10/2/19

The Internet of Things:

Architecture and Applications
(ELEC423)

Dr Valerio Selis

V.Selis@liverpool.ac.uk

Outline

• Technology evolution
• From devices to smart devices
• Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications
• Building the IoT
• M2M in the IoT
• A.B.C.D of the IoT
• Applications

Technology evolution
History of the Internet

1st mobile
JANET phone
ARPANET UK connected
(1969) (1984) (1996) IoT

TCP/IP WWW More

(1983) (1989) connected
devices
than
people
(2012-
2013)

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From devices to smart devices

Sensors:
• Input devices
• Convert a sensed physical quantity from the
environment to an electrical signal
• Mainly of two types:
• Passive (e.g. mic, PIR, CCTV cameras, etc.)
• Active (e.g. sonar, radar, etc.)
Actuators:
• Output devices
• Convert a digital signal into a physical effect in the
environment
• Adjust lights, temperature, etc.

From devices to smart devices

Tags:
• Devices containing an ID and other information
• Read by reader devices which sends the ID and the
information to the system

Every object can become a “thing” which looks

like an embedded system consisting of at least
four components:
• Sensors/actuators/tags
• Processing unit
• Communication unit
• Power supply

Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
Type of communication that enables
heterogeneous machines to communicate with
each other without human intervention.

M2M communications allow machines to:

• Collect data from the real world
• Manage this data
• Provide this data available to the end-user
• Use this data to achieve complex goals

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Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
Four main components:
• M2M Device : physical device used to collect
data from the real world which it then sends to
the network or to other M2M devices
• M2M Application : collects and manages data
from M2M devices
• Network: enables the connectivity among M2M
devices and M2M applications
• M2M Service Enablement: provides identical
functionalities among different M2M applications

M2M vs IoT
M2M IoT
Machines Everything
IP protocol and
Direct point-to-point
cloud-based platform
May not rely on “Things” must have
Internet connectivity Internet connectivity
Deployed for a specific Several locations connected
solution and location at the same time
Machines communicating
Machines communicating with with machines, humans with
machines machines, machines with
humans

Building the IoT

An architecture is a set of conceptual (data or

service) and actual (technology or protocol)
elements of the system, specifies their
relationships and principles for designing it.

A reference architecture provides an overview

of the system by specifying how it should work.

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Building the IoT

Definition of objectives
• E.g. separate application
from communication
Design principles
• Features required by the
system, e.g. protocol
Reference interoperability
Architecture

Building the IoT

Design

Identification of
recurring
problems or
solution types

Common
Reference Applied design
Architecture Architecture patterns

Building the IoT

Problem • Application and scenarios

Needs • System requirements
domain Problems • Legislation and technical constraints
Constraints
• Design objectives and principles
Concepts • Architecture view
Base technologies • Required capabilities and functions
Solution • Technology components
domain
• System design
System solution • SW and HW components
• Deployment view

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Building the IoT

Develop
Design

#!/usr/bin/env python
import socket
import subprocess
import sys
from datetime import da

# Clear the screen

subprocess.call('clear’,
shell=True)

Reference Applied System

Architecture Architecture Solution

From M2M to M2M in the IoT

Reference Architecture – M2M in the IoT

European Telecommunications Standards Institute, ETSI M2M High-Level Architecture, 2013

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M2M in the IoT

M2M Device/Gateway domain:
• M2M Device: physical smart device that replies to
requests or sends data; access to the Access
Network:
• Indirect connection: uses a M2M gateway via the
M2M Area Network
• Direct connectivity: runs M2M Applications and
uses M2M Service Capabilities
• M2M Gateway: gateway running M2M Applications
and using M2M Service Capabilities for providing
device inter-working and inter-connection
• M2M Area Network: provides the connection between
M2M Devices and M2M Gateways (LAN or PAN)

M2M in the IoT

M2M Network Domain:
• Access Network: allows M2M Devices and M2M
Gateways to communicate with the Core Network
• Core Network: provides IP connectivity, service and
network control functions, inter-connection with other
networks and roaming
• M2M Service Capabilities: provide M2M functions that
can be shared by different M2M Applications
• M2M Applications: specific applications using M2M
Service Capabilities
• Network Management Functions: functions required to
manage the Access and Core Network
• M2M Management Functions: functions required to
manage M2M Service Capabilities in this domain

M2M Device/Gateway classification

Type CPU Mem Power Comm OS Example

802.15.4
8-bit KiB (ZigBee), Main-loop, Arduino,
Basic 802.11
to to Battery Contiki, OperWRT
(µcontroller)
32-bit MiB (Wi-Fi), RTOS router
LoRa

802.11
Raspberry Pi,
Advanced 32-bit MiB (Wi-Fi), Linux,
Smartphones,
(general to to Fixed LoRa, Java,
Laptops,
purpose) 64-bit TiB LTE, 5G, Python
Servers
wired

Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Working Group, RFC7228, 2018

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M2M in the IoT – Abstraction

Users Servers

The
Internet

Gateway

Local
Network

“Things”

Communication

Sensors,
actuators, tags

European Telecommunications Standards Institute, ETSI M2M High-Level Architecture, 2013

? ? Question
?

??
?

A.B.C.D. of IoT

Big Data

Connectivity
Applications and
Communication

Devices with
intelligence
(“Things”)

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A.B.C.D. of IoT

Big Data

Connectivity
Applications and
Communication

Devices with
intelligence
(“Things”)

Applications
Applications are the main point of creating and
applying the Internet of Things
Many areas:
• Outdoor and environment monitoring
• Buildings and energy
• Safety and security
• Industrial and infrastructure
• Urban areas
• Person health
An application addresses a specific aspect of
the larger problems.

Applications
Categories
• Active-based application:
• Devices are use to interact with the physical
environment
• Feedback received can be used to make
changes in the interactions
• Event-based application:
• Devices report events from the environment and
occurrences
• Detection of anomalies and outliers
• Detection of complicated events carried out by a
number of devices in a specific area
• Detection of patterns and anomalies recognition

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Applications
Categories
• Periodic-based application:
• Device report measurements periodically
• Measurements can be collected based on a
periodic event
• Location-based application:
• Devices report changes in physical values (e.g.
luminosity intensity) depending on the location
• Collected information from different locations can
be used to characterise an area
• Tracking-based application:
• Devices report changes of their locations (e.g.
mobile devices)
• Information such as speed, direction, etc., can be
estimated to track an object

Applications
Requirements
• Autonomy: determined by the full control of their
execution (independency from external factors)
• Quality: accuracy of the information provided
• Reliability: ability to provide the service in case of issues
in the system (e.g. power shortage, devices damaged,
etc.)
• Scalability: number of devices that can be supported at
the same time
• Durability: lifetime of the service in case of issues in the
system
• Maintainability: ability to adapt to changes in the system
• Availability: ability to maintain the service active
depending on the environment
• Connectivity: interfaces and interactions with the real
world and other services

Applications
M2M applications vs IoT applications

M2M applications IoT applications

Depending on the
Must agree with the IoT
application area
requirements
Requirements (e.g. may not be
required to be (e.g. scalability,
connectivity, etc.)
scalable)
Environment interaction
Heterogeneity
May not be
Autonomous mechanisms Required
required
Data-centric and intelligence
Mobility
Security and privacy Required

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Applications
IoT applications

https://iot-analytics.com/product/list-of-1600-enterprise-iot-projects-2018/

Applications
IoT applications – Smart Cities

A Smart City involves the use of several intelligence

systems, e.g.:
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
• Intelligent Healthcare Systems (IHS)
• Intelligent Building Systems (IBS)
• …
The main challenges are:
• Space organisation with the increase in demand
• Management of infrastructures
• Management of resources
• Management of crisis (e.g. earthquake)
• Management of big events (e.g. concerts, olympics)
• …

Applications
IoT applications – Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
The main aim of ITS is to:
• Reduce fuel consumption
• Reduce CO 2 emissions
• Improve vehicle and driving safety
• Improve traffic efficiency
• …

The main types of networks for M2M comms are:

• Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V): information is exchanged
among devices
• Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I): information is exchanged
between devices and the IoT infrastructure
• Vehicle-to-Human (V2H): information is exchanged
between devices and humans

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Applications
IoT applications – ITS scenarios
• Improve navigation:
• Fastest route for the selected destination based on traffic,
accidents, weather conditions etc.
• Roadside signs used to alert drivers of possible
accidents, road congestion etc.
• Adjustment of traffic lights by considering the real-time
traffic flow
• Improve road safety:
• The vehicle alerts the user to any problem, e.g. low fuel
level, motor problems etc.
• Pedestrians crossing the road may be advised about
nearby cars that would not be able to stop in time
• In case of an accident, vehicles can call emergency
services automatically by providing the current location,
driver and passenger health status, number of vehicles
involved etc.

Applications
IoT applications – Intelligent Healthcare Systems (IHS)

The main aim of IHS is to:

• Improve patient-doctor relationships
• Increase human health conditions
• Increase patients’ health monitoring
• Decrease spread of disease
• Elderly care
• …

The main types of networks for M2M comms are:

• Wireless body sensor network: information is
exchanged between smart wearable sensors, external
smart devices (e.g. insulin injector) and the gateway
• Wireless network: information is exchanged between
the gateway and other smart devices in the environment

Applications
IoT applications – IHS scenarios

• Medical records of patients are available everywhere in

case of emergency
• Historical records can be used to prevent future health
problems
• Predictions and preventions of the spread of diseases
before these become a national or global risk
• In the event of an emergency, information from a user
may be used to alert the nearest ambulance
• Real-time advices can be given to the user for which
actions should be taken to prevent a disease

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Applications
IoT applications – Intelligent Building Systems (IBS)

The main aim of IBS is to:

• Optimize building energy consumption
• Improve building safety and security
• Optimize building occupancy
• …
Smart devices involved in the M2M comms:
• Smart meters
• Smart sensors
• Smart LED lights
• Smart closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras
• Smart lifts
• …

Applications
IoT applications – IBS scenarios
• The lighting system can be managed to reduce energy
consumption depending on:
• Users’ locations
• External and internal light levels
•…
• Number and location of users in big buildings (e.g.
shopping centres, airports, train stations etc.) can be
used to suggest the fastest way to reach a place of
interest (e.g. a shop, the gate, the platform, etc.) by
considering:
• The flow of people
• In which floors the elevators are on
• Escalator status
•…

Applications and Services

• Human: wearable devices or in-body devices for
human health, productivity, safety, etc.
• Home: home-based intelligent building system
based on automation, energy management, safety,
security, etc.
• Retail: stores-based intelligent building system
based on automated check-out, product
management, in-store offers, etc.
• Offices: similar to home but focused on improving
workers’ productivity and performance
• Factories: intelligent manufacturing processes
such as automated production, quality control, and
maintenance, etc.

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Applications and Services

• Worksites: intelligent working environments
(natural resource extraction, construction site, etc.),
based on optimising operations, sustainability,
managing unpredictable circumstances, etc.
• Vehicles: intelligent management of road signals
and devices (traffic lights, speed cameras, etc.),
and vehicles (cars, trains, buses, etc.), for
monitoring and behaviour management
• Cities: intelligent management of public spaces
and infrastructure for improving energy efficiency,
transportation of goods and people, etc.
• Outside: intelligent management of rural areas for
improving transportation, goods tracking and
logistic

Summary
Internet evolution

From devices to smart devices

Machine-to-Machine communications

Building the Internet of Things

M2M in the IoT

A.B.C.D. of IoT (Applications)

Next class?

Thursday at 10 a.m. in the

Electrical Engineering &
Electronics Building, Room E4
(ELEC-204, Building 235).

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