Internet of Things 
a b s t r a c t
The Internet of Things as an emerging global, Internet-based information service architecture facilitating the exchange of goods in global supply chain networks is developing on the technical basis of the present Domain Name System; drivers are private actors.
Learning from the experiences with the ‘‘traditional’’ Internet governance it is important to tackle the relevant issues of a regulatory framework from the beginning; in particular, the implementation of an independently managed decentralized multiple-root system and the establishment of basic governance principles (such as transparency and accountability, legitimacy of institutional bodies, inclusion of civil society) are to be envisaged.
ª 2009 Prof. Rolf H. Weber. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Notion and concept of the internet of things In the ongoing process of Internet growth a new development is on its way, namely the evolution from a network of interconnected computers to a network of interconnected objects
(Internet of Things, IoT)1.1.1. Notion of IoT
The term IoT, first used by Kevin Ashton in a presentation in
19982, describes an emerging global, Internet-based information service architecture. Technically, the architecture is based on data communication tools, primarily RFID-tagged items (Radio Frequency Identification).3 The purpose of the
IoT consists in the facilitation of information exchanges about, among other things, goods in global supply chain networks, i.e. the IT-infrastructure should provide information about ‘‘things’’ in a secure and reliable manner.4
Extending the initial application scope, the IoT might also serve as backbone for ubiquitous computing, enabling smart environments to recognize and identify objects, and retrieve information from the Internet to facilitate their adaptive functionality.5 1.2. Technical background of IoT
The most popular industry proposal for the new IT-infrastructure of the IoT is
The Internet of Things as an emerging global, Internet-based information service architecture facilitating the exchange of goods in global supply chain networks is developing on the technical basis of the present Domain Name System; drivers are private actors.
Learning from the experiences with the ‘‘traditional’’ Internet governance it is important to tackle the relevant issues of a regulatory framework from the beginning; in particular, the implementation of an independently managed decentralized multiple-root system and the establishment of basic governance principles (such as transparency and accountability, legitimacy of institutional bodies, inclusion of civil society) are to be envisaged.
ª 2009 Prof. Rolf H. Weber. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
1. Notion and concept of the internet of things In the ongoing process of Internet growth a new development is on its way, namely the evolution from a network of interconnected computers to a network of interconnected objects
(Internet of Things, IoT)1.1.1. Notion of IoT
The term IoT, first used by Kevin Ashton in a presentation in
19982, describes an emerging global, Internet-based information service architecture. Technically, the architecture is based on data communication tools, primarily RFID-tagged items (Radio Frequency Identification).3 The purpose of the
IoT consists in the facilitation of information exchanges about, among other things, goods in global supply chain networks, i.e. the IT-infrastructure should provide information about ‘‘things’’ in a secure and reliable manner.4
Extending the initial application scope, the IoT might also serve as backbone for ubiquitous computing, enabling smart environments to recognize and identify objects, and retrieve information from the Internet to facilitate their adaptive functionality.5 1.2. Technical background of IoT
The most popular industry proposal for the new IT-infrastructure of the IoT is