Abstract
The numerous applications of internet of things (IoT) and sensor networks combined with specialized devices used in each has led to a proliferation of domain specific middleware, which in turn creates interoperability issues between the corresponding architectures and the technologies used. But what if we wanted to use a machine learning algorithm to an IoT application so that it adapts intelligently to changes of the environment, or enable a software agent to enrich with artificial intelligence (AI) a smart home consisting of multiple and possibly incompatible technologies? In this work we answer these questions by studying a framework that explores how to simplify the incorporation of AI capabilities to existing sensor-actuator networks or IoT infrastructures making the services offered in such settings smarter. Towards this goal we present eVATAR+, a middleware that implements the interactions within the context of such integrations systematically and transparently from the developers’ perspective. It also provides a simple and easy to use interface for developers to use. eVATAR+ uses JAVA server technologies enhanced by mediator functionality providing interoperability, maintainability and heterogeneity support. We exemplify eVATAR+ with a concrete case study and we evaluate the relative merits of our approach by comparing our work with the current state of the art.
Highlights
One common requirement for the constituents of sensoractuator networks and internet of things (IoT) infrastructures is that they should access and transform the environment in which they are situated
Such a vision to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to a global network of sensors is further reinforced by analogous efforts [see Google DeepMind (2018), TensorFlow (2016)], who are showing an increasing interest in home automation technologies, IoT platforms and smart services
We have presented eVATAR+, a framework with an associated middleware that binds systematically and transparently interactions between AI capabilities and existing sensoractuator networks or IoT infrastructures, making the services offered in such settings smarter the context of such integrations while providing a simple and easy to use interface for developers to use
Summary
One common requirement for the constituents of sensoractuator networks and IoT infrastructures is that they should access and transform the environment in which they are situated. Instead we want to integrate, when possible, with existing settings and make them smarter with the added benefit of interoperability between heterogeneous and diverse IoT architectures Working at this level would take away the specialized sensor and smart device integration complexities that has led to the multitude of IoT middleware approaches and would allow the middleware to work with existing settings instead of requiring their replacement. In this context, we argue that what will simplify a developer’s task is a more customized middleware that takes into account the particularities of binding an AI to a sensor/actuator network to make their integration transparent and systematic.
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