Machine-to-machine communications: Technologies and challenges
Introduction
Following tremendous deployment of Internet and mobile communications, Internet of Things (IoTs) and cyber–physical systems (CPS) emerge as technologies to combine information communication technology (ICT) with our daily life [1], [2], [3]. By deploying great amount of machines that are typically wireless devices, such as sensors, we expect to advance human being’s life in a significant way. In particular, autonomous communications among machines of wireless communication capability creates a new frontier of wireless communications and networks [4], [5]. In this paper, we will survey some technological milestones and research opportunities toward achieving machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless communication ultimately serving human beings.
Fig. 1 delineates the fundamental network architecture of cloud-based M2M communications, consisting of cloud, infrastructure, and machine swarm (or machine oceans, to stand for a great amount of machines). Networking in the cloud, typically done by high-speed wired/optical networking mechanism, connects data centers, servers for applications and services, and gateways to/from the cloud. The infrastructure interconnects cloud and machine swarm/ocean, which can be wired or wireless. In this paper, we focus on wireless infrastructure, which allows flexibility and mobility to enable M2M applications and services. For potentially wide geographical range and diversity of deployment, cellular systems play the key role in (wireless) infrastructure. We therefore introduce 3GPP type of systems supporting M2M [5], [6], [7] in details. The data aggregators (DAs) are transmitting/receiving, collecting, or fusing information between infrastructure and machine swarm, which can be considered as the access points to infrastructure networks. Finally, the number of machines can go up to trillions according to various reports. Such a huge number of wireless devices form machine swarm or machine ocean, and create a new dimensional technology challenge in wireless communications and networks, after the triumphs of wireless personal communications for billions of handsets in past two decades. It also suggests potential challenges in deployment, operation, and security and privacy.
Consequently, the organization of this paper surveys and highlights technology for M2M wireless communications as follows. Section 2 is dedicated to wireless infrastructure. Section 3 summarizes technology to achieve efficient communications in machine swarm/ocean. Various issues in deployment, operation, and security and privacy, are explored in Section 4.
Section snippets
Wireless infrastructure
To practice M2M communications, few realizations of M2M communications have been proposed, such as leveraging Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4), or WiFi (IEEE 802.11b) technologies. However, there is still no consensus on the network architecture for M2M communications over these wireless technologies. Considering that the ultimate goal of M2M communications is to construct comprehensive connections among all machines distributed over an extensive coverage area, the network
Statistical networking in machine swarm/ocean
Technology to connect wireless devices under M2M scenarios has been proposed and developed for years, such as RFID, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and WiFi, corresponding to various on-going or announced IEEE 802 standards. The scope of this survey does not focus on such short-range wireless communication technology. Instead, we assume availability for such physical layer wireless connectivity and communication technology, but focus more on new challenges beyond physical transmission, particularly
Energy-efficient implementation, security and privacy, network economy, deployment and operation
Following above explorations on the fundamental technology of M2M communications, more practical aspects have to be considered toward realistic implementation, deployment, and operation.
Concluding remarks
This paper presents state-of-the-art technologies for the entire M2M communications and remaining intellectual and engineering challenges. As a young technology, we do foresee tremendous potential for M2M systems and M2M communication plays a central role to benefit modern and future human life.
Acknowledgements
The authors would appreciate Dr. J. Chris Ramming and Dr. Shu-Ping Yeh, INTEL Research Labs. for their constructive suggestions to improve this manuscript.
This research was supported by the National Science Council, National Taiwan University, and Intel Corporation under the Grants NSC101-2911-I-002-001 and NTU102R7501.
Kwang-Cheng Chen received B.S. from the National Taiwan University in 1983, M.S. and Ph.D from the University of Maryland, College Park, United States, in 1987 and 1989, all in electrical engineering. From 1987 to 1998, Dr. Chen worked with SSE, COMSAT, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and National Tsing Hua University, in mobile communications and networks. Since 1998, Dr. Chen has been with National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, and is the Distinguished Professor and Deputy Dean in
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Kwang-Cheng Chen received B.S. from the National Taiwan University in 1983, M.S. and Ph.D from the University of Maryland, College Park, United States, in 1987 and 1989, all in electrical engineering. From 1987 to 1998, Dr. Chen worked with SSE, COMSAT, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, and National Tsing Hua University, in mobile communications and networks. Since 1998, Dr. Chen has been with National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, and is the Distinguished Professor and Deputy Dean in academic affairs for the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, National Taiwan University. Dr. Chen actively involves organization of various IEEE conferences as General/TPC chair/co-chair. He has served editorship with a few IEEE journals and many international journals and served various positions in IEEE. Dr. Chen also actively participates and has contributed essential technology to various IEEE 802, Bluetooth, and 3GPP wireless standards. He has authored and co-authored over 250 technical papers and more than 20 granted US patents. He co-edits (with R. DeMarca) the book Mobile WiMAX published by Wiley 2008, and authors a book Principles of Communications published by River 2009, and co-author (with R.Prasad) another book Cognitive Radio Networks published by Wiley 2009. Dr. Chen is an IEEE Fellow and has received a number of awards including 2011 IEEE COMSOC WTC Recognition Award and co-authored a few award-winning papers published in the IEEE ComSoc journals and conferences. Dr. Chen’s research interests include wireless communications and network science.
Shao-Yu Lien received the B.S. degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan, in 2004, the M.S. degree from the Institute of Computer and Communication Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, in 2006, and the Ph.D. degree from the Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan, in 2011. After the military service, he joined the Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering, National Taiwan University, as a post-doctoral research fellow in 2012. Since 2013, he has been with the Department of Electronic Engineering, National Formosa University, Taiwan, as an assistant professor. He received IEEE ICC 2010 Best Paper Award and his research interests include the controls of networks and communication systems.