By Barnaby Lewis
The Internet of Things (IoT), like many great ideas, is a simple concept. By connecting objects to the Internet, we can unite the power and possibilities of the virtual and the built world.
Combining two aspects of life that usually operate in isolation presents huge opportunities for more efficient use of resources. Industry already makes use of the IoT to streamline product development and manufacturing processes, while individuals are starting to enjoy the possibility of a home that interacts with them, providing heat, light, security, and even food adapted to their needs.
The reality of connecting hundreds of millions of people, devices, and services is, of course, highly complex. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), through its joint committee with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), is creating standards that underpin this massive global project.
The group of experts who create standards for the Internet of Things and related technologies recently published three new standards that will help realize the potential of the IoT.
ISO/IEC 21823-2 specifies a framework and requirements for transport interoperability to enable the construction of IoT systems with information exchange, peer-to-peer connectivity, and seamless communication both between different IoT systems and also among entities within an IoT system.
ISO/IEC TR 30164 describes the common concepts, terminologies, characteristics, use cases, and technologies (including data management, coordination, processing, network functionality, heterogeneous computing, security, and hardware/software optimization) of edge computing for IoT system applications. Edge computing is a branch of technology that underpins remote computing and storage services, such as “the cloud.”
ISO/IEC TR 30166 applies to general Industrial IoT (IIoT) systems and landscapes, outlining characteristics, technical aspects, and functional as well as non-functional elements of the IIoT structure and a listing of standardizing organizations, consortia, and open-source communities with work on all aspects on IIoT.
About the author
Barnaby Lewis is digital communication specialist at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
This article first appeared on the ISO website and is published here with permission.