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IoTxWeb3: lifecycle management and data sharing for IoT devices

We combine IoT devices with blockchain and smart contracts so that device permissions, data sharing, and lifecycle management can be handled in a transparent way.

IoTxWeb3: lifecycle management and data sharing for IoT devices

Background

Network-connected devices are now used in many places, from homes to factories and vehicles. Some of these devices are managed by trained professionals, while others are operated by ordinary users.

For professional systems, maintenance and lifecycle management are often organized as part of a business process. For consumer IoT devices, however, users are usually expected to rely on manuals and software updates to keep devices secure.

The problem

In many cases, users do not clearly see how device logs, sensor data, and operational information are collected and reused. Manufacturers may use such data for monitoring or AI training, while users themselves often have little control or access.

Even when users want to share or use their own device data, the necessary interfaces and permissions are often unclear or unavailable.

Our approach

We are developing a software framework that combines IoT devices with Web3 technologies such as blockchain and smart contracts. The goal is to automate device lifecycle management and data sharing in a verifiable way.

Users can grant permissions to manufacturers or third parties, and those permissions are recorded and enforced through smart contracts. By leaving a trace of agreements on the blockchain, the framework improves transparency and accountability.

Papers and articles related to this project

  • SSI-Enabled Authentication and Enhanced Metadata Search in Blockchain-based Decentralized IoT Data Platforms

    Luyonghe Li, Yuichiro Yasue, Yutaka Matsubara, B4TI at BCCA 2025, Croatia, 2025.

  • PPDS: A Practical and Privacy-Preserving Data Sharing Model for Blockchain-Based IoT e-Health Systems Using ECC, Zero-Knowledge Proof, and Access Control

    Yuxiao Wu, Kenta Kawai, Yutaka Matsubara, BCCA 2025, Croatia, 2025.

  • Enhancing Account Information Anonymity in Blockchain-Based IoT Access Control Using Zero-Knowledge Proofs

    Yuxiao Wu, Yutaka Matsubara, Shoji Kasahara, Electronics, 2025.

  • IoT Nyumon, Chapter 2 "Security"

    Harumi Watanabe, Makoto Imamura, Kenji Hisazumi (eds.), chapter authored by Yutaka Matsubara, Corona Publishing, 2020.

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