IoT Terminology
2G | Second Generation Mobile. Digital mobile communications standard supporting voice and limited data services. |
3G | Third Generation Mobile. Mobile telecommunications technology supporting faster data transmission than 2G. |
3GPP | 3rd Generation Partnership Project. A collaboration between groups of telecommunications standards associations and operators to enable harmonisation. |
4G | Fourth Generation Mobile. The fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology, offering faster internet speeds. |
5G | Fifth Generation Mobile. The latest generation of cellular network technology. |
Actuator | A device responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or system in response to a control signal. |
ADR (Adaptive Data Rate) | LoRaWAN feature optimising energy consumption and communication efficiency. |
AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) | Secure encryption method for IoT communication. |
BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) | A short-range and low power wireless area network technology designed for short-range communication between devices, routers and IoT gateways. |
Bluetooth | A short-range wireless technology for low-power applications like wearables and home automation. |
Cloud Computing | Centralised data processing and storage in remote servers, often used for large-scale IoT systems. |
DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) | A service that automatically updates the IP address associated with a domain name, even when your public IP address changes. This allows you to access your devices or servers using a static, easy-to-remember domain name, rather than a constantly changing IP address. |
DT (Digital Twin) | A virtual representation of a physical system that mirrors its state and behaviour. |
DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) | A modulation technique used in wireless communication to reduce interference and enhance security. |
Edge Computing | A concept or paradigm where data processing occurs closer to the source of data generation, which can help reduce latency. |
Edge Router | A router located at the boundary of a network that connects to external networks. |
Embedded System | A computing system with a dedicated function within a larger functional or operating system. |
eSIM (Embedded SIM) | A programmable SIM embedded in a device. |
Ethernet | A wired communication standard for stable connections in IoT systems. |
eUICC (Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card) | A programmable SIM card that supports remote provisioning and management of multiple operator profiles. |
EV (Electric Vehicle) | A vehicle powered by electricity, using an electric motor and an on board battery (together with battery management system), instead of a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE). They are charged by plugging into a compatible charging point and don’t rely on fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel and therefore produce zero Greenhouse Gases (GHG) at point of use. |
Firewall | A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic in order to protect devices and networks. |
Fog Computing | Decentralised infrastructure processing IoT data closer to the source. |
Gateway Device | A network node that serves as an access point to another network, often translating protocols. |
GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) | An industry organisation representing mobile network operators worldwide that is key to ensuring interoperability and harmonisation of standards. |
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) | The protocol used for transmitting over the Internet. |
HTTPS | An extension of HTTP with security for communication over a computer network. |
ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) | Used for error messages and operational information in IP networks. |
IIoT (Industrial IoT) | This refers to the application of IoT technologies within industrial settings. It involves connecting devices, sensors, and machinery to the internet to collect and share data, facilitating enhanced monitoring, control, and automation of industrial processes. |
IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) | The network of interconnected medical devices and applications, often considered a subset of the broader Internet of Things (IoT). These devices are designed for healthcare monitoring and can be categorised as wearable devices, in-home personal health monitoring, or hospital-based point-of-care devices. The integration of AI and machine learning into IoMT enhances diagnostic accuracy, enables predictive analytics, and automates decision-making processes. |
IoT (Internet of Things) | A network of interconnected physical devices such as sensors or nodes that use hardware, software, and connectivity to collect, exchange, and act on data. |
IoT-Based Cybersecurity | Measures to secure IoT devices and networks from cyber threats, ensuring data privacy and system integrity. |
IoT Ecosystem | A network of interconnected IoT devices, platforms, and applications working together to achieve specific goals. |
IoT Gateway | A device that connects different networks, often translating between different protocols. |
IoT Infrastructure | The underlying architecture of IoT systems, including sensors, actuators, processors, and connectivity features. |
IoT Nodes | Devices or sensors in an IoT system that collect and transmit data. |
IoT Sensors | Devices used to monitor parameters like temperature, humidity, energy usage, air quality, soil moisture, and equipment performance. |
IoV (Internet of Vehicles) | A network that connects vehicles to each other, pedestrians, and road infrastructure, enabling them to share data and communicate. This interconnected system leverages sensors, software, and various communication technologies like 5G and Bluetooth to facilitate real-time information exchange. |
IP (Internet Protocol) | The set of rules governing the format of any data sent via the internet or local network. |
IPv4 | The fourth version of the Internet Protocol, widely used for addressing and routing. |
IPv6 | The more recent version of the Internet Protocol, which was designed to replace IPv4. |
iSIM (Integrated SIM) | A secure SIM integrated into the device’s main processor. |
LTE (Long Term Evolution) | A standard for wireless broadband communication. |
LTE-M (Long Term Evolution for Machines) | A cellular technology optimised for IoT applications requiring mobile connectivity. |
LoRa (Long-Range) | A physical layer protocol for long-range, low-power wireless communication in unlicensed frequency bands. |
LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide-Area Network) | A low-power WAN protocol for long-distance communication in unlicensed frequency bands. |
LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) | Wireless network designed for IoT applications with long ranges and low energy demand. Can include licensed frequency systems such as NB-IoT, LTE-M, CAT1bis, 5G Red Cap. |
MNO (Mobile Network Operator) | These are companies that own and operate the physical network infrastructure, including cell towers, to provide wireless communication services like voice calls, text messages, and data access to mobile subscribers. |
Modbus | A serial communication protocol for transferring information between electronic devices or machines. |
MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) | A lightweight messaging protocol for IoT sensors and devices that allows secure access to IoT platforms or cloud-based data subscribers. |
Multi-IMSI (Multiple International Mobile Subscriber Identities) | SIMs that support multiple IMSI profiles on a single SIM. |
MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) | A telecommunications company that offers mobile services without owning the underlying network infrastructure. Instead, they lease network access from an MNO. |
NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) | A low-power wide-area network radio technology standard for IoT. |
OCPP (The Open Charge Point Protocol) | A communication protocol that enables interoperability between EV charging stations and central management systems. It allows charging stations to communicate with a backend system, enabling functions like starting/stopping charging, data retrieval, firmware updates, and user authentication. |
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) | The network of copper wires that connect telephone exchanges, allowing people to communicate over vast distances. It’s also known as landlines, Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), or fixed-line telephones. |
PSTN Switch-Off | The PSTN Switch-Off marks the UK’s transition to an all-digital communication infrastructure, with analogue phone services set to be fully phased out by 2027. |
REST (Representational State Transfer) | A protocol for API communication over HTTP. |
RF (Radio Frequency) | Electromagnetic wave frequencies used in wireless communication. |
Router | A device that acts between and sends or forwards data packets between computer networks and devices. |
RPL (Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks) | A routing protocol designed for IPv6-based networks with constrained nodes. |
rSIM (Resilient SIM) | The world’s first truly resilient and intelligent SIM card. If the connection is lost, rSIM uses patented technology to actively and autonomously switch profiles. |
RTOS (Real-Time Operating System) | An operating system intended to focus on and serve real-time applications. |
Sensor Node | A basic unit in a sensor network consisting of a sensor, processor, and communication interface. |
Sigfox | A low-power WAN technology for IoT applications with small data transfer needs which uses unlicensed frequency bands. |
SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) | A removable card that stores user identity and network authorisation data. |
SoC (System on Chip) | An integrated circuit (IC) that consolidates or integrates all components of a computing system onto a single chip. |
UICC (Universal Integrated Circuit Card) | A smart card used in mobile devices to securely store subscriber information and enable network authentication. |
V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) | This technology allows electric vehicles (EVs) to not only charge from the grid but also to supply energy back to it. This bi-directional flow of electricity can help balance the grid, particularly during peak demand times, and potentially offer EV owners a way to earn income by selling-back excess energy. |
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) | Voice communications over data-based IP networks where the voice is encoded as data packets. |
VoLTE (Voice over LTE) | Voice communications over mobile data networks as opposed to 2G or 3G systems. |
Zigbee | A short-range wireless protocol for low-power IoT devices. |
Z-Wave | A short-range wireless communication protocol used primarily for home automation, offering low-power and reliable connectivity. |
