Comparative analysis of communication standards for IoT networks

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the hottest trends in modern technology. IoT networks enable the connection of physical devices, such as sensors, control devices, electronic appliances and other everyday objects, to the Internet, which can exchange data and be controlled remotely. This opens up limitless possibilities for creating intelligent systems that can automate processes and manage resources based on data and analytics.

IoT networks are currently being used in many areas, including the smart home, smart cities, healthcare, Industry 4.0 and transportation. However, along with the great benefits of IoT networks come challenges such as security issues, management complexity and standardization. Therefore, in order to successfully use IoT networks, it is necessary to understand their basics, architecture, protocols and challenges.

The networks under consideration have many reasons to use them, including the ability to automate processes and optimize time and costs, improve resource management to save money and resources, secure people and property with surveillance cameras, smoke and gas leak detectors, and create new business opportunities through data collection and analysis.

Fundamentals of IoT networks

There are many protocols and standards for Internet of Things networks that are used to ensure interoperability and synchronization between devices, networks and applications. Let's take a look at some of the protocols that can be considered for building a solid waste landfill environmental monitoring system:

Z-Wave is a proprietary wireless radio protocol used in smart home control devices and IoT networking. The protocol was developed by the Z-Wave Alliance and supports communication between devices up to 100 meters indoors and up to 400 meters outdoors. Z-Wave operates at 800-900 MHz in North America and 868.42 MHz in Europe, which provides wider coverage range and better penetration of walls and other obstacles. Z-Wave also provides a high degree of data security and privacy using AES-128 hardware encryption.

The Z-Wave protocol is used in many projects to manage smart homes and smart cities, as well as to provide security and comfort to residents. Some examples of projects where Z-Wave is used:

• Fibaro Home Center: Fibaro is a smart home system that uses the Z-Wave protocol for communication between devices. The Home Center is a central controller that allows you to control all Fibaro devices in the house.
• ADT Pulse: ADT Pulse is a home security system that also uses the Z-Wave protocol. It allows residents to control access, lighting and temperature in the house via the internet.
• Heatit Z-TRM3: Heatit Z-TRM3 is a thermostat based on Z-wave technology, designed to control underfloor heating and space heating. It allows you to control heating systems from your smartphone or tablet via an app and supports temperature programming for different times of day.
• SmartThings: SmartThings is a smart home platform that also uses the Z-Wave protocol. It allows residents to control their smart home through a mobile app and automate tasks using smart scripts.
• Zipato: Zipato is another smart home system that uses the Z-Wave protocol. It allows residents to control lights, temperature, security systems, and other devices in the home with one central controller.

Sigfox

Sigfox is a wireless communications network designed to connect IoT devices that transmit small amounts of data over long distances. It uses a unique communication protocol that operates on unlicensed frequencies, achieving wide coverage and low cost.

The basic idea behind the Sigfox network is that devices send short messages (up to 12 bytes) to the Sigfox cloud, which then passes them to an application server, where they are processed and displayed in the user interface. In this way, the network allows information from multiple devices located over long distances to be transmitted to a central application server for further processing.

The Sigfox network was developed to meet the requirements of industry, where long-distance wireless communication with low power consumption and reliability is often required. The Sigfox network is used in a variety of industries, including agriculture, transportation, logistics, healthcare, defense, and security.

Examples of Sigfox network uses include asset tracking, environmental monitoring, energy management, air quality control, level and temperature sensors, equipment condition monitoring, and more. Because of its simplicity and reliability, the Sigfox network makes it possible to develop new IoT solutions and use them in a variety of industries.
Some of the real projects using the Sigfox network:

• Water metering automation - Birds uses the Sigfox network to transmit water consumption data from sensors installed on water meters to water management servers.
• Temperature monitoring in industry - Axible Technologies uses the Sigfox network to transmit temperature and humidity data inside production facilities. This data is used to optimize production conditions and prevent equipment damage.
• Home Security - Avidsen uses the Sigfox network to transmit data from motion sensors, doors and windows installed in users' homes. This data is used to monitor security and alert homeowners if an illegal entry is detected.
• Truck Condition Monitoring - OCEASOFT uses the Sigfox network to transmit temperature and humidity data in trucks carrying sensitive cargo, such as medical supplies or food products. This data is used to ensure cargo quality and prevent damage to goods.
• The Ubigreen system, a French cloud platform editor of the same name, provides energy and workplace management solutions to improve the performance of commercial buildings, industrial equipment and public buildings.

LTE-M

LTE-M (Long-Term Evolution for Machines) is a cellular communications standard designed to connect Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It operates on the basis of LTE (Long-Term Evolution) networks, which are used for mobile communications.

The LTE-M network (LTE-MTC or LTE Cat-M1) is used in many IoT projects that require low-power, low-latency data transmission. Some examples of projects using the LTE-M network:

• Vehicle Condition Monitoring: LTE-M networked devices can be used to collect and transmit vehicle condition data such as fuel consumption, oil level, tire pressure, etc.
• Smart Home: the LTE-M network can be used to connect smart home devices such as motion sensors, door locks, thermostats, lighting, etc. This allows you to monitor and control devices from anywhere in the world.
• Cargo Tracking: LTE-M-based devices can be used to track the movement of cargo and obtain data on its location, temperature, humidity, and other parameters. This improves the efficiency of logistics operations and reduces the risk of cargo loss.
• Smart farming: the LTE-M network can be used to monitor weather, soil, humidity and other parameters that affect crop production. This makes it possible to increase crop yields and optimize the use of resources.
• Medical devices: medical data, such as pulse, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, etc., can be transmitted using LTE-M-based devices. This makes it possible to monitor patients' condition in real time and notify medical personnel if necessary.
• NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) is a low-speed, low-consumption standard for data transmission in Internet of Things (IoT) networks. It operates in licensed frequency bands and uses narrow bandwidths to transmit data over long distances.

NB-IoT

NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) is a low-speed, low-power standard for data transmission in Internet of Things (IoT) networks. It operates in licensed frequency bands and uses narrow bandwidths to transmit data over long distances.

The NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) protocol is used in a variety of IoT-related projects. Some examples:

• "Smart agriculture: NB-IoT is used to monitor soil, air, and weather conditions, as well as to optimize irrigation systems. This approach reduces the cost of water and fertilizer use, improves crop yields, and reduces environmental impact.
• Truck Condition Monitoring: NB-IoT is used to collect and transmit data on the remaining fuel supply, location and other truck parameters. This improves logistics efficiency and reduces fuel costs.
• Smart City: NB-IoT is used to collect and transmit data on noise levels, air quality, light levels and other parameters of the urban environment. This data allows the city authorities to make decisions on reducing pollution and improving the comfort of the citizens.
• Security system: NB-IoT is used in home and commercial security devices, such as motion detectors and door locks. They can transmit alarms and other information to security servers in real time, enabling a rapid response to possible threats.
• Health data collection: NB-IoT is used in medical devices, such as heart rate sensors and sleep monitors, to collect and transmit patient health data to doctors' servers. This allows doctors to get more accurate information about patients' conditions and take better measures to treat and prevent disease.

Zigbee

Zigbee is a wireless communications standard used in small-scale IoT networks such as the smart home. It provides reliable data transmission over short distances with low power consumption. Here are some examples of projects that use Zigbee:

• Philips Hue is a smart bulb control system that uses the Zigbee protocol to communicate between the bulbs and the controller. This system allows users to control the color and brightness of lights and create different moods and lighting scenarios.
• Amazon Echo Plus is a smart speaker with a built-in Zigbee controller that can control smart devices such as lamps, outlets, thermostats and other devices that use the Zigbee protocol.
• Samsung SmartThings is a smart home control system that uses the Zigbee and Z-Wave protocols to communicate between devices. The system allows users to control lights, thermostats, locks, cameras and other devices.
• IKEA Trådfri is a control system for smart lights and other devices that also uses the Zigbee protocol. The system allows users to control lights, create lighting scenarios and control other devices using the Zigbee protocol.

LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a long-range wireless communications standard used in smart cities and environmental monitoring systems.

The LoRaWAN protocol has found applications in various fields, including urban planning, agriculture, industry and transportation. Some of the actual projects using LoRaWAN include:

• "Smart City" in Amsterdam, Netherlands - an urban network that uses LoRaWAN to connect a variety of devices, including sensors for temperature, water level, lighting, etc. This data is used to optimize urban systems and improve the comfort of city residents.
• Severn River Water Level Monitoring System, UK - uses a LoRaWAN network to connect sensors that measure water levels and transmit data to a central database. This allows residents to be notified of possible flooding and to take action to prevent damage.
• Agriculture in India - LoRaWAN is used to monitor and control vegetation in rice fields, allowing agricultural producers to optimize fertilizer use and improve yields.
• Building energy management system in France - LoRaWAN is used to connect sensors that measure energy consumption and transmit data to a central control system. This reduces energy costs and optimizes energy consumption.
• The Dutch Refrigerator and Freezer Temperature Control System - LoRaWAN is used to communicate sensors that monitor the temperature and humidity in refrigerators and freezers. This allows store operators to quickly detect any malfunctions and prevent food from spoiling.

In addition, there are standards that define the architecture and protocols for the interaction of IoT devices, such as the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), Thread, and AllJoyn standards.

Internet of Things (IoT) network architecture defines the structure and interaction between network components, including devices, sensors, actuators, network elements, and clouds. In general, the architecture of the IoT can be divided into three layers:

• The Device layer is the layer where physical devices such as sensors, controllers, and actuators are located. These are usually linked through wireless or wired networks to the network layer and transmit data and control commands.
• Network layer - This layer is where data and commands are transferred between devices. It includes network protocols and technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRaWAN and others. This layer may also contain local area networks such as a smart home, and wider networks such as a smart city.
• Application layer - This is the layer where applications and services use data from devices to analyze, make decisions, and manage. This layer can include cloud services that process data and deliver results back to IoT devices.
• In addition, some IoT architectures include additional layers, such as a security layer, an analytics layer, and a management layer. These layers provide additional functionality for IoT networks, such as data protection, data analytics, and device and network management.

Problems and Challenges of IoT Networks

Despite the many benefits, IoT networks also face a number of problems and challenges that need to be addressed to enable their wider use. Here are some of them:

Security: As the number of devices connected to the Internet increases, the likelihood of cyberattacks and data security breaches increases. Security of IoT networks is a critical aspect, and requires the development of appropriate security measures, such as data encryption and device authentication.

Management complexity: Managing IoT networks can be challenging because of the large number of devices connected to the network, as well as the need to ensure the reliability and efficiency of the network. Solving this problem requires the development of more convenient and efficient methods of network management.

Compatibility: There are many different devices and technologies used in IoT networks, which can lead to compatibility issues between devices. The development of standards and networking protocols is an important aspect of solving this problem.

Power consumption issues: Many devices in IoT networks run on battery power, which can lead to problems with device uptime and power consumption. There is a need to develop better ways to manage the power consumption of devices.

Reliability: Reliability of IoT networks is critical, especially in areas where a device or system failure could have serious consequences. Solving this problem requires developing reliable methods for testing and monitoring the performance of devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, IoT networks are in a phase of rapid development and expansion in various areas of industry and the home. They have great potential to improve efficiency, optimize resources, and improve people's quality of life.

However, IoT networks also have their own challenges and problems related to security, privacy, reliability, standardization and data management. To use IoT networks effectively and securely, it is important to develop and implement appropriate standards and regulations.

As technology advances and new applications emerge, IoT networks will continue to expand and become more and more in demand in a variety of areas. The future of IoT networks involves the use of artificial intelligence, wireless communication technologies, augmented and virtual reality, autonomous systems and more.