Intelligent products: From lifecycle data acquisition to enabling product-related services

In this paper key components in an intelligent product are defined and an associated intelligent product model is formulated. In this model, each product is equipped with an Intelligent Data Unit that connects to a regional back-end service enabler over the Communication Support Infrastructure (e.g. Internet) for lifecycle data transmission. An Intelligent Data Unit is a hardware device that consists of sensors, a controller, memory and data communication interface, which can be embedded into the product to acquire the lifecycle data. A service enabler is a software agent that receives the lifecycle data, and uses it to enable services and provide useful information and knowledge. The analysis and design of a service enabler is described, and a prototype service enabler is developed. It has been demonstrated in field trials that intelligent products built in this way can enable suitable product-related services.