ABSTRACT

Classification method is a formula, logical description generalizing characteristics of objects of related area. Nowadays, billions of smart objects are immersed in the environment, sensing, interacting, and cooperating with each other to enable efficient services. When we think about IoT, classification is a major challenge particularly if our technology is international level applicable. So, this limitation needs clear and deep analysis of the existing classification matrixes and gives some future directions depending on the different researches in the area. The paper surveys the current state-of-art in the classification of IoT. First, we try to explain commonly existing classification matrixes; Second, cooperation of different methods defending on classification matrixes used. Then analyses challenges that IoT faced from classification angle and finally we give some direction for future IoT classification.

Keywords:

Internet of Things, Classification of IoT, IoT Overview, Future of IoT, Smart Objects

1. Introduction

It has been estimated that the Internet of Things (IoT) will contain 26 billion devices by 2020 (according to Gartner, Inc.), As a result, recent problems and challenges arise spanning classification of this newly fast developing technology. The major reason is that Classic classification matrixes are not sufficient to solve this unprecedented issue, and need to be revised to address the complex requirements imposed by IoT. This problem, classification matrix, led us to analyses how the current IoT can be classified. If someone develops a new IoT technology then how he/she can classify, what are the existing classification matrix and how they are effective.

The reason why we interested to do this analysis is as we believe solving classification problem will result in big solution for problems IoT technology’s suffering nowadays; like, problems in terms of resource capabilities, lifespan and communication technologies, new standard design if needed in the future and security.

This paper surveys IoT classification matrix and classification related issues nowadays IoT faced. To summarize, this paper address the following main points:

・ Discusses various classification matrixes which are in use now a day.

・ Explains state-of-art of classification technics which are very important in internet of things world.

・ Discuses in between currently used IoT classification matrices.

・ Current major problems in IoT world because of classification reasons are explained.

・ Finally, we end by suggesting our basic classification matrix.

For simplification, we divided this paper in to five various parts:

Part one is introduction which is explained above, Part two different classification methods used, Section three discuses and comparison among the IoT Classifications in Table 1, in Section four and five discuses some challenges IoT facing due to classification and future consideration during classification standard is design.

2. Existing Classification Methods

For doing this research we searched in different publications and ended up with limited number of literatures about IoT classification [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] , which is indeed still in its inception phase. This is very important because understanding the existing classification method result in understanding the problems with the existing once and give directions how to solve. This section deals with higher level classification matrixes only.

Different scientific community have different view on classification of IoT generally but as our study indicate that there are two major IoT classification ways are used today’s world, namely, the classic (based on history of IoT) and systematically analyzed and studded (factor dependent classification).

In a classic or traditional classification method, it is a classification depending specifically on single factor like real-life application, standard used, application environment, way of data communication, level of smartness, specific devices with whom it communicates, or depending on the end users. In other word, it is a type of IoT classification just only considering single and simple factor. However, the systematically studded and analyzed one is a classification method by which the developer of IoT will analyses from different perspectives before classifying his/her product. Which means classification in which not depending on

single specific factor. But, most of the difficulty’s facing this classification method are: 1) until today there is no specifically documented material so that every developer can refer before classifying its product. 2) even the existing once are designed by specific organization (industries) to meet only their requirements which is very difficult to use as worldwide. It is known that there are several classification methods, but here only two of the above are considered.

1) Classical or Traditional Way

A type of classification depends on the historical definition of internet of things and limited specifically on single matrix. Which, the concept of a network of internet of things is considered as smart devices early in 1980’s. The developers named IoT as “smart” to indicate operation of the technology without human intervention “Smart”: Smartphones Smart cars. Smart homes. Smart cities. A smart world. These notions have been espoused for many years. So commonly used classification under this category are:

A. Smart city: if the IoT technology is used for city modernization.

B. Smart farm: IoT technologies for farming

C. Smart health-care: IoT technologies in health area.

D. Smart transport: IoT technologies in transport.

E. Smart service: protocols or new techniques which advance use of IoT.

F. Smart object: any device from any classifications described above.

We all agree that using such naming is not the problem. The problem arises when we think about what are the specific classification matrices, in this case just only application area. And more now a day’s millions of new IoT technology immersing the market and this kind of classification not support from different angle.

2) Factor Dependent Classification

A IoT classification method where experts in the area follow some specific matrices to classify their technology. These specific matrices are designed for specific organization or deigned for international use by international industries in the area. The widespread problem that most of this classification method sparring is highly depending on the classic classification method and every organization have its own matrixes. There are different views on the Internet of Things paradigm coming from various scientific communities. Below we try to analysis Common ones:

2.1. SO (Smart Object) Classification Model

Which is also known as IoT management architectures, it is a type of classification of IoT s depending specific matrix called smartness. Here classification is only depending on the traditional way of classification which accept the logic IoT is synonym to smart object. Under this classification there are dozens of different classification methods used.

Some authors call SO’s as police aware, activity aware, process aware object [6] . They used list of design dimensions where every SO’s type is characterized among them: 1) ability to understand events from sounding (environmental or human event) which is called Awareness. 2) considering the programing model of SO called representation. 3) way of communication with its users called interaction. Major limitation with this classification is it not operational, only design dimension based. Creator and purpose based classification of SO’s [3] . Creator: an individual creates SOs for personal use (self-made). Industrial company: creates SOs for business (ready-made). However, still considering two dimensions (creator and purpose) but IoT classification needs more factors than used here. In [4] smart object description (SODD) and profile description document (PDD) it is another two-dimension (matrix) classification method. Under SODD meta data of SO like list of name, vendor, and profiles. On the other side, PDD is profile specifier (detector or actuator). Limited to only management and implementation which is specifically FedNet middleware. Metadata model [5] [7] use as a factor type, service, device, and location. Which are generic for division and used only for Smart Search, discovery and dynamic as their main limitation. SO is cyberpysical object (sensing, processing, storing, and network capability) [8] . still in its inception phase.

2.2. From Today’s Intranet of Things to a Future Internet of Things [9]

The authors classified from wireless- and mobility-related view. IoT is technology where integrate and worldwide connect smart city, smart grid, building automation system body sensors. With this classification the facts like social, political, and technological impacts are not considered.

2.3. Consumer Internet of Things [10]

It is a type of classification for Consumer Internet of Things only. With the option of constructor should chose the users advantage, what most wanted to adopt a category that relates. We think the categories are solid. also mixing the genus of his classifications. We do like the identification of power source and connectivity styles/patterns the thing is there is no classification matrix of devices and device types. For example, wearables are really a subcategory of “portables or moveable’s”, some devices will be “static”, some will be read, only some will have visual/audio sensors and output.

2.4. The Center Electric Story [11]

Classification based on ecosystem (Internet of Things Tectonics). IoT as ecosystem of connected and non-connected devices. Enterprise and consumer application, industrial automation, entire stack. Infrastructure ecosystem (routing/ processing, connectivity, power, storage, security) and hardware ecosystem (design, manufacturing, component hardware, supply-chain, protocol).

2.5. Right Message and Data Sharing Standard for IoT [12]

Classification factor based on devices used, amount of data, and level of safety the technology applications use divided in to two 1) consumer, CIOT: group of consumer oriented applications where data volumes are low. All devices, in communication, are represented as smart. 2) Industrial IoT: group of industrial oriented applications where data amount is bigger. Devices like machines operating in industry, energy medical or transport technology’s.

2.6. Internet of Things―Challenges and Opportunities beyond the Hype

Classification based on ecosystem of internet of things (IP based ecosystem). The author Das [13] divided as 1) internet of peoples: involves billions of smart objects which communicate directly over internet, without human intervention. and internet of things with or without IP address. When it is with IP address or devices communicating with out like standardized RFID, active RID, real time location system, mush sensor network.

2.7. Creating a Taxonomy for the Internet of Things

Classification based on how implemented ion human. Author [3] proposed taxonomy with the human at center of all.

1) Embeddable: things in the user.

2) Wearables: things on user.

3) Holdables: things near user.

4) Surroundables: things around user.

2.8. Power Source for Internet-of-Things [14]

Classification factor based on technology applications. Type of classification based on available technology’s and standards.

Communication: (infrared, Bluetooth, radio frequency identification, ZigBee, high speed LAN) Identification: (biometry and object tracking) Location tracing (advancement in RFID and GPS) Sensor (control of temperature, MEMS, motion sensor and image sensor)Devices: (RFID tagging, mobile phone and embedded portable electronic devices)

To generalize, as mentioned by many studs when we come to types or classification matrices of IoT everyone has mixed feelings which by itself make difficult the way how to classify and name the term “Internet of Things”. Some of the developers describe the term “everything and nothing” [10] because of no defined criteria used for classifying. Even if we had many types of IoT just using classic way of classification the problem is most of classifications are mixed and repeated.

3. Comparison among the Major Existing IoT Classifications

Below in table-I, we have comparison between some major IoT classification methods and matrixes used for classification now a day. Most companies and organizations have their own classification methods which resulted in current IoT classification problems what we faced, like, no common standard to classify newly developing IoT technology’s, every developing company have its own matrices even if the technology is designed for different organizations which don’t have same classification matrix as a developer had.

4. Future Directions to Be Considered When Developing or Designing IoT Classification Factors

As we believe that system’s complexity doesn’t matter in IoT. The important aspect that identifies an object is its capability to connect to the network and exchange information without any defect. But the reality now a day is far different. As described in our study the solution is beside the above factors we should think about:

1) Security: global connectedness is a key reason for security threats. It is known that in IoT world everything connected affect everything. In fact highly secure islands of very sensitive information are typically not connected at all to IoT world [19] .

2) Safety: error in information processing part of the system can spread in to physical parts and dangerous to people or for environment.

3) Reliability: some of the technology will not consider this factor but it is very important, providing service at run time. The reasons may be design error, hardware or environmental error.

4) Timing: all about linking physical system. The amount of available energy, external devices communication load must be considered.

5) Energy efficiency: classifying technologies which generate energy by themselves to other types of technologies which does not have the ability should be different.

6) Social infects: the overall impact on human society is largely unknown. It must be considered.

7) Legal issues: different components with different legal entity, then who owns the communication as well who will take the risk when there is damage.

8) Heterogeneity and dynamic: components designed for different communication protocol by different companies.

9) Multidisciplinary: some issues need knowledge from different disciplines, now a day’s communication engineering is linked to computer and electrical engineering.

10) Number of sensors connected: number of communicating devices/sensors in the technology also affect many things so it must be considered.

11) Common design constraints: devices transmit mass amount of data frequently, device size constrained, transmit data over long distance, device operate for a day, weeks, months without stopping, consumer trust.

12) Market: how an open market place for IoT might be realized that enables people with minimum technical skills to create, distribute, and monetarize. Or how can we give ordinary persons a voice? How can we insure that IoT allows for user-led innovation?

5. Lesson Learned and Open Issues

It is known that internet of things is a big idea full of complex technologies. That’s why we need a common ground to classify these complex technologies to do so every company working in the area must come up with common ground used for classification.

Some of open issues are:

・ Many products play role in multiple categories. For a given technology it is important to ask a user what am I buying this instead of? What does it sit next to on the shelf? Most of us being very market focused.

・ IoT technologies have Lack of the environment that Clear Strategy in Becoming Smarter. One key obstacle is citizens themselves, who don’t see the value in them.

・ Clarifying IoT and M2M: M2M is often used as a synonym for IoT, particularly in the IoT world. But while similar, there are differences in which rungs of the IoT ecosystem ladder they occupy.

・ Find a way of describing things in such a way that developers don’t have to know about the details or underlying communication patterns. developers looking to answer [20] : How do I publish a Thing? How do I access a Thing? What is the lifecycle of a Thing? How do I add a new property to a Thing?

・ It seems like there are as many standardizations and bodies focusing on IoT protocols as there are IoT protocols. But, we should come together and to have a common worldwide standard.

・ Get a look at the science behind wireless IoT communication and the benefits and constraints of using wireless communication in IoT technologies.

6. Conclusions

Nowadays, the common way of classifying depends on the way group of products that compete, cooperate, share technology, partner, shared distribution or manufacturing expertise. Some other groups believe strongly naming should replicate type of connectivity rather than describing the things which are in it. We agree with both ideas but the thing is beside the above factors we should consider more and more than making common ground for international use. As we shown in our study, nowadays classification of IoT technology is based on factors of specific organization, technology developer. Which, resulted a problem like, same product in various categories, no international level classification method where every developing company can depend on, resulted in difficulty of technology chose from user side, difficult for companies, newly entering into the business of future IoT technology development.

In this paper, a survey of classification of internet of things which are in use nowadays were explained. The paper began by introducing the difficulties caused by classification matrixes. To efficiently address the problem, classification of IoT and matrixes were described. Finally, some suggestions to be considered in the future IoT classification matrices.

Competing Interests

We author(s) declare that we have no competing interests.

Cite this paper

Basher, K.M., Nieto-Hipolito, J.-I., De Los Angeles Cosio Leon, M., Vazquez-Briseno, M., de Dios Sánchez López, J. and Mariscal, R.B. (2017) Major Existing Classification Matrices and Future Directions for Internet of Things. Advances in Internet of Things, 7, 112-120. https://doi.org/10.4236/ait.2017.74008

References