Modelado y análisis económicos de servicios de "crowdsensing" móvil

Abstract

The proliferation of mobile devices with rich embedded sensors (e.g., smartphones, tablets, and sensor-equipped vehicles) has enabled a novel and fast-growing sensing paradigm known as Mobile CrowdSensing (MCS), in which the target sensing data is collected by a large group of mobile users collectively using their mobile devices. This project will focus on how services that are built from data captured by smartphones can be provided in an economically sustainable way. Based on a basic understanding of microeconomics and game theory, this project will analyse a model for the revenues and costs for the different agents in such types of services (sensors, service platforms, operators, users) and will assess the different alternatives for the pricing of the services from the point of view of each of the agents (in terms of profits, take-up and social welfare). The project assumes basic knowledge of the architecture and operation of wireless networks---e.g. cellular, sensor networks---, and of the structure of the mobile communications markets. It will involve the application of constrained optimization and game theory (analytical and numerical) methods to the problem under study. Finally, the project would be a challenge for those students that are keen on mathematics but would like to gain an understanding of the dynamics of the telecommunication markets.