Version: 2 Status: Review Woo web of Objects Project
Machine to Machine Communication
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Machine to Machine CommunicationMachine-to-Machine (M2M) Communication is a paradigm shift from machine-to-human communication. M2M communication is basically enabling communication between electrical, electric or mechanical devices. This basically removes humans out of the equation making it possible that machines perform all the human related tasks. M2M communication can be between wired or wirelessly connected machines. But the obvious benefits of cost, management, and early and ubiquitous penetration make a strong case for wireless M2M communication. Figure 3.3 provides overview of eco system of M2M smart services as envisioned by Intel [WSAN61]. M2M networks need to be reliable, scalable, secure, and manageable. However, they also have their unique challenges that must be resolved by the wireless standards bodies [WSAN62]:
Fig. 3.: M2M Ecosystem of Smart Service [WSAN61] An M2M network standardized by ETSI is composed of five key elements [WSAN63]:
These five elements constitute the three domains of M2M system specified by ETSI, i.e., M2M component working in device domain, M2M area network and gateway in network domain, and M2M server and communication network in application domain [WSAN64]. M2M communication has generated much interest in academia and industry that innovative solutions are emerging for different application domain. Pertinent to this project, the authors in [WSAN65] discuss the architecture for home M2M network. Their proposed architecture is shown in Fig. 3.4. 
Fig. 3.: Proposed home M2M network architecture [WSAN65] Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging paradigm that realizes the concept of pervasive and ubiquitous computing with the inclusion of sensors, actuators, mobile devices and even product information tags using RFID. Within the scope of IoT all these “smart things” are addressable uniquely, able to interact with their environment, react to any event and even work with other things to accomplish assigned tasks [WSAN66]. Basic motto of IoT is that connecting with anything or anyone or anytime from any place (Fig. 3.5). Sensors and actuators are typical examples of such smart things. IoT itself is amalgamation of various technologies as depicted in the Fig. 3.6. 
Fig. 3.: IoT objectives [WSAN68] IoT paradigm has opened up door for many exciting applications, which were not possible before. These new applications will very much improve the lives of the people and even help them in everyday tasks. We are somewhat familiar with the concept of temperature control sensors, which dynamically control the room temperature based on humidity etc. Similarly our daily life equipment like refrigerators, ovens, vehicles and even shower mixers can be equipped with smart devices to let the hot, warm or cold water through its mixer without human intervention based on the surrounding temperature. 
Fig. 3.: Internet of Things paradigm [WSAN66] Similarly these smart devices can be used by city authorities to monitor sewerage lines, water pipes, oil pipelines etc. for any leakage and report to the control centre in real time. Industrial process control is another avenue where these smart devices will be able to track the production, transport and the life of off-the-shelf products. This literally means using millions of devices in just one global chain like Amazon or Wal-Mart. Figure 3.7 shows the list of possible smart applications from different domains. 
Fig. 3.: Example IoT applications While these and many other possible scenarios are quite exciting for the general public, IoT also provides opportunities for network operators to provide services to the manufacturers, vendors, and end user to generate more revenue. But the real challenges come from the issue of providing support for these services and providing connectivity to these billions of smart devices. IoT brings lots of research challenges that must be solved before the realization of true IoT paradigm. Such challenges include mobility support, naming of things, transport and network layer protocols that cater the varying requirements of IoT applications, QoS and QoE issues, security, privacy, authentication and authorization issues. There is also need for standardization effort that provides a global IoT standard for interoperability and ease with which compatible applications can be developed. Figure 3.8 illustrates a list of standards and protocols that are relevant to IoT [WSAN67]. IoT is an integrated part of Future Internet including existing and evolving Internet and network developments and could be conceptually defined as a dynamic global network infrastructure with self-configuring capabilities based on standard and interoperable communication protocols where physical and virtual “things” have identities, physical attributes, and virtual personalities, use intelligent interfaces, and are seamlessly integrated into the information network [WSAN68]. The vision of IoT is that in near future everything and anything that can be connected to the Internet will be connected. Not only that it will be addressable, accessible, have ability to perform different tasks all with the aim to provide better life and easy management of everyday tasks.
Fig. 3.: IoT standards and protocols [WSAN67]
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