Understanding the basic structure of IoT solutions
Although the definition of IoT might change slightly from different viewpoints, there are some key concepts in the IoT world that differentiate it from other types of technologies:
- Connectivity: An IoT device is connected either to the internet or to a local network. An old-style thermostat on the wall waiting for manual operation with basic programming features doesn’t count as an IoT device.
- Identification: An IoT device is uniquely identified in the network so that data has a context identified by that device. In addition, the device itself is available for remote update, remote management, and diagnostics.
- Autonomous operation: IoT systems are designed for minimal or no human intervention. Each device collects data from the environment where it is installed, and it can then communicate the data with other devices to detect the current status of the system and respond as configured. This response can...