Do you know what are Communication Protocols? - MQTT, CoAP, HTTP
One of the main pillars of IoT is its connectivity. It consists of a huge network of elements, both objects and people of different sizes and shapes, which are connected to gather and share information. In general, the information is gathered and used to automate or help make decisions. Due to the variety of data types and applications, different communication and network protocols are needed.
What are communication protocols?
Communication protocols are the set of rules established between nodes to exchange information reliably and safely.
Important Components Of Communication Protocols?
Here are some of the main aspects/components of a communication protocol:
IoT protocols type:
IoT protocols and standards can be broadly classified into two separate categories
IoT Network Protocols:
IoT Data protocols:
Let us discuss some important or most commonly used Data and network protocols:?
HTTP in the IoT World:
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is an application-layer protocol for transmitting hypermedia documents, such as HTML. This protocol is the backbone of data communication on the World Wide Web. HTTP is a request-response protocol, meaning the client requests data from the server, and the server responds with the requested data.
Bluetooth:
Bluetooth is a standardized protocol for sending and receiving data within the frequency of 2.4GHz. It's a secure protocol, and it's perfect for short-range, low-power, low-cost, wireless transmissions between electronic devices. It is one of the most widely used protocols for short-range communication. One step further into Its evolution is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), which presents a significant reduction in the power needed for this protocol. This type can be beneficial for the transmission of small amounts of data from sensors or wearables.?
Wi-Sun:
Wi-Sun is a field area network (FAN) protocol created by the Wi-Sun Alliance and designed to have low power consumption and latency. It operates in the sub GHz frequency bands as well as in the 2.4 GHz band through a mesh topology.
Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT):
MQTT is a communication protocol developed by Andy Stanford-Clark and Arlen Nipper in 1999. It is an open, lightweight machine-to-machine connectivity protocol for IoT communication. It's specifically made for sending data in networks where there's not a lot of space or resources, like with sensors and actuators. MQTT works on top of TCP/IP and is mainly used for IoT devices to talk to each other. It follows a "publish/subscribe" approach, where devices sign up for specific topics and only get messages related to those topics from their broker.
Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) in Action:
The Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) is a REST-based IoT protocol similar to the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) but requires less energy and computing power. CoAP is easy to secure through Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS), which provides strong encryption. CoAP is one of the most common protocols used for building automation and smart energy IoT systems.
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WebSocket:
WebSocket technology is linked to the HTTP protocol, it establishes a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection between a browser and a server, and then both of them exchange information until the connection is closed. Although this protocol can be seen as an improvement of the HTTP connection, but the WebSocket is still very overloaded and heavy for IoT applications.
Choosing the Right Protocol:
When selecting a protocol for your IoT project, consider your device’s capabilities and network constraints. It is also important to consider the other several factors, including the distance over which devices need to communicate, the amount of data that needs to be transmitted, and the power consumption requirements of the devices, etc. Whichever protocol you choose, you’re now equipped with the knowledge to make an informed decision and embark on your IoT journey.
Final Thoughts:
Communication protocols are the backbone that ensures seamless connectivity and data exchange. All the protocols are like different tools in a toolbox, each with its unique strengths.
By understanding their features and the specific requirements of your IoT project, you can make an informed choice and create a more efficient and effective IoT ecosystem. As the IoT landscape continues to expand, choosing the right protocol becomes even more important for success in our highly interconnected world.
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