Recently, Clarion Energy’s publication, Smart Energy International featured an article by Open Connectivity Foundation™ (OCF) members, Wouter van der Beek, Technical Leader at Cisco Systems, Bruno Johnson, CEO at Cascoda. The article, titled “Digital Transformation Using OCF Core Framework,” discusses the importance of a multidisciplinary approach when considering Internet of Things (IoT) implementation.
In order for the IoT to have seamless communication, an advanced model of IP connectivity should be used. To achieve seamless communication in this way, there are six primary points for wholistic IoT execution, including:
- An understanding that IoT security is systemic
- An awareness that interoperability is critical
- A systematic approach to testing
- A thorough cost/benefit analysis
- Comprehensive documentation
- An understanding of performance benefits
Within this article, the authors highlight how OCF technology facilitates “digital transformation” through a variety of strategies, which ultimately ensures a “sound technical basis” and simplicity when it comes to the architecture of the “underlying software stack.” The figure below illustrates key components of the OCF Core Framework:
Figure 1. The major components of the OCF Core Framework
The important aspects of OCF’s initiatives offer a “framework for carrying data from existing automation domains over IP, while providing device discovery, on-boarding, resource discovery, and control.” The authors also provide insight into how IoTivity and open source implementation help “teams concentrate on what their product does without wasting time on how the functions are securely communicated over IP.” IoTivity facilitates access to technologies such as Thread which enables battery powered, wireless communication.
How is device interoperability ensured? Conformance tests provided in OCF’s certification programs offer a variety of deployment scenarios (peer, device-to-device and cloud-to-cloud) through OCF’s communications mechanisms, which can then “transport the device application resource communications.” Successful deployment also means “having a choice in physical layers” and OCF’s “IP-based physical-layer-connectivity solution can be chosen for a specific use-case.” This comes into play with Wi-Fi connectivity, Thread technology and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE).
Interested in learning more? Read the full article here.