Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications is an emerging communication paradigm that provides ubiquitous connectivity between devices along with an ability to communicate autonomously without human intervention. M2M communications acts as an enabling technology for the practical realization of Internet-of-Things (IoT). However, M2M communications differs from conventional Human-to-Human (H2H) communications due to its unique features such as massive number of connected devices, small data transmissions, little or no mobility, requirements of high energy efficiency and reliability, etc. These features create various challenges for existing communication networks which are primarily optimized for H2H communications. Therefore, novel solutions are required to meet the key requirements of M2M communications. In addition, enhancements are required at different layers of the protocol stack to support co-existence of M2M devices and H2H users. The main objective of this research is to investigate the challenges of M2M communications in two broad types of M2M networks; capillary M2M and cellular M2M networks. The primary focus is on developing novel solutions, algorithms, and protocol enhancements for successfully enabling M2M communications. Since cognitive radio technology is very promising for M2M communications, special emphasis is on capillary M2M networks with cognitive radio based Physical layer. Besides, the focus is also on exploring new frontiers in M2M communications. This thesis covers different aspects of M2M communications. Considering the motivation for cognitive M2M and service requirements of M2M devices, two cognitive MAC protocols have been proposed. The first protocol is centralized in nature and utilizes a specialized frame structure for co-existence with the primary network as well as handling different Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements of M2M devices. The second protocol is a distributed cognitive MAC protocol, which is specially designed to provide high energy efficiency and reliability for M2M devices operating in challenging wireless environments. Both protocols explicitly account for the peculiarities of cognitive radio environments. The protocols have been evaluated using analytical modeling and simulation studies. Recently IETF has standardized a specially designed routing protocol for capillary M2M networks, known as RPL (Routing for Low Power and Lossy Networks). RPL is emerging as the de facto routing protocol for many M2M applications including the smart grid. On the other hand, the application of cognitive radio for smart grid communication is under active investigation in the research community. Hence, it is important to investigate the applicability and adaptation of RPL in cognitive radio environments. In this regard, an enhanced RPL based routing protocol has been proposed for cognitive radio enabled smart grid networks. The enhanced protocol provides novel modifications to RPL for protecting the primary users along with meeting the utility requirements of the secondary network. An important challenge in LTE-based cellular networks with M2M communications is the uplink radio resource management as available resources are shared between M2M devices and H2H users, having different and often conflicting QoS requirements. Apart from this, energy efficiency requirements become critically important. Further, the specific constraints of Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) complicate the resource allocation problem. In this respect, an energy efficient resource allocation algorithm for the uplink of LTE networks with M2M/H2H co-existence under statistical QoS guarantees has been developed, that is based on canonical duality theory. The proposed algorithm outperforms classical algorithms in terms of energy efficiency while satisfying the QoS requirements of M2M devices and H2H users. A new frontier in M2M communications is the nano-M2M communications, which is envisioned to create the Internet-of-Nano-Things (IoNT). Molecular communication (MC) is a promising communication technique for nano-M2M communications. In literature, no model for error performance of MC exists. Therefore, an error performance model has been developed that explicitly accounts for noise and interference effects. Since relaying and network coding based solutions are gaining popularity for nano-M2M networks, the error performance of a network coded molecular nano-M2M network has been evaluated as well. Finally, the thesis is concluded based on the overall picture of the research conducted. In addition, some directions for future work are included as well.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2017-04-20T13:56:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Armando Leopoldo Keller_.pdf: 2124143 bytes, checksum: ba23113da63873463958e38c05ddbd88 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-20T13:56:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Armando Leopoldo Keller_.pdf: 2124143 bytes, checksum: ba23113da63873463958e38c05ddbd88 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-01-13 / Nenhuma / O objetivo deste trabalho, é realizar um estudo de forma mais abrangente sobre o conceito de Internet das Coisas e seus principais protocolos. Explora-se especificamente o conceito de IoT (Internet of Things) aplicado em sistemas de automação. Para tanto é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o assunto, explorando os diversos protocolos desenvolvidos para aplicações de IoT, caracterizando-os quanto a taxa de transmissão, eficiência, segurança e confiabilidade. Também é realizado um levantamento do cenário atual, quanto a aplicação de protocolos de IoT em sistemas de automação, sempre tendo em mente a confiabilidade do sistema. Percebe-se que um grande dificultador do uso destes tipos de protocolo em ambientes industriais é justamente a heterogeneidade das redes existentes. Diante deste problema, a proposta do trabalho é desenvolver um dispositivo que atue como middleware para a interligação de redes de automação distribuídas, no caso especificamente a rede Modbus RTU, fazendo com que esta interligação seja de forma transparente utilizando o protocolo de Internet das Coisas MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport). Este dispositivo é testado com equipamentos em um cenário real através de um estudo de caso, onde duas redes Modbus RTU de um sistema geograficamente distribuído de geração de energia solar fotovoltaica, são interligadas, permitindo a criação de uma planta virtual de geração de energia do inglês virtual power plant (VPP). Com isso é possível tratar e gerenciar os sistemas distribuídos de geração como sendo uma única unidade geradora, facilitando o despacho. Para comprovar a eficiência e a confiabilidade do sistema, foram realizados testes onde o tempo entre as requisições e respostas foi medido, e através da sua distribuição foi obtido um tempo de 2,5 segundos para obter uma comunicação com baixa taxa de perda de mensagens. Estes testes comprovam o correto funcionamento do sistema proposto. / The objective of this work is to develop a more comprehensive study on the concept of Internet of Things (IoT) and its main protocols, specifically exploring the concept of IoT applied in automation systems. A bibliographic review explores the diverse protocols developed for IoT applications, characterizing them as transmission rate, efficiency, safety and confiability. A survey of the current scenario about the application of IoT protocols in automation systems is presented, always having the system confiability in mind. The heterogenity of the existent networks makes the use of this protocols a harder task. The proposal of this work is develop a device that acts as middleware for interlink distributed automation networks, in this case the Modbus RTU networks, in a transparent way using the internet of things procol MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport). This device is tested with equipments in a real scenario trough a case study, where two Modbus RTU networks of a geographically distributed solar photovoltaic power plant, is interlinked, allowing the criation of a VPP (Virtual Power Plant). This makes possible to manage the distributed power generator systems as a single generator unit, improving the electric energy dispatch. To prove the efficiency and confiability of the system, tests were made where the time between request and response was mensured, and based on his distribution the time of 2.5 seconds was determined to have a low message loss communication. Those tests validate the proposed system and the achievement of the goals of the present work.

La communication Machine-to-Machine (M2M) est l'un des principaux fondements de l'Internet des Objets (IoT). C'est un phénomène qui a évolué discrètement au cours du temps et vient d’émerger à la surface pour do! nner naissance à une explosion de nouveaux usages et services. Capteurs, actionneurs, tags, véhicules et objets intelligents ont tous la possibilité de communiquer. Le nombre de connexions M2M est en constante augmentation et il est prévu de voir des milliards d’objets connectés dans un futur proche. Les applications M2M offrent des avantages dans divers domaines à savoir les villes intelligentes, les voitures connectées, les usines du futures, l’agriculture de précision, l’environnement, la santé, etc. La croissance rapide de cet écosystème est entrain de conduire le M2M vers un avenir prometteur. Cependant, les opportunités d'expansion des marchés M2M ne sont pas évidentes. En effet, un ensemble de challenges doivent être surmontés afin de permettre un déploiement à grande échelle dans des domaines diverses et variés à savoir les défis d’interopérabilité, de complexité et de scalabilité. Actuellement, le marché du M2M souffre d'une fragmentation verticale importante touchant la majorité des domaines industriels. En effet, diverses solutions propriétaires ont été conçues pour répondre à des applications spécifiques engendrant ainsi un sérieux problème d''interopérabilité. Pour adresser ce challenge, nous avons conçu, développer et expérimenté la plateforme OM2M offrant une architecture opérationnelle, flexible et extensible pour l'interopérabilité M2M conforme à la norme SmartM2M. Pour supporter les environnements contraints, nous avons proposé une nouvelle convention de nommage basée sur une structure de ressources non-hiérarchique permettant d’optimiser la taille des messages échangés. Pour assurer l’interopérabilité sémantique entre les applications et les machines, nous avons proposé l'ontologie IoT-O. Cette dernière est composée de cinq modèles de base représentant les capteurs, les actionneurs, les observations, les actuations et les web ! services pour permettre de converger rapidement vers un vocabulaire commun pour l'IoT. Une plateforme M2M horizontale permet d'interconnecter des machines hétérogènes largement distribués et qui évoluent fréquemment en fonction des changements de l’environnement. Maintenir ces systèmes complexes en vie est coûteux en termes de temps et d'argent. Pour adresser ce challenge, nous avons conçu, développé et intégré le framework FRAMESELF afin d'ajouter des capacités d'autogestion aux systèmes M2M basées sur le paradigme de l'informatique autonome. En étendant le modèle d'architecture de référence MAPE-K, notre solution permet d'adapter dynamiquement le comportement de la plateforme OM2M par en fonctions des changements du contexte et des politiques haut niveaux. Nous avons défini un ensemble de règles sémantiques pour faire du raisonnement sur l'ontologie IoT-O en tant que modèle de connaissance. Notre objectif est de permettre la découverte automatique entre les machines et les applications à travers un appariement sémantique et une reconfiguration dynam! ique de l'architecture des ressources. L’interopérabilité et l’autogestion ouvrent la voie à un déploiement de masse des systèmes M2M. Par contre, ces derniers se basent sur l'infrastructure actuelle d'internet qui n'a jamais été conçu pour ce genre de d'utilisation ce qui pose de nouvelles exigences en termes de scalabilité. Pour adresser ce challenge, nous avons conçu, simulé et validé l'approche OSCL proposant une nouvelle topologie de réseau maillé M2M comme alternative à l'approche centralisée actuelle. OSCL s'appuie sur les techniques de routage centrées sur l'information favorisant les communications à sauts multiples et un cache distribué pour une meilleure dissémination des données. Nous avons développé le simulateur OSCLsim pour valider l'approche proposée.[...] / Machine-to-Machine (M2M) is one of the main features of Internet of Things (IoT). It is a phenomenon that has been proceeding quietly in the background, and it is coming into the surface, where explosion of usage scenarios in businesses will happen. Sensors, actuators, tags, vehicles, and intelligent things all have the ability to communicate. The number of M2M connections is continuously increasing, and it has been predicted to see billions of machines interconnected in a near future. M2M applications provide advantages in various domains from smart cities, factories of the future, connected cars, home automation, e-health to precision agriculture. This fast-growing ecosystem is leading M2M towards a promising future. However, M2M market expansion opportunities are not straightforward. A set of challenges should be overcome to enable M2M mass-scale deployment across various industries including interoperability, complexity, and scalability issues. Currently, the M2M market is suffering from a high vertical fragmentation affecting the majority of business sectors. In fact, various vendor-specific M2M solutions have been designed independently for specific applications, which led to serious interoperability issues. To address this challenge, we designed, implemented, and experimented with the OM2M platform offering a flexible and extensible operational architecture for M2M interoperability compliant with the SmartM2M standard. To support constrained environments, we proposed an efficient naming convention relying on a non-hierarchical resource structure to reduce the payload size. To reduce the semantic gap between applications and machines, we proposed the IoT-O ontology for an effective semantic interoperability. IoT-O consists of five main parts, which are sensor, actuator, observation, actuation and service models and aims to quickly converge to a common IoT vocabulary. An interoperable M2M service platform enables one to interconnect heterogeneous devices that are widely distributed and frequently evolving according to their environment changes. Keeping M2M systems alive is costly in terms of time and money. To address this challenge, we designed, implemented, and integrated the FRAMESELF framework to retrofit self-management capabilities in M2M systems based on the autonomic computing paradigm. Extending the MAPE-K reference architecture model, FRAMESELF enables one to dynamically adapt the OM2M system behavior according to high level policies how the environment changes. We defined a set of semantic rules for reasoning about the IoT-O ontology as a knowledge model. Our goal is to enable automatic discovery of machines and applications through dynamic reconfiguration of resource architectures. Interoperability and self-management pave the way to mass-scale deployment of M2M devices. However, current M2M systems rely on current internet infrastructure, which was never designed to address such requirements, thus raising new requirements in term of scalability. To address this challenge, we designed, simulated and validated the OSCL overlay approach, a new M2M meshed network topology as an alternative to the current centralized approach. OSCL relies on the Named Data Networking (NDN) technique and supports multi-hop communication and distributed caching 5 to optimize networking and enhance data dissemination. We developed the OSCLsim simulator to validate the proposed approach. Finally, a theoretical model based on random graphs is formulated to describe the evolution and robustness of the proposed system.

A telecom industry is constantly looking for new ways to generate revenues by offering new and innovative services. Segmentation of customers by offering premium services to premium customers is a one way which has immense potential of revenue generation. Also, network and service providers are keen to provide specialized services with high quality and faster speed, with more emphasis on Quality of Experience (QoE), in order to enhance business revenue. The QoE concept offers several benefits to telecom operators as well as end-users, as it constantly monitors customer feedback and modifies services in order to delight customers. However, Net Neutrality is a current issue all over world and defined/re-defined in many ways, but many definitions overlooks practical difficulties and market realities. This demands in-depth analysis of Net Neutrality concept from regulatory and business point of view. Current business models for specialized services like Machine to Machine (M2M) communication and video streaming are not adequately designed to tackle regulatory issues such as Net Neutrality. Also the QoE concept needs to be tested on the level of Net Neutrality principles. This thesis discusses the business models incorporating QoE concept, along with analysing implications of Net Neutrality principles. The rules and regulations regarding Net Neutrality in Sweden are studied thoroughly in comparison with same principles in other countries like USA, India and countries from EU. The business models of M2M communication and video streaming services are presented and discussed considering effect of Net Neutrality regulations. Implications of Net Neutrality rules on specialize services, customized services, and zero-rating is presented. In order to have practical knowledge of telecom market and business strategies, several activities including brainstorming sessions with industrial experts and market surveys are carried out to generate meaningful conclusions. According to EU Net Neutrality rules specialized services, customized services and zero-rating services are allowed in Sweden with incorporating QoE. / Telekomindustrin letar ständigt efter nya sätt att generera intäkter genom att erbjuda nya och innovativa tjänster. Segmentering av kunder genom att erbjuda tilläggstjänster till premiumkunder är ett sätt som har enorm potential för intäktsgenerering. Även nätverk och tjänsteleverantörer är angelägna om att ge specialiserade tjänster med hög kvalitet och snabbare hastighet, med mer betoning på kvalitet på erfarenhet (QoE) begreppet, i syfte att öka företagens intäkter. Konceptet med QoE erbjuder flera fördelar för teleoperatörer samt slutanvändare, eftersom det ständigt övervakar kunder och modifierar tjänster för att glädja kunderna. Dock är nätneutralitet en aktuell fråga över hela världen och definierade/åter definieras på många sätt, men många definitioner saknar praktiska svårigheter och realiteter. Detta kräver en djupgående analys av nätneutralitet koncept från reglerings- och kommersiell synvinkel. Nuvarande affärsmodeller för specialiserade tjänster som maskin till maskin (M2M) kommunikation och video är inte lämpligt utformade för att hantera regleringsfrågor som nätneutralitet. Även QoE konceptet behöver testas på graden av nätneutralitet principer. Denna avhandling diskuterar affärsmodeller som innehåller QoE koncept, tillsammans med analys av konsekvenserna av nätneutralitet principer. De regler och föreskrifter om nätneutralitet som finns i Sverige studeras noggrant i jämförelse med samma principer i andra länder som USA, Indien och länder från EU. Affärsmodellerna för maskin till maskin (M2M) kommunikation och videostreamingtjänster presenteras och diskuteras. Inblandning av nätneutralitet regler på specialiserade tjänster, kundanpassade tjänster och noll presenteras. För att få praktisk kunskap om telekommarknaden och affärsstrategier, utfördes flera aktiviteter inklusive brainstorming med industri experter och marknadsundersökningar genomförs för att generera meningsfulla slutsatser. Enligt Eus regler gällande nätneutralitet är specialiserade tjänster, kundanpassade tjänster och zero-rating tjänster är tillåtna i Sverige med integration av QoE.