IEEE Pursues Standard Reference Architecture for the Internet of Things

Potential migration toward an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) raises numerous questions regarding suitable architectural frameworks or reference architectures for use in these emerging ecosystems. Organizations such as the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), and the European IoT-A (Internet of Things – Architecture) project, among others, look to provide architectural frameworks that define relationships between IoT domains and devices, as well as appropriate security schemes.

As noted in prior ARC Advisory Service reports on the IIoT, an emphasis on connected industrial devices alone can lead to a point solution mentality that obfuscates the potential inherent in a fully-realized IIoT. This potential will lead most manufacturers to ultimately attempt to connect those point solutions to each other as well as to other hardware and software entities both within their operations and at their suppliers and customers. Here, a sound architectural framework becomes central to a successful implementation.

This ARC Insight focuses on the activities and target deliverables of the IEEE P2413 Standard for an Architectural Framework for the Internet of Things (IoT) working group. This group has been working on the standard since 2014, but draws on several years of workshops, panels, and other IoT-related IEEE activities. The proposed standard, which is intended to provide an extensible, integrated IoT architectural framework, is targeted for delivery in 2016 but will continue to evolve.

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Keywords: Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Connected Devices, Reference Architecture, Architectural Framework, ARC Advisory Group.