Operationalizing Rule-Based Socio-Ethical Behaviour in IoT Collectives: a Policy Management Approach

We are witnessing a trend of IoT devices with agency and often said to be smart (i.e., connected, sensor-equipped, and capable of autonomous action). This paper presents a policy management framework which we have named as the SANIJO policy framework. The framework consists of two types of policies, which are socio-ethical and administrative policies. Each policy further comprises three different types of rules, which are authorisation, obligation and prohibition rules that are applicable to smart internet-connected devices for managing their interactions in IoT collectives. An XML policy language which we have named as the SANIJO language is also designed for describing the desired interaction behaviours of smart devices. The policy management framework and the policy language are prototyped in the SANIJO system, which is a collection of mobile applications, multiple robot applications, smart speakers and smart camera applications. The SANIJO system is then illustrated based on an education open day scenario.