Sensors and IoT endpoints

Pervasive digital automation can only occur if next generation endpoints (sensors, devices) can
deliver new information and control functionality at a cost point significantly lower than todays
smartphones. The technology that drives this will come from advances in microelectronics,
micromechanical devices (MEMS), biological and chemical devices, device packaging, energy
harvesting and storage, and the efficient interaction between remote devices and virtualized
functions operating in the cloud.

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

The IoT Reference Model Network Layer

End to End Security

Management Capabilities

Application Layer

IoT Applications
(Asset Management, Smart cities, healthcare, )

Why build end to end

solutions?
Which solutions areas?

Service, Application
Support Layer

Generic Support

Specific Support

Networking

How do you define a

platform?
How do you attract
developers?

Managing connections
across multiple networks
is not an easy job

Devices are custom

Network Layer
Transport

Device Layer

Device

Gateway

Ref: ITU-T Y.2060

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Confluence of many technologies .

Inexpensive general purpose computing

Inexpensive sensors and actuators
Advances in cloud computing
Ubiquitous connectivity
Availability of billions of IP addresses with
IPv6

Number of connected devices is

forecasted to surpass 25 billion in 2020,
up from 2.5 billion in 2009 and 10 billion
today

Ref: IBM

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

To be safe, scalable and efficient, IoT networks must be re-architected to gradually

shift from managing billions of devices to hundreds of billions of devices

(see RFID example later)

Ref: IBM

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Term

Definition

Thing

Object in the physical world or information world that can be

identified and integrated in a communication network

Device

A piece of equipment with the mandatory capability of

communication, and the optional capabilities of sensing,
actuation, data capture, data storage and data processing

Data-carrying device

A device attached to a physical thing to indirectly connect the

physical thing to a communication network (e.g. RFID tags)

Data-capturing device

A reader/writer device with the capability to interact with a

physical thing

Data carrier

A battery-free data carrying object attached to a physical

thing, e.g. bar codes

Sensing device

Detects or measures information related to the surrounding

environment and converts it into digital electronic signals

Actuating device

Converts digital electronic signals into operations

General device

Has embedded processing and communication capabilities,

e.g., home appliances, smartphones, etc.
Ref: ITU-T Y.2060

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

The Device Network

Enterprise Network or Internet

Communication Network
Sensing/actuating device

Data capturing device

General device

Data carrying
Data carrier
device
Physical
Thing

Physical
Thing

Physical
Thing
Ref: Stallings, Foundations of Modern Networking

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

The Gateway
Enterprise Network or Internet

Communication Network
Gateway
Sensing/actuating device

Data capturing device

Data carrying
Data carrier
device

Physical
Thing
7

Physical
Thing

Physical
Thing

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

General device

The Gateway, continued

Protocol translator
Support for multiple access technologies
Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi,
Eg: Sensor w Bluetooth and General device w WiFi.

Support for multiple networking

Ethernet for premise networking
Cellular for WAN
Satellite for WAN

Support for network management,

security and application functions

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Sensors
A sensor measures some parameter
(physical, chemical, biological) and delivers
an electronic signal either analog or digital
The output of the sensor typically feeds a
microcontroller

Sensor can send data to the controller

periodically (active) or when a threshold is
exceeded
Sensor sends data when prompted by
controller (passive)

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Types of Sensors

10

Category

Function

Position

Detect changes in position

Motion

Detect movement

Inertial

Respond to changes in movement

Pressure

Detect exerted force

Optical

Detect presence of light

Image

Detect changes in a viewable image

Magnetic

Presence of a magnetic field

Media

Presence or amount of physical substance

Current, Voltage

Electrical changes

Temperature

Detect changes in heat

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Actuators
An actuator receives an electronic signal from
a controller and responds by interacting with its
environment to produce an effect on some
parameter of an entity
In the direct mode, the controller sends a signal
that activates the actuator
In the callback mode, the actuator responds to
the controller to report completion of an action
and awaits further instructions.
Types of actuators: hydraulic, pneumatic, electric,
mechanical

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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Interfaces for Sensors and Actuators

Analyze

Plan

Controller
Monitor

Execute

Sensor Interface

Actuator Interface
Active

Passive

Sensor

Callback

Direct

Actuator
Change

Environmental Characteristics
(Mechanical, Optical, Thermal, )
Ref: Stallings, Foundations of Modern Networking

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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Transceivers
A transceiver contains the electronic s needed to
transmit and receive data
Most IoT transceivers use WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth
or some other wireless means
A wireless transceiver typically has an antenna,
low noise and power amplifiers , filters,
modulator, demodulator and an oscillator

For IoT-driven applications, critical factors

include size, weight, power, and cost;
additionally, frequency and modulation protocols
are also important.
Most designs are highly integrated, often using
a system on a chip and miniature antennas
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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

Future of Device Technology

Integrated Circuitry extended battery life, low cost
Micromechanical Devices increases scope and uses
Miniaturized bio-chemical platforms nanotech, micro-fluids
Packaging flexible 3D
Energy harvesting and storage battery life becomes a non-issue
Virtual Devices separating and remoting control from actual sensing
Ref: Weldon The Future X Networks

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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

RFID An early version of IoT

RFID = Radio Frequency Identification

First patent in 1973, so has been around for years, though only took off last two decades
A unique identifier is transmitted via radio waves from a tag to a receiver
Tags can be passive or active
Range and data transfer rate depends on frequency
Passive tag receives radio energy from reader and just reflects it back
These are embedded in plastic cards, key fobs,
Inductive coupling between reader and tag powers the circuitry on the tag
RFID passive tags cost 10c, active up to $50, reader up to $1000
Range dependent on frequency used
125 KHz, 0.33 m; 13.56 MHz, 1m; 860 to 960 MHz, 3m

Active tag is a microchip consisting of a transponder (transmitter + responder) and an antenna

Radio frequency used 455 MHz, 2.45 GHz, 5.8 GHz
Range 20m to 100m
Usually of two types
One that wakes up when reader pings it (conserves power)
Other is a beacon that transmits at regular intervals (suited for location determination)
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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

RFID System Architecture

Host Computer
Host Memory Space
Antenna
Customer-Specific
Application Software

RFID tags

Application
Application
Program
Program
Interface
Interface
(API)
(API)

RFID API Software

(Communicates with the RFID Reader)

Reader

Ref: BCDS

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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

17

RFID Use Cases

Tags can be attached to
almost anything:
Pallets or cases of product
Vehicles
Company assets or personnel
Items such as apparel,
luggage, laundry
People, livestock, or pets
High value electronics such
as computers, TVs, camcorders
Ref: BCDS

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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

RFID Capabilities
Ability to read data without visual access
Ability to read data from moving objects
Ability to read data at distance, from 3cm to 100m
Ability to secure the tag data
Ability to update data in the tag (write)
Ability to have automated read of tags.
Ability to have the tag form to suit the application
Ref: BCDS

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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

RFID Example: Factory floor assembly line

Read speed up to 2.3 MB/sec
60+ items per container
Inexpensive tunnels

Longer tunnel more reads more items

Electronic receipt
Sorting

Electronic marking

Assembly Line

Ref: BCDS

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RFID Example: Factory floor hand reader

Batch

Wireless

Fixed Station
Ref: BCDS

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RFID Example: Factory floor - shipping

Bill of Loading
Material Tracking
Ref: BCDS

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RFID - Evolution
Impact of Cloud

23

Full impact of IoT

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

IoT Stack Four primary platforms for uniform IoT implementation

Analytics
Apps
3

App
enablement
SDP

Provisioning

Ops
support

HLR

CORE

Endpoints

Billing

Provisioning tool

Network
Access
network

Device management, data storage, APIs

Base
station

Cellular

Policy

Billing CDR

Device / Connection Mgmt.

Platform
Users provision and manage IoT
devices; also manage connectivity
billing, subscriptions, policies

FOTA/SOTA
Firmware, software, and
application
updates/upgrades over
the air

Gateway

Wired backhaul

IoT
Gateway

Non-Cellular

IoT Security
Comprehensive
security platform
(possibly managed
service) spanning
network and device
level security

Local Gateway
Localized, software defined network gateway connects
multiple devices across heterogeneous networks and
routes traffic efficiently

Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3

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End of Lecture

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Krish Prabhu, GIAN Lecture 3