Generalities and Definitions in Internet of Things

(IoT)
Internet of Things (IoT): The IoT refers to the interconnection of computing
devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data.
Building Blocks of an IoT System:
• Sensors: Devices that measure physical properties and send information
to controllers.

• Actuators: Devices that act upon the data received from controllers to
perform physical actions.
• Controllers: Devices that process data from sensors and control actua-
tors.

• Communication Networks: Networks that connect sensors, actuators,

and controllers, often using protocols like Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
IoT Process Flow: A simple IoT system includes sensors connecting,
through a wireless or wired connection, to actuators or controllers. Some devices
can have more than one function.
Models of Communication in IoT:
• Layered Networking Models: Models like OSI and TCP/IP illustrate
how network operations are structured.
• Connection Levels: Device-to-Device, Device-to-Cloud, Device-to-Gateway-
to-Cloud, and Device-to-Gateway-to-Cloud-to-Application.

Common IoT Protocols:

• MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport): A lightweight
messaging protocol with minimal overhead that provides high data in-
tegrity and security for remote environments.

• CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol): A protocol designed for

transferring state information between client and server over UDP.
IoT Security Considerations:
• Transparency: People should know what types of personal data are
being collected.
• Data Collection and Use: Only necessary data should be collected,
with efforts to anonymize it.
• Data Access: Clear rules on who can access personal data.

Wireless Technologies in IoT:

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• Zigbee: A low-energy, low-power wireless protocol used for creating per-
sonal area networks.
• Bluetooth: A protocol for short-distance communication, commonly used
in mobile devices.

• LoRaWAN: Designed for long-range communications for low bit rate

devices.
• 4G/5G: Cellular networks supporting high mobility bandwidth and low
latency for IoT applications.