A Gateway Device is a application host that collates data from peripheral sensors according to its specified role, time, location and context of application. Further a Gateway Device is equipped with multiple paths of connectivity that enables it to assuredly connect to the networked world.
Our built up environment is rich with devices that can transmit measurements and data relevant to environment, location and context. How this relates to any individual is determined by the needs of the particular individual which may be different from others around them. It is thus critical that personal preferences are managed by a single device which can collate appropriate data from its peripheral network.
A separate need is for providing assured level of connectivity. From simple presence monitoring to a full service communication portal capable of video interactivity, connectivity assurance delivers a new degree of freedom for applications.
By incorporating these two functions into the Gateway Device advanced services to satisfy personal needs can be delivered.
An obvious choice for a gateway device is the mobile phone. With maturity of Personal Area Networks using technologies such as Bluetooth the mobile phone is gradually becoming a default Gateway Device. However several functions are still lacking in the state of art - this includes simple functions such as Presence Polling, Remote Activation and Remote Data Collation. ENRIA Limited is working on demonstrating the use of an open protocol mobile phone as a fully functional Gateway Device by incorporating these functions into it.
With connected devices, it is imperative that the backhaul architecture delivers the intelligence to ensure connectivity and is scalable to support demands placed by varying bandwidth. Borrowing heavily from the Electronic Security and Monitoring industry, we have designed a fully extensible architecture capable of supporting these devices through connectivity to remote monitoring platforms. In addition multipath connectivity is assured through WiFi or GPRS, two increasingly prevalent standards with more to come in the future.
Our first implementation of a Gateway Architecture will be in the form of a Personal Health Gateway. This product/service will address the critical need to upgrade technology infrastructure in Healthcare. Combining Telehealth and Telecare on a single platform, this offering will substantially change the nature of remote services as well as personal health management.
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