In the era of the Internet of Things, a new proposal to remotely control everyday objects using augmented reality and web technologies.

1. S
Controlling Smart Objects
from Web Applications
using the webinos
Platform
Vincenzo Catania, Giuseppe La Torre, Daniela Ventura
PhD Student
University of Catania, Italy
Smart SysTech 2014
Dortmund, 1-2 July 2014

2. Social Context
IoT Revolution
In a few years, everyday’s
objects will be connected to
the Internet

3. Everyday’s objects
S Several objects, brands: they require user manuals
S Several user Interfaces (touch screen, remote control)
S Problem: Lack of a common User-Experience (UX)

4. Mobile/Web Applications
S Users are able to use
mobile applications
immediately after the
installation.
S Menu, gestures, UI
S N Apps – Same UX

5. Smart Objects
S Main features
S Can be uniquely identified
S Have Sensing/Actuating capabilities
S Expose services in the form of APIs which can be remotely
reached through Web protocols
S Can make decisions
S Not only sensors: ovens, washing machines, air
conditioners

6. Web Of Things
S The Web of Things (WoT) concept proposes the
integration of smart things and their services and
counterparts on the web, which can be seen as an
enhanced IoT concept. As such, the WoT concept,
increases the need for intelligence that will enable
connectivity, inter-networking, interoperability and
relevance between the physical world and the
corresponding virtual world resources.
S Two main issues
S Heterogeneity: virtualization, APIs
S Security

7. Heterogeneity
S Virtualization
S Different Hardware
S Different Communication Protocols
S Smart Objects could be constrained
Virtualization
Layer

8. APIs: The REST approach
S Objects capabilities as Web Services
S SOAP vs REST XML vs JSON
S The use of standard IP and Web technologies will ensure
that device costs are driven down and that application
development and use will be significantly simplified.
S URIs to identify objects

9. Cloud Platforms for Sensors
S Cosm, Thingspeak, …
S REST APIs
S Limited to sensors
S Limited interaction

10. Security
S IPv6 Public IP
S Sensors: Sensitive data
S Actuators: Unauthorized actions
S Security issues may turn into Safety
issues

11. webinos
S EU FP7 Project Sep 2011 – Dec 2013 Web Site:
www.webinos.org
S A web based application platform that allows a developer to
access device’s native capabilities through JavaScript APIs
S A set of interoperable protocols allowing a device to remotely use
the services of another device
S A security framework that protects applications running on all
device types, and designed for cross device, inter person sharing

12. Personal Zone - Enrollment
S Personal Zone
S Multi-Device
S Personal Zone
Hub
S Enrollment
S Intra/Inter zone
communication

13. Webinos – zoom in
S Each webinos device
has two components:
PZP, WRT
S Personal Zone Proxy
S Capability as a
Service (JSON-RPC)
S Device and user
identity management
S Enforcement point
for User Defined
Policies

14. Smart Object API
S Objects should be able to
describe themselves!
Our Contribution
S Smart Object API. Consists of 3
methods
S GetMethods
S CallMethod
S CallAsyncMethod
Oven DVD Rec

15. Object Description
‘A Calculator’
{
name: "moduloMath",
description : "Finds the remainder of division of one number by another",
inputs : [
{
name : "dividend",
displayName : "The dividend number",
description : "The dividend element of the modulo operation",
type : "number"
},
…
],
output : {
results: [
moduleResult : {
displayName : "Result",
description : "The result of the modulo operation",
type : "number"
}
]
}
}
JSON object returned
by the getMethods

16. Smart Object
Discovery and Utilization
var sType = new
ServiceType('http://webinos.org/api/smartobject/*’,
{id:XXXX});
webinos.discovery.findServices(sType, onFound,
errorCB);
function onFound(smart_object){
var methods = smart_object.getMethods();
}
var params = {dividend: 5, divisor : 2};
calculator.callMethod(’moduloMath’, params);

17. The proposed App
S The app generates an ad-
hoc UI for the specific
object based on the
methods’ description
S The aim is to provide a
“continuity” in the way
users interact with real
objects.

18. How to identify an object?
• Not directional
• Not available on
smartphones
• Available on
smartphones
• Directional
• Very short distance
• Doesn’t require
specific hardware
• Available on
smartphones
• Directional
• Low Cost

19. A Smart Lamp

20. Future Work
S Replacing QR
codes
identification by
integrating AR
framework
“Vuforia” by
Qualcomms.

21. Thank You for the Attention
Questions?