IPSem: A service approach for IP-enabled Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are gaining great popularity in application areas. LR-WPANs are new personal area network architecture that promotes wireless sensor networks tailored towards in personal life. 6LoWPAN protocol proposed by IETF enables IP function for tiny embedded sensor devices in LR-WPANs. With the 6LoWPAN adaptation layer which bridges the gap between the LR-WPANs and IP networks, these tiny devices become end nodes in IP networks, However, Integrating LR-WPANs into IP network poses significant challenges for resource discovery and management and security. In this paper we propose a service solution based on 6LoWPAN to meet these incoming challenges in IP-Enabled WSNs. In our scheme a lightweight middleware is used to support web services in WSNs to build scalable management architectures for LR-WPANs. With the lightweight service middleware, each tiny sensor device in sensor networks works as service provider and this makes data-centric WSNs become service-oriented architectures. For security, a multi-layer authentication mechanism is used to verify the user validity and provide secure connection between users and services. The feasibility and effectiveness of our service approach is evaluated.