Pervasive Computing Model in a Cloud based
Environment
Priya Bhusari,
Nagpur, India
bhusaripriya@gmail.com
Abstract— In this paper the research on pervasive automated
model as a service based on cloud computing is put forth
considering the example of Home automation. The cloud
computing in home automation as a service assists in shrinking
residential computing workload and hence making home
automation more convenient, flexible, energy efficient and less
expensive. The cloud based home automation as a service would
readily allow users ability to remotely control and monitor their
home automation system from anywhere via internet.
Keywords— Cloud Computing, Pervasive Computing, Home
Automation, OpenRemote, cloud services
I. INTRODUCTION
Home Automation is a specific term used to describe the
specific automation techniques in our home for enhanced
convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security of the
residents. Home automation can comprise of control of home
entertainment systems, plant watering, pet feeding, changing
the ambiance, illumination control, heating and ventilation
control, control of doors and window shutters, security
surveillance systems etc. In terms of lighting control, it is
possible to save energy when installing various products.
Simple functions such as motion sensors and detectors
integrated into a relatively simple home automation system
can save hours of wasted energy in both residential and
commercial applications.
Pervasive automated model as a service can be referred as
an umbrella term to describe the use of specific automation
techniques in different areas where pervasive computing is
boon for use. There are different prevalent techniques which
can be consolidated in one pervasive computing application
such as Home Automation, Healthcare Services etc.
In Pervasive computing we can use microchips, as
microchips and computing power get cheaper it will become
easier to build technology into everyday life. Advances in
cloud computing, coupled with embedded technologies, will
lead to novel user experiences and possibilities for Human
Computer Interaction.
Categories of Pervasive Automated applications:
1)
2)
Applications which can be required to use by many
homes/offices: Eg: These applications include Home
Automation, Home Security, Childcare/Baby
Monitoring, Elderly Remote Monitoring, Healthcare
and immunization etc.
Applications created for specific purpose, whose
architecture is designed for that purpose only.Eg:
These applications include Traffic Monitoring,
Military operations assistance, environment, and
industrial business related applications.
The applications which comes under first category, can be
used on cloud and thus reduces the setup and maintenance
cost by eliminating the need of a specialized gateway and web
server in each household or offices.
II. PERVASIVE COMPUTING HOME AUTOMATION
MODEL
Fig 1: Daily Life things can be automated in home automation.
III. HOME AUTOMATION SOFTWARES:
There are different home automation softwares available
in the market such as OpenRemote, Freedomotic etc.
A. OpenRemote :
“OpenRemote” is the open source Software Integration
Platform provided by Apache Software Foundation (ASF).
OpenRemote develops and distributes a standard based
platform that is extensible and flexible with applications to
Home Automation, Energy Management and Healthcare.
There are two components of OpenRemote:
1. OpenRemote Designer: OpenRemote Designer is an
online software application designed to rapidly and
easily create touch-driven control panels. You can
create multiple user profiles and customize user
2.
interfaces for each one: each user profile can have its
individual preferences, branding, favorites and
individual set of controls and tailored for panel
hardware capabilities.
OpenRemote Controller: Is deployed on customer
site and autonomously manages intelligence in the
building. Reacting to schedules, sensor events and
user actions, it handles the overall runtime
performance after initial design has been created.
OpenRemote Controller also provides the device and
protocol integration capabilities in the OpenRemote
platform.
3)
Application management: The SaaS provider is
responsible
for
managing
the
computing
environment.
4) Application upgrade: The SaaS provider can upgrade
the application or release new features seamlessly, in
contrast to the traditional and costly software
upgrade.
As Shown in fig 2 all the layers are maintained by Vendor
B. FreeDomotic: Freedomotic is an open, flexible, scalable
and mashups oriented software that can interact with well
known standard building automation protocols as long as
with "do it yourself" solutions. It treats the web, social
networks and frontends just like any other sensor or
actuator in your automation system.
C. HomeOS: HomeOS is the working title of a home
automation operating system under development by Microsoft
Research. Microsoft Research announced the project in 2010.
D. Indigo Perceptive Automation: Indigo is an intelligent
home control server that integrates an assortment of home
control hardware modules to provide unprecedented control of
your home. Indigo's built-in Web server and client/server
architecture give you control and access to your home
remotely from other Macs, PCs, internet tablets, PDAs, and
mobile phones.
Fig 2: SaaS Architecture
Home Automation using OpenRemote:
You can design home automated application using
OpenRemote as described in below steps:
1) Install & Configure OpenRemote Controller.
2) Install OpenRemote On your phone (Android or iOS
phone).
3) Design the Home automation package using
OpenRemote Modeler.
4) Run the application
IV. CLOUD SERVICES
A. Software as a service:
SaaS "delivers software as a service over the Internet,
eliminating the need to install and run the application on the
customer's own computer and simplifying maintenance and
support.
The key concepts of SaaS:
1) Tenancy: The same environment can be shared
among many customers or users.
2) Payment method: The SaaS is normally modeled as
pay-as-you-go, which is different from traditional
licensed applications.
B. Platform As A Service:
PaaS "delivers a computing platform and/or solution stack
as a service, often consuming cloud infrastructure and
sustaining cloud applications. It facilitates deployment of
applications without the cost and complexity of buying and
managing the underlying hardware and software layers'. PaaS
distribution model permits the customer to rent virtualized
servers and accompanying services to run application software
or develop and evaluate new applications
As Shown in fig 3, in PaaS Application and Data layers are
managed by customer and remaining all are managed by
Vendor.
Fig 4: Infrastructure as A Service architecture
Fig 3: Platform as service architecture
C. Infrastructure As A service:
.
IaaS "delivers computer infrastructure, typically a platform
virtualization environment, as a service." IaaS is a delivery
model in which a business or institute leases the tools used to
undertake certain tasks, including computer hardware, data
storage, networking hardware and network bandwidth. The
vendor possesses the equipment and is responsible for
operation and maintenance.
As Shown in fig 4, in IaaS Architecture application, Data,
Runtime, Middleware and OS layers are managed by
customer where as remaining all are managed by Vendor.
V. PERVASIVE AUTOMATED APPLICATION AS A SERVICE:
Home Automation as service refers to the cloud services
provided over the Internet together with the household
appliances that are automated through those services.
We can create HAaaS as a development of PaaS, where
computer hardware, operating systems, data storage and
network bandwidth are outsourced, while application and data
are managed by the HAaaS provider. HAaaS users are in
control of their automated home appliances and systems by
using the cloud services.
As described in fig 5, Home Automation can be provided
by appending one more top layer on PaaS architecture. To
realize the use of pervasive computing in a cloud based
environment there should be a bridge to link cloud services
with home automation systems which needs to be effective.
Fig 5: Pervasive Automated App as a service
VI. PREREQUISITES FOR PROVIDING SERVICES IN A CLOUD
Before providing services into a cloud computing
environment, you need to make some decisions on a number
of requirements that need to be in place if you are to take
advantage of cloud computing. Most of these items are just
extensions of what you have with SOA, so if you have already
implemented SOA, most of the decisions have already been
made. For example, to provide Software as a Service requires
tools for creating new software services, and these will
already be in place.
1) Virtualization of your current IT environment so
that services can be run in the most cost-effective
place. This relates to the horizontal view of services
in SOA across the organization. Cloud just extends
that definition beyond a single organization.
Virtualization in the cloud lets you take services off
the local server, helping to cut costs and balance
workload.
2) Reusability support so that multiple people can use
the service at the same time. A consistent
deployment methodology makes sure each service
does not have to be treated individually.
3) Governance and management of services. This is a
SOA-related requirement to provide improved
governance and management of services within a
cloud environment where they may not be under
direct control.
4) Security and access control. Along with consistent
deployment, there is the requirement for well-defined
security and access control policies provided.
5) Chargeback and pricing for services. This
important cloud requirement is also a key SOA focus
area: chargeback and pricing for services developed
using an industry standard process like the SOA
Governance and Management Method.
VII. USE OF PERVASIVE DEVICES IN CLOUD BASED
Fig 6: Benefits of Cloud Architecture over Non Cloud Architecture:
VIII.
CONCLUSION
The use of cloud services in pervasive automated applications
including home automation derives many benefits extending
from cost reduction to value added services. In cloud
environment computer hardware, operating systems, data
storage and network bandwidth are outsourced, while
application and data can be managed by pervasive automated
model as a service provider. The usage of configured
OpenRemote application in form of a virtual image in a cloud
based environment provides time efficient, reusable, ready to
create instance asset, which can remain expandable to user,
and can later be modified with the help of OpenRemote.
ENVIRONMENT
Pervasive computing enables enterprises, telephone service
providers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Application
Service Providers (ASPs) to leverage all of their data assets
regardless of disparate protocols, language, and formats. Ebusiness content can now be delivered effectively, efficiently,
and economically to anywhere, and to any device.
The Pervasive automated application in a cloud based
environment derives many benefits from cost reduction to
value added services. The home automation includes usage of
household electrical appliances and, numerous data and
multiple controls across the protocols, and each protocol is
configured according to the electrical appliance and
commands used. This entire configuration can be provided in
the form of an image asset in cloud. This will leverage the use
of already configured home automation system, which will
remain adaptable to more changes and functionalities user
wants to add.
The benefits of cloud architecture over non cloud
architecture is shown in fig.6 with the help of WLAN access,
using applications are executed on a remote server over a
communication network.
REFERENCES
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubiquitous_computing
[3] Home Automation as a service, Anindya Maiti, School of Computing
Science & Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, India.
[4] Pervasive Computing, Technology and Architecture of Mobile
Internet Applications- by Jochen Burkhardt, Horst Henn, Stefan Hepper,
Klaus Rindtorff, Thomas Schaeck
[5] A Generic Network Management Architecture Targeted To Support
Home Automation Networks And Home Internet Connectivity- Evangelos
Topalis, George Orphanos, Stavros Koubias, and George Papadopoulos,
Applied Electronics Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece
[6] OpenRemote, home of digital home
http://www.openremote.org/display/HOME/OpenRemote