An exploratory study for designing business services based on sensor networks

Abstract

As manufacturers tried to change into a small quantity batch production system, the enterprise resource planning system has been introduced. In production sites, however, there is discontinuity of information flow between an enterprise management system and a production system because data is still managed manually, so that models have been developed to enable gathering of on-the-spot context information in real time and exchanging information and collaboration for the whole lifecycle of products by exploiting sensor network technologies. However, because sensor network technologies have not reached a commercialization and diffusion stage yet due to various specialties and are primarily limited to creation of new application models, it is time to induce companies to participate in active utilization of sensor networks through user-oriented support. Accordingly, in this study, to enhance companies' understanding of sensor networks and increase their utilization, an exploratory study was carried out to design business services based on sensor networks. In detail, it investigated and analyzed companies' awareness levels for sensor networks market, technologies and their advantages and disadvantages, correlations between sensor networks and business, and requirements for introduction of sensor network technologies. Also, The problems of applying the sensor network based business services and the improvement methods were classified into the technological levels, security, marketability and standardization to carry out.