IBM has published a draft paper on the Internet of Things system ADEPT, developed in collaboration with Samsung.
IBM has issued a paper on the Autonomous Decentralized Peer-to-Peer Telemetry (ADEPT), a new decentralized Internet of Things system using the blockchain technology.
With the project, IBM intends to change the way people use the internet-connected devices. It is aimed at avoiding the key problems faced by internet users, among others low privacy, high costs and inability to change. The system provides a cheaper architecture for the Internet of Things.
Being developed in partnership with Samsung, ADEPT features a messaging and file transfer service, autonomous device coordination and peer-to-peer networking structure. It uses three technologies, which include BitTorrent, Ethereum and Telehash.
“Applying the blockchain concept to the world of [Internet of Things] offers fascinating possibilities. Right from the time a product completes final assembly, it can be registered by the manufacturer into a universal blockchain representing its beginning of life. Once sold, a dealer or end customer can register it to a regional blockchain (a community, city or state),” states the draft paper.
The project allows connecting everyday items, such as cars, toasters and washing machines, to the Internet. The blockchain tracks the relationships among the devices.
ADEPT has already been applied in different electronic products produced by Samsung. Thus, the companies developed a Samsung washing machine, which was showcased at CES 2015 last week. The machine requires no human interaction and connects with a detergent retailer through the owner’s internet-connected device. It can send commands to the retailer if it runs out of laundry detergent.
The report also reviews the other ADEPT use cases, including how it can be utilized to repair electronics. In case of defect, the device finds a repair service provider that has a high reputation on the blockchain. The owner of the device has then to confirm the payment and wait until the professional comes and fix the device.
At the same time, the ADEPT developers expect to face many difficulties while developing the system. One of them is that billions of devices used worldwide have to use the blockchain technology.
IBM is also considering the creation of new digital currency for device-to-device usage. Besides, the company is watching how Bitcoin and Dark Wallet, based on blockchain technologies, can be used to enhance the system.
Paul Brody, who started the ADEPT system, has recently left IBM, saying that John Cohn and Veena Pureswaran will continue the project realization, together with partners at Samsung.
The company is going to publish the white paper for the proof-of-concept in the near future.
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