An IoT-based user-centric ecosystem for heterogeneous Smart Home environments

Abstract

Recent innovations in the ICT field are strongly focused towards the Internet of Things, which will definitely lead to an enhancement also in the domestic environments. Lowpower and low-cost devices are expected to create a network of interconnected smart objects able to transform our homes into real Smart Homes. However, the heterogeneity of the underlying technologies prevents these smart objects to natively interoperate for adapting the environment to users' needs. In addition, common users are often excluded from the development of new applicative services that exploit physical devices, as they do not have sufficient programming and technological skills. To overcome these limitations, we propose a software ecosystem that allows different-skilled users to develop location-aware services able to autonomously manage the Smart Home. These services control the environment in accordance with user-defined rules and the users' location, calculated by exploiting an indoor localization mechanism. In addition, to directly interact with smart devices, users can also define customized interfaces for mobile devices. Finally, a multi-protocol middleware allows both the services and the mobile applications to access the physical network hiding the underlying heterogeneities. As a proof-ofconcept, the first implementation steps are presented.

Indoor Position Detection Using Smartwatch and Beacons

“…Alletto et al (27) proposed an indoor location-aware system for an IoT-based smart museum using BLE signal strength and combined it with image recognition to provide contents related to the observed artwork. Similarly, Mainetti et al (28) used the same devices and provided a tool for the implementation of location awareness, and Budina et al (29) used a heat map to measure and locate different rooms. Thakkar et al (30) developed an indoor position tracking system using a beacon and smartphone to identify the beacon with the minimum distance for five different rooms.…”

A New Location based Mechanism for Indoor Environments

“…As stated, one of the key elements of the proposition is spoken to by the indoor confinement component, which at present is an essential and testing research point. In [2], the creators display a customized shrewd control framework that: (i) restricts the client abusing the attractive field of the cell phone, and (ii) controls apparatuses show at the client's area. Another case of area mindful administrations in a brilliant condition is accounted for in [3].…”

A Combined Batteryless Radio and WiFi Indoor Positioning for Hospital Nursing

“…To overcome this issue, L. Mainette et al proposed in [10] a user-friendly multi-protocol middleware platform that allows common individuals to develop services for home automation. Mainly, these services may take control over home appliances according to user's configurations and user's location [11].…”