Functional Blocks of an IoT Ecosystem
Sensors, Actuators, and Smart Objects
Control Units
Communication modules (Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wifi, GPS, GSM Modules)
1. ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINERING
OCS352- IOT CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS L T P C
2 0 2 3
Presented by
Dr. D. Binu,
Associate Professor,
EEE Department,
RCET.
February 26, 2024 OCS352 - IOT CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS 1
2. UNIT-2
COMPONENTS IN INTERNET OF
THINGS
ďą Functional Blocks of an IoT Ecosystem
ďą Sensors, Actuators, and Smart Objects
ďą Control Units
ďą Communication modules (Bluetooth, Zigbee, Wifi, GPS, GSM Modules)
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3. Functional Blocks of an IoT Ecosystem
The functioning blocks of Internet of Things devices vary based on their complexity and intention. But some
of the common usable functioning blocks of IoT devices are Sensors, Processors, Connectivity Modules,
Power supply, Memory and storage, User Interface, Security, Actuators, & data Processing & analytics
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5. Schematic representation of a Smart City ecosystem
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6. INTRODUCTION OF SENSORS AND ACTUATORS
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7. INTRODUCTION OF SENSORS AND ACTUATORS
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8. SENSORS
ďą Sensorsare fundamentalbuildingblocksof IoTnetworks.
ďą Sensors arethe foundationalelements foundinsmart objectsâthe
âthingsâinthe Internet of Things.
ďą Smart objects are any physical objects that contain embedded
technology to sense and/or interact with their environment in a
meaningful way by being interconnected and enabling
communication among themselves or an external agent.
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9. Parameters Transducers Sensors Actuators
Definition Converts energy
from one form to
another
Converts various forms
of energy into electrical signals
Converts electrical signals into
various forms of energy,
typically mechanical
energy
Domain Can be used to represent
a sensor as well as an
actuator
It is an input transducer It is an output transducer
Function Can work as a sensor
or an actuator
but not simultaneously
Used for quantifying environmental
stimuli into signals.
Used for converting signals into
proportional mechanical or
electrical outputs
Examples Any sensor or actuator Humidity sensors, Temperature Sensors
Anemometers (measures flow velocity),
Manometers (measures fluid pressure),
Accelerometers (measures the
acceleration of a body), Gas sensors
(measures concentration of specific gas or
gases), and others
Motors (convert electrical
energy to rotary
motion), Force heads (which
impose a force),
Pumps (which convert rotary
motion of shafts into either a
pressure or a
fluid velocity)
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS
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10. Sensors
⢠Sensors can measure or quantify or respond to the ambient changes in their
environment or within the intended zone of their deployment.
⢠Generate responses to external stimuli or physical phenomenon through input
functions and their conversion into electrical signals.
⢠It is insensitive to any other property besides what it is designed to detect
⢠Asensor does not influence the measured property
Simple Sensing Operation
6
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11. A sensor node
ďą Combination of a sensor or sensors, a processor unit, a radio unit,
and a power unit.
ďą The nodes are capable of sensing the environment they are set to
measure and communicate the information to other sensor nodes or a
remote server.
7
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12. The functional blocks of a typical sensor node in IoT
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14. Sensors in a Smart Phone
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15. Sensing Types
ďą Sensing is divided into 4 categories based on the nature of the environment being
sensed and the physical sensors being used to do: 1) scalar sensing, 2) multimedia
sensing, 3) hybrid sensing, and 4) virtual sensing
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16. Categories of sensors
Active or passive:
ďą Sensorscanbe categorized basedonwhether theyproduce an energy output
and typicallyrequire anexternal powersupply (active).
ďą Whether theysimply receive energy andtypicallyrequire no external power
supply (passive).
Invasive or non-invasive:
ďą Sensorscanbecategorized basedon whether a sensor is part of the environment
it is measuring (invasive)
ďą External to it (non-invasive).
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17. Contact or no-contact
ďą Sensorscanbe categorized basedon whether theyrequire
physical contact with what they are measuring(contact) or not (no-contact).
Absolute or relative:
ďą Sensors can be categorized based on whether they measure on an absolute scale
(absolute) or basedon a difference witha fixed or variable reference value (relative).
Categories of SensorsâŚ..
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18. Categorization based on what physical phenomenon a sensor is
measuring
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22. ďąAmachine or systemâs component that can affect the movement or control the said
mechanism or the system.
ďąControl systems affect changes to the environment or property they are controlling through
actuators.
ďą The system activates the actuator through a control signal, which may be digital or analog.
ďą The outline of a simple actuation system.
Actuators
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27. Hydraulic actuators
ďą Works on the principle of compression and decompression of fluids.
ďą Facilitates mechanical tasks such as lifting loads through the use of hydraulic
power derived from fluids in cylinders or fluid motors.
ďą The mechanical motion applied to a hydraulic actuator is converted to either linear,
rotary, or oscillatory motion.
ďą The almost incompressible property of liquids is used for exerting significant force. These
hydraulic actuators are also considered as stiff systems
ďą The actuatorâs limited acceleration restricts its usage.
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28. Pneumatic actuators
ďą Works on the principle of compression and decompression of gases
ďą These actuators use a vacuum or compressed air at high pressure and convert it into either linear or
rotary motion
ďą Pneumatic rack and pinion actuators are commonly used for valve controls of water pipes.
ďą Pneumatic actuators are considered as compliant systems and has quick response to starting
and stopping signals.
ďą Small pressure changes can be used for generating large forces through these actuators.
ďą Example: Pneumatic brakes, it convert small pressure changes applied by drives to generate the
force required to stop or slow down a moving vehicle.
ďą Responsible for converting pressure into force.
ďą The power source in the pneumatic actuator does not need to be stored in reserve for its operation.
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29. ďąElectric actuators
ďąElectric motors are used to power an electric actuator by generating
mechanical torque.
ďąThis generated torque is translated into the motion of a motorâs shaft or for
switching.
ďąFor example, solenoid valves control the flow of water in pipes in response
to electrical signals.
ďąThe cheapest, cleanest and speedy actuator types
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30. Thermal or magnetic actuators
ďą The use of thermal or magnetic energy is used for powering this class of actuators.
ďą These actuators have a very high power density and are compact, lightweight
and economical.
ďą Example: shape memory materials (SMMs) such as shape memory alloys (SMAs)
ďą These actuators do not require electricity for actuation.
ďą They are not affected by vibration and can work with liquid or gases.
ďą Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) are a type of magnetic actuators.
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31. Mechanical actuators
ďąThe rotary motion of the actuator is converted into linear
motion to execute some movement.
ďąThe use of gears, rails, pulleys, chains and other devices are
necessary to operate.
ďąUsed in conjunction with pneumatic, hydraulic or
electrical actuators
ďąAlso work in a standalone mode.
ďąExample: hydroelectric generator convert the water-flow
induced rotary motion of a turbine into electrical energy
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32. Smart Objects
⢠Smart objects are, quite simply, the building blocks of IoT.
⢠Smart objects are any physical objects that contain embedded technology to
sense and/or interact with their environment in a meaningful way by being
interconnected and enabling communication among themselves or an
external agent.
⢠They are what transform everyday objects into a network of intelligent objects
that are able to learn from and interact with their environment in a meaningful
way.
⢠If a sensor is a standalone device that simply measures the humidity of the
soil, it is interesting and useful, but it isnât revolutionary.
⢠If that same sensor is connected as part of an intelligent network that is able
to coordinate intelligently with actuators to trigger irrigation systems as
needed based on those sensor readings, we have something far more powerful.
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33. Trends in Smart Objects
1. Size is decreasing:Some smart objects are so small they are not even visible to the
naked eye. This reduced size makes smart objects easier to embed in everyday
objects.
2. Power consumption is decreasing:The different hardware components of a smart
object continually consume less power.
3. Processing power is increasing:Processors are continually getting more
powerful and smaller.
4. Communication capabilities are improving:wireless speeds are
continually increasing, but they are also increasing in range.
5. Communication is being increasingly standardized: There is a strong push in the
industry to develop open standards for IoT communication protocols. In addition, there
are more and more open source efforts to advance IoT
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34. Limitations of the smart objects in WSNs
1. Limited processing power
2. Limited memory
3. Lossy communication
4. Limited transmission speeds
5. Limited power
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35. Control Units:
⢠It is a unit of small computer on a single integrated circuit
containing microprocessor or processing core, memory and
programmable input/output devices/peripherals.
⢠It is responsible for major processing work of IoT devices and all logical
operations are carried out here.
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37. ⢠Bluetooth is a technology standard used to enable short-
range wireless communication between electronic devices.
⢠Since Bluetooth operates on radio frequencies, rather than
the infrared spectrum used by traditional remote controls,
devices using this technology do not have to maintain a line of
sight to communicate.
BLUE TOOTH
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40. OCS352 - IOT CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS
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41. Short range wireless application areas
Voice Data Audio Video State
Bluetooth ACL/HS x Y Y x x
Bluetooth SCO/eSCO Y x x x x
Bluetooth low energy x x x x Y
Wi-Fi (VoIP) Y Y Y x
Wi-Fi Direct Y Y Y x x
ZigBee x x x x Y
ANT x x x x Y
State = low bandwidth, low latency data
Low Power
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42. How much energy does traditional Bluetooth use?
ďąTraditional Bluetooth is connection oriented.
ďąWhen a device is connected, a link is maintained, even if there is no data flowing.
ďąSniff modes allow devices to sleep, reducing power consumption to give months
of battery life.
ďąPeak transmit current is typically around 25mA
ďąEven though it has been independently shown to be lower power than other radio
standards, it is still not low enough power for coin cells and energy harvesting
applications.
29
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43. What is Bluetooth Low Energy?
ďąBluetooth low energy is a NEW, open, short range radio
technology
ďśBlank sheet of paper design
ďśDifferent to Bluetooth classic (BR/EDR)
ďśOptimized for ultra low power
ďśEnable coin cell battery use cases
ď< 20mApeak current
ď< 5 uAaverage current
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44. Basic Concepts of Bluetooth 4.0
ďąEverything is optimized for lowest power consumption
ďśShort packets reduce TX peak current
ďśShort packets reduce RX time
ďśLess RF channels to improve discovery and connection time
ďśSimple state machine
ďśSingle protocol
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45. Bluetooth low energy factsheet
Range : ~ 150 meters open field
Output Power : ~ 10 mW (10dBm)
Max Current : ~ 15 mA
Latency : 3 ms
Topology : Star
Connections : > 2 billion
Modulation : GFSK @ 2.4 GHz
Robustness : Adaptive Frequency Hopping, 24 bit
Security :CRC 128bitAES CCM
current : ~ 1ÎźA
Modes : Broadcast, Connection, Event Data Models, Reads, Writes
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46. Bluetooth
ďą Bluetooth is focused on connectivity between
laptops, PDAâs as well as more general cable
replacement.
ďą It can only connect two devices at once.
ďą It can support the less number of nodes.
ďą Battery use increased on device.
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48. Introduction
ďą Technological standard created for control and sensor networks.
ďą Based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard it can provide the wireless personal
area network.
ďą Zig Bee specification is to be simpler and less expensive compare with the
other WPNâs such as Bluetooth.
ďą Designed for low power consumption allowing batteries to essentially last
for ever.
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49. ďą ZigBee is focused on control and automation.
ďą ZigBee uses low data rates, low cost, low power
consumption and work with small packet device.
ďą ZigBee network can support a larger number of
devices and a longer range between devices than
Bluetooth.
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51. Zigbee device types
Zig bee system structure consists of three
different types of devices such as
ďą Zig bee Coordinator(ZC)
ďą Zig bee Router(ZR)
ďą Zig bee End devices (ZED)
⢠Each Zigbee network has one Zigbee Coordinator (ZC) to
form the root of the network.
⢠A Zig bee End devices (ZED) provides only basic
functionality and cannot send or receive directly with
other devices.
⢠A Zigbee Router (ZR) passes data between devices
and/or the coordinator; it can also run applications.
⢠A network can run in either a beacon or beaconless mode.
⢠If operating in beacon- enabled mode,
ďą routers periodically transmit;
ďą devices may turn off in between beacon transmission to
save energy.
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52. Network topologies
The number of routers ,coordinators and end
devices depends on the type of network
such as
ďStar Topology
ďMesh Topology
ďCluster tree Topology
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54. Zig Bee Network Topologies
⢠Star Topology
⢠Advantage
⢠Easy to synchronize
⢠Low latency
⢠Disadvantage
⢠Small scale
⢠Mesh Topology
⢠Advantage
⢠Robust multi hop communication
⢠Network is more flexible
⢠Lower latency
⢠Disadvantage
⢠Route discovery is costly
⢠Needs storage for routing table
⢠Cluster Tree
⢠Advantages
⢠Low routing cost
⢠Allow multi hop
communication
⢠Disadvantages
⢠Route reconstruction is costly
⢠Latency may be quite long
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55. Zig Bee Network
⢠In future all devices and their controls will be based
on this standard.
⢠Since Wireless Personal Area networking applies not only to
house hold devices, but also to individualized office automation
application , zigBee is here stay it is more than likely the basis of
future home networking solution.
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56. Zigbee protocol features include:
⢠Support for multiple network topologies such as point-to-point, as
point-to-multi point,
⢠Low duty cycle â provides long battery life
⢠Low latency
⢠Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)-modulation technique
⢠Up to 65,000 nodes per network
⢠128-bit AES encryption for secure data connections
⢠Collision avoidance, retries and acknowledgements
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57. Zigbee Applications
⢠Zigbee enables broad-based deployment of wireless networks with
low-cost, low-power solutions.
⢠It provides the ability to run for years on inexpensive batteries for a
host of monitoring and control applications.
⢠Smart energy/smart grid, AMR (Automatic Meter Reading),
lighting controls, building automation systems, tank monitoring,
HVAC control, medical devices and fleet applications are just some
of the many spaces where Zigbee technology is making significant
advancements.
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58. Wi-Fi
⢠Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity or Frequencies, which
allows multiple computers to communicate and provides a
means to connect to the Internet from the access point to
the computer or laptop.
⢠Wi-Fi networking technology combines and transmits
Data and Information between devices using different
bands of radio waves.
⢠Wi-Fi is a widely used technology in today's smartphones
and PCs.
⢠Like a mobile phone, a Wi-Fi network uses Radio Waves to
send data across a network.
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59. Wi-Fi
⢠The computer should include a wireless adaptor that converts data transferred to
a radio signal.
⢠The identical signals deliver to a router decoder through an Antenna.
⢠After decoding, the data is sent to the Internet over a connected Ethernet
connection.
⢠Because the wireless network is bidirectional, data from the Internet will also
transit via the router and coded into a radio signal that the computer's wireless
adapter will receive.
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60. Wi-Fi In IoT
⢠Because Wi-Fi is so vulnerable to malicious assaults, a microchip is
required for connectivity between devices in the IoT and robust
firmware to maintain the device's Wi-Fi credentials.
⢠Wi- Fi-enabled IoT devices are frequently massive immovable hubs.
⢠There are, however, smaller gadgets that are Wi-Fi capable.
⢠If we want to use Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi IoT device must be reasonably
close to the Wi-Fi access point.
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61. WiFi-enabled IoT vs. Bluetooth-enabled IoT.
ďą Speed
⢠In terms of speed, Wi-Fi offers a maximum speed faster than Bluetooth IoT.
⢠Wi-Fi IoT devices have a minimum data rate of 54 Mbps, whereas Bluetooth devices
have a data rate of just 3 Mbps.
⢠The reason is that Bluetooth is better for delivering tiny data files, such as numerical
numbers, from a Bluetooth-enabled IoT timepiece. At the same time, Wi-Fi is better for
sending essential data files, such as HD films and photographs.
ďą Location detection
⢠Through the Bluetooth IoT and Wi-Fi IoT devices to which they are linked, Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth may properly transmit location information.
⢠On the other hand, Bluetooth is more dependable due to its closeness. In this scenario,
the better alternative is determined by the accuracy and precision required by the
equipment in use.
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62. WiFi-enabled IoT vs. Bluetooth-enabled IoTâŚ..
ďą Security:
⢠Although Bluetooth does not have a secure IoT protocol, the available security is
sufficient for most uses.
⢠On the other hand, Wi-Fi offers a safer choice, especially useful when working
with sensitive data.
ďą Proximity detection
⢠The proximity data offered by BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) in IoT is substantially
more exact than that provided by its Wi-Fi equivalent in terms of proximity
detection.
⢠It is crucial to note that while neither option guarantees 100 percent accuracy, the
Bluetooth option is preferred.
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63. Advantages of Wi-Fi in IoT
⢠We can transport a wireless data from one location to another.
⢠We can reduce the expense of cables by using wireless network
communication devices.
⢠Wi-Fi setup and configuration are much more straightforward than
wiring.
⢠It is fully secure and will not disrupt any network.
⢠We may also use hot spots to connect to the Internet.
⢠Wireless internet access is possible.
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64. Disadvantages of Wi-Fi
1. Wi-Fi emits radiation that is harmful to human health.
2. When we are not utilizing the server, we must terminate
the Wi-Fi connection.
3. There are certain limitations to data transfer; we cannot
transport data across great distances.
4. When compared to a conventional connection, Wi-Fi
deployment is more costly.
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65. Applications of Wi-Fi
1. Apps for smartphones
2. Applications for business
3. Applications for the home
4. Computerized software
5. Automotive industry
6. Video conferencing while surfing the Internet
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66. Global Positioning System (GPS)
⢠The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system that allows users to
determine their exact location on the earth's surface.
⢠GPS has become an essential tool for a variety of applications, including navigation,
surveying, mapping, and tracking.
⢠GPS uses satellites to monitor the movement of anything equipped with such a
GPS tracking device, including automobiles, humans, and even pets.
⢠It operates in any weather condition and offers precise location updates in real-
time.
⢠As one of the earliest ways to track and disseminate digital information from the real
environment, GPS has significantly impacted IoT technology.
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67. Global Positioning System (GPS)âŚ.
⢠The Internet of Things (IoT) may gather and measure enormous amounts of data on
anything from individual health to public transportation; GPS tracking is required to
provide location information for such objects.
⢠A more reliable and easily accessible data set can be built using GPS and the
Internet of Things.
⢠In the same way that GPS pinpoints the precise location of a vehicle, the Internet of
Things is able to monitor moving items and collect data on their movements in
real time.
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68. How Does GPS Function
⢠GPS satellites complete two accurate orbits around the
planet every day.
⢠An individual satellite's signal and orbiting parameters can
be decoded and used to pinpoint the satellite's location via a
GPS receiver.
⢠This data, together with triangulation, is used by GPS receivers
to pinpoint the precise location of its owners.
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69. Benefits of GPS Integration in IoT
⢠The integration of GPS with IoT can help organizations to optimize their
operations and simplify complex processes, reducing downtime and
increasing efficiency.
⢠Tracking vehicles in real-time can reduce transport time, simplify
logistical planning, and optimize delivery schedules.
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70. Challenges and Limitations of GPS in IoT
⢠The accuracy of GPS tracking is limited and is affected by
physical and environmental factors such as signal
interference, weather, and the location of the receiver.
⢠Issues with privacy and data security must also be addressed
when implementing GPS tracking in IoT devices.
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71. Real-World Applications of GPS in IoT
⢠Smart Transportation and Fleet Management
⢠Precision Agriculture and Environmental Monitoring
⢠Personal Tracking and Wearable Devices
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72. GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks
GSM standards divide networks into four distinct parts:
1. Mobile Station
2. Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
3. Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
4. Operations Support System (OSS)
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73. 1.Mobile Station
⢠The Mobile Station is essentially the access point someone uses to
connect to the network.
⢠Itâs a device (such as an alarm system) with a Subscriber Identity
Module (SIM).
⢠The SIM associates the device with an individual subscriber, which
allows the device to connect to the nearest Base Station Subsystem.
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74. 2.Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
⢠The BSS contains Base Transceiver Stations and a Base Station
Controller.
⢠The Base Transceiver Stations include components like receivers and
antenna, which allows connected devices to send and receive signals,
and the Base Station Controller allows the Base Transceiver
Stations to relay signals through the network, via the Network and
Switching Subsystem.
⢠With the introduction of the GPRS core network and its support nodes
(GGSN and SGSN), the NSS began playing a role in data connections as
well.
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75. 3.Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
⢠The Network and Switching Subsystem is a term for the major
components of a 2G core network.
⢠The NSS originally helped facilitate connection-oriented voice calls with
the Home Location Register (HLR), Authentication Center (AuC),
Message Service Center (MSC), and Visitor Location Register
(VLR).
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76. 4.Operations Support System (OSS)
ďąThe Operations Support System is a conglomeration of processes, data,
applications, and tech that allows providers to manage their network.
Carriers can use their OSS to:
1. Configure network elements
2. Manage and configure the services they offer
3. Handling system errors and managing the systemâs state
4. Monitor performance based on quality of service and quality of
experience KPIs
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77. Is GSM still useful?
⢠GSM networks are now three decades old, and there are three
generations of cellular networks with far higher data transfer rates,
more secure connections, and advanced networking capabilities.
⢠Over the years, telecommunications organizations have implemented
upgrades to get more mileage out of GSM-based networks, but in several
countries 2G is coming to an end.
⢠This doesnât have much impact on consumers, as phones usually support
multiple technologies.
⢠But GSM has been one of the most popular connectivity choices in
cellular IoT. Modern IoT manufacturers need to evaluate whether 2G
connectivity is still a viable option for their application in the region
where they want to deploy.
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78. Choose the right connectivity for your application
⢠GSM played a foundational role in modern cellular communications.
And while some operators are transitioning to newer networks, this
technology is still immensely popular for its global availability and
extremely low-cost connectivity.
⢠As operators expand their infrastructure for affordable alternatives like
LTE-M and NB-IoT, 2G will become less relevant.
⢠But until then, itâs still an attractive solution for many cellular IoT
applications.
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