Page 41 - Unleashing the potenti al of the Internet of Things

Unleashing the potential of the Internet of Things 1

Figure 1 depicts a conceptual model of machine socialization. In machine socialization, machines
are capable of basic communication and computing. For machine socialization, machines should at
least be able to discover other machines and obtain information about the properties of other
machines such as capability (service that the machine can provide) and interface.

In Figure 1, M3 locates in the home and office whereas M2 locates in public and the home. When
M3 locates in the office, M3 has M4 and M5 as its neighbourhood. M4 and M5 have different
properties from the properties of M1 and M2 which locate in M3's home. If M3 is socialized with
M4 and M5, M3 is able to collaborate with M4 and M5.

M3 can do different jobs when M3 is socialized with M4 and M5 compared to the socialization with
M1 and M2 because M4 and M5 provide different services. M2 also has M1, M3 and M6 and M7
as its neighbourhood in home and public. From the socialization with both neighbourhoods in home
and public, M2 can do different jobs when it locates in home and in public respectively.

The capability of machines can be extended through socializations supporting collaboration, and
machines can be socialized with many other types of machines. This means that machines can
extend their capability in different ways using various socializations.

Figure 1 – Conceptual model of machine socialization

6.2 Relations for socialization

As defined in clause 3, a relation is an association between or among machines to share or provide
capability. A relation also specifies the schedule of processes between or among machines while
performing the task in collaboration.

Establishing a relation enables machines to collaborate with other machines in a form of capabilities
sharing.

Figure 2 depicts an entity relationship (E-R) diagram of socialization which associates two
machines by a relation.

Rec. ITU-T Y.4001/F.748.2 (11/2015) 27