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The “Internet of Things” (IoT) is beginning to evolve and early solutions are now being implemented. We can find implementations in areas like logistics, farming, industry, home automation and many others. But its restrictions become obvious as we try to connect solutions of different vendors, communities or standard groups. From a business point of view the IoT enables a plethora of new opportunities, use cases and scenarios. From a technical point of view the IoT consists of uncountable devices, sensors or actuators or simply objects connected to services in the Internet. Today, devices and sensors speak a lot of different protocols, but most of them are not HTTP. That is why application development in the IoT is hard to be implemented. There is a lack of decent application integration layers. The next logical step is to use common Web technologies for the IoT. Identity management is one of the most important common technologies. Apart from adapting communication protocols an overarching identity framework is crucial for a growing IoT. Today we have many separated solutions and niche standards. As a consequence, there is no overall framework for how to recognize and manage identities across different solutions. That is why we decided to found a discussion group called “IDentities of Things” within Kantara Initiative.
The IoT from (a very simplfied) logical point of view
From a logical point of view we have three types of things.
- Sensors
- Data processor
- Actuator
Sensor (data collector)
A sensor is any device which detects and reports physical phenomena. Not all measuring devices are sensors. In order to qualify as a sensor the device must also report its findings. Reporting could take the form of allowing interrogation of results stored in memory, the broadcasting of results, or open/closing a switch to allow current to flow or cease flowing. Examples include the following:
- a thermometer the measures temperature
- a proximity switch which determines when something is within a fixed range of the sensor
a strain gauge which measures the torque on the deck of a bridge
- a NOx detector
- an automobile speed detector
Data Processor
A Data Processor transforms input data (typically from Sensors), applies policies (e.g., access management), and either reports the results or uses them directly to manage an actuator. A Data Processor may receive input from a Sensor measuring the angle of the sun in order to calculate the optimal position of a solar array. It might then send instructions to an Actuator to turn the array towards the sun.
Actuator
An Actuator is a device that causes a physical action when prompted by a Data Processor, or directly by a human. Actions could include opening/closing a circuit, starting/stopping a motor, sounding an alarm, or detonating an explosion. Actuators can do more than merely start or stop an action. They could also cause a vehicle to change speed. Typically, however, Actuators are digital on/off devices and variable control is provided by incorporating a Data Processor to manage the amount of time the Actuator is on or off.
Object Identifiers (Scott)
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