IoT gateway


Gateway (Gateway) is also known as the network gateway, protocol converter. The gateway implements network interconnection above the network layer. It is the most complex network interconnection device and is only used for different network interconnections of two high-level protocols. Gateways can be used for both WAN and LAN interconnections. A gateway is a computer system or device that acts as a conversion. The gateway is a translator between two systems that use different communication protocols, data formats or languages, or even completely different architectures. Unlike bridges that simply convey information, the gateway repackages the received information to suit the needs of the destination system. The basic function of 4G industrial gateways is to connect two heterogeneous networks, which is especially common in industrial IoT scenarios, where sensor networks often use electrical signals and protocols that are completely different from the normal network layer (long-haul transmission networks). 4G industrial gateway function composition Network layer signal interface It mainly undertakes the docking task of network layer signals. Compared with the perceptual layer signal interface, the network layer signal interface is generally much simpler, because usually the entire system only needs one standard long-distance network and its protocol, so the corresponding hardware interface and data transceiving software is relatively simple. However, this is not to say that it can only support one type. In practical applications, manufacturers of industrial gateways are often designed to support multiple forms of long-haul networks to achieve product versatility. A specific form can be a way to configure multiple interfaces at the same time, or you can design a product in the form of a configuration plug-in card so that users can choose different configurations to configure when they leave the factory. The sensor layer signal interface is mainly responsible for the docking of the signals of various devices in the sensor network. The module includes hardware interfaces for interfacing different electrical signals, as well as corresponding data acquisition and command transmission software. In order to solve the complexity of the sensing layer, industrial gateway vendors will equip the hardware interface and protocol combination of the sensing layer signal interface according to their respective target application areas. In-Place Database In some scenarios for complex data processing or other in-place business logic processing, the processed data also needs to be stored in the gateway local database. Since industrial gateways generally belong to embedded computing devices, such databases also generally use embedded databases. The embedded database is simple in function and has a memory buffer to improve access speed. Local Business Logic It primarily handles the business logic of the devices, sensors, and actuator-related local systems connected to the sensor-associated sensor network portion. The richness and complexity of the local business logic modules of different gateways vary widely. If there is no such functional module in the industrial gateway, it is often referred to as a data transfer gateway, protocol converter or communication manager. For a detailed description of the in-place business logic, see Edge Calculation. Data Processing Device-side data processing mainly solves data mismatch problems. That is, the scope, frequency, integrity, etc. of the data required by the server. The purpose of data processing is to sort the data in the input interface, convert it to a data format suitable for output, and push it to the output interface. The input and output can be played by the device or server, so the data stream is bidirectional and varies depending on the type of data. Other Features In addition to the main modules above, the gateway often configures its functional user interface, either using buttons, command lines (via Telnet or serial ports), or using a graphical interface (such as a built-in web server or even a panel). If the gateway has the appropriate business logic, it may also need tools to load script files, configuration files, and so on, all of which are required by local business logic. As a remote device, the self-maintenance of 4G industrial gateways is also very important. In general, you need to take advantage of your own connection to the server, automatically download your own software update package from the server and complete the update. Partial setup and configuration work should also be done through remote login to reduce the on-site maintenance costs of expatriates and improve the response speed to user needs.

The Internet of Things gateway will play a very important role in the future Internet of Things era, and it will become the link between the connection-aware network and the traditional communication network. As a gateway device, the IoT gateway can realize the protocol conversion between the sensing network and the communication network and different types of sensing networks. It can realize wide area interconnection and local area interconnection. In addition, the IoT gateway needs to have the device management function. The operator can manage the underlying sensing nodes through the IoT gateway device, understand the related information of each node, and realize remote control. Figure 1 schematically shows a typical topology of the Internet of Things built with an IoT gateway.

Features
1.Broad accessibility

Currently, there are many technical standards for short-range communication, and only common WSNs technologies include Lonworks, ZigBee, 6LowPAN, and RUBEE. Various technologies are mainly developed for an application, and there is a lack of compatibility and system planning. At present, domestic and foreign companies have already started standardization work for IoT gateways, such as 3GPP and sensor working groups, to realize interconnection and intercommunication of various communication technology standards.

2.Manageability

Strong management capabilities are essential for any large network. First, you need to manage the gateway, such as registration management, rights management, and status monitoring. The gateway implements the management of nodes in the subnet, such as obtaining the identity, status, attributes, and energy of the node, as well as remotely implementing wakeup, control, diagnosis, upgrade, and maintenance. Due to the different technical standards of subnets and the complexity of protocols, gateways have different management capabilities. It is proposed to manage different sensing networks and different applications based on the modular IoT gateway mode, and ensure unified management of the stub network nodes by using a unified management interface technology.

3.Protocol conversion capability

Protocol conversion from different sensing networks to access networks, unified encapsulation of data in the standard format of the lower layer, ensuring that protocols of different sensing networks can become unified data and signaling; parsing packets sent by upper layers into sensing Signaling and control instructions that the layer protocol can recognize.

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