Game-based data muling as a service in infrastructureless area

Abstract

With the emerging of Internet of Things (IoT) concept, we are recently assisting to the proliferation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) around us in our daily life. However, such WSNs can be deployed far away from infrastructures to supervise unreachable areas such as countries’ borders and natural preserves. Besides, the deployment of dedicated transport networks, the use of satellite communications or mobile 3G/4G networks can be expensive and complex to install in such areas. With the exponential development and ubiquity of smartphones, having powerful communication and computation capabilities, the concept of data muling can be beneficial by using these devices to provide low-cost and efficient communications for providers having WSNs deployed in infrastructreless areas. This paper proposes a novel architecture providing data muling as a service where a set of data muling agents deployed on smartphones can be used to collect and forward sensing data from WSNs, deployed in infrastructureless areas, to remote servers. We design a QoS-aware game theory model to select best efficient data mulling agents to perform data muling tasks with acceptable costs and adequate technical capabilities. Such a model encourages highly reputable and reliable agents to participate in data muling tasks by rewarding and updating their reputations. A simulation is also conducted to assess the efficiency of the proposed model.