Next-Level Integration for IoT: Key Success Factors

One of the key success factors for great battery-powered IoT devices is long battery life. #GPS, #accelerometers, #BTLE, #Wifi, #LTE CATM and NB-IoT module manufacturers have developed low power modules and modes for their devices by making these modules self-contained and #intelligent. These devices have their own small micro-controllers, firmware and power management circuitry in a self -contained module.

Distributing Processing without an Operating System

To take advantage of the lower power consumption of each of these devices requires a change in system level architecture. Traditionally, an operating system such as Linux is used to run a micro-computer. The operating system itself may be efficient but adds processing requirements.

The operating system can be eliminated, and firmware flashed directly if there is a way to distribute parallel activities that would normally require multi-tasking capability in an operating system.

Lower Power

Fortunately, the intelligent modules can operate autonomously once they are set up. They can generate wake-up interrupts for the micro-controller based on events they detect. Some of these events themselves are complex sensing tasks like the double tab on an accelerometer, or, for GPS, changing of location or leaving or entering a fenced location.

These low power modules essentially become the masters performing multiple parallel tasks independently while the central micro-controller sleeps.

Using Intelligent Modules

Using intelligent modules creates the need for a next-level of integration. These need to be treated as a single system of already highly integrated modules. The SDKs that run on desktop operating systems generate code that can be flashed directly as IoT firmware. The SDKs expose the features of the smart modules as if they were centrally controlled but hide underlying communication and feature settings of each module from the programmer.

Using SDKs Eliminates Hardware Level Embedded Programming

Programming with SDKs eliminates a major pain point and does not require #embedded programming and hardware knowledge, knowledge of test equipment and programmers with these skill sets while eliminating the power consuming operating system on the fully integrated module.

Lower Cost of Development

This latest architectural approach to IoT system design improves performance, reduces cost of development in time to market, regulatory certification, and enables an application-centric development without the constraints of using off the shelf pre-configured hardware.

Innowave specializes in the design of miniature RF IoT devices, incorporating multiple sensors and RF technologies. For more information, on our patented technologies or our modules, please contact us.