Application of session initiation protocol to networked sensor interfaces

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csi.2008.05.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Network of measurement and control is now converging with network of information tightly more and more, which improves the development of network-distributed measurement and control technology. And networked sensors are important unit in networked measurement and control system. This paper applied Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to networked sensors system aimed for a kind of unified IEEE 1451 NCAP model of networked sensors using SIP as the interface. We analyzed the features of SIP and sensor network interface, presented a frame of networked sensor based on SIP according to IEEE1451 sensor standards, and studied on-line register of networked sensor based on SIP. Devices supported by SIP in distributed control system can communicate easily with IP-based information network, and can also provide conveniently multimedia service. SIP and P2P SIP are worthy of deep research for networked sensor system.

Introduction

The advanced technologies of Computer, Communication, Measurement and Control have been improving the development of Network-Distributed Measurement and Control System. We can see that the IP-based information network, and industrial measurement and control network are now being integrated tightly [1]. And also, it is a kind of trend that Network-distributed Measurement and Control System adopts Industrial Ethernet as the communication standard [2]. Besides the issues of stability and performance in networked control system, the standard interoperability is also important. Therefore, there are more and more research works on smart networked sensor with standard network interface.

The IEEE 1451 standard aims for connecting sensors or actuators to networks smoothly [3], [4], [5]. The key components of the IEEE 1451 are the Network Capable Application Processor (NCAP), Smart Transducer Interface Module (STIM), and the communication interface between them. But, there are some shortcomings in IEEE 1451. We can take the NCAP component as example. IEEE 1451.2 proposes that some key components, such as STIM, NCAP, can be produced by different company who is adept in the technologies. Therefore, transducer companies produce STIM and network device companies produce NCAP. In that case, it is possible that NCAP is based on different network interfaces, such as RS485, CAN bus, industrial Ethernet, and so on. We will have trouble in connecting these devices each other. Fig. 1 shows the key components of IEEE 1451.

In order to resolve the above problem, it is especially important that a kind of standard communication protocol is applied to NCAP, which can lead the initial communication. We propose Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

SIP has been applied widely in VOIP, which is a kind of signal protocol for establishing and controlling multimedia sessions [6]. SIP aims for a uniform IP-based network by connecting all kinds of communication networks. Network nodes can communicate each other through SIP, and operate directly based on P2P (Peer to Peer). SIP can work independently, and can also work with many protocols, such as DHCP, DNS, HTTP, RADIUS, RTP, SDP, TCP, UDP and some other specially protocols which is defined by users. Users can acquire some necessary information based on SIP, such as IP address, port number and so on. But SIP does not limit final communication protocol between participants. Therefore, SIP users have more flexibility to change the final communication protocol dealing with the stability, real-time, and performance of the measurement and control network [7].

This paper addressed the design of IEEE 1451 NCAP model based on SIP. We presented a framework of networked sensor system using SIP-based NCAP model and analyzed some key issues on the system. We also studied on-line register of sensors in measurement and control network. It can be seen that devices with SIP interface in distributed measurement and control system can communicate easily with IP-based information network.

Section snippets

Flow of session based on sip

In order to apply SIP to networked sensor system, we should know about some principles of SIP. SIP architecture is often based on centralize entities: register and proxy servers. But SIP agents can talk directly with each other. In other word, SIP agents can work in the way of P2P. Usually, the communication is connected through SIP messages of SIP agents. The SIP message can be divided into tow kinds: request message and response message. As shown in Fig. 2, in the case of centralized entities

Networked sensor register using sip interface based on internet

The IEEE 1451 standards describe many characters that smart networked sensors should provide and these characters, for example, include many kinds of communication model, supporting client and server structure, issuing and subscribing model, sensor nodes orientation and so on. Networked sensors with the NCAP supported by SIP service could realize the above characters easily. More importantly, users can manage networked sensors through internet openly, and devices with SIP service can

Conclusion

We hope that SIP will be a part of the standard interface protocols of IEEE 1451 NCAP models. It has been fund that some research works have been done on the Mobile Ad Hoc Network through SIP [8]. It shows that SIP has many strong features to connect different field buses. In addition, P2P theory and technology is good to sensor network. Although many devices on Internet can communicate through P2P, different company have different P2P protocol, which is harmful to P2P application. If P2P and

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the researchers of Hefei High Magnetic Field Laboratory of China for their valuable support and advice during designing and constructing the Networked sensor system based on SIP. We also wish to thank members of the institute of Hefei Intelligent Machine for their help in this paper.

References (10)

  • Fengbao LI et al.
  • Qing Shen et al.

    “Real-time control performance analysis based on industrial ethernet”

    Computer Engineering

    (January 2007)
  • NIST, IEEE Standards 1451 Family,...
  • M. Sveda et al.

    Sensor networks with IEEE 1451.1 embedded systems on internet

  • Shubha Kher et al.

    IEEE 1451 standard and wireless sensor networks: An over view of fault tolerant algorithms

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

This work is partially supported by CNSF Grant # 60575058 and 60475005.

View full text