Challenges in Supporting Federation of Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks are more and more seen as a solution to large-scale tracking and monitoring applications. However, existing networks are designed to serve a single application and deliver information to one authority; typically the owner of the network. This approach is clearly inefficient considering the high cost of deploying a sensor network. Supporting federation of sensor networks can allow the development of new applications that can access recourses offered by multiple existing sensor networks. This paper discusses the challenges in designing a platform for federated sensor networks.