Wireless　sensor　network　(WSN)　plays　an　important　role　in　the　field　of　IOT　(Internet　of　things),　which　performs　the　function　of　information　perception.　Thousands　of　devices　as　well　as　sensors　are　spread　in　specific　areas　to　collect　all　kinds　of　physical　information　to　pass　onto　the　Internet.　However,　the　data　gethered　from　sensors＇　interfaces　is　real-time,　extremely　large　and　unstructured,　hence　requiring　great　effort　in　mapping　to　the　conceptual　application　layer.　To　customize　and　develop　IOT　systems　more　efficiently,　this　paper　proposes　an　approach　based　on　runtime　model　to　managing　wireless　sensor　networks.　First,　manageability　of　wireless　sensors　is　abstracted　as　runtime　models　which　automatically　and　immediately　propagate　any　observable　runtime　changes　of　target　resources　to　corresponding　architecture　models.　Second,　a　composite　model　of　wireless　sensors　is　constructed　through　merging　their　runtime　models　in　order　to　manage　different　kinds　of　devices　in　a　unified　way.　Third,　a　customized　model　is　constructed　according　to　the　personalized　management　requirement　and　the　synchronization　between　the　customized　model　and　the　composite　model　is　ensured　through　model　transformation.　Thus,　all　the　management　tasks　can　be　carried　through　executing　operating　programs　on　the　customized　model.　The　feasibility　and　efficiency　of　the　approach　are　validated　through　a　real　case　study　of　smart　community.　©　Copyright　2014,　Institute　of　Software,　the　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　All　rights　reserved.