I apologize in advance for the excessive use of alphabet soup acronyms, it is the way of the industry. If you don't know what they are, Wikipedia is a good start.
What exactly is the Internet of Things? It is a world where IP addresses are applied to non-traditional network devices that allows them to be controlled by network management (Software Define Networking/SDN). It is kind of humorous, but a perfect example is seen in YouTube videos that people post. Videos of them watching their pets on their PC's/Smart Phones, doing the oddest things while they are away via IP cameras installed in their homes.
All this is done is being transmitted over the Internet. Your turn. You think of something you'd like to do. How about being able to check your groceries in when placing them into your refrigerator or freezer, track the contents and create recipes based on what you have on hand?
Yes, you could correlate what you have in your cupboards to recipes on the Internet, even tie them to your diet preferences (Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Low Fat, Low Carb, and Weight Watchers) and voila! You now have a meal based on what you have on hand, or even, create a shopping list based on what you have used. No longer do you need to call some to check to see if you need milk, etc. You just login to your home and check to see if there is milk in your refrigerator. Far-fetched? Not really. The capabilities exist today. The concept of tying your devices to a network (home or office) and the Internet and then doing a Mashup¹ to combine the information with other information available on the Internet to create useful usable knowledge from information.
Another example is aligned with the PoE+ standards. PoE+ (Power over Ethernet) The updated IEEE 802.3at-2009[7] PoE standard also known as PoE+ ² that allows devices that are not traditionally considered network devices (lights, HVAC [*Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning], water heaters, refrigeration, and other devices) to be IP enabled and thus monitored and controlled by standard network protocols (Ethernet/IP(Internet Protocol)/SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)).
Beyond this there is the draft-unbehagen-11dp-spb-00, dated December 31, 2014, that speaks to an extension of the RFC 6329³ to allow Auto Attachment of devices to an SPB (Shortest Path Bridged Network 802.1aq)⁴ network using the LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol- 802.1AB)⁵. This means that dumb devices, like unto Wireless Access Points (APs), Cameras, LED Lighting, etc. could be provisioned to use the existing protocols as defined by the IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) to attach to a network and securely connect to the appropriate services.
What it means to businesses? A worker or person (perhaps your Grandmother) that knows nothing about networking can connect these devices to an Ethernet port and it will auto-provision.
I promise you I am not purposely intending to confuse you by using all these acronyms.
Once connected to the network these devices can be remotely monitored and controlled by a person or persons that is authorized to do the provisioning. It is all there, pre-built and it makes complete sense. Every day, new devices are being added to the list of IP/Internet enabled devices can connect to an Ethernet PoE+ switch, get power and automatically join the network and be securely managed.
Over the next few years, you can expect to hear about smart buildings that have very low power consumption (PoE+) partly due to the use of lighting products that are comprised of LEDs that require minimal power and phones and devices that connect to the Ethernet switches to get power an allow control. These smart buildings will be able to be fully automated via software to meet the needs of the tenants, while maximizing the efficiency and customizing the facilities to meet the specific needs of the occupants. I am looking forward to the day when every office has its own climate control.
Ordinarily, my immediate concern would be for security, but thanks to SPB (802.1aq & RFC 6329) these networks can be stealth networks (read that as invisible) and therefore inaccessible to malevolent probing entities. The Access Control will be defined in Software Profiles (SDN -Software Defined Networks). So, the access to the network and control will be restricted to those users on approved devices, having the proper security profiles. No hijacking of the network, no ransoms. Tomorrow is a whole new world, and with the IOT and BYOT (Bring Your Own Thing) you will find happier employers and employees. No longer will a bright, talented worker arrive at an organization only to receive two year old technology. Instead, they will bring their computing device of choice (MAC, Android, Windows, and Linux) to the job and it will attach to the network with a profile that grants it access to only those records that are necessary to perform their duties.
The companies will no longer have to concern themselves with the capital and operational expenditures for PCs, Phones, Tablets, etc. Each user will bring their own (they may need to provide some monitors and/or universal docking stations). Cabling will be minimized, also reducing costs. As WiFi matures and we move into 802.11ac Phase 2, speeds and densities will be sufficient to untether our users and allow them to work….where ever: Where ever they are, on whatever device they choose, using whatever mode they prefer (Text/IM, Voice, Video, Immersive Collaboration).
So, let your imagination go and imagine what Thing you will attach.
The IoT Playbook for Wireless LAN
References:
¹ "A mashup, in web development, is a web page, or web application, that uses content from more than one source to create a single new service displayed in a single graphical interface.
From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(web_application_hybrid)> "
² PoE plus, provides up to 25.5 W of power.[8] The 2009 standard prohibits a powered device from using all four pairs for power.[9]
From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet>
³ RFC 6329 - An IETF Standards Track defining the extensions to the IS-IS standards for Shortest Path Bridging 802.1aq using SPBM (MAC-in-MAC 802.1ah) and SPBV (Virtual LANs).
⁴SPB (Shortest Path Bridged Network 802.1aq) - IETF Standard that defines shortest path forwarding in a mesh Ethernet network using multiple equal cost paths.
⁵LLDP Link Layer Discovery Protocol, an IEEE Standard for LAN/MAN Media Access Control Connectivity Discovery
From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Electrical_and_Electronics_Engineers>
⁶SDN is an evolving standard based on both Open Flow/Open Stack that allows centralized control to network access. Specific deployment options vary from Vendor to Vendor. SDN is championed by numerous organizations including ONF (Open Networking Foundation), IEEE, Avaya, HP, Sun, etc.
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