The Internet of Things (IoT)

 

The internet of Things, or more simply "IoT", is a technology that was once much 'hyped' but can now be considered a mainstream activity. At its most general it is a network of devices connected through a network (usually the public Internet) that allows data to be collected from multiple locations for simple monitoring purposes or for more detailed analysis. 

This combination of sensors, processing capability, software and other technologies can be used for a very wide range of purposes from the monitoring of complex engineering systems through to the collection of usage data from consumer products.

The purpose of this evolving set of web pages is to describe how the open source Tiki software, an all-in-one Wiki+CMS+Groupware system, can be used as a central data repository and management capability for an IoT deployment.

The schematic below provides a very generic picture of how the various components of an overall ‘Tiki IoT’ system might be deployed.

In sumary the individual components in the schematic above are:

• Local satellite devices: i.e., local data collection devices that are usually multiple low-cost single board computers (SBCs), or simpler microcontroller modules, or dedicated sensor devices e.g., with built-in RF communications – all typically, with low power consumption and/or ‘deep sleep’ modes to facilitate long operational duration when just battery powered.
• Local communication: i.e., communication from a satellite device to a local hub that is usually a wireless method that could be 433MHz RF including LoRa RF, ethernet over WiFi, or Bluetooth for close proximity. Directly wired connections from a satellite to a hub are of course possible and could use any of the usual ‘bus’ protocols (I²C, SPI , etc.) or an ethernet connection.
• Local ‘integrating’ hub device(s): there would usually be just one hub device at a location, but multiple hub devices may be needed, and they are all usually low-cost single board computers (SBCs), but in some exceptional circumstances they could be simpler microcontroller modules. These hub devices gather data from defined sets of multiple satellite devices - although sensors could also be directly attached to the hub device which directly manages the sensor and the data collection – to distinguish this from a satellite being directly connected which simply passes a ‘result’ to the hub.
• Remote communication: i.e., from a local integration hub via the internet or a private network, providing access to a central Tiki instance. This communication is enabled with ‘programming’ on the local integration hub device to control secure access to Tiki with the use of an access ‘token’ to the Tiki API that allows various simplified but secure and fast data upload/download options.
• Centralized Tiki: Tiki supports many business-process operational methods, often using specialized plugins. A central Tiki system, accessible in a secure manner by multiple distributed administrators and other users, with a hierarchy of access permissions, can support IoT system and remote device management, as well as collected data storage, management reporting, and analysis that can initiate Tiki user notifications when specific events are ‘seen’.

 

The following pages provide further detail about a 'Tiki IoT' deployment:

 

All the currently available maker project information: