Internet of Things in a Nutshell

IoT is a comprises of “things” that have unique identities and are connected to the Internet.

Characteristics of an IoT Device

Dynamic
Self – Adapting
Self – Configuring
Interoperable Communication Protocols
Unique Identity
Integrated into Information Technology

IoT Protocols

Link Layer

802.3 Ethernet
802.11 Wifi ( Wireless Fidelity )
802.16 WiMax ( Worldwide Microwave Access )
802.15.4 LR-WPAN ( Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Network )
2G/3G/LTE Cellular Communication

Network Layer

IPv4 / IPv6 ( Internet Protocol Version 4 / 6 )
6LoWPAN ( Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network )

Transport Layer

TCP ( Transmission Control Protocol )
UDP ( User Datagram Protocol )

Application Layer

HTTP ( Hyper Text Transfer Protocol )
CoAP ( Constrained Application Protocol )
WebSockets
MQTT ( Message Queue Telemetry Transport )
XMPP ( Extensive Messaging and Presence Protocol )
DDS ( Data Distribution Service )
AMQP ( Advanced Message Queuing Protocol )

An IoT System comprises of a number of Functional Blocks that provide the system the capabilites of identification, sensoring and management. IoT Functional Blocks consists of Device, Communication, Services, Management, Security, and Application.

IoT Communication Models

Request – Response Model
Publish-Subscribe Model
Push-Pull Model
Exclusive Pair Model

IoT Systems

IoT Systems comprises of the following Components:

Device: Has Identification, Remote Sensing, Actuating and Remote Monitoring Capabilities

Resources: Software Components Accessing, Processing and Storing Sensor Information Controlling actuators connected to the Device

Controller Service: Service running on the Local Device Interacts with the Web Service Send Data from Device to the WebServers and Receive Commands from Applications for controlling Devices

Databases: Either Local or in the Cloud Stores the Data generated in the IoT Device

Web Services: Link b/w Device, Application, Database and Analysis Component. Can be implemented by HTTP and REST Principles OR WebSocket Protocol

Analysis Component: Analyze the IoT Data Generate Results in a form easy for the user to understand. Can be analyzed locally or in the Cloud and stored thereafter in Local or cloud databases

Application: User Interface which Control and Monitor various aspects of an IoT device User can view system status and processed data

IoT Levels

Level 1

Single Device for sensing –> Stores Data –> Performs Analysis –> Hosts the app
Used to Low Cost and Low Complexity Solutions
Less Data Involved
Example: Home Automation

Level 2

Single Device
Local Analysis Data stored in Cloud Application is Cloud-based
Suitable for solutions where the data involved is Big but not computationally intensive, hence analysis was done Locally
Example: Smart Irrigation

Level 3

Single Node
Data stored and analyzed in the Cloud Application is cloud-based
Suitable for Devices where data is big and computation is intensive
Example: Tracking Package Handling Device monitors vibration levels of the package being shipped
Sends sensor data to Cloud through WebSocket Service Data stored and visualized in Cloud and analysis component can trigger alerts if vibration levels cross a threshold

Level 4

Multiple Nodes that perform local analysis
Data is stored in Cloud and application is Cloud-based Local and Cloud-based observer nodes that can subscribe to and receive information collected in the Cloud from IoT devices
Observer nodes can collect information and use it but can’t control other nodes
Suitable for systems which require multiple Nodes, and data is Big and Computationally is intensive
Example: Noise Monitoring

Level 5

Multiple End Nodes: perform sensing and Actuation
One coordinator Node: Collects data from End Nodes and sends to Cloud
Data stored and analyzed in Cloud
Suitable for Solutions based on Wireless Sensor Networks, in which data is big and analysis is intensive
Example: Forest Fire Detection

Level 6

Multiple End Nodes: performs sensing and actuation and sends information to Cloud
Data stored in Cloud and application is Cloud-based Analyzed information is stored in Cloud and results are visualized
Centralized Controller is aware of status of all end Nodes and sends control commands to the nodes
Example: Weather Monitoring

Thanxx for reading. Stay Tuned for more such posts 🙂