Now it is undeniable: companies with an IoT network architecture are more likely to succeed and keep their business than companies without an IoT network engineering plan. According to analysts, almost 34% of companies were able to generate new revenue and improve their business operations thanks to a suitable and efficient IoT network architecture.
Both in the form of smart homes, smart factories, Connected carsConnected cities, the Internet of Things – the Internet of Things – has taken over our daily lives. She intends to stay. Today, it is approximately 12.3 billion dollarsConnected Objects that have been published worldwide. A number that should reach 21 billion in 2025.
According to analysts, these IoT devices and devices will produce at least 73.1 terabytes of data. Due to its enormous numbers, we can affirm that an organized and efficient IoT network architecture is critical for the good management of data flows and this growing number of connected objects.
Internet of Things network architecture: Quesaco?
The Internet of Things network architecture is a set of Internet of Things bricks that communicate with each other to connect the tangible world of things with the virtual world of networks and clouds.
In detail, the architecture of the Internet of Things network consists of several disparate levels and layers that ensure the collection and storage of data generated by the sensors. After that, it is processed into a file Big Data Warehouse Triggers and execution of commands sent through the user application. The ultimate goal is to ensure the system administrator Better management and consistency.
The basic elements of the architecture of the Internet of Things
Even if the data path can be planned, not all projects adopt a single standard reference architecture. Simply because every IoT network architecture includes a variety of technologies. Moreover, the latter depends greatly on the way it is Implementation in various sectors. Since in order to effectively support various network applications, the IoT architecture must be sufficiently open with open protocols.
However, although there is a simple and comprehensive model for all possible implementations, the basic process is widely accepted. In fact, it guarantees scalability, functionality, availability and maintainability. that it The four-layer IoT network architecture. This consists of:
cognition layer
This layer converts analog signals into digital data and vice versa. It includes a wide range of objects that bridge the gap between them Real and digital world. These are categorized into 3 categories
- Sensors such as sensors, gauges, or meters
- Actuators for controlling motors, lasers and robotic arms
- Machines and devices connected to sensors and actuators
network layer
The main function of the network layer is to connect devices to other smart things, servers, and network devices For the effective processing of the collected data. The latter also manages the transmission of all data.
We do not find only in the network layer Internet and network portals It takes care of the communication between sensor networks and the Internet. but also data acquisition systems (DAS) which performs the function of data collection and transformation.
data processing layer
The processing layer has 3 main tasks:
- data accumulation in real time From the network layer to allow the administrator to specify the link of data and location
- Store their relevant and really useful data in a wide range of Storage Solution
- Data processing to improveSmart device interoperability.
To carry out its functions, the latter relies on Internet of Things platforms
Application layer
The application layer that will interact with the user through specific services. It is possible to create applications directly on IoT platforms capable of providing a software development infrastructure using off-the-shelf tools that allow data exploration, advanced analysis, and data visualization.
IoT Network Engineering: Different Types of IoT Network
The Connection It is one of the main components of the Internet of Things network architecture. Indeed, no project rooted in connected objects can succeed without reliable and effective communication between devices, sensors and Internet of Things platform. While there is a wide range of IoT networks, 4 of them are unanimous for companies that want to deploy their IoT solutions:
cellular networks
To ensure that IoT devices are connected, cellular networks rely on the same mobile networks of those used by smartphones. This type of network has the advantage of offering great network coverage.
However, it has significant drawbacks. First, cellular connectivity may not be available in areas commonly used to deploy IoT sensors. This is especially the case for common protocols such as LTE-M And narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT)
Second, connected objects that use cellular communication require more power and energy than other types of wireless networks. Find out more in our Cellular IoT profile.
Local and Personal Networks (LAN / PAN)
As part of the setup of the IoT network architecture, Personal Area Networks (PANs) and Local Area Networks (LANs) such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Among the most cost-effective solutions. In fact, they are more energy efficient. On the other hand, local and personal networks are unreliable in terms of data transmission. In addition, the amount of transferable data remains limited. Not to mention that this type of network has rather slow transmission rates.
Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN)
The LPWAN Developed to meet challenges cellular communication. They have a much greater range than other types of wireless networks and consume less power than cellular networks. Lorawan It is among the most popular protocols in this category. In fact, it consumes very little energy. Moreover, the Slices relatively
mesh networks
In the mesh network, all sensor nodes work together to ensure data distribution between them. The goal is to reach the bridge.
Mesh networks generally require additional sensors or the use of repeaters because they have a very short range. In addition, IoT devices using this type of network can be very power hungry.
On the other hand, mesh networks have the advantage of being both strong And Easy to install. That is why it is the most popular choice for deploying connected objects in buildings.