Secure Distributed Storage

The storage capabilities of a single smart product are potentially not large enough to store all knowledge relevant for the smart product. Therefore, a distribution layer is contained in the SmartProducts platform (Ubiquitous Storage), which enables storing information locally as well as on remote smart products. To maintain low-latency access to the data stored remotely intelligent replication and synchronization mechanisms are used.

Furthermore, smart products contain potentially valuable and privacy relevant knowledge, e.g., about the users preferences or the users interaction history with a product. This data can be used to the benefit of the user, e.g., when tailoring the interaction to the needs of a user by choosing his mother tongue for the interface. Thereby, more benefit is expected when the knowledge is not confined to a single product, but distributed among smart products to eventually enhance knowledge availability and allow for an efficient data access. To prohibit malicious smart products to obtain privacy relevant information, rigid but still usable security and access control mechanisms are supported by the Access Manager.

Components

• Access Manager Controls the access to the knowledge stored on the product, e.g., to avoid leaking of private information about users.

• Ubiquitous Storage The storage capabilities of a single smart product are potentially not large enough to store all knowledge relevant for the smart product