Call for papers: Interconnections of Wireless Sensor Networks

A special issue of International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems

We have lately witnessed tremendous development in wireless sensor networking (WSN), which makes it possible to monitor, unobtrusively and for long periods of time, the physical environment. Ensuring high connectivity within the network is vital for real applications. Moreover, for many applications, sensor networks cannot operate in complete isolation. There must be a way of enabling a monitoring entity or some end-users to gain access to the data produced by the sensor network, and even to interact with a particular sensor mote to activate/deactivate it, read the sensed values instantaneously, fix some inner parameters, load dynamic code into the mote, etc. By connecting the sensor network to an existing network infrastructure such as a local-area network, a private intranet, mobile network infrastructures, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and notably the global internet, gaining remote access to the sensor network would be straightforward.

The integration of RFID and WSN is one of the most promising technologies that will play an important role in advancing the Internet of Things (IoT). For example, in a healthcare application, RFID tags can be used to track the elderly while the sensors are used to monitor their conditions. However, many questions need answers, and many challenges must be tackled before such interconnection becomes effective. Suitability of IP standards as well as connection architecture must be investigated. By openly connecting a sensor network to other networks, doors will be opened to new vulnerabilities. Intruders would not need to gain physical access to a network anymore, as they could launch attacks remotely. Security is thus a very important aspect that must be considered. Routing, QoS and interoperability are also important and challenging issues in the new heterogeneous systems.

Connecting different WSNs is another issue that needs to be considered. A WSN might get partitioned into distinct segments due to battery exhaustion of several sensors. Providing mechanisms to restore connectivity by connecting those segments is of high importance. Also, an isolated segment of sensor nodes that cannot reach its link could exploit the existence of a neighbouring reachable WSN to deliver its sensed information.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:

• Interconnection architecture aspects
• Sensor deployment and connectivity issues
• Integration of WSN and RFID
• Interconnecting sensor and actor networks
• Interconnecting WSN and fixed networks
• Interconnecting WSN and mobile networks (e.g., GSM, UAV, etc)
• Interconnecting onboard vehicular sensors and fixed infrastructure (V2I)
• Integration of body area networks to WLAN and beyond
• Testbeds for integrated networks
• Authentication, vulnerability, protection and security issues
• Fault-tolerance and dependability of WSN
• Quality of service (QoS) issues
• Routing and network protocols
• Medium access control protocols
• Transport protocols for congestion control and middleware
• Integrated applications and services for cross networks
• In-network processing and aggregation
• Location and time services
• Integration of sensor networks and web-based services
• Security issues in integrated sensor networks

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. Extended versions of papers that are accepted for the 2nd International Workshop on Interconnections of Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSN'2011) will be considered, in addition to other submissions. (N.B. Conference papers may only be submitted if the paper was not originally copyrighted and if it has been completely re-written).

Important Dates
Submission deadline: 30 November, 2011
First-round notification: 1 February, 2012
Submission of revised paper: 15 March, 2012
Final acceptance notification: 15 April, 2012
Final manuscript due: 15 May, 2012