IoT & Its Applications – Vocabulary Flashcards

Key vocabulary terms and definitions covering fundamental concepts, protocols, architectures, hardware platforms, security, and networking technologies discussed in the IoT & Its Applications lecture.

Internet of Things (IoT)

A paradigm in which everyday physical objects are embedded with sensors, processors, and communication ability to exchange data over the Internet.

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Communication

Direct data exchange between devices without human intervention, often viewed as the predecessor of IoT.

Sensor

A device that detects or measures physical properties and converts them into data for monitoring or control.

Actuator

A device that receives a control signal and produces a mechanical movement or other physical effect in the environment.

Smart Object

An IoT node combining sensors/actuators, processing, and networking to interact intelligently with its surroundings.

Enabling Technologies

Key technologies such as sensors, embedded processors, wired/wireless networks, cloud, and analytics that make IoT possible.

Fog Computing

Architecture that extends cloud services to the network edge, enabling local processing and low-latency analytics near IoT devices.

Edge Computing

Computation performed directly on or close to IoT endpoints to shorten response time and reduce cloud traffic.

Cloud Computing

On-demand network access to shared computing resources (servers, storage, applications) delivered as services over the Internet.

IoT World Forum (IoTWF) Reference Model

Seven-layer architecture defining control flow from cloud to edge, covering devices, connectivity, edge computing, data accumulation, data abstraction, application, and collaboration processes.

Core IoT Functional Stack

Layered view of IoT including Things (sensors/actuators), Communications Network, and Applications & Analytics.

Constrained Node

IoT device with limited power, memory, or processing resources requiring optimized protocols.

Constrained Network

Low-bandwidth, lossy, or high-latency network that links constrained IoT devices.

OSI Model

Seven-layer framework (Physical to Application) for standardizing network functions.

TCP/IP Model

Four-layer practical networking model (Network Access, Internet, Transport, Application) underpinning the Internet.

IEEE 802.15.4

Low-power, low-data-rate wireless standard forming the basis of ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, and other IoT stacks.

IEEE 802.11ah (Wi-Fi HaLow)

Sub-GHz Wi-Fi amendment offering long-range, low-power connectivity for IoT applications.

LPWAN (Low-Power Wide-Area Network)

Category of long-range, low-bit-rate wireless technologies designed for battery-powered IoT devices.

LoRaWAN

Unlicensed-band LPWAN protocol using chirp spread spectrum modulation for long-range, low-power IoT networking.

NB-IoT

3GPP narrow-band cellular technology optimized for low-power, wide-area IoT communication in licensed spectrum.

LTE-M

3GPP LTE variation (Cat-M1) delivering moderate data rates and mobility support for IoT devices.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

Short-range 2.4 GHz wireless protocol optimized for intermittent, low-power IoT data exchange.

ZigBee

Mesh networking protocol built on IEEE 802.15.4 for home and building automation and sensor networks.

NFC (Near Field Communication)

Very-short-range (≤4 cm) wireless technology for contactless payments and device pairing.

RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification)

Tag-and-reader system that identifies objects wirelessly using stored electronic information.

6LoWPAN

Adaptation layer that compresses IPv6 packets for transmission over low-power IEEE 802.15.4 networks.

RPL

IPv6 routing protocol designed for Low-Power and Lossy Networks in IoT deployments.

CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol)

Lightweight, REST-ful application protocol running over UDP for machine-to-machine IoT communication.

MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport)

Publish/subscribe messaging protocol over TCP designed for low-bandwidth, high-latency IoT networks.

SCADA

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system for real-time monitoring and control of industrial processes.

PAN (Personal Area Network)

Network covering only a few meters, e.g., wearable devices connected to a smartphone.

LAN (Local Area Network)

Network span up to ~100 m such as Wi-Fi within a home or factory floor.

FAN (Field Area Network)

Outdoor IoT network ranging tens to hundreds of meters, aggregating data from multiple local devices.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

City-wide network covering several kilometers for applications like smart parking.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

Long-range communication network spanning kilometers, often using cellular or LPWAN links.

Data in Motion

Information actively moving across networks, often requiring real-time analytics.

Data at Rest

Stored information residing in databases or files, suitable for batch analytics.

Header Compression (6LoWPAN)

Technique that reduces IPv6/UDP header size to fit constrained-network frame limits.

Fragmentation (6LoWPAN)

Splitting large IPv6 packets into smaller IEEE 802.15.4 frames for transmission.

Mesh Addressing

6LoWPAN header option enabling multi-hop forwarding within a single IP subnet.

Adaptation Layer

Protocol layer that enables IP packets to traverse specific link-layer technologies (e.g., 6LoWPAN).

Gateway

Node that bridges IoT edge networks to backhaul or cloud networks, translating protocols and aggregating data.

IoT Platform

Multi-layer framework providing device management, connectivity, data storage, analytics, and application enablement.

Raspberry Pi

Low-cost single-board computer often used as an IoT edge gateway or prototype platform.

Arduino

Open-source microcontroller platform for rapid prototyping of IoT devices and sensor nodes.

IoT Design Methodology

Ten-step process covering purpose definition, domain & information modeling, service specs, functional & operational views, hardware integration, and application development.

Embedded Computing

Integration of microcontrollers, memory, and peripherals into dedicated devices performing specific IoT tasks.

Edge Analytics

Processing and analyzing sensor data locally at or near the IoT device to enable rapid decisions.

Target Wake Time (TWT)

IEEE 802.11ah feature that schedules sleep periods to save IoT device power.

Restricted Access Window (RAW)

802.11ah mechanism limiting channel contention by allocating time slots to device groups.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

Small-scale wireless network connecting devices around an individual, typically within 10 m.

Field Area Network (FAN)

Outdoor wireless network linking multiple neighborhood or utility devices to a common gateway.

Object Density per Cell

Number of smart objects served by a single gateway in a given area, affecting network design.

Application Layer (IoT)

Top layer where protocols like HTTP, CoAP, MQTT provide services and interfaces for user applications.

Transport Layer (IoT)

Layer providing end-to-end communication (e.g., TCP for reliability, UDP for low overhead).

Authentication (IoT Security)

Process of verifying identity of devices, users, or services, often via X.509 certificates.

Encryption

Technique (e.g., AES-128, TLS, DTLS) ensuring confidentiality and integrity of IoT data.

Port Protection

Security practice of closing or firewalling unused network ports to reduce IoT attack surface.