On complex event processing for sensor networks

Sensor networks have to cope with a high volume of events continuously. Conventional software architectures do not explicitly target the efficient processing of continuous event streams. Recently, event-driven architectures (EDA) have been proposed as a new paradigm for event-based applications. In this paper we propose a reference architecture for sensor-based networks, which enables the analysis and processing of complex event streams in real-time. Our approach is based on semantically rich event models using ontologies that allow representation of structural properties of event types and constraints between them. Then, we argue in favor of a declarative approach of complex event processing that draws upon rule languages such as Esper and JESS. Also, we illustrate our approach in the domain of road traffic management for the high-capacity road network in Bilbao, Spain.