Opportunistic information fusion: a new paradigm for next generation networked sensing systems

Traditionally, information fusion systems assume that the information is gathered from known sensors over proprietary communication networks and fuse using fixed rules of information fusion and designated computing and communication resources. Emerging technologies like wireless sensor networks, TEDS enabled legacy sensors, ubiquitous computing devices and all IP next generation networks are challenging the rationale of conventional information fusion systems. The technology has matured to a point where it is reasonable to discover sensors based on the context, establish relevance, query for appropriate data, and fuse it using the most appropriate fusion rule, using ubiquitous computing and communication environment in an opportunistic manner. We define such fusion systems as opportunistic information fusion systems. In this paper we introduce this new paradigm for information fusion and identify plausible approaches and challenges to design, develop and deploy the proposed next generation opportunistic information fusion systems.