffic conditions faster and more efficiently. Additionally, many of the events faced on the road can be challenging to detect by automatic means, but are easily noticed by the road users - animals on the road and broken or missing road signs are only a few examples. To better facilitate the utilization of information gathered from road users, simple and easy-to-use software solutions are required. This paper presents a prototype mobile application, which the road users can take advantage of for both following the on-going traffic conditions while driving and for collectively reporting traffic events other users might be interested in. The high-level architecture, application and data utilized in the reports are presented in addition to the preliminary findings of the on-going research. This paper will also discuss the challenges identified while developing the application.

Event calendar for internet data sources

Several nations in Europe have released formerly closed data sources collected by government agencies and municipalities. These open data initiatives have enabled new and innovative services. The research presented in this paper is funded by the European Union Regional Fund as part of the Satakunta Regional Centre for Economic Development, Traffic and Environment funding program, and by the City of Pori. One of the goals of the research is to study how open data can be utilized technically. This paper presents technologies found useful for the implementation of a service utilizing open data. These technologies are presented in this paper as part of an event calendar service that uses open data sources available in the region of Satakunta, Finland. The overall architecture of the service is described briefly, and the paper focuses on the open source components used to implement the user interface, front-end service, and database. Despite the use of region-specific data sources, the utilized solutions i.e. hybrid databases, search platforms, and HTML5 technologies can be exploited in the design of other services.

An asynchronous message-based knowledge communication in a ubiquitous environment

This paper presents the required operational logic for relaying user requests from traditional Server/Client-based systems to services or additional information sources that require asynchronous communications. The paper describes a simple syntax for user-generated messages that can be used to determine where the messages should be forwarded. The paper also explains how replies to these messages should be processed. In the scope of this paper the Knowledge Grid works as the external source of information, but the same principle could be applied to any information source.