New best practice design solution for the simplified orchestration of wireless sensor networks

Congatec's new Cloud API for IoT Gateways communicates with local smart sensors, processes and converts the acquired data and executes automated actions based on a local rule engine, reducing traffic to the IoT cloud and enabling fast local actions. Secure bidirectional data exchange with any suitable clouds is achieved by using the TLS secured MQTT protocol. The best practice design solution utilizes the Microsoft Azure cloud. Clients can access this cloud via https in client or administrator mode. All these features make the new Cloud API for IoT Gateways an ideal starting point for OEMs that need to access smart sensor networks via IoT gateways and IoT edge servers. Typical application areas can be found in various IoT segments, from industrial production and machinery to smart cities, smart facilities, smart homes, smart energy grids, medical IoT, the transportation sector and digital signage.   The new Cloud API impresses with its application readiness and built-in openness to integrate a broad range of wireless sensor interconnects, including Bluetooth LE, ZigBee, LoRa and other LPWANs, as well as wired protocols for building or factory automation via one single Cloud API. Even heterogeneous protocol configurations and communication with other gateways are possible. Typical applications for the latter scenario are Industry 4.0 connected machines and intra-logistic systems.   "Each smart sensor network has its own demands. Often, heterogeneous sensor networks are required and various different database implementations can be found in IoT clouds as well. At the edge of the IoT we are able to manage these heterogeneous, bidirectional demands by centrally orchestrating local smart sensor networks including the IoT edge gateways themselves. Our application ready Congatec Cloud API for IoT Gateways meets this demand. Its freely programmable software modules can be instantly utilized to get access to our boards and their data as well as connected sensor networks. They are available in C++ and can be used as a blueprint for any custom specific implementations. which highly simplifies the development of individual IoT solutions," explains Christian Eder, director of marketing at Congatec.