A P2P technology middleware architecture enabling user-centric services deployment on low-cost embedded networked devices Christoforos D. Kavadias a, * , Stephan Rupp b,1 , Spyros L. Tombros c,2 , Dimitrios D. Vergados d,3 a TELETEL S.A, 124, Kifisias Avenue, Athens, Greece b ALCATEL SEL, 10 Lorenzstr, Stuttgart, Germany c APEX AG, Bundesgasse 16, CH-3011 Bern, Switzerland d Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, Karlovassi, Samos, Greece Available online 17 January 2006 Abstract This paper presents a middleware architecture based on peer-to-peer (P2P) technology components, allowing seamless integration of service functions over wireless interfaces and terminals, with a view to enable realisation of intelligent control applications for the home. Up-to-date this applications area is characterised by limited growth, as most of research effort is put on the development of user-to- user communication services, where the market potential is more evident. However, elaboration of mobile services, emerging obvious usability even by inexperienced users in the daily life, could offer the ‘‘killer application’’ potential for the data path of the mobile com- munications technology. In the sequel, the advantages of this architecture, summarised in optimised performance and thin structure suitable to be hosted on reduced functionality, low-cost embedded systems, are illustrated in the deployment of control applications within the home (involving mobile terminals and household appliances), utilising dynamic service discovery mechanisms. The paper concludes by making provisions for the ubiquitous networking of appliances towards realisation of intelligence control applications for the mobile user. Ó 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Peer; P2P; MIDP; Wireless; Control; Home 1. Introduction The penetration of Internet technology and the emer- gence of short range networks (Bluetooth, WiFi, HomeRF, etc.) are paving the way for new breed of rev- enue-generating opportunities for service providers, utility companies, security installers, homebuilders and white good appliance manufacturers. Despite the availability of technologies and standards, yet widespread acceptance of networked devices, implementing control functions in daily life, is far from reality. This is mainly due to inter- operability problems caused by the mixture in the utilisa- tion of data protocols and the underlying communication interfaces. Smart Environments use networking technology to inte- grate the various devices and appliances, found in almost all homes and building environment control systems, more common in factories and offices, so that an entire home can be controlled centrally or remotely as a single machine. This technology offers the prospect of significant improve- ments in the living standards by promoting safety in appliance utilisation and reliable management of home 0140-3664/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.comcom.2005.11.020 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +30 210 6983393; fax: +30 210 6983381. E-mail addresses: C.Kavadias@teletel.gr (C.D. Kavadias), S.Rupp@ alcatel.de (S. Rupp), stombros@apexag.com (S.L. Tombros), vergados@ aegean.gr (D.D. Vergados). 1 Tel.: +49 711 821 46448; fax: +49 711 821 43273. 2 Tel.: +41 31 3182220; fax: +41 31 3182224. 3 Tel.:+30 22730 82220; fax: +30 22730 82009. www.elsevier.com/locate/comcom Computer Communications 30 (2007) 527–537