Network Interoperability Research Articles

Fostering the international interoperability of clinical research networks to tackle undiagnosed and under-researched rare diseases

Clinical research is an essential component to advance diagnosis and therapeutic development. In 2022, the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) and the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP RD) brought together key stakeholders from across the globe to discuss common themes in clinical research networks (CRNs) for rare diseases. Various topics were raised during discussions including current state of CRNs, the need for new CRNs, multi-stakeholder perspectives on value of CRNs, and ways to collaborate on a global scale. Communication and coordination between various groups, taking advantage of existing experiences, can expedite establishment and execution of complex collaborations that will be necessary for CRNs. In this perspective, we discuss opportunities and highlight key considerations for developing successful collaborative CRNs across the globe.

Sustainable innovation in the metaverse: Blockchain's role in new business models

This research aims to bridge a gap in the existing literature by investigating the role of the blockchain-based metaverse in fostering decentralized sustainable management, leveraging the principles of stakeholder capitalism theory. By conducting a content analysis of thirty-two expert reports from the blockchain-based metaverse industry, the study identifies five key attributes that can potentially cultivate innovation and decentralized sustainable management within the business domain. These attributes include a creator economy, a persistent synchronous virtual environment, decentralization, an interoperable network, and a digitalized mindset. The research underscores the need for stakeholders to adopt a sustainable approach when navigating the blockchain-based metaverse, highlighting the potential benefits achievable in a decentralized, hybrid physical-digital environment. This work stands as a pioneering effort in conceptualizing a theoretical framework that encapsulates decentralized sustainable management within the blockchain-based metaverse, underpinned by the principles of stakeholder capitalism. Thus, it contributes significantly to the academic discourse on the sustainable implications of blockchain technology in new business models.

COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSES OF METHODS OF ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS USAGE FOR MICROGRID

Background. Energy storage systems (ESS) provide uninterrupted power access to users and aim to minimize energy losses. These systems are extensively utilized in microgrids, facilitating smooth transitions between grid-connected and isolated microgrid operations. ESS devices with high power density must manage fluctuating loads, such as substations and distributed power sources like wind turbines. Despite existing standards for ESS management, these regulations are often limited to specific areas, leading to interoperability challenges due to the absence of unified modeling approaches and data models. Objective. The purpose of the paper is to explore methods for controlling energy storage systems and enhancing their interoperability. The study focuses on integrating ESS without necessitating changes in consumer control schemes and utilizing interoperable data models for rapid identification and configuration. Methods. The research involves analysing various methods used in electricity management systems, identifying interaction conflicts, and emphasizing the development of an interoperable network. The study also considers the potential of an ontology-based control system to achieve the desired level of interoperability. Results. The analysis indicates that most existing electricity management systems experience interaction conflicts, highlighting the need for an interoperable network. The proposed systems offer significant advantages in fault tolerance, reliability, and scalability. These systems ensure a smooth transition between networked and isolated operations in microgrids, allowing for instant reconnection to the grid when normal conditions are restored. Conclusions. The findings suggest that developing an interoperable ESS is crucial for improving system efficiency and reliability. Future research directions include forming an ontology-based control system to enhance interoperability. This approach is expected to address current interaction conflicts and pave the way for more resilient and scalable energy storage solutions.

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

This paper aims to fill the gap in existing research by examining the impact of blockchain technology on supply chain management, particularly its ability to retrospectively trace events in the chain. For example, in pharmaceuticals, blockchain automatically records information like expiration dates, reducing the need for human involvement. By implementing this backward technology, we've simplified processes for suppliers and manufacturers, allowing the system to identify defective or expired items autonomously, saving time and costs. Previously, the supply chain operated as a one-way system without return options, but now, with blockchain integration, relevant parties are informed about necessary replacements from the manufacturer's end. Blockchain's integration into supply chain management is a significant advancement, offering unparalleled transparency, traceability, and security in logistics and distribution. This article explores how blockchain can revolutionize established supply chain practices, delving into applications like tracing goods from origin to destination, using smart contracts for automated agreements, and secure data exchange while protecting privacy. Case studies highlight advantages such as reduced expenses, risks, and improved compliance. Blockchain, as a decentralized ledger system, provides instant, unchangeable record-keeping and cryptographic validation, instilling confidence among stakeholders. In supply chain management, this means identifiable product origins, better tracking, less fraud, and quicker dispute resolution. However, challenges like scalability, energy use, and network interoperability exist, underscoring the need for industry collaboration and standardization efforts

Interoperability Structure of Smart Water Conservancy Based on Internet of Things

Massive smart water conservancy object (WCO) need to be connected for real-time monitoring and control, which produces massive data. Unfortunately, heterogeneous data structures and semantics lead to low interoperability between WCO and management systems. To address this challenge, we propose a novel interoperability structure for a smart water conservancy system based on the Internet of Things (IoT), and the key design includes a smart WCO terminal, interoperability network, special interoperability protocol, WCO information model, and cloud platform. Universal terminal and network are the base of interoperability hardware, and special interoperability protocol and information model for interconnection of WCO are designed for smart water conservancy management system. WCO can be connected to a water conservancy Big Data processing cloud platform for interoperability applications. The application results demonstrate that our proposed WCO’s interoperability structure has obvious advantages than the general IoT at WCO interoperability. The interoperability protocol is reliable, the information model can ease interoperability and security, and the semantic dictionary is very rich and covers all semantic services of WCO.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE HETEROGENEOUS IOT DEVICE NETWORK INTERACTION IN A CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEM

The article is devoted to the study of existing technologies regarding Internet of Things (IoT) device interaction in a heterogeneous network. Since each smart home appliance can be controlled by a customer who aims to find a cost-effective and easy-to-connect product for their own connected home, there are certain functional limitations for devices from distinct manufacturers that may decrease the intention to merge them all into a single network. A variety of proprietary protocols and communication standards embedded by vendors make their products unable to interact with other vendor devices if the connection standard used is not identical. Also, an IoT product design refers to its own functionality, mainly excluding the possibility of integration into other existing infrastructure. As IoT equipment emerges on the market, the complexity of its connection to a heterogeneous network corresponds to the firmware and the standard unification according to modern demands. It means that potential users might face the necessity of overcoming these issues to achieve high performance in terms of network interoperability. In general, an IoT gateway operating as a middleware might have the potential to enable a network with distinct communication models to operate without failure or data loss. This task requires the received data to be converted into the format in which the data is intended. This paper includes a comparative analysis of existing IoT device interaction standards, connection protocols, and data transfer technologies, evaluating their features for an effective adoption of the proposed network architecture, which can be used to improve the interoperability of heterogeneous IoT devices.

An Anonymous and Supervisory Cross-chain Privacy Protection Protocol for Zero-trust IoT Application

Internet of things (IoT) development tends to reduce the reliance on centralized servers. The zero-trust distributed system combined with blockchain technology has become a hot topic in IoT research. However, distribution data storage services and different blockchain protocols make network interoperability and cross-platform more complex. Relay chain is a promising cross-chain technology that solves the complexity and compatibility issues associated with blockchain cross-chain transactions by utilizing relay blockchains as cross-chain connectors. Yet relay chain cross-chain transactions need to collect asset information and implement asset transactions via two-way peg. Due to the release of user transaction information, there is the issue of privacy leakage. In this article, we propose a cross-chain privacy protection protocol based on the Groth16 zero-knowledge proof algorithm and coin-mixing technology, which changes the authentication mechanism and uses a combination of generating functions to map virtual external addresses in transactions. It allows fast cross-chain anonymous transactions while hiding the genuine user’s address. The experiment shows that, in a zero-trust IoT context, our scheme can effectively protect user privacy information, accomplish controlled transaction traceability operations, and guarantee cross-chain transaction security.

BLOCKCHAIN UTILIZATION IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Blockchain technology has been attracting attention as a potential solution to address many issues associated with traditional data management systems. The education sector is also exploring its potential to include improving various aspects of education. One of the opportunities of blockchain technology in education is secure and tamper-proof digital record-keeping, which can eliminate the need for physical certificates and transcripts, making the credentialing process more efficient, accurate, and transparent. Blockchain can facilitate micro-credentialing for lifelong learning, creating new opportunities for individuals to acquire and verify specific skills or knowledge. Additionally, transparent and secure funding and donations can be established using blockchain technology, which will help to eliminate fraud and ensure that donations are used for their intended purpose. However, there are also significant challenges that need to be addressed to make Blockchain a reality in education. These include concerns around the scalability and interoperability of blockchain networks, the need for standards and regulations to ensure the reliability and accuracy of data, and the potential costs and technical expertise required to implement and maintain blockchain systems. In addition, digital literacy and data privacy concerns need to be addressed to ensure that students, teachers, and other stakeholders are equipped to use blockchain technology effectively and responsibly. While the opportunities and challenges of Blockchain in education are significant, careful consideration and collaboration are needed to fully realise its potential. Thus, this paper provides the reader with a solid background about Blockchain and delves into its opportunities and challenges to be utilised in education.

Cloud material handling systems: a cyber-physical system to enable dynamic resource allocation and digital interoperability

AbstractThe existing logistics practices frequently lack the ability to effectively handle disruptions. Recent research called for dynamic, digital-driven approaches that can help prioritise allocation of logistics resources to design more adaptive and sustainable logistics networks. The purpose of this study is to explore inter-dependencies between physical and digital assets to examine how cyber-physical systems could enable interoperability in logistics networks. The paper provides an overview of the existing literature on cyber-physical applications in logistics and proposes a conceptual model of a Cloud Material Handling System. The model allows leveraging the use of digital technologies to capture and process real-time information about a logistics network with the aim to dynamically allocate material handling resources and promote asset and infrastructure sharing. The model describes how cloud computing, machine learning and real-time information can be utilised to dynamically allocate material handling resources to product flows. The adoption of the proposed model can increase efficiency, resilience and sustainability of logistics practices. Finally, the paper offers several promising research avenues for extending this work.

Mobile payments and interoperability: Insights from the academic literature

We connect various streams of academic literature to analyze how alternative competition and regulatory policies may affect the development of digital financial services, and particularly of mobile payments. Our main objective is to highlight the extent to which existing models, often coming from related industries (such as telecom, payments, and banking) can be applied to study the effects of mobile money interoperability. We focus on four dimensions of interoperability. First, we consider mobile network interoperability (whether clients of one telecom can access another telecom's payment services) in connection with the IO literature on tying. Second, we discuss platform level interoperability (the ability to send money off-network) in light of the literature on compatibility. We also build on the behavioral IO literature to suggest how the effects of interoperability may be very heterogeneous across various types of firms and consumers, or even backfire. Third, we consider interoperability in the cash-in-cash-out agent network, in light of the literature on co-investment in network industries, and of more specific studies on ATMs' interoperability. Fourth, we discuss how the literature in banking and on data ownership can be used to understand interoperability of data. We conclude with some broader remarks on policy implications and on possible directions for future research.

An intelligent path management in heterogeneous vehicular networks

Achieving reliable connectivity in heterogeneous vehicular networks is a challenging task, owing to rapid topological changes and unpredictable vehicle speeds. As vehicular communication demands continue to evolve, multipath connectivity is emerging as an important tool, which promises to enhance network interoperability and reliability. Given the limited coverage area of serving access technologies, frequent disconnections are to be expected as the vehicle moves. To ensure seamless communication in dynamic vehicular environments, an intelligent path management algorithm for Multipath TCP (MPTCP) has been proposed. The algorithm utilizes a network selection mechanism based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), which dynamically assigns the most appropriate underlying network for each running application. The selection process takes into account multiple factors, such as path quality, vehicle mobility, and service characteristics. In contrast to existing solutions, our proposed method offers a dynamic and comprehensive approach to network selection that is tailored to the specific needs of each service to ensure that it is always paired with the optimal access technology. The results of the evaluation demonstrate that the proposed method is highly effective in maintaining service continuity during vertical handover. By tailoring the network selection to the specific needs of each application, our path manager is able to ensure optimal connectivity and performance, even in challenging vehicular environments, delivering a better user experience, with more reliable connections, and smoother data transfers.

BRAIN: Blockchain-Based Record and Interoperability Network

In today’s highly competitive landscape, effective information sharing is crucial for distinguishing successful entities from the rest. However, achieving seamless collaboration in this digital era remains challenging due to distrust among entities and the absence of a secure data exchange medium. These limitations hinder interactions, reducing competitiveness, especially for resource-constrained entities. To address these challenges, we introduce the Blockchain-based Record and Interoperability Network (BRAIN), a modular framework utilizing blockchain technology. BRAIN offers an innovative solution to foster collaboration, trust, and competitiveness. By leveraging blockchain’s cryptographic techniques, it ensures secure and transparent data exchange, eliminating the need for intermediaries and thereby enhancing productivity and collaboration. BRAIN serves as a configurable foundation for domain-specific applications. BRAIN’s key features include flexibility, efficiency, security, robustness, and scalability. It adapts to diverse applications, integrates seamlessly with existing systems, and ensures secure information sharing. In conclusion, BRAIN provides a foundational platform for entities to assert data ownership and grant access permission. Built on blockchain technology, it offers access traceability and data security and eliminates the need for trusted third parties. Its flexibility and scalability make it a valuable tool for enhancing data sharing. Future enhancements aim to address weaknesses and expand its use cases, promising a robust and versatile solution for secure and efficient data exchange.

Interoperability and Targeted Attacks on Terrorist Organizations Using Intelligent Tools from Network Science

The early intervention of law enforcement authorities to prevent an impending terrorist attack is of utmost importance to ensuring economic, financial, and social stability. From our previously published research, the key individuals who play a vital role in terrorist organizations can be timely revealed. The problem now is to identify which attack strategy (node removal) is the most damaging to terrorist networks, making them fragmented and therefore, unable to operate under real-world conditions. We examine several attack strategies on 4 real terrorist networks. Each node removal strategy is based on: (i) randomness (random node removal), (ii) high strength centrality, (iii) high betweenness centrality, (iv) high clustering coefficient centrality, (v) high recalculated strength centrality, (vi) high recalculated betweenness centrality, (vii) high recalculated clustering coefficient centrality. The damage of each attack strategy is evaluated in terms of Interoperability, which is defined based on the size of the giant component. We also examine a greedy algorithm, which removes the node corresponding to the maximal decrease of Interoperability at each step. Our analysis revealed that removing nodes based on high recalculated betweenness centrality is the most harmful. In this way, the Interoperability of the communication network drops dramatically, even if only two nodes are removed. This valuable insight can help law enforcement authorities in developing more effective intervention strategies for the early prevention of impending terrorist attacks. Results were obtained based on real data on social ties between terrorists (physical face-to-face social interactions).

Foreign experience of personal data protection in social networks

The article analyzes the protection of personal data based on foreign experience. Social networking has been identified as one of the most prominent cultural phenomena to emerge in the Web 2.0 era. They keep users connected and facilitate the exchange of information between them.
 The European Union has adopted a new personal data protection system called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Its main goals include providing individuals with tools to control their personal data, implementing modern standards for the protection of personal information, developing the digital space of the European Union to safeguard personal data, ensuring strict compliance by all parties, and providing legal support for the international transfer of personal information.
 United States legislative documents related to aspects of data protection and privacy were analyzed, namely: California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA); Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA); Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); State data breach notification laws.
 It is noted that China has a comprehensive legal framework that regulates the protection of personal data, and includes the following legal acts: Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and Data Security Law (DSL).
 Conclusions were made that the urgency and importance of protecting personal data in social networks is due to rapid technological progress, the growth of cyber security threats and the spread of these platforms. By protecting personal data, people can maintain privacy, prevent abuse, maintain user trust, reduce risk, and comply with legal obligations. The issue of ensuring mobility and interoperability in social networks gives particular importance to the protection of personal data, as it relates to this particular data, and not just to technology, as it may be in the telecommunications sector. This requires additional thought and measures to ensure privacy and data security. Therefore, when developing legal protection mechanisms for online social networks, it is necessary to take into account and solve problems related to the protection of personal data.

Interoperable IoMT Approach for Remote Diagnosis with Privacy-Preservation Perspective in Edge Systems.

The emergence of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has brought together developers from the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and healthcare providers to enable remote patient diagnosis and treatment using mobile-device-collected data. However, the utilization of traditional AI systems raises concerns about patient privacy. To address this issue, we present a privacy-enhanced approach for illness diagnosis within the IoMT framework. Our proposed interoperable IoMT implementation focuses on optimizing IoT network performance, including throughput, energy consumption, latency, packet delivery ratio, and network longevity. We achieve these improvements using techniques such as device authentication, energy-efficient clustering, environmental monitoring using Circular-based Hidden Markov Model (C-HMM), data verification using Awad's Entropy-based Ten-Fold Cross Entropy Verification (TCEV), and data confidentiality using Twine-LiteNet-based encryption. We employ the Search and Rescue Optimization algorithm (SRO) for optimal route selection, and the encrypted data are securely stored in a cloud server. With extensive network simulations using ns-3, our approach demonstrates substantial enhancements in the specified performance metrics compared with previous works. Specifically, we observe a 20% increase in throughput, a 15% reduction in packet drop rate (PDR), a 35% improvement in network lifetime, and a 10% decrease in energy consumption and delay. These findings underscore the efficacy of our approach in enhancing IoT network interoperability and protection, fostering improved patient care and diagnostic capabilities.

Studying Interoperability of Different Compensation Networks in Inductive Power Transfer Systems

The issue of interoperability between electric vehicles and different wireless chargers, resulting from the diverse compensation networks, is impeding the engineering application of IPT technology. The objective of the paper is to investigate the interoperability of different compensation networks for inductive power transfer systems. The study analyses three potential cases of compensation design, which include LCCS, SLCC, and LCCP compensation networks. To evaluate the performance of these networks, a proposed analytical methodology is utilized to delve into the power factor of the compensation networks. Additionally, in order to assess their sensitivity to parameter changes, the power displacement under mistuned conditions is calculated by adding additional series inductors to the main coil. Finally, the proposed analysis is validated by simulation models, which indicate that the SLCC network has better tolerance to parameter variations under mistuned conditions.

EMobile internet protocol version six (IPv6) testbed for interoperability of Nigerian education services and networks

The diversity of educational methods, services and protocols promoted disparate educational services in Nigeria. The diversity has not promoted resource sharing and has encouraged duplication of efforts. There is no doubt that the University systems in Nigeria need to complement each other bearing in mind the limited resources available to individual University system. With the introduction of next generation internet protocol version six (IPv6), some of the divergent technologies can be brought to a platform to facilitate resource sharing, capacity development and optimization of resources. In order to solve these diversities of resources affecting Nigerian Education Services and Network, Route Optimization Techniques in IPv6 will provide the best option for scaling these diversities. The Nigeria ecosystem has come of age and attained maturity level to identify the futuristic roles of internet protocol version six (IPv6). Globally, Policy makers and Governments have recognized the enormous opportunities the Internet can create and its impact on economic growth and prosperity. The prime mission of the invention is to develop and provide an eMobile IPv6 testbed that supports optimization of resources for digital services in Nigeria Tertiary Education.

Towards the international interoperability of clinical research networks for rare diseases: recommendations from the IRDiRC Task Force

BackgroundMany patients with rare diseases are still lacking a timely diagnosis and approved therapies for their condition despite the tremendous efforts of the research community, biopharmaceutical, medical device industries, and patient support groups. The development of clinical research networks for rare diseases offers a tremendous opportunity for patients and multi-disciplinary teams to collaborate, share expertise, gain better understanding on specific rare diseases, and accelerate clinical research and innovation. Clinical Research Networks have been developed at a national or continental level, but global collaborative efforts to connect them are still lacking. The International Rare Diseases Research Consortium set a Task Force on Clinical Research Networks for Rare Diseases with the objective to analyse the structure and attributes of these networks and to identify the barriers and needs preventing their international collaboration. The Task Force created a survey and sent it to pre-identified clinical research networks located worldwide.ResultsA total of 34 responses were received. The survey analysis demonstrated that clinical research networks are diverse in their membership composition and emphasize community partnerships including patient groups, health care providers and researchers. The sustainability of the networks is mostly supported by public funding. Activities and research carried out at the networks span the research continuum from basic to clinical to translational research studies. Key elements and infrastructures conducive to collaboration are well adopted by the networks, but barriers to international interoperability are clearly identified. These hurdles can be grouped into five categories: funding limitation; lack of harmonization in regulatory and contracting process; need for common tools and data standards; need for a governance framework and coordination structures; and lack of awareness and robust interactions between networks.ConclusionsThrough this analysis, the Task Force identified key elements that should support both developing and established clinical research networks for rare diseases in implementing the appropriate structures to achieve international interoperability worldwide. A global roadmap of actions and a specific research agenda, as suggested by this group, provides a platform to identify common goals between these networks.

Guest editorial IJSCN special issue on 3GPP NTN standards for future satellite communications

Guest editorial IJSCN special issue on 3GPP NTN standards for future satellite communications

Interoperability Benefits and Challenges in Smart City Services: Blockchain as a Solution

The widespread usage of smart devices with various city-centric services speeds up and improves civic life, in contrast to growing privacy and security concerns. Security issues are exacerbated when e-government service providers trade their services within a centralised framework. Due to security concerns, city-centric centralised services are being converted to blockchain-based systems, which is a very time-consuming and challenging process. The interoperability of these blockchain-based systems is also more challenging due to protocol variances, an excessive amount of local transactions that raise scalability and rapidly occupy memory. In this paper, we have proposed a framework for interoperability across various blockchain-based smart city services. It also summarises how independent service providers might continue self-service choices (i.e., local transactions) without overloading the blockchain network and other organisations. A simulated interoperability network is used to show the network’s effectiveness. The experimental outcomes show the scalability and memory optimization of the blockchain network.