Lam Duc Nguyen, Anders E. Kalør, Israel Leyva‐Mayorga, Petar Popovski
The data collected from Internet of Things (IoT) devices on various emissions or pollution, can have a significant economic value for the stakeholders. This makes it prone to abuse or tampering and brings forward the need to integrate IoT with a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to collect, store, and protect the IoT data. However, DLT brings an additional overhead to the frugal IoT connectivity and symmetrizes the IoT traffic, thus changing the usual assumption that IoT is uplink-oriented. We have implemented a platform that integrates DLTs with a monitoring system based on narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). We evaluate the performance and discuss the tradeoffs in two use cases: data authorization and real-time monitoring.
Jun Feng, Laurence T. Yang, Ronghao Zhang, Benard Safari Gavuna
Tucker decomposition has been widely used to extract meaningful and underlying data from heterogeneous data generated by different kinds of devices in a wide range of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. IIoT data uploaded to the cloud contain personal and sensitive information; thus, there is a growing concern about data privacy. Current existing data analysis solutions, however, assume that the data are reliably and securely collected from different IIoT data providers, an assumption that is not always true in the real world. To address the issues, in this article we propose a privacy-preserving tucker train decomposition based on gradient descent over blockchain-based encrypted IIoT data. Specifically, we use blockchain techniques to enable IIoT data providers to reliably and securely share their data by encrypting them locally before recording them in the blockchain. We use tensor train (TT) theory to build an efficient TT-based tucker decomposition based on gradient descent that tremendously reduces the number of elements to be updated during the tucker decomposition. We utilize the massive resources of fogs and clouds to implement an efficient privacy-preserving tucker train decomposition scheme. We use homomorphic encryption to build our scheme that does complete tucker train decomposition without the involvement of users. Results from a series of extensive experiments on synthetic datasets and real-world datasets demonstrate that our proposed scheme is efficient.
Blockchain is an emerging field of study in a number of applications and domains. Especially when combine with Internet of Things (IoT) this become truly transformative, opening up new plans of action, improving engagement and revolutionizing many sectors including agriculture. IoT devices are intelligent and have high critical capabilities but low-powered and have less storage, and face many challenges when used in isolation. Maintaining the network and consuming IoT energy by means of redundant or fabricated data transfer lead to consumption of high energy and reduce the life of IoT network. Therefore, an appropriate routing scheme should be in place to ensure consistency and energy efficiency in an IoT network. This research proposes an efficient routing scheme by integrating IoT with Blockchain for distributed nodes which work in a distributed manner to use the communicating links efficiently. The proposed protocol uses smart contracts within heterogeneous IoT networks to find a route to Base Station (BS). Each node can ensure route from an IoT node to sink then base station and permits IoT devices to collaborate during transmission. The proposed routing protocol removes redundant data and blocks IoT architecture attacks and leads to lower consumption of energy and improve the life of network. The performance of this scheme is compared with our existing scheme IoT-based Agriculture and LEACH in Agriculture. Simulation results show that integrating IoT with Blockchain scheme is more efficient, uses low energy, improves throughput and enhances network lifetime.
Iván Froiz-Míguez, Paula Fraga‐Lamas, José Varela-Barbeito, Tiago M. Fernández‐Caramés
The latest advances in the different Industry 4.0 technologies have enabled the automation and optimization of complex tasks of production processes thanks to their ability to monitor and track the state of physical elements like machinery, environmental sensors/actuators or industrial operators. This paper focuses on the latter and presents the design and evaluation of a system for monitoring industrial workers that provides a near real-time decentralized response system aimed at reacting and tracing events that affect operator personal safety and health. Such a monitoring system is based on the information collected from sensors encapsulated in IoT wearables that are used to measure both personal and environmental data. The communications architecture relies on LoRaWAN, an LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network) technology that offers good reliability in harsh communications environments and that provides relatively long distance communications with low-energy consumption. Specifically, each wearable sends the collected information (e.g., heart rate, altitude, external temperature, gas concentration, location) from the sensors to the nearest LoRaWAN gateway, which is transmitted to a pool of nodes where information is stored in a distributed manner. Such a decentralized system allows for providing information redundancy and guarantees its availability as long as there is an operative node. In addition, the proposed system is able to store and to process the collected data through smart contracts in a blockchain, which eliminate the need for a central backend and ensure the traceability and immutability of such data in order to share them with third parties (e.g., insurance companies or medical services).
Blockchain is an emerging technology that uses distributed ledgers for transparent, reliable, and traceable information exchange among network nodes. Blockchain and its 3rd generation Tangle-based implementations quickly extend their territory beyond crypto-currency to a broad range of applications using fee-less transactions over the Internet of things (IoT). However, this technology suffers from sluggishness in consensus-based validation of information that restricts its applicability to time-sensitive applications such as smart health. In this letter, we propose an optimized policy for sampling rate by IoT sensors that utilize blockchain and Tangle technologies for their transmission with the goal of minimizing the age of information (AoI) experienced by the end-users, considering both processing and networking resource constraints. Simulation results confirm the efficacy of the proposed algorithm compared to the current fixed-rate update policy. Further, a closed-form solution is obtained for the optimal sampling rate in a network of homogeneous IoT nodes as a benchmark system.
Eryk Schiller, Sina Rafati Niya, Timo Surbeck, Burkhard Stiller
This paper studies various methods that improve the performance of Blockchain systems integrated with the Internet of Things (BIoT) using the LoRaWAN access method. Duty Cycle Enforcement (DCE) and Listen Before Talk (LBT) mechanisms as the channel access methods, Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) on the Transport Layer, and transaction aggregation on the Application Layer are evaluated. The main focus is put on the system performance studying the maximal number of transactions submitted, reliability of transport schemes, and the energy efficiency of the BIoT system. The combination of LBT-based MAC, the ARQ-enabled Transport Layer, and transaction aggregation at the Application Layer provides a good trade-off between submitted transaction count, packet loss, and energy efficiency. The proposed scheme complies to the data integrity demands of BIoT applications by specifying a reliable data transmission scheme from IoT devices to the BC.
Summary This paper introduces a fully decentralized low‐power wide‐area network (LPWAN) infrastructure for the Internet of Things (IoT) using the LoRa protocol. While global LPWANs typically require roaming agreements between network providers and a trusted third party for server resolution, we propose a trustless model where the network servers are resolved using a blockchain application. Since LoRaWAN relies on symmetric cryptography, we also propose a new security model that adds non‐repudiation using digital signatures. This paves the way for linking devices to decentralized applications. We finally analyze the impact of this new model on message size and energy requirements.
Recently, there has been increasing interest in employing blockchain in different applications, other than crypto-currencies. Blockchains allow a peer to peer distributed network where different nodes communicate with each other, in a trustless manner. Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) is an Internet of Things (IoT) technology, which enables long range communication. Although LoRaWAN networks are secure, the LoRaWAN join procedure is susceptible to replay and jamming attacks. Moreover, trust between network server and LoRa end device is the basic foundation of LoRaWAN network however, the centralized nature of network servers raise trust issues between network operators and customers. To solve this problem, we propose a lightweight two factor authentication mechanism for LoRaWAN join procedure, based on blockchain technology. The proposed blockchain based framework provides an extra layer of security for LoRaWAN join procedure and build trust among LoRaWAN network components. The proposed framework is validated using the Ethereum blockchain. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework provides efficient system performance in terms of throughput and latency. The proposed blockchain architecture is a cost effective solution, which can be utilized in the LoRaWAN network with few network servers and LoRa end device, having no strict requirement of throughput and latency.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is increasingly part of daily life. However, the development of IoT applications still faces many problems, such as heterogeneity, complex management, and other difficulties. In this paper, first, the open source technologies of IoT are surveyed. We compare these technologies from the point of view of different levels of technical requirements, such as device management, data management, communication, intelligent data processing, security and privacy protection; we also look at requirements of application development and deployment. Second, an IoT integrated development platform architecture for IoT applications based on open source ecosystem is proposed and evaluated in an industrial setting. We applied P2P technology to distributed resource management and blockchain-based smart contract mechanics for resource billing management. The results show that the IoT gateway based on an open source ecosystem had a stable and reliable system performance with a certain data size and concurrency scale. These conditions satisfy the application requirements of the IoT in most sensing environments.
Today, the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in all aspects of life is increasing exponentially. Our cities are getting smarter and informing us about our surroundings in a contextual manner. However, we face significant challenges in deploying, managing, and collecting data from these devices. In addition, we must address the problem of storing and mining that data for higher-quality IoT services. Blockchain technology, even in today's nascent form, has the potential to be the foundation for a common, distributed, trustless, and autonomous infrastructure system. This article describes a standardized IoT infrastructure where data are stored on a distributed storage service that is fault-tolerant and resistant to distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks and data access is managed by a decentralized, trustless blockchain. The illustrated system used LoRa as the emerging network technology, Swarm as the distributed data storage platform, and Ethereum as the blockchain platform. Such a data back end will ensure high availability with minimal security risks while replacing traditional back-end systems with a single "smart contract".
Today, the number of IoT devices in all aspects of life is exponentially increasing. The cities we are living in are getting smarter and informing us about our surroundings in a contextual manner. However, there lay significant challenges of deploying, managing and collecting data from these devices, in addition to the problem of storing and mining that data for higher-quality IoT services. Blockchain technology, even in today's nascent form, contains the pillars to create a common, distributed, trustless and autonomous infrastructure system. This paper describes a standardized IoT infrastructure; where data is stored on a DDOS-resistant, fault-tolerant, distributed storage service and data access is managed by a decentralized, trustless blockchain. The illustrated system used LoRa as the emerging network technology, Swarm as the distributed data storage and Ethereum as the blockchain platform. Such a data backend will ensure high availability with minimal security risks while replacing traditional backend systems with a single "smart contract".
Low power communication is a major milestone for the Internet of Things (IoT). Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) technologies seek to provide a large coverage area and long battery life at the cost of a reduced bandwidth compared to traditional networks. Commercially-available LPWAN solutions typically involve the usage of a wireless infrastructure from a network provider; with the notable exception of crowd-sourced networks, which use gateways from other users for wireless communication to end-devices. In this paper, we analyse the feasability of a fully decentralized LPWAN infrastructure and build a working prototype based on the LoRaWAN protocol.
Sina Rafati Niya, Sanjiv S. Jha, Thomas Bocek, Burkhard Stiller
This work proposes an IoT- and Blockchain-based, distributed system, for automated measuring, storing, and monitoring of water and air quality in environments such as lakes, mountains, urban areas, or factories. Comparable state-of-the-art solutions, require human interaction to access the data or require high power consumption or space requirements, or they are based on centralized architectures. The proposed pollution monitoring system here, on one hand, employs LoRa to address the high power consumption and long-range transmission challenges of IoT protocols. On the other hand, it is designed to be fully decentralized by using the Ethereum Blockchain to store and retrieve the data recorded by IoT sensors. Thus, data integrity is provided without the need for a Trusted Third Party (TTP) and data is collected and captured automatically without any manual operations needed. Observations on the four different types of sensors for measuring Potential Hydrogen (PH), Turbidity, Carbon monoxide (CO), and Carbon dioxide (CO2), revealed a high accuracy with the expected time-lines of measurements, non-falsified experimental values collected and can be used as reliable evidence of presence of pollution.
The increasing demand for mobile network capacity driven by Internet of Things (IoT) applications results in the need for understanding better the potential and limitations of 5G networks. Vertical application areas like smart mobility, energy networks, industrial IoT applications, and AR/VR enhanced services all pose different requirements on the use of 5G networks. Some applications need low latency, whereas others need high bandwidth or security support. The goal of this paper is to identify the requirements and to understand the limitations for 5G driven applications. We review application areas and list the typical challenges and requirements posed on 5G networks. A main challenge will be to develop a network architecture being able to dynamically adapt to fluctuating traffic patterns and accommodating various technologies such as edge computing, blockchain based distributed ledger, software defined networking, and virtualization. To inspire future research, we reveal open problems and highlight the need for piloting with 5G applications, with tangible steps, to understand the configuration of 5G networks and the use of applications across multiple vertical industries.
The increasing trend of people moving to urban areas and the associated urbanization process require facing challenges regarding city infrastructures capability to cover citizens needs for energy, water, transportation, healthcare. education, safety. The smart urban technologies represent an important contribution to the sustainable development of cities, making smart cities a reality. The concept of Home Automation must be considered in relation to the new technologies and the new smart users and the house will no longer be regarded as a single entity, but as a fundamental part of the new concept of city. The idea of smart cities is developing extremely rapidly, integrating smart grid, services, building, house and appliances, these subsystems must be able to interact, connect, and control remotely, collaboratively, to achieve a better quality of life, sustainability, energy saving, social and economic development. The widespread of Smart City depends heavily on the capability of users to understand and handle the ICT, IoT and BC. The paper designs a smart district model that is the step necessary to build a Smart City using new technologies and the role of an efficient energy management system integrated into a platform based on an IoT and BC approach for a replicable model and can be implemented.
The ever-increasing number of IoT devices necessitates a secure and scalable infrastructure to store and process generated data. Blockchain is an ideal choice with its decentralized, trustless architecture. However, low-power IoT end-devices do not possess enough horsepower to run a software client for intensive blockchain calculations. The purpose of this paper is to create a proof of concept to enable low-power, resource-constrained IoT end-devices accessing a blockchain-based infrastructure. To achieve this aim, an IoT gateway is configured as a blockchain node and an event-based messaging mechanism for low-power IoT end-devices is proposed. A demonstration of such a system is realized using LoRa nodes and gateway in a private Ethereum network.
The ever-increasing number of IoT devices necessitates a secure and scalable infrastructure to store and process generated data. Blockchain is an ideal choice with its decentralized, trustless architecture. However, low-power IoT end-devices do not possess enough horsepower to run a software client for intensive blockchain calculations. The purpose of this paper is to create a proof of concept to enable low-power, resource-constrained IoT end-devices accessing a blockchain-based infrastructure. To achieve this aim, an IoT gateway is configured as a blockchain node and an event-based messaging mechanism for low-power IoT end-devices is proposed. A demonstration of such a system is realized using LoRa nodes and gateway in a private Ethereum network.
Purpose With the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) market and requirement, low power wide area (LPWA) technologies have become popular. In various LPWA technologies, Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT) and long range (LoRa) are two main leading competitive technologies. Compared with NB-IoT networks, which are mainly built and managed by mobile network operators, LoRa wide area networks (LoRaWAN) are mainly operated by private companies or organizations, which suggests two issues: trust of the private network operators and lack of network coverage. This study aims to propose a conceptual architecture design of a blockchain built-in solution for LoRaWAN network servers to solve these two issues for LoRaWAN IoT solution. Design/methodology/approach The study proposed modeling, model analysis and architecture design. Findings The proposed solution uses the blockchain technology to build an open, trusted, decentralized and tamper-proof system, which provides the indisputable mechanism to verify that the data of a transaction has existed at a specific time in the network. Originality/value To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that integrates blockchain technology and LoRaWAN IoT technology.
With1 the rapid growth of the internet of things (IoT) market and requirement, low power wide area (LPWA) technologies have become popular. In various LPWA technologies, Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT) and long range (LoRa) are two main leading competitive technologies. Comparing to NB-IoT network that mainly built and managed by mobile network operators, LoRa wide-area network (LoRaWAN) is mainly operated by private companies or organizations, which will bring the trust issues between application customers and network operations. In this paper, we proposed a blockchain technology based solution to build an open, trusted, decentralized and tamper-proof system for LoRaWAN. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that integrating blockchain technology and LoRaWAN IoT technology.