11 Distributed Middleware for Container Transport: Lessons Learned (Klaas Thoelen, Sam Michiels, Wouter Joosen) 7th MiNEMA Workshop August 21, Lappeenranta, Finland

2 Context Authorized Economic Operator Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can help to automate the supply chain Heterogenic, dynamic and mobile WSNs need middleware support

3 Overview Context 1. Scope 2. Middleware Architecture 3. Prototype implementation 4. Discussion a. EPC Network b. 6LoWPAN 5. Conclusion

4 Scope 1 company divided over multiple sites: harbor dock, airport terminal, warehouse, … Each site deploys a WSN Different sites - different WSNs Central database: used for transport and resource planning

5 Challenges 1.End-to-end interoperability 2.External data exchange 3.Heterogeneity of data and messaging formats 4.Intermittent network connection of sensor nodes 5.Inter-network mobility of sensor nodes

6 Overview Context 1. Scope 2. Middleware Architecture 3. Prototype 4. Discussion a. EPC Network b. 6LoWPAN 5. Conclusion

7 Distributed Middleware Distributed: multi-tiered Middleware: vertical set of service layers

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9 Challenge 1: End-to-end interoperability

10 Challenge 2: External data exchange

11 Challenge 3: Heterogeneity of data and messaging formats

12 Challenge 4: Intermittent network connection of sensor nodes

13 Challenge 5: Inter-network mobility of sensor nodes

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15 Overview Context 1. Scope 2. Middleware Architecture 3. Prototype 4. Discussion a. EPC Network b. 6LoWPAN 5. Conclusion

16 Prototype

17 Overview Context 1. Scope 2. Middleware Architecture 3. Prototype 4. Discussion a. EPC Network b. 6LoWPAN 5. Conclusion

18 Discussion More realistic: server & database per site

19 EPC Network Architectural framework for an integrated supply chain using RFID technology EPC = Electronic Product Code –Unique identifier of an object –Stored in RFID tags –a key to retrieve information about this object

20 EPC Network Based on figure in ‘Enhancing Information Flow in a Retail Supply Chain Using RFID and the EPC Network: A Proof- of-Concept Approach’ by S.F. Wamba and H. Boeck in JTAER Vol.3 Issue 1

21 EPC Network Based on figure in ‘Enhancing Information Flow in a Retail Supply Chain Using RFID and the EPC Network: A Proof- of-Concept Approach’ by S.F. Wamba and H. Boeck in JTAER Vol.3 Issue 1

22 EPC Network Object Name System standard still in progress: –retrieval of information at all forwarders involved –instance level data

23 Overview Context 1. Scope 2. Middleware Architecture 3. Prototype 4. Discussion a. EPC Network b. 6LoWPAN 5. Conclusion

24 Discussion What about direct querying an individual sensor node? –Either leverage on ONS –Or exploit the possibilities provided by IPv6 IPv6: –Larger address space (128 bits instead of 32 bits) –Better support for mobility –But considered too memory- and bandwidth intensive for WSNs!!!

25 6LoWPAN Extends IPv6 to Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks By providing:- Header compression - Fragmentation

26 6LoWPAN End-node reachability without proxy gateway

27 Overview Context 1. Scope 2. Middleware Architecture 3. Prototype 4. Discussion a. EPC Network b. 6LoWPAN 5. Conclusion

28 Conclusion End-to-end middleware supporting monitoring of transport containers: –Still far from trivial: heterogeneity (WSN, gateways, backend), resource-constraints of sensor nodes –Feasible: using state-of-the-art software components, through initiatives like EPC Network and 6LoWPAN and new generation of sensor nodes

29 Questions? Thank you!