1 IoT Fundamentals: Definitions, Architectures, Challenges, and Promises
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• Communication: Cloud platform can be leveraged with the help of IoT to deliver
scalable domain-independent services by providing appropriate service-oriented
domain mediators.
• Resource pooling: Physical resources of IoT can be integrated into the cloud
resource pool enabling us to allocate and share them on demand like regular
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
• Storage: IoT drives a real tsunami of big characterized by volume, variety, and
velocity. In this context, IoT benefits from large-scale and long-lived storage of
the cloud.
• Computation: Data processing is typically a very resource-hungry task. Therefore, IoT can benefit from virtually unlimited processing resource of cloud to
aggregate data and execute batch and/or real-time analytics on the collected data.
• Device shadowing or digital twin: Another benefit available through cloud
computing is device shadowing. The concept here is to have a backup of running
applications and devices also running in the cloud. Any time there is a fault
or failure in the original device or application; the twin can be examined to
extract the result or to help in diagnosing the problem. System availability can be
increased by using the digital twin as software redundancy. If the original system
needs to be taken offline for maintenance, the twin can continue the operation
uninterrupted; it can also provide system behavior statistics and behavior profiles
for the original system at decreased risk.
1.1.7 IoT and Digitalization
Gartner defines “digitalization” as leveraging digital technologies to change business models and provide new revenue and value-producing opportunities. The
process of updating a business to digital technologies is an evolutionary one and
indeed has been happening for decades. The process is enabled by increased interoperability, information transparency across departments and industries, automated
assistance and support, and a trend toward decentralized decision-making. In this
context, IoT is considered as the major pillar for digitalization. The other important
pillars are blockchain, big data, and machine learning.
1.1.8 IoT and Industry 4.0
The phrase “Industry 4.0” is rooted in a high-tech, German government research
and development project in the manufacturing industry. It was initially coined at
the Hannover Fair in 2011. Although there is some difference of opinion around the
definition of historical industrial revolutions, Industry 4.0 is considered as the fourth
industrial revolution. The initial industrial revolution occurred in the late 1800s and
is responsible for mechanizing the power of steam and water. The second industrial
17
• Communication: Cloud platform can be leveraged with the help of IoT to deliver
scalable domain-independent services by providing appropriate service-oriented
domain mediators.
• Resource pooling: Physical resources of IoT can be integrated into the cloud
resource pool enabling us to allocate and share them on demand like regular
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
• Storage: IoT drives a real tsunami of big characterized by volume, variety, and
velocity. In this context, IoT benefits from large-scale and long-lived storage of
the cloud.
• Computation: Data processing is typically a very resource-hungry task. Therefore, IoT can benefit from virtually unlimited processing resource of cloud to
aggregate data and execute batch and/or real-time analytics on the collected data.
• Device shadowing or digital twin: Another benefit available through cloud
computing is device shadowing. The concept here is to have a backup of running
applications and devices also running in the cloud. Any time there is a fault
or failure in the original device or application; the twin can be examined to
extract the result or to help in diagnosing the problem. System availability can be
increased by using the digital twin as software redundancy. If the original system
needs to be taken offline for maintenance, the twin can continue the operation
uninterrupted; it can also provide system behavior statistics and behavior profiles
for the original system at decreased risk.
1.1.7 IoT and Digitalization
Gartner defines “digitalization” as leveraging digital technologies to change business models and provide new revenue and value-producing opportunities. The
process of updating a business to digital technologies is an evolutionary one and
indeed has been happening for decades. The process is enabled by increased interoperability, information transparency across departments and industries, automated
assistance and support, and a trend toward decentralized decision-making. In this
context, IoT is considered as the major pillar for digitalization. The other important
pillars are blockchain, big data, and machine learning.
1.1.8 IoT and Industry 4.0
The phrase “Industry 4.0” is rooted in a high-tech, German government research
and development project in the manufacturing industry. It was initially coined at
the Hannover Fair in 2011. Although there is some difference of opinion around the
definition of historical industrial revolutions, Industry 4.0 is considered as the fourth
industrial revolution. The initial industrial revolution occurred in the late 1800s and
is responsible for mechanizing the power of steam and water. The second industrial