IXchange – Cooperative use of data

The use of various sensors has long since become part of everyday life. For example, the automatic control of sun protection systems requires measuring light intensity or wind speed. Most users of such systems have their own sensors installed – a situation that, in total, has a negative impact on resource consumption.

IXchange aims to enable sensors from multiple households to be shared, thereby strengthening sustainability. Standard commercially available sensors should be easy to integrate into IXchange. The multiple use of as many sensors as possible leads to more efficient resource management by eliminating ongoing energy consumption and saving resources in sensor manufacturing.

But it's not just individuals using smart home devices who benefit from data sharing. The average consumer could also simplify their daily life by accessing shared data. By monitoring the outside temperature, even when not physically present, measures can be taken to protect plants from freezing when a certain minimum temperature is reached. This example is just a simplified representation of the countless possibilities that IXchange could offer its users.

Research institutions such as universities and universities of applied sciences, as well as local authorities like municipalities and city administrations, are also interested in using and exchanging data from IoT devices. For example, large amounts of data are necessary for training various machine learning applications. This data often has to be collected over a long period or purchased at considerable expense.

The added value of shared data use lies in the corresponding networking through the cooperative use of sensor data, which focuses on the concept of community. The development of community projects, such as energy communities, could be promoted. There are a growing number of municipal initiatives to support citizens in implementing climate protection measures. This is done, for example, through solar potential maps, which, however, are often created using only theoretical models due to a lack of data.

Since IXchange relies on users sharing their own data and being able to use other users' data, the most essential function of IXchange is its search function. A map displays available IoT devices in the selected region. Users can filter the results by metadata such as sensor type.

The collected data itself can be used as currency. Providing data earns users IXie's, which can then be redeemed to access other data. For example, a new user receives a starting balance of 100 IXie's. Data access will also be possible without providing any data, but users will be compensated accordingly.

Displaying notifications is another key aspect of IXchange. Users will be notified, for example, when measurements exceed or fall below predefined thresholds.