History and Architecture of IoT

History of IoT

• The concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) originated in 1945 when Norman Joseph Woodland invented the barcode.
• Notably, the first patent for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology was granted to Mario Cardo in 1980.
• The first practical implementation of RFID technology is attributed to Kevin Ashton in the 1990s, while working at Procter & Gamble.
• Ashton's work with RFID tracking of inventory is why he is widely considered the "father of IoT."

M2M (Machine-to-Machine) IoT Architecture

• This architecture features three layers: Application, Service, and Network.

  Application Layer

  • Facilitates communication for various applications such as smart energy, automotive, home, healthcare, and energy.

  Service Layer

  • Provides application support services like communication, risk management, and application management.

  Network Layer

  • Enables communication between services and applications using network technologies like Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and CoAP.

Simplified IoT Architecture

• This architecture consists of four interconnected layers: Sensing, Network, Application Support, and Application.

  Sensing Layer (Device Layer)

  • Includes devices like sensors, actuators, RFID tags, human entities, and other data sources.
  • The layer collects and gathers data from various sources.

  Network Layer

  • Utilizes IoT gateways to enable communication between different layers.
  • It connects local services, data, and peer systems through the network.

  Application Support Layer

  • Houses software components like operating systems, application support systems, and resource management systems.
  • Performs crucial tasks such as data capture, information extraction, data analytics, and data privacy management.

  Application Layer

  • The highest level of abstraction in the architecture.
  • Integrates with smart applications, processes real-time data, and connects the physical world with the digital world.

Building Blocks of IoT

• Core components of an IoT system include:

  • Devices/Nodes/Sensors/Hardware: Essential for data collection and sensing.

  • Gateways/Local Processing Nodes: Support networking and data processing.

  • Communication/Connectivity: Enables data transmission through various means like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Cloud.

  • Software: Includes operating systems, protocols (e.g., CoAP, Zigbee), APIs, and embedded software.

  • Cloud: Provides storage, processing, and management of data collected from IoT systems.