Remote - Fall 2015 - (Page 14)

Feature Article How Can Remote Applications Grow with the Internet of Things? Sam Colley, CEO and Group Director of Operations Podsystem Inc. USA The Internet of Things is often hailed as being the answer to many of our problems, whether it is being used by businesses to gather data from their customers and make their operations more efficient or consumers connecting their devices to make their lives easier. In theory, it is easy to see how the data produced by so many connected devices will greatly improve our knowledge and our ability to make decisions. However, in practice reaching this utopia is much more difficult than we first imagined. There are many stumbling blocks in the way of ensuring a global roll out of the Internet of Things. Some of the most frequently discussed questions are how and when we will have a common standard for IoT devices, and how this will be put into practice globally. Another issue is how to deal with the huge amount of data generated by millions of connected devices. This "Big Data" will need to be combined with other data streams and analyzed in real time, converting it into a format that is useful for making decisions. There are many answers to these questions, and new technologies are being created to resolve them, for example platforms that allow data to be easily managed and converted into useful information. However, one topic that is not often discussed is that of connectivity. Connectivity is at the Heart of the IoT The fact that the connectivity of the applications is often overlooked is particularly ironic when you consider that it is the one thing that all IoT applications have in common. Although there are many different ways the devices can connect, in all cases their functionality relies on a stable connection to enable them to send data to other devices or to a central server. Depending on the type of application and where it is used, there are a whole series of wired and wireless options available to developers. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 802.15.4, Z-Wave, and DECT technologies are just some of the possibilities as well as connectivity via the cellular network. For short range applications, such as those used in the home or the office, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth as well as other low-energy wireless solutions are the most suitable. However for applications that are in constant movement globally or are based in remote locations the requirements are very different. Those used in agriculture or energy are often located in rural areas where the only possibility is connection via the cellular network. Remote Connectivity Demands a Different Approach Connectivity via the cellular network has obvious advantages, including global coverage. However in remote areas, even when a cellular connection is available, it can be patchy or unreliable. Users of traditional cellular devices have come to expect that in certain areas coverage may not be available due to the location, but M2M and IoT devices rely on the connection to send data regularly back to a central server. Often this data is mission critical or at least required in real time and a reliable connection is crucial to the functioning of the application. In remote areas that do have cellular coverage, the main question is which service provider to choose, since 14 www.RemoteMagazine.com ubiquitous coverage globally is practically impossible to achieve through just one service provider. For remote applications, it is important for the SIM card in the device to be able to detect the best signal in the area and attach to it, and then automatically switch networks if it loses the signal as the device moves around. This is achievable with multi-network SIM cards, which are designed to cover several networks in each country. The Need for Reliability and Control But there are other problems apart from the issue of coverage. Most multi-network SIM cards are provided by a core network which has agreements with local networks across the globe. Although the SIM can swap between the local networks if signal is not available, if there is a technical or commercial issue on the core network, the SIM will not be able to connect in any country. Unfortunately, no network is 100 percent reliable and technical issues can and do occur even on the largest networks, causing outages that are disastrous for any mission critical application. In addition, the pricing offered by the core network is dependent on agreements with the local networks in each country, which are subject to constant fluctuation. These issues could ultimately result in loss of connectivity or even the need to swap out the SIMs, a costly exercise especially if SIMs are located in rural or inaccessible areas. In addition, many device manufacturers are now moving towards the inclusion of embedded SIMs in their devices. In these cases changing the SIM card would mean a complete device rebuild, which is totally impractical. The need for the IoT provider to have direct control over the profile of the SIM card and the ability to change or update the connectivity options remotely as market conditions change is essential. The issue of reliability especially for remote and mission critical applications is highlighted in a recent report by Machina Research. The conclusion of this report is concerning since it is evident that networks are not currently structured to deal with the demands of the IoT, The sheer number of devices that would need to connect in remote areas and those that are in constant motion would cause problems for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), since they behave very differently to the consumer devices the infrastructure was originally designed for. IoT devices connect constantly sending small amounts of data on a regular basis, instead of the less regular data sessions initiated by consumer devices. IoT devices are also located in very different areas, often outside urban areas where MNOs have not planned for constant data connections. MNOs will need to change their approach to planning their infrastructure to take these factors into account. For remote and mission critical applications, it is fundamental that there is no downtime, so even if networks were able to quickly scale to the demands of the IoT, relying on one core network for global connectivity is an increasingly risky proposition. http://www.RemoteMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Remote - Fall 2015

Editor's Choice
Industrial Internet Solutions Improve Operational Efficiency for Fleet Operators
Driving Down Your Costs with Wireless Automation
Create a Better Remote HMI Mobile User Experience
Site Knowledge + Predictive Analytics = Maximum Availability and Business Continuity
How Can Remote Applications Grow with the Internet of Things?
IoT Can Change How Remote Sites and Assets Are Managed, But Only if Devices are Secure
Remote Monitoring and Predictive Diagnostics of Remote Power Systems
CCVT for Reliable Remote Applications
SCADA
Networking
Security
Onsite Power
Enclosures
Industry News

Remote - Fall 2015