You can ’ t wait for the final standards to emerge . You need to build IoT systems now .
mainly the ones that continue to develop them . One key thing to understand is that the IoT requires a ton of technology to make it work , from wireless communications to data security to communications between devices . A single standard is unlikely to cover everything , just as a single standard cannot cover the way your laptop works .
IoT Communication Standards : Take Your Pick
Network communications is core to the IoT . it is about how these devices talk to each other , as well as to centralized servers . And the standards to which you should pay close attention deal with communications at the most primitive levels .
IEEE 802.11ah
Wi-Fi will remain at the heart of most home networks . But the IoT needs lower-power communications technology for devices that use batteries . Enter IEEE 802.11ah , a version of Wi-Fi with lower power consumption that is due for approval as a standard in 2016 . According to the IEEE , however , this standard is still evolving .
The Wi-Fi Alliance has introduced the term “ Wi-Fi HaLow ” as the designation for products incorporating IEEE 802.11ah technology . This standard operates in frequency bands below 1 GHz , which translates into longer-range , lower-power connectivity to Wi-Fi-certified products .
Bluetooth Smart
Bluetooth is another popular communications protocol for IoT devices . The version of Bluetooth for the IoT is a low-power version called Bluetooth Smart ( or
Low Energy ). it is expected to add a longer range and support for mesh networking capability , where each IoT device acts as a communication node that relays communication from itself and other nodes back to a central control system .
Z-Wave
Z-Wave , another IoT communications standard , is more of a de facto standard than a traditional one approved by a standards body or industry consortium . it is a low-power mesh networking technology licensed by Sigma Designs . Zwave operates at 908.42 MHz in the US ( 868.42 MHz in Europe ), and enables a single mesh network to support up to 232 nodes .
ZigBee
ZigBee , developed by the ZigBee industry alliance , is another mesh network based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard that is designed to be used in low-power home devices . The technology defined in the ZigBee spec was purpose-built for the IoT , driving communications with less expensive devices .
6LoWPAN
This strangely named standard is an IPv6-only version of IEEE 802.15.4 mesh networking . It grew out of “ the Internet Protocol [ that ] could and should be applied even to the smallest devices .” This means that low-power devices with limited processing capabilities should work and play well with IoT systems .
ULE
The ULE ( Ultra Low Energy ) alliance recently introduced ULE , a low-power version of the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications ( DECT ) cordless telephone network technology , which is the
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