Towards cloud sensing enabled target localization

In this paper, we introduce “cloud sensing” as a paradigm for enabling sensing-as-a-service in the context of target localization in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). We present a bilateral trading mechanism consisting of a sensing service provider (fusion center) that “sells” information regarding the target through sensor management, and a user who seeks to “buy” information regarding the target. Our mechanism, aware of resource costs involved in service provisioning, maximizes the expected total gain from the trade while assuring individual rationality and incentive compatibility. The impossibility of achieving ex post efficiency is also shown in the paper. Design of the mechanism enables the study of the tradeoff between information gain and the costs of the WSN for sensor management. Simulation results provide insights into the dynamics of the proposed model.