Heterogeneous Communication in Smart Ensembles

Abstract

Today’s smart environments are characterized by small, inexpensive networking devices which support users in their everyday work in a proactive and intelligent manner. These devices utilize different network technologies varying in medium, range, latency and bandwidth. They build a heterogeneous network, wherein different IP-based and non-IP-based protocols are used for communication in specific application areas. Over the past years, service oriented communication gained importance in smart environments. Based on heterogeneous network technologies, service oriented communication results in using different mostly incompatible service technologies in a smart environment.

This paper presents an approach for a transparent bridging of different network and service technologies inside a smart environment. Therefore, devices are organized as members of cells with homogeneous network interfaces. A General Purpose Access Point (GPAP) combines these cells to a heterogeneous ensemble. An approach for service based communication between different network technologies, especially an interconnection of Bluetooth SDP (Service Discovery Protocol) and Web Services, is the focus of the paper and represents service proxying for a variety of other network and service technologies.