On the Integration of Wireless Sensor Networks and Smartphones in the Logistics Domain

A promising application domain for wireless sensor networks is their use for real-time monitoring in logistics transport processes. Through a constant monitoring of environmental parameters which influence the condition of transported goods, they allow for early transmission of alert messages in case of critical situations. The stakeholders however only benefit from alert messages if they are transmitted in a timely manner, so that they can initiate countermeasures and adapt their logistics processes accordingly. For the required connection between a wireless sensor network and the decision makers’ systems, the application of smartphones as bridging devices has been identified as particularly promising. In this paper, we analyze possibilities to interconnect wireless sensor networks with smartphones to enable a long-range transmission of alert messages to decision makers during transport processes. Based on our requirement analyses, we suggest a particular promising connection concept and provide a proof-of-concept implementation of this concept.