Algorithms for Efficient Wireless Communication in the Internet of Things

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The Internet of Things (IoT) is an exciting emerging technology that proposes to network devices of everyday use, including roads, vehicles and buildings, using embedded sensors or actuators that also have networking capabilities. This would lead to new, useful services like interaction with smart appliances (possibly remotely) and buildings. Cars would also be connected to each other and to the internet in the proposed scenario, leading to better and safer driving experiences. Most sources estimate the monetary value of IoT to reach several trillions of dollars over the next decade. The underlying computer network technology needed to implement IoT poses some challenges, stemming primarily from the fact that unlike existing wireless networks (e.g. cell phones or wifi networks) there will be greater heterogeneity, size of the network, spatial density of nodes and mobility in the proposed scenario. My long term objectives are to (a) make IoT networks more efficient by designing better algorithms for key infrastructural problems, (b) train highly qualified personnel to contribute in this emerging area and contribute toward Canada's position in IoT technology. My short term objectives are to focus on challenges that would make an immediate impact in IoT technology. These include (a) topology maintenance and medium access control, (b) localization, and (c) addressing and routing. Medium access control is required to schedule the different devices as they attempt to send data on the same shared medium. Addressing and routing enable data to find their destination correctly even in the presence of high mobility. Localization is the process of computing the geographical locations of nodes; this is a challenge particularly in indoor environments because GPS is not reliable indoors. These problems are relevant in existing wireless networks but must be solved anew for IoT to handle the increased heterogeneity, scale, density and mobility. This project will produce novel algorithms that are useful to industry and train highly qualified personnel. These algorithms will enable the widespread deployment of IoT technology and bring down costs by making the networking of devices more efficient. My students and I have been working on the development of efficient solutions for similar problems for wireless networks and I anticipate that many of the approaches used in our previous work and my experience as a researcher in the area of computer networks will enable me to design solutions to the problems proposed.