In recent years, ambient intelligence (AmI) has gained significant attention from both academia and industry. AmI seeks to create environments that automatically adapt to individuals' needs, improving comfort and efficiency. These systems typically rely on Internet of Things (IoT) frameworks, where sensors and actuators enable seamless interaction between people and their surroundings. To ensure the effective operation of AmI systems, robust wireless networks are essential, capable of integrating a wide range of devices across different environments. However, designing such networks presents challenges due to varying communication protocols, power limitations, and the computational capacities of connected devices. This paper introduces a novel approach that leverages multi-interface networks to design a heterogeneous wireless network supporting AmI systems within the IoT ecosystem. The approach centers on selecting the most appropriate communication protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or 5G, to connect devices. Since many devices are battery-powered, choosing the right communication interface is critical for optimizing energy efficiency. Our primary objective is to improve network performance while extending its operational lifespan by identifying an optimal set of interfaces that balance power consumption and efficiency. We present a new model within the well-established field of multi-interface networks, designed to reduce battery consumption while maximizing network performance. Additionally, we examine the computational complexity of this model and propose two solution algorithms grounded in fixed-parameter tractability theory for specific network classes.
Keywords: ambient intelligence; coverage; multi-interfaces networks; parameterized complexity.