Ensuring Reliable Communication in the Internet of Things

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the University of Cagliari in Italy have highlighted the challenges of ensuring reliable communication in the Internet of Things (IoT), where billions of interconnected devices represented by Digital Twins (DTs) frequently interact without knowing each other. As the IoT continues to grow, this issue becomes increasingly pressing, with the risk of errors and malicious behaviors posing significant security threats. To address this problem, the researchers propose Trust Management Systems (TMSs) as a possible solution, which can support cooperation by evaluating the reliability of both data and DTs. A game-theory approach is used to model interactions among DTs, and design guidelines are derived for the development of TMSs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The growth of the IoT poses significant challenges in ensuring reliable communication, particularly in decentralized scenarios where devices frequently interact without knowing each other.
  • Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are insufficient in decentralized scenarios to ensure reliable communication.
  • Trust Management Systems (TMSs) emerge as a possible solution to support cooperation, evaluating the reliability of both data and DTs.
  • The researchers use a game-theory approach to model interactions among DTs, where each DT is seen as a game-rational player.
  • A set of design guidelines is derived for the development of TMSs that consider both errors and malicious behaviors.
  • The researchers apply these guidelines to assess and compare several recognized TMSs from the literature, highlighting their strengths and limitations.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and is published in the journal Computer Networks, 2025;272.

Statistics:

  • Billions of interconnected devices represented by Digital Twins (DTs) in the IoT.
  • 2025;272 is the volume and issue number of the journal where the research is published.
  • The journal Computer Networks is published by Elsevier.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Findings from University of Cagliari Yields New Findings on Information Technology (Towards Trustworthy Digital Twins Collaboration In the Internet of Things: an Overview of Essential Design Guidelines). Information Technology Newsweekly. November 4, 2025; p 185.
  • Towards Trustworthy Digital Twins Collaboration In the Internet of Things: an Overview of Essential Design Guidelines. Computer Networks, 2025;272.
  • Elsevier. Computer Networks. www.journals.elsevier.com/computer-networks/
  • University of Cagliari. Dept Elect & Elect Engn Diee. Via Marengo 3, I-09123 Cagliari, Italy.