Distributed Rule-Enabled Interworking Architecture Based on the Transparent Rule Proxy in Heterogeneous IoT Networks

Rule-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) systems operate autonomous and dynamic service scenarios through real-time events and actions based on deployed rules. For handling the increasing events and actions in the IoT networks, the computational ability can be distributed and deployed to the edge of networks. However, operating a consistent rule to provide the same service scenario in heterogeneous IoT networks is difficult because of the difference in the protocols and rule models. In this paper, we propose a transparent rule deployment approach based on the rule translator by integrating the interworking proxy to IoT platforms for operating consistent service scenarios in heterogeneous IoT networks. The rule-enabled IoT architecture is proposed to provide functional blocks in the layers of the client, rule service, IoT service, and device. Additionally, the interworking proxy is used for translating and transferring rules between IoT platforms in different IoT networks. Based on the interactions between the IoT platforms, the same service scenarios are operated in the IoT environment. Moreover, the integrated interworking proxy enables the heterogeneity of IoT frameworks in the IoT platform. Therefore, rules are deployed on IoT platforms transparently, and consistent rules are operated in heterogeneous IoT networks without considering the underlying IoT frameworks.