IoT Technology and Standards

The IoT space is developing more rapidly than the pace of technology standards, leaving in its wake a plethora of products and communication platforms that cannot talk to one another. Dozens of organizations and consortia work in the field of IoT standards. They each have their own distinct mission and have focused on different aspects of standardization to varying degrees. The architecture of systems is a complicating factor, particularly with respect to the need for gateway devices that adapt local wireless protocols to Internet Protocol. Many of the new standards are for wireless communications between these gateways and individual devices. Users worry that they will be locked into one standard if they make a choice at this time. Differences between residential and industrial systems are also highlighted. A list of standards organizations and industrial consortia is also presented, with a short discussion of what each of them is trying to achieve and their progress to date.