What is the Internet of Things?

Abstract

Summary The internet of things (IoT) aims at closing the gap between objects in the material world, the “things,” and their logical representation in information systems. It is perceived by proponents as the “next-generation network (NGN) of the Internet”. The IoT operates in conjunction with real-time processing and ubiquitous computing. Using internet protocol version6 (IPv6) with its abundant address spaces, globally unique object (thing) identification and connectivity can be provided in a standardized manner without additional status or address (re)processing—hence, its intrinsic advantage over internet protocol version4 (IPv4) or other schemes. Some see the four “pillars” supporting or defining the IoT: (i) machine-to-machine (M2M) / machine-type communications (MTC) as the “Internet of devices”; (ii) radio frequency identification (RFID) as the “Internet of objects”; (iii) wireless sensor networks (WSN) as the “Internet of transducers”; and (iv) supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) as the “Internet of controllers”. Controlled Vocabulary Terms IP networks; next generation networks; radiofrequency identification; SCADA systems; wireless sensor networks