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Physical layer IoT protocols
Perhaps the most significant influence on the functionality and service of your IoT solution comes from physical and data link layer protocols. These standards specify the kind of network that your device is dependent on, thereby defining the type of coverage, signal strength, power consumption, and data throughput that you will encounter.
WiFi
IEEE 802 serves as the foundation for the Wi-Fi family of wireless network technologies. It creates a Local Area Network for nearby devices. Wi-Fi networks are common in homes and offices and can provide high data throughput, but walls and other simple structures can weaken the signal, and almost all Wi-Fi networks use the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency bands, which makes them susceptible to interference.Additionally, it uses more power than protocols created with Internet of Things devices in mind.
LTE (Long Term Evolution)
LTE, a 4G technology built on 2G and 3G cellular infrastructure, speeds up data, video conferencing, VoIP, and multimedia streaming. Although extensively utilized and providing great coverage, LTE is pricey and unsuitable for battery-powered IoT devices. Consequently, there is an LTE CAT-1 variation for IoT use cases that is less complicated and expensive, although it is still impractical for battery-operated devices.
GSM
The way 2G (second generation) cellular networks function is outlined by the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). It is currently the most used network technology in Internet of Things applications despite being thirty years old because of its accessibility, cost, and ease of usage. IoT makers must assess the dangers of sticking with GSM or utilizing it as a backup as MNOs shut down their 2G networks.
GPRS
2G networks can be upgraded to General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), often known as 2.5G. Higher data rates and extra services, such as “always on” Internet access and Internet apps for Internet of Things devices, are offered.
UMTS
3G, or the third generation of cellular networks, is now almost synonymous with Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS). Compared to GSM, it provides larger bandwidth, more effective use of the radio spectrum, and more sophisticated cellular features, like as video transmission. Because it offers higher throughput than GSM while using less power than 4G LTE, UMTS has gained popularity in the Internet of Things. However, carriers are retiring their 3G networks to make room for newer networks, as UMTS is nearly 20 years old. Therefore, depending on the deployment location, using UMTS could be risky because the standard could not be as durable as your device.
5G
5G networks aim for 10 and 20 Gbps upload and download speeds. Download and upload speeds average 100 and 50 Mbps. The theoretical peak speeds are 100 times faster than 5G, which is multiple times faster than 4G. It is currently too early to employ 5G in the Internet of Things due to device costs and energy consumption, even though early 5G technology has been deployed in industrialized nations.
Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT)
A specialized cellular network designed for the Internet of Things is called narrowband IoT (NB-IoT). Devices can use frequencies inside a carrier’s approved bands and consume less power with this standard, especially when they are not transmitting. Although it enables devices to utilize power-saving capabilities, it also has disadvantages. The primary one is that NB-IoT does not offer redundant coverage, and global deployments necessitate several providers due to the difficulty of roaming.
LTE-M
One kind of 4G cellular network created especially for the Internet of Things is called Long Term Evolution Machine Type Communication, or LTE-M. With ten times faster data rates and improved coverage with to roaming between networks, LTE-M delivers many of the same benefits as NB-IoT. (Notably, indoor penetration for NB-IoT is marginally better.)
NFC (Near Field Communication)
NFC expands on RFID to connect devices within 1.5 inches (4 cm). NFC lets the other device access online services when one is connected to the Internet. Through uses like tap-to-pay, this specialized protocol nevertheless plays a significant part in day-to-day activities.
PLC (Power Line Communication)
To enable IoT connection, PLC makes use of the energy infrastructure that is already in place. Power lines offer both electricity and the infrastructure needed for data communications with PLC. PLC is a rather straightforward connectivity solution because it leverages pre-existing infrastructure, but regrettably, it is also not very dependable. Data transmissions can and do get disrupted by electrical currents.
MIoTy
MIoTy is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) standard that offers effective, extensive connection for industrial Internet of things applications through the utilization of unlicensed frequency bands and telegram splitting. In order to increase transmission resistance to interference, it divides data into subpackets and applies error-correcting codes before to transmission. The MIoTy Alliance has standardized and made MIoTy open source.
LoRa (Long Range)
The physical layer standard that enables LoRaWAN is called LoRa. Spread spectrum modulation is used to facilitate multiple-access communications, boost signal strength, and enhance security. The chirp spread spectrum is expanded upon by LoRa to disperse signals over a larger bandwidth. 169 MHz, 433 MHz (Asia), 868 MHz (Europe), and 915 MHz (North America) are unlicensed low frequency bands that are used by LoRa.
LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network)
The communication protocol that expands on LoRa to link devices to a network is called LoRaWAN. This particular LPWAN standard was created for Internet of Things applications. It operates well indoors, has good coverage, and consumes very little power. You must, however, install and maintain your own equipment unless you can locate a LoRaWAN vendor that offers coverage in the region you’re deploying. When you have several deployments, this might be particularly difficult.
Sigfox
There is only one Sigfox network operator per nation, and Sigfox networks only use relatively narrow frequency bands. Retail establishments, the industrial Internet of things, and smart alarm systems all employ this standard. However, although Sigfox has a 1,000-kilometer coverage range, devices using it can only send and receive very short messages, which prevents firmware updates and data-intensive operations.
Neocortec
Neocortec is a proprietary mesh networking protocol that prioritizes simplicity and claims “cable-like reliability.” Data is transmitted across nodes until it gets to its final location. Neocortec’s providers acknowledge (TCP-like) and un-acknowledge UDP-like data transit, much like IP networks do. It is designed to be easy to build with, low maintenance, and quick to set up. Manufacturers must construct and oversee their own on-site infrastructure in order to use this IoT connectivity solution. Neocortec makes use of unlicensed frequencies like 2.4GHz and 868 and 915 MHz.
Weightless
The Weightless alliance is the driving force behind Weightless, an open Low Power networking standard protocol that operates in unlicensed sub-GHZ bands. Each of the three separate Weightless standards uses a different piece of technology.
- Weightless-W – operating in TV whitespace
- Weightless-N – offering uplink only LPWAN communication
- Weightless-P – providing bi-directional LPWAN communication
Due to Weightless-P’s popularity, the other standards have been abandoned, and Weightless-P has been rebranded as solely Weightless.
Devices with Weightless capabilities can connect over kilometers with a Weightless base station with the Weightless ultra ultra narrow-band (12.5 kHz) LPWAN technology. Compared to LoRaWan, radio resource scheduling has the advantage of efficient and collision-free data transfer.
Industry-specific IoT application protocols
In order to maximize and enhance networking capabilities for specific use cases, it is not uncommon for novel protocols to arise in the telecommunications industry. The following are some instances of protocols that were created with a particular IoT industry or application in mind.
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol)
For electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an open standard communication protocol. Security, transactions, diagnostics, device management, and other aspects are made easier by defining the interactions between EV charging stations and a central system, primarily the Charging Station Management System (CSME). Newer OCPP protocols allow WebSocket and JSON over WebSocket communication, while SOAP was used initially.
IEC 62056
IEC 62056-21 is a set of electrical meter standards. The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) created the protocols, which specify data exchanges for tariff and load control in addition to meter reading. This protocol aims to standardize these communications across international borders.
OBD2/CAN bus
A car’s electrical systems and its OBD port can communicate with each other according to the On Board Diagnostics 2 (OBD2) protocol. One of these systems uses OBD2 to send the appropriate Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to the OBD port when it malfunctions. These days, ODB2 is used to record telematics data about vehicles, including temperature, speed, fuel consumption, and tire or brake pressure. In addition to OBD2, the CAN bus is a protocol that specifies how communication between the vehicle’s microcontrollers occurs.
OPC UA
OPC Unified Architecture (UA) is an open-source, interoperable communication protocol used in industrial IoT, particularly for data sharing between cloud-based sensors and connected sensors. Because it isn’t dependent on any one operating system, programming language, or communication protocol, this incredibly flexible protocol can also be used in non-industrial settings.
Wireless M-bus
A specific European standard for smart meter connectivity is called Wireless M-bus. Devices are interacting with a central gateway or data logger in a star-like structure. With its wide use in Europe, the Wireless M-bus protocol suite, which spans the physical and link-layer (EN 13757-2) and application-layer (EN 13757-3), has good interior penetration based on the usage of low frequencies (169, 433, and mostly 868 MhZ). But because there is no certification standard for this open source protocol, manufacturers and providers using it aren’t necessarily compatible.
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