1044413: Pervasive Systems

Technology is moving beyond the personal computer to everyday devices with embedded technology and connectivity as computing devices become progressively smaller and more powerful. Pervasive systems go beyond the realm of personal computers: it is the idea that almost any device, from clothing to tools to appliances to cars to homes to the human body to your coffee mug, can be embedded with chips to connect the device to an infinite network of other devices.

"Ubiquitous computing names the third wave in computing, just now beginning. First were mainframes, each shared by lots of people. Now we are in the personal computing era, person and machine staring uneasily at each other across the desktop. Next comes ubiquitous computing, or the age of calm technology, when technology recedes into the background of our lives" -- Mark Weiser, 1988

The course introduces emerging application scenaria, studies characteristic design approaches of Pervasive systems and networks, examines essential algorithmic techniques and performance limits and provides the foundations for engineer algorithms in open-design.

The course is organized in the following parts:
- Part 1: Internet of Things: Machine-to-machine Communication (ZigBee / ZWave, 6LowPan - RPL / COAP, MQTT). Byzantine Failures & Data. Real-world Testbeds (IoT Lab, Smart Santander). Open-source frameworks (Arduino). Case-studies: Air-quality monitoring, Traffic monitoring, Smart citizen kit.
- Part 2: Smartphones: Infrastructure Networking & Cloud services, Ad-hoc Networking mechanisms (IEEE 802.11 WiFi, WiFi-Direct / IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth, BLE). Network communication & control protocols (Dissemination - Flooding, Gossiping, Agreement - Commit, Localization). Delay-Tolerant Networking. Open-source frameworks (Android). Case-studies: Participatory sensing, Physical interaction sensing, Pervasive gaming.
- Part 3: ''Sensor Networks': Ad-hoc Networking mechanisms (IEEE 802.15.4). Network communication & control protocols (Broadcast & Convergecast, Routing, Clustering). Open-source frameworks (Riot-OS). Case-studies: Energy-efficient buildings, Monitoring Elderly.