IoT Architecture and Core IoT Modules

The edge computing and IoT ecosphere starts with the simplest of sensors located in the remotest corners of the earth and translates analog physical effects into digital signals (the language of the Internet). Data then takes a complex journey through wired and wireless signals, various protocols, natural interference, and electromagnetic collisions, before arriving in the ether of the Internet. From there, packetized data will traverse various channels arriving at a cloud or large data center. The strength of IoT is not just one signal from one sensor, but the aggregate of hundreds, thousands, potentially millions of sensors, events, and devices.

This chapter starts with a definition of IoT versus machine-to-machine architectures. It also addresses the architect's role in building a scalable, secure, and enterprise IoT architecture. To do that, an architect must be able to speak to the value the design brings to a customer. The architect must also play multiple engineering and product roles in balancing different design choices.

This chapter provides an outline to how the book is organized and how an architect should approach reading the book and performing their role as an architect. The book treats architecture as a holistic exercise involving many systems and domains of engineering. This chapter will highlight:

• Sensing and power: We cover the transformation of physical to digital sensing, power systems, and energy storage.
• Data communication: We delve into the communication of devices using near-meter, near-kilometer, and extreme-range communication systems and protocols as well as networking and information theory.
• Edge computing: Edge devices have multiple roles from routing, to gateways, edge processing and cloud-edge (fog) interconnect. We examine the role of the edge and how to successfully build and partition edge machines. We also look at communication protocols from the edge to the cloud.
• Compute, analytics and machine learning: We then examine dataflow through cloud and fog computing, as well as advanced machine learning and complex event processing.
• Threat and security: The final content investigates security and the vulnerability of the largest attack surface on earth.