Extending Semantic Device Discovery with Synonym of Terms

Abstract

In the context of Internet of Things, being able to search for connected devices on the internet based on their semantic allows discovering required devices based on specific application requirements. However the current semantic discovery approaches still depend on specific set of vocabularies used by device developers to describe devices. This paper presents a cycle of design, implementation and evaluation of a system that can be used to discover connected devices described by different terminologies. The device descriptions are homogenized using a best effort approach based on searching synonyms and abbreviations in online dictionaries, as well as using existing controlled vocabularies with terms and synonyms that can be used interchangeably within specific application domain. This information is stored in a local ontology that is extended dynamically with metadata and terminology when new devices are connected. Subjective evaluations with users showed their satisfaction regarding the usability of the system. Tested users also considered that the structure of the ontology is simple to understand and able to cover the description of several different devices.