Framework to integrate domain-specific applications into the Quantum Lifecycle Management (QLM) cloud for Internet of Things (IoT)

Abstract

The rapid evolution in the field of networking and embedded technology brought the possibility of emergence of a universal network of things referred to as “Internet of Things” (IoT). This has radically changed the idea and way of communication and provides new types of interaction i.e. ‘Things’ to ‘Things’. Although, this concept of communication seems promising, there exist several key challenges. As the number of heterogeneous devices, systems, and applications grows, it becomes increasingly difficult to properly integrate the data flow between these participants. This becomes even more challenging when several participants use their own representation of the data. In order to tackle this issue, it is imperative to use standards for representing and exchanging data in ever growing network of future. A recent IoT standards, referred to as Quantum Lifecycle Management (QLM) messaging standards, was proposed to fulfill IoT requirements. However, even if such a messaging protocol would become the de facto standard in the IoT, this would not solve all problems related to system and information integration into the IoT. There should be means to integrate all types of existing domain- or vendor-specific applications into the IoT. A generic framework for such integration is proposed that can be used to integrate several domain specific applications in a way that they can share data and have provision of using key features provided by the QLM messaging standards. This integration framework is implemented in a case study using smart house application, namely openHAB to prove the concept of the integration framework proposed in this thesis. All in all, the result shows that the integration framework can be used to integrate domain specific applications in the context of IoT.