Sensors

Research

6261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empowerment of Patients with Hypertension through BPM, IoT and Remote Sensing

by Daniel Ruiz-Fernández, Diego Marcos-Jorquera, Virgilio Gilart-Iglesias, Víctor Vives-Boix and Javier Ramírez-Navarro

Sensors 2017, 17(10), 2273; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17102273 - 4 Oct 2017

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 7368

Abstract

Hypertension affects one in five adults worldwide. Healthcare processes require interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination between medical teams, clinical processes, and patients. The lack of patients’ empowerment and adherence to treatment makes necessary to integrate patients, data collecting devices and clinical processes. For this [...] Read more.

Hypertension affects one in five adults worldwide. Healthcare processes require interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination between medical teams, clinical processes, and patients. The lack of patients’ empowerment and adherence to treatment makes necessary to integrate patients, data collecting devices and clinical processes. For this reason, in this paper we propose a model based on Business Process Management paradigm, together with a group of technologies, techniques and IT principles which increase the benefits of the paradigm. To achieve the proposed model, the clinical process of the hypertension is analyzed with the objective of detecting weaknesses and improving the process. Once the process is analyzed, an architecture that joins health devices and environmental sensors, together with an information system, has been developed. To test the architecture, a web system connected with health monitors and environment sensors, and with a mobile app have been implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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5821 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development of an RFID Solution to Facilitate the Traceability of Patient and Pharmaceutical Data

by María Martínez Pérez, Guillermo Vázquez González and Carlos Dafonte

Sensors 2017, 17(10), 2247; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17102247 - 29 Sep 2017

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6006

Abstract

One of the principal objectives of hospitals is to increase the quality of care of the patient. This is even more of a priority in Day Hospitals where certain medication requires special attention, from its preparation in the Pharmacy service to its delivery [...] Read more.

One of the principal objectives of hospitals is to increase the quality of care of the patient. This is even more of a priority in Day Hospitals where certain medication requires special attention, from its preparation in the Pharmacy service to its delivery to the patient in the Day Hospital. In the case of expensive medicines, nursing staff have to comply with very detailed instructions in their administration to the patient (name of medicine, route, dosage, schedule, previous medication, conditions of conservation, etc.). This work focuses on the development of a multi-faceted hub application to facilitate the traceability of mixed intravenous medication from the beginning to the end of the process of prescription–validation–dosing–preparation–administration (PVD-PA) and be available to all health professionals involved: doctors, pharmacists, and the nursing staff of the Hospital Pharmacy and Day Hospital. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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2001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Classification of Alzheimer’s Patients through Ubiquitous Computing

by Alicia Nieto-Reyes, Rafael Duque, José Luis Montaña and Carmen Lage

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071679 - 21 Jul 2017

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5496

Abstract

Functional data analysis and artificial neural networks are the building blocks of the proposed methodology that distinguishes the movement patterns among c’s patients on different stages of the disease and classifies new patients to their appropriate stage of the disease. The movement patterns [...] Read more.

Functional data analysis and artificial neural networks are the building blocks of the proposed methodology that distinguishes the movement patterns among c’s patients on different stages of the disease and classifies new patients to their appropriate stage of the disease. The movement patterns are obtained by the accelerometer device of android smartphones that the patients carry while moving freely. The proposed methodology is relevant in that it is flexible on the type of data to which it is applied. To exemplify that, it is analyzed a novel real three-dimensional functional dataset where each datum is observed in a different time domain. Not only is it observed on a difference frequency but also the domain of each datum has different length. The obtained classification success rate of

83 %

indicates the potential of the proposed methodology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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7088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interference Effects Redress over Power-Efficient Wireless-Friendly Mesh Networks for Ubiquitous Sensor Communications across Smart Cities

by Jose Santana, Domingo Marrero, Elsa Macías, Vicente Mena and Álvaro Suárez

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071678 - 21 Jul 2017

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6959

Abstract

Ubiquitous sensing allows smart cities to take control of many parameters (e.g., road traffic, air or noise pollution levels, etc.). An inexpensive Wireless Mesh Network can be used as an efficient way to transport sensed data. When that mesh is autonomously powered (e.g., [...] Read more.

Ubiquitous sensing allows smart cities to take control of many parameters (e.g., road traffic, air or noise pollution levels, etc.). An inexpensive Wireless Mesh Network can be used as an efficient way to transport sensed data. When that mesh is autonomously powered (e.g., solar powered), it constitutes an ideal portable network system which can be deployed when needed. Nevertheless, its power consumption must be restrained to extend its operational cycle and for preserving the environment. To this end, our strategy fosters wireless interface deactivation among nodes which do not participate in any route. As we show, this contributes to a significant power saving for the mesh. Furthermore, our strategy is wireless-friendly, meaning that it gives priority to deactivation of nodes receiving (and also causing) interferences from (to) the rest of the smart city. We also show that a routing protocol can adapt to this strategy in which certain nodes deactivate their own wireless interfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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1419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

User Interaction Modeling and Profile Extraction in Interactive Systems: A Groupware Application Case Study

by Cristina Tîrnăucă, Rafael Duque and José L. Montaña

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1669; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071669 - 20 Jul 2017

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4806

Abstract

A relevant goal in human–computer interaction is to produce applications that are easy to use and well-adjusted to their users’ needs. To address this problem it is important to know how users interact with the system. This work constitutes a methodological contribution capable [...] Read more.

A relevant goal in human–computer interaction is to produce applications that are easy to use and well-adjusted to their users’ needs. To address this problem it is important to know how users interact with the system. This work constitutes a methodological contribution capable of identifying the context of use in which users perform interactions with a groupware application (synchronous or asynchronous) and provides, using machine learning techniques, generative models of how users behave. Additionally, these models are transformed into a text that describes in natural language the main characteristics of the interaction of the users with the system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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3360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electromagnetic Differential Measuring Method: Application in Microstrip Sensors Developing

by Francisco Javier Ferrández-Pastor, Juan Manuel García-Chamizo and Mario Nieto-Hidalgo

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1650; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071650 - 18 Jul 2017

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 8110

Abstract

Electromagnetic radiation is energy that interacts with matter. The interaction process is of great importance to the sensing applications that characterize material media. Parameters like constant dielectric represent matter characteristics and they are identified using emission, interaction and reception of electromagnetic radiation in [...] Read more.

Electromagnetic radiation is energy that interacts with matter. The interaction process is of great importance to the sensing applications that characterize material media. Parameters like constant dielectric represent matter characteristics and they are identified using emission, interaction and reception of electromagnetic radiation in adapted environmental conditions. How the electromagnetic wave responds when it interacts with the material media depends on the range of frequency used and the medium parameters. Different disciplines use this interaction and provides non-intrusive applications with clear benefits, remote sensing, earth sciences (geology, atmosphere, hydrosphere), biological or medical disciplines use this interaction and provides non-intrusive applications with clear benefits. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted and analyzed in the receiver to determine the interaction produced. In this work a method based in differential measurement technique is proposed as a novel way of detecting and characterizing electromagnetic matter characteristics using sensors based on a microstrip patch. The experimental results, based on simulations, show that it is possible to obtain benefits from the behavior of the wave-medium interaction using differential measurement on reception of electromagnetic waves at different frequencies or environmental conditions. Differential method introduce advantages in measure processes and promote new sensors development. A new microstrip sensor that uses differential time measures is proposed to show the possibilities of this method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Real-Time Communication Support for Underwater Acoustic Sensor Networks

by Rodrigo Santos, Javier Orozco, Matias Micheletto, Sergio F. Ochoa, Roc Meseguer, Pere Millan and Carlos Molina

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071629 - 14 Jul 2017

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5376

Abstract

Underwater sensor networks represent an important and promising field of research due to the large diversity of underwater ubiquitous applications that can be supported by these networks, e.g., systems that deliver tsunami and oil spill warnings, or monitor submarine ecosystems. Most of these [...] Read more.

Underwater sensor networks represent an important and promising field of research due to the large diversity of underwater ubiquitous applications that can be supported by these networks, e.g., systems that deliver tsunami and oil spill warnings, or monitor submarine ecosystems. Most of these monitoring and warning systems require real-time communication in wide area networks that have a low density of nodes. The underwater communication medium involved in these networks is very harsh and imposes strong restrictions to the communication process. In this scenario, the real-time transmission of information is done mainly using acoustic signals, since the network nodes are not physically close. The features of the communication scenario and the requirements of the communication process represent major challenges for designers of both, communication protocols and monitoring and warning systems. The lack of models to represent these networks is the main stumbling block for the proliferation of underwater ubiquitous systems. This paper presents a real-time communication model for underwater acoustic sensor networks (UW-ASN) that are designed to cover wide areas with a low density of nodes, using any-to-any communication. This model is analytic, considers two solution approaches for scheduling the real-time messages, and provides a time-constraint analysis for the network performance. Using this model, the designers of protocols and underwater ubiquitous systems can quickly prototype and evaluate their solutions in an evolving way, in order to determine the best solution to the problem being addressed. The suitability of the proposal is illustrated with a case study that shows the performance of a UW-ASN under several initial conditions. This is the first analytic model for representing real-time communication in this type of network, and therefore, it opens the door for the development of underwater ubiquitous systems for several application scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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470 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Routing in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks: A Leader-Based Approach

by Unai Burgos, Ugaitz Amozarrain, Carlos Gómez-Calzado and Alberto Lafuente

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1587; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071587 - 7 Jul 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5116

Abstract

This paper presents a leader-based approach to routing in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks (MWSN). Using local information from neighbour nodes, a leader election mechanism maintains a spanning tree in order to provide the necessary adaptations for efficient routing upon the connectivity changes resulting [...] Read more.

This paper presents a leader-based approach to routing in Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks (MWSN). Using local information from neighbour nodes, a leader election mechanism maintains a spanning tree in order to provide the necessary adaptations for efficient routing upon the connectivity changes resulting from the mobility of sensors or sink nodes. We present two protocols following the leader election approach, which have been implemented using Castalia and OMNeT++. The protocols have been evaluated, besides other reference MWSN routing protocols, to analyse the impact of network size and node velocity on performance, which has demonstrated the validity of our approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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7797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring-Based Model for Personalizing the Clinical Process of Crohn’s Disease

by Alberto De Ramón-Fernández, Daniel Ruiz-Fernández, Diego Marcos-Jorquera, Virgilio Gilart-Iglesias and Víctor Vives-Boix

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1570; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071570 - 5 Jul 2017

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5874

Abstract

Crohn’s disease is a chronic pathology belonging to the group of inflammatory bowel diseases. Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease must be supervised by a medical specialist for the rest of their lives; furthermore, each patient has its own characteristics and is affected by [...] Read more.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic pathology belonging to the group of inflammatory bowel diseases. Patients suffering from Crohn’s disease must be supervised by a medical specialist for the rest of their lives; furthermore, each patient has its own characteristics and is affected by the disease in a different way, so health recommendations and treatments cannot be generalized and should be individualized for a specific patient. To achieve this personalization in a cost-effective way using technology, we propose a model based on different information flows: control, personalization, and monitoring. As a result of the model and to perform a functional validation, an architecture based on services and a prototype of the system has been defined. In this prototype, a set of different devices and technologies to monitor variables from patients and their environment has been integrated. Artificial intelligence algorithms are also included to reduce the workload related to the review and analysis of the information gathered. Due to the continuous and automated monitoring of the Crohn’s patient, this proposal can help in the personalization of the Crohn’s disease clinical process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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865 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An RFID-Based Smart Structure for the Supply Chain: Resilient Scanning Proofs and Ownership Transfer with Positive Secrecy Capacity Channels

by Mike Burmester, Jorge Munilla, Andrés Ortiz and Pino Caballero-Gil

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071562 - 4 Jul 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5121

Abstract

The National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security published in 2012 by the White House identifies two primary goals for strengthening global supply chains: first, to promote the efficient and secure movement of goods, and second to foster a resilient supply chain. The [...] Read more.

The National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security published in 2012 by the White House identifies two primary goals for strengthening global supply chains: first, to promote the efficient and secure movement of goods, and second to foster a resilient supply chain. The Internet of Things (IoT), and in particular Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, can be used to realize these goals. For product identification, tracking and real-time awareness, RFID tags are attached to goods. As tagged goods move along the supply chain from the suppliers to the manufacturers, and then on to the retailers until eventually they reach the customers, two major security challenges can be identified: (I) to protect the shipment of goods that are controlled by potentially untrusted carriers; and (II) to secure the transfer of ownership at each stage of the chain. For the former, grouping proofs in which the tags of the scanned goods generate a proof of “simulatenous” presence can be employed, while for the latter, ownership transfer protocols (OTP) are used. This paper describes enhanced security solutions for both challenges. We first extend earlier work on grouping proofs and group codes to capture resilient group scanning with untrusted readers; then, we describe a modified version of a recently published OTP based on channels with positive secrecy capacity adapted to be implemented on common RFID systems in the supply chain. The proposed solutions take into account the limitations of low cost tags employed in the supply chain, which are only required to generate pseudorandom numbers and compute one-way hash functions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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1003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Algorithms for Lightweight Key Exchange

by Rafael Alvarez, Cándido Caballero-Gil, Juan Santonja and Antonio Zamora

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1517; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071517 - 27 Jun 2017

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6255

Abstract

Public-key cryptography is too slow for general purpose encryption, with most applications limiting its use as much as possible. Some secure protocols, especially those that enable forward secrecy, make a much heavier use of public-key cryptography, increasing the demand for lightweight cryptosystems that [...] Read more.

Public-key cryptography is too slow for general purpose encryption, with most applications limiting its use as much as possible. Some secure protocols, especially those that enable forward secrecy, make a much heavier use of public-key cryptography, increasing the demand for lightweight cryptosystems that can be implemented in low powered or mobile devices. This performance requirements are even more significant in critical infrastructure and emergency scenarios where peer-to-peer networks are deployed for increased availability and resiliency. We benchmark several public-key key-exchange algorithms, determining those that are better for the requirements of critical infrastructure and emergency applications and propose a security framework based on these algorithms and study its application to decentralized node or sensor networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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2103 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Statistical Analysis of the Main Configuration Parameters of the Network Dynamic and Adaptive Radio Protocol (DARP)

by Francisco José Estevez, Jesús González, Peter Glösekötter, Olga Valenzuela and Ignacio Rojas

Sensors 2017, 17(7), 1502; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17071502 - 26 Jun 2017

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3447

Abstract

The present work analyses the wireless sensor network protocol (DARP) and the impact of different configuration parameter sets on its performance. Different scenarios have been considered, in order to gain a better understanding of the influence of the configuration on network protocols. The [...] Read more.

The present work analyses the wireless sensor network protocol (DARP) and the impact of different configuration parameter sets on its performance. Different scenarios have been considered, in order to gain a better understanding of the influence of the configuration on network protocols. The developed statistical analysis is based on the method known as Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), which focuses on the effect of the configuration on the performance of DARP. Three main dependent variables were considered: number of control messages sent during the set-up time, energy consumption and convergence time. A total of 20,413 simulations were carried out to ensure greater robustness in the statistical conclusions. The main goal of this work is to discover the most critical configuration parameters for the protocol, with a view to potential applications in Smart City type scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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4132 KiB

Open AccessArticle

System Proposal for Mass Transit Service Quality Control Based on GPS Data

by Gabino Padrón, Teresa Cristóbal, Francisco Alayón, Alexis Quesada-Arencibia and Carmelo R. García

Sensors 2017, 17(6), 1412; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17061412 - 16 Jun 2017

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4072

Abstract

Quality is an essential aspect of public transport. In the case of regular public passenger transport by road, punctuality and regularity are criteria used to assess quality of service. Calculating metrics related to these criteria continuously over time and comprehensively across the entire [...] Read more.

Quality is an essential aspect of public transport. In the case of regular public passenger transport by road, punctuality and regularity are criteria used to assess quality of service. Calculating metrics related to these criteria continuously over time and comprehensively across the entire transport network requires the handling of large amounts of data. This article describes a system for continuously and comprehensively monitoring punctuality and regularity. The system uses location data acquired continuously in the vehicles and automatically transferred for analysis. These data are processed intelligently by elements that are commonly used by transport operators: GPS-based tracking system, onboard computer and wireless networks for mobile data communications. The system was tested on a transport company, for which we measured the punctuality of one of the routes that it operates; the results are presented in this article. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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2354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recognizing Bedside Events Using Thermal and Ultrasonic Readings

by Danielsen Asbjørn and Torresen Jim

Sensors 2017, 17(6), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17061342 - 9 Jun 2017

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4750

Abstract

Falls in homes of the elderly, in residential care facilities and in hospitals commonly occur in close proximity to the bed. Most approaches for recognizing falls use cameras, which challenge privacy, or sensor devices attached to the bed or the body to recognize [...] Read more.

Falls in homes of the elderly, in residential care facilities and in hospitals commonly occur in close proximity to the bed. Most approaches for recognizing falls use cameras, which challenge privacy, or sensor devices attached to the bed or the body to recognize bedside events and bedside falls. We use data collected from a ceiling mounted 80 × 60 thermal array combined with an ultrasonic sensor device. This approach makes it possible to monitor activity while preserving privacy in a non-intrusive manner. We evaluate three different approaches towards recognizing location and posture of an individual. Bedside events are recognized using a 10-second floating image rule/filter-based approach, recognizing bedside falls with 98.62% accuracy. Bed-entry and exit events are recognized with 98.66% and 96.73% accuracy, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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6564 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on an Indoor Positioning System for Harsh Environments Based on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy

by Gabriel De Blasio, Alexis Quesada-Arencibia, Carmelo R. García, Jezabel Miriam Molina-Gil and Cándido Caballero-Gil

Sensors 2017, 17(6), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17061299 - 6 Jun 2017

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 7039

Abstract

This paper presents a study of positioning system that provides advanced information services based on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technologies. It uses Wi-Fi for rough positioning and BLE for fine positioning. It is designed for use in public transportation system stations [...] Read more.

This paper presents a study of positioning system that provides advanced information services based on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technologies. It uses Wi-Fi for rough positioning and BLE for fine positioning. It is designed for use in public transportation system stations and terminals where the conditions are “hostile” or unfavourable due to signal noise produced by the continuous movement of passengers and buses, data collection conducted in the constant presence thereof, multipath fading, non-line of sight (NLOS) conditions, the fact that part of the wireless communication infrastructure has already been deployed and positioned in a way that may not be optimal for positioning purposes, variable humidity conditions, etc. The ultimate goal is to provide a service that may be used to assist people with special needs. We present experimental results based on scene analysis; the main distance metric used was the Euclidean distance but the Mahalanobis distance was also used in one case. The algorithm employed to compare fingerprints was the weighted k-nearest neighbor one. For Wi-Fi, with only three visible access points, accuracy ranged from 3.94 to 4.82 m, and precision from 5.21 to 7.0 m 90% of the time. With respect to BLE, with a low beacon density (1 beacon per 45.7 m²), accuracy ranged from 1.47 to 2.15 m, and precision from 1.81 to 3.58 m 90% of the time. Taking into account the fact that this system is designed to work in real situations in a scenario with high environmental fluctuations, and comparing the results with others obtained in laboratory scenarios, our results are promising and demonstrate that the system would be able to position users with these reasonable values of accuracy and precision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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3895 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Citizen Co-Created Public Service Apps

by Mikel Emaldi, Unai Aguilera, Diego López-de-Ipiña and Jorge Pérez-Velasco

Sensors 2017, 17(6), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17061265 - 2 Jun 2017

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4745

Abstract

WeLive project’s main objective is about transforming the current e-government approach by providing a new paradigm based on a new open model oriented towards the design, production and deployment of public services and mobile apps based on the collaboration of different stakeholders. These [...] Read more.

WeLive project’s main objective is about transforming the current e-government approach by providing a new paradigm based on a new open model oriented towards the design, production and deployment of public services and mobile apps based on the collaboration of different stakeholders. These stakeholders form the quadruple helix, i.e., citizens, private companies, research institutes and public administrations. Through the application of open innovation, open data and open services paradigms, the framework developed within the WeLive project enables the co-creation of urban apps. In this paper, we extend the description of the WeLive platform presented at , plus the preliminary results of the first pilot phase. The two-phase evaluation methodology designed and the evaluation results of first pilot sub-phase are also presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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1194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation and Analysis of Real-Time Streaming Protocols

by Iván Santos-González, Alexandra Rivero-García, Jezabel Molina-Gil and Pino Caballero-Gil

Sensors 2017, 17(4), 846; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17040846 - 12 Apr 2017

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7893

Abstract

Communication media have become the primary way of interaction thanks to the discovery and innovation of many new technologies. One of the most widely used communication systems today is video streaming, which is constantly evolving. Such communications are a good alternative to face-to-face [...] Read more.

Communication media have become the primary way of interaction thanks to the discovery and innovation of many new technologies. One of the most widely used communication systems today is video streaming, which is constantly evolving. Such communications are a good alternative to face-to-face meetings, and are therefore very useful for coping with many problems caused by distance. However, they suffer from different issues such as bandwidth limitation, network congestion, energy efficiency, cost, reliability and connectivity. Hence, the quality of service and the quality of experience are considered the two most important issues for this type of communication. This work presents a complete comparative study of two of the most used protocols of video streaming, Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) and the Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC). In addition, this paper proposes two new mobile applications that implement those protocols in Android whose objective is to know how they are influenced by the aspects that most affect the streaming quality of service, which are the connection establishment time and the stream reception time. The new video streaming applications are also compared with the most popular video streaming applications for Android, and the experimental results of the analysis show that the developed WebRTC implementation improves the performance of the most popular video streaming applications with respect to the stream packet delay. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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1380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Patients’ Data Management System Protected by Identity-Based Authentication and Key Exchange

by Alexandra Rivero-García, Iván Santos-González, Candelaria Hernández-Goya, Pino Caballero-Gil and Moti Yung

Sensors 2017, 17(4), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17040733 - 31 Mar 2017

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5300

Abstract

A secure and distributed framework for the management of patients’ information in emergency and hospitalization services is proposed here in order to seek improvements in efficiency and security in this important area. In particular, confidentiality protection, mutual authentication, and automatic identification of patients [...] Read more.

A secure and distributed framework for the management of patients’ information in emergency and hospitalization services is proposed here in order to seek improvements in efficiency and security in this important area. In particular, confidentiality protection, mutual authentication, and automatic identification of patients are provided. The proposed system is based on two types of devices: Near Field Communication (NFC) wristbands assigned to patients, and mobile devices assigned to medical staff. Two other main elements of the system are an intermediate server to manage the involved data, and a second server with a private key generator to define the information required to protect communications. An identity-based authentication and key exchange scheme is essential to provide confidential communication and mutual authentication between the medical staff and the private key generator through an intermediate server. The identification of patients is carried out through a keyed-hash message authentication code. Thanks to the combination of the aforementioned tools, a secure alternative mobile health (mHealth) scheme for managing patients’ data is defined for emergency and hospitalization services. Different parts of the proposed system have been implemented, including mobile application, intermediate server, private key generator and communication channels. Apart from that, several simulations have been performed, and, compared with the current system, significant improvements in efficiency have been observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from UCAmI 2016)

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