E d i t o r s : F r é d é r i c T h i e s s e • f r e d e r i c .t h i e s s e @ u n i s g. c h F l o r i a n M i c h a h e l l e s • f m i c h a h e l l e s @ e t h z . c h he term Internet of Things 1 has recently become popular to emphasize the vision of a global infrastructure of networked physical objects. Although this vision is compelling, no consensus exists about how to realize it. The Internet of Things is partly inspired by the success of RFID technology, which is now widely used for tracking objects, people, and animals. RFID system architecture is marked by a sharp dichotomy of simple RFID tags and an extensive infrastructure of networked RFID readers. This approach optimally supports tracking physical objects within well-defined confines (such as warehouses) but limits the sensing capabilities and deployment flexibility that more challenging application scenarios require. We're working toward an alternative architectural model for the Internet of Things 1 as a loosely coupled, decentralized system of smart objects -that is, autonomous physical/digital objects augmented with sensing, processing, and network capabilities. In contrast to RFID tags, smart objects carry chunks of application logic that let them make sense of their local situation and interact with human users. They sense, log, and interpret what's occurring within themselves and the world, act on their own, intercommunicate with each other, and exchange information with people. The combination of the Internet and emerging technologies such as nearfield communications, real-time localization, and embedded sensors lets us transform everyday objects into smart objects that can understand and react to their environment. Such objects are building blocks for the Internet of Things and enable novel computing applications. As a step toward design and architectural principles for smart objects, the authors introduce a hierarchy of architectures with increasing levels of real-world awareness and interactivity. In particular, they describe activity-, policy-, and process-aware smart objects and demonstrate how the respective architectural abstractions support increasingly complex application.
In REF a hierarchy of architecture with increasing levels of real-world awareness and interactivity is introduced.
Smart Objects as Building Blocks for the Internet of Things
IEEE Internet Computing
IEEE Internet Computing
Computer Science