Overlay interconnection for end-user applications and wireless sensor networks in MANETs

Ambient information collected by wireless sensor networks (WSNs) (e.g. space, environment or physiological data) is made available to end-user applications via gateways. In situations where infrastructure-based networks are not available, these gateways and end-user applications are usually implemented as distributed entities forming P2P overlays. Enabling the interconnection of these application and gateway entities faces crucial challenges due to the nature of infrastructure-less networks such as MANETs and the heterogeneity of protocols, middleware, etc. that are employed by these entities. This paper proposes an architecture that will interconnect overlay gateways for WSNs with end-user applications in MANETs. The architecture relies on interconnector nodes that do not belong to either of the two overlays. A motivating scenario is presented, requirements are derived, and the proposed interconnection architecture is described. The prototype is also briefly discussed along with the performance evaluation.