Towards Effective and Efficient Data Management in Embedded Systems and Internet of Things

Abstract

The majority of today low-end and low-cost embedded devices work in dynamic environments under several constraints such as low power, reduced memory, limited processing and communication, etc. Therefore, their data management is critical. We introduce here a general method for data representation, storage, and transmission in embedded systems based on a compact representation scheme and some heuristics. This method has been implemented, tested, and evaluated within a vehicle tracking system that uses an in-house very low cost microcontroller-based telemetry device, which provides for near-real-time remote vehicle monitoring, energy consumption, ubiquitous health, etc. However, our method is general and can be used for any type of low-cost and resource-constrained embedded device, where data communication from the device to the Internet (or cloud) is involved. Its efficiency and effectiveness are proven by significant reductions of mobile data transmitted, as our case study shows. Further benefits are reducing power consumption and transmission costs