IoT Terms

1. 6LoWPAN
A fusion of IPv6 (the current Internet protocol), and Low-Power Wireless Personal
Area Networks, it permits power-constrained IoT devices to access the TCP/IP
Internet directly. This means that even the smallest and weakest IoT devices can
have connectivity.
2. Advanced Encryption Standards
This is an electronic data encryption specification that has been the standard for
IoT device transport layer security since 2001.
3. Application Programming Interface
A method of expediting communication between computers and
hardware/software platforms.
4. Beacon Technology
This permits small network transmitters to interact with systems utilizing low-power
Bluetooth. Apple’s version is called iBeacon.
5. Big Data
Large volumes of information, both structured and unstructured, collected from a
massive number of sources and delivered at extremely rapid speed. This
information is raw data that is used by analysts to devise better-informed strategies
for businesses and other organizations.
6. Bluetooth Low Energy
A wireless, personal-area network characterized by lower power usage and a limited
range for data transmission. It’s also called Bluetooth 4.0.
7. Cloud Computing
Remote servers connected via a network and used for data storage, processing, and
management, instead of relying on a local, in-house physical server.
8. Embedded Software
The computer software that controls hardware devices and systems that are not
usually considered computers, like a smart refrigerator, for instance.
9. Firmware-Over-The-Air
Also known as FOTA, this technology allows the remote wireless installation, repair,
and upgrading of software and services on mobile devices.
10.Gateway
This is any device that gathers information from various network points and sends
that information on to another network.
11.Global Navigation Satellite System
The GNSS is any satellite navigation system that offers autonomous geo-spatial
positioning, timing, and navigation, either by region or globally.
12.Industrial IoT
This is the means for machines and industrial applications to have real-time
communication with each other (M2M). This will probably be what brings SkyNet
online.
13.Link Budget
This is a telecommunication system jargon that describes an accounting of all of
the gains and losses going from a transmitter, passing through the medium, and
ending up at the receiver.
14.Low-Power Wide-Area
A network offering a low range and low power consumption, used primarily for
M2M communications.
15.Low-Power Wireless Sensor Network
A collection of scattered, independent devices that measure environmental or
physical conditions, all without significant power consumption.
16.Lora Protocol
A long-range digital wireless communication technique to facilitate IoT and M2M
communications.
17.LTE-M
A more power-efficient standard for machine communications.
18.Machine-to-Machine
Also known as M2M for short, it’s the process of machines or other connected
devices communicating with each other without human intervention.
19.Media Access Control
A data link layer (DLL) sublayer transmits data packets to and from a network
interface card.
20.Mesh Network
A network system where devices transmit their data while also serving as relays to
other nodes.
21.Mobile IoT
Low power, wide area devices used in conjunction with mobile devices interfacing
with IoT networks.
22.NB-IoT
This stands for Narrow Band IoT and is used as a convenient, cost-effective means
of expanding IoT into a whole new series of devices and everyday household items.
This is a low-power, wide-area technology, and will be instrumental in increasing the
scope of IoT in the years to come.
23.Near-Field Communication
Otherwise known as NFC, it permits two-way communication between closely
located endpoints. It’s a short-range, low-power, low-speed form of radio
communication.
24.Quality of Service
A measurement of how well a network supports IT connectivity. This covers
elements such as transmission delays, availability of connections, and data loss.
25.Radio Frequency Identification
Commonly called RFID tags, uses electromagnetic coupling and radio frequencies
to identify people and things. It has a limited range and data transmission
capabilities. The number bibs that runners use in road races, for instance, are
equipped with RFID tags to confirm they passed certain course checkpoints.
26.RF Geolocation
Otherwise known as using a radio transceiver to find another radio transceiver. The
classic example of this is the ever-popular GPS, found in many models of cars.
27.Repeater
A device used to extend network range by receiving a digital signal and
re-transmitting it.
28.Sensor/Sensor Network
A device or group of devices that monitor and collect environmental data from a
variety of locations in network range.
29.Smart Meter
A device used by utility companies to collect information about energy
consumption (e.g., electricity, natural gas, water), and transmit the data back to the
company or even to the consumer.
30.Software-Defined Network
A network method that reassigns information flow control from hardware in favor of
a software controller.
31.Telematics
A computer system designed for long-distance data transmissions, the most
ubiquitous example being GPS and satellite radio tech installed in automobiles.
32.Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
Better known as TCP/IP, this is the basic protocol suite for all Internet and private
network communications and connections.
33.Ultra-Wide Band
The UWB is a weak signal sent over a wide frequency and is employed mostly as a
localizing signal and distance measurement.
34.Wearable
Devices were worn by people and equipped with sensors, monitors, and an Internet
connection to gather data regarding the wearer’s activity, life, and environment (e.g.,
Apple Watch, Fitbit).
35.Zigbee/Z-Wave
Used for personal-area networks (PAN), this is a short-range, low-power standard
employed for control and sensing, and can also be used to create a more extended
range, energy-efficient, low data transfer rate networks.