If you are curious about how IoT works, probably you know why IoT is important. Let’s see in a short explanation how the Internet of Things technology works,
1.Device connection:
First, the IoT device or hardware needs to connect to the internet. This is necessary in order to guarantee the information it collects can be sent to a cloud application or software.
The device connection is done thanks to different IoT protocols, gateways, and sensors that work together to communicate with the internet. Some connections can be done through Wi-Fi or cellular networks. A good firmware company is necessary to ensure the connectivity performance of the IoT device.
2.Data collection:
Once the last step is completed, the devices can begin to collect data. Which data are the devices going to collect? Well, it depends on the purpose of the IoT device, the place where it is located, and the sensors it has. For example, these devices can collect data from the environment, such as temperature or motion (for security issues or protection of assets), as well as data about their own performance: battery level or status.
There is a whole rising market around information collected from IoT products (what is IoT analytics?). And many companies are developing several platforms and applications that allow them to process large amounts of information in a short period of time.
3.Data transmission:
The collected data is then transmitted over the internet to a central location, such as a cloud server or data center. It is necessary to bear in mind that it is necessary to implement security measures to protect the data from potential threats such as cyber attacks.
4.Data processing:
Once the data is received in the cloud, app, or software, it is analyzed. This analysis can include a special filter for eliminating unnecessary data, or errors from the data collecting. The software needs to clean the data to make it easier for the user to understand it.
5. Action:
The final step is taking action. Based on the insights and recommendations generated from the data collected by the IoT device.
What actions can be taken? For example, things like turning on or off the lights that are consuming a lot of energy in a room, or sending an alert to a maintenance team when a machine is in need of repair in a company.
Example of how IoT works
Since IoT allows to connect objects, appliances, and other devices through the internet, there are many IoT devices examples to analyze. However, to give you a clear image, let’s talk about a motion sensor.
You are working in your office, and your house is alone, or maybe your dog is taking care of the place. Through IoT motion sensors, you can receive alerts on your phone if the sensors detect movement in specific places of the house.
First, the motion sensors are connected to the internet. Second, they are constantly scanning the place to detect sudden movements or alterations of the surroundings. Third, the sensors send their report to your phone, fourth, you receive an alert in your phone that displays a message of “Motion detected”. And fifth, with the alert in your phone, you decide to check on the cameras you have installed to confirm if the alert is because somebody broke into your house, or on the other hand, if your dog is just playing around with the sofa cushions.
You may be interested in these IoT terms
