Functional Blocks of IoT
An IoT system is made up of several functional blocks that work together to provide essential capabilities like identification, sensing, communication, control, security, and user interaction. Each block has a specific role in the overall architecture of an IoT system.
1. Device
- The core physical components of the IoT system.
- Responsible for sensing environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, humidity) and actuation (e.g., turning devices on/off).
- Also perform monitoring and control tasks depending on the use case.
2. Communication
- Manages data transmission between devices and other system components.
- Ensures seamless connectivity using wired or wireless protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRa, cellular).
- Enables real-time and remote control capabilities.
3. Services
- Provide essential backend services such as:
- Device monitoring
- Device control
- Data publishing
- Device discovery
- These services form the operational backbone of the IoT system.
4. Management
- Governs the entire IoT system by offering:
- Device provisioning and configuration
- Monitoring device health and performance
- Software updates
- System diagnostics
- Helps in efficient system maintenance and scalability.
5. Security
- Ensures the system is protected against threats and misuse by implementing:
- Authentication (verifying identities)
- Authorization (access control)
- Message integrity (preventing data tampering)
- Data security (confidentiality and encryption)
6. Application
- The user-facing interface for controlling and interacting with the system.
- Allows users to:
- Monitor system status
- Control connected devices
- View and analyze data
- Often implemented as web or mobile applications.
Conclusion: Each functional block in an IoT system plays a unique and critical role. Together, they create a reliable, secure, and interactive environment for smart automation and real-time decision-making.