Combining Machine-to-Machine Communications with Intelligent Objects in Logistics

The combination of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication and intelligent objects can largely improve the supervision of logistic processes. This requires global mobile communications and short-range wireless sensor nodes. We assembled a demonstrator using off-the-shelf hardware for tests and classroom experiments that shows the feasibility of implementation of the future Internet of Things. It includes the use of embedded devices to perform local intelligent data processing and allows an evaluation of the advantages of ubiquitous M2M communication on a laboratory scale. New software features can be deployed, either to the gateway-device in the form of OSGi-bundles or to the sensor nodes in the form of MIDlet-suites, by using M2M-technology. As an example, we programmed an algorithm for predicting temperature curves in a container using real acquired datasets. A gateway bridges the local and the global network. Sensor messages can be forwarded via email and SMS or be provided by a web server.