The Brain of the LoRaWAN Network: LoRaWAN Network Server

 

There is no wonder in the statement “The LoRaWAN technology is the key to Smart & Sustainable Future”. There are so many case studies through which we can justify the statement. We can go far beyond the advancement to achieve the

We are so involved in new innovations & development, in order to update ourselves with the changing or demanding future growth. Such contributions can be advanced by having the in depth knowledge of the technology. 

The LoRa technology utilizes the telecommunication network called LoRaWAN which routes the data from the end points to the centralized Network Server & then to the required entities via LoRaWAN Gateway. Since LoRaWAN® network architecture is deployed in a star-of-stars topology in which gateways are the centralized unit which relay messages between end-devices and a central network server. The gateways are connected to the LoRa Network Server via standard IP connections and act as a transparent bridge, simply converting RF packets to IP packets and vice versa.

The LoRaWAN Network Server is connected via IP backbone with the Gateways. The IP traffic from a Gateway to the Network Server can be backhauled via Wifi, Ethernet. The Gateway here acts as LoRa Radio Message Forwarders. The LoRaWAN Gateway then checks the data integrity of the data/messages sent by the multiple End devices within its hearing range called uplink. This also reduces the packet error rate.

For downlink, a LoRaWAN Gateway executes transmission requests coming from the LoRa Network Server.

LoRa Network Server performs data deduplication & deletes all copies & selects the Gateway that received the message with best RSSI.

The LoRaWAN Network Server has following features:

• v  MAC layer management of uplinks & downlinks, including service messages.
• v  Network and application layer symmetric AES 128 bit encryption ensuring optimal and integrated security
• v  Different classes can be assigned to devices depending on the use case to control power consumption.
• v  Every network management function, including data exposure, can be accessed through a set of open & documented APIs
• v On selected LoRaWAN devices, the network server can apply decoders to extract application layer data and send it to relevant application
• v  Providing acknowledgements of confirmed uplink data messages.
• v  Forwarding uplink application payloads to the appropriate Application Servers
• v  Routing uplink application payloads to the appropriate Application Server.
• v  For downlinks, best gateway selection based on availability and radio parameters.
• v Adaptive Data Rate is used to control spreading factors, power emissions and retransmits to optimize network capacity.

Thus it can be concluded that the LoRaWAN Network Server acts as a brain of the LoRaWAN Architecture which controls the complete LoRaWAN Network. The LoRaWAN Network Server connects the gateways, sensors, end-user applications and ensures reliable & secure data routing for overall LoRa Network.

Smart Water Network Management

 

With increasing concern for water scarcity and growing demand for environmentally sustainable practices, it’s good to remember that even small improvements in water consumption can make a big impact over time.

But to achieve those incremental savings and in order to make sure that your water saving techniques has the favorable effects, you’ll need to improve the accuracy of monitoring by deep dive into the technology you are using.

In addition to the cost effective solutions & saving in consumption, accurate and frequent water measurement techniques also helps you catch and monitor all the possible total flow and leaks before they severely affects the building.

Different magnetic sensors such as reed switches or hall effect sensors are used to detect and assess the magnet rotation, extra electronics generates a voltage pulse proportional to the water flow. In this way it reflects and captures the water consumed.

Different types of water meter are being used for different purposes as follows:

 

Sr.No.	Pulse Based Output Water Meter (Magnetic)	Ultrasonic Water Meter	Electromagnetic Water Meter
1.	Automatic Water Meter Reading on hourly basis	Automatic Water Meter Reading in real time monitoring	Automatic Water Meter Reading in real time monitoring
2.	Moving parts with a reed switch	Static Meters	Static Meters
3.	Volume of water determined using Pulse	Radiation/Signal based readings	Electromagnetic induction based reading
4.	Insensitive to Temperature, Pressure & Viscosity	Sensitive to Solid suspended particles & air bubbles	Unaffected by the temperature, pressure, density, or viscosity of the liquid

In  order  to transmit the water  meter  data between  meter  and  the users, the system  uses the  LoRa  trans receiver  module which is the AMR unit. The Automatic Water Meter eliminates the hassles & errors in case of Manual Readings Systems. In India, mostly conventional mechanical reading meters are being used, a person needs to go to every meter to note down the reading and then he prepares the bill.

 The AMR has multiple of features to beat the conventional system, which are as follows:

• Easy to use and deploy

• Tamper alert

• Long range wireless data transmission

• Removal detection

• Low Maintenance cost

• Configurable data frequency time

The  final reading  is  thus  sent  wirelessly  from AMR using  LoRa  transmitter  module which  is  at both  the  transmitter  as  well  as  LoRaWAN Hand-Held unit or Static LoRaWAN Gateway.  The Hand-Held unit & Gateway comprising of LoRa module both can cover the distance of up to 2km in urban area and up to 5km when line of sight.

As per the LoRaWAN architecture, the encrypted data then sends to the LoRa Network Server.

A user can also monitor & control the consumption through either Web based or Mobile based Application. The Application has following features:

1.       Multi-Level Accounts/Logins.
2.        History Tracking through Downloadable Reports.
3.        Recharge System: Prepaid or Postpaid both.
4.      User Registration with Flat Numbers/Ids.

Industrial Automation- IIOT

Hey, the word “Automation” sounds so interesting in the world of technology, isn’t it? So far, we have been upgraded to the world of IoT. This means the interconnection of systems/things via internet, which has sharpened our actions in terms of Consumption of Utilities, Smart Monitoring, Process Control, Data Analysis etc.

IIoT simply means getting information that every single consumer needs in their hands when they want it. The massive chunk of data is very crucial in resolving many Industrial, Cities & Household issues. It is the urge to get rid of human errors and manual actions by enhancing the monitoring & controlling of data in a smarter way.

In this way, the Internet of Things has been introduced to make Smart Devices that drive more efficiency. With most Organizations, the data is not real time & lacks efficiency, inhibiting key stake holders to make informed decisions. Hence, IIoT is introduced to allow making decisions using information received in real time & not from the report generated from yesterday’s data.

IoT has several of applications whether in Smart Cities, Smart Homes, Irrigation Automation, Smart Grids etc. But there is also a word in trend named as “IIoT” means Industrial Internet of Things. The necessity of Industrial Automation, Connectivity & Analytics makes IoT a Super-Hero.

Why IoT is significant among Industrial Automation? Let’s have a look here:

Industrial Automation has been enabled by many technologies but IoT is the crucial one. This transforms the outlook of data monitoring, hassle free controlling, and increased efficiency. Now a days, production sectors rapidly introducing IoT where Machineries can be automated and anticipate possible production hurdles with better efficiency.

The IoT system comprises of:

•         Smart Devices that captures & forwards the encrypted data over the Internet.
•          Network architecture that collects & reads the data.
•          Software Stack displays the processed data & allows monitoring it.
•          Controllers or Instruments then act by utilizing the same information.

This system has been fitted among Productions Sector, Chemical, Agriculture industries, as well as in Smart Robotics and fixing Security challenges. The growth of IIoT evolves as a way to something bigger.

“The technology that powers an organization has become just as essential to success as the product or service a venture provides,” tech entrepreneur Leon Hounshell wrote in Forbes.

The potential of growth by implementing IIoT is predicted to generate $15 trillion of global GDP by 2030.

The benefits of IIoT have been highlighted as follows:

•  The contribution of IIoT has made vast changes in economic. The main focus is not on the   Suppliers but on the Consumers which increases business productivity.
•   It improves operational efficiency, lowers operational costs, and increases income-generation.
•  Optimization & Process Control of complex data enhances solutions.
• With IIoT, there are high chances to create revenue generation which helps in expanding   businesses.
•  Similarly, IIoT devices can monitor and better manage an HVAC system.
•  IIoT works on improving productivity and quality, without burdening resources.

A Prominent Global Leader Robert Cannon has nicely said that “Everything that can be automated will be automated”.

There are many Industries or Companies that deploys Industrial IoT as their use cases. Some of them are Honeywell, Siemens, Litmus etc.

For example: Honeywell’s Connected OEM is an IIoT platform that allows for remote equipment monitoring to “harness opportunities to cut costs, improve reliability, enhance performance, and drive incremental revenue.”

Litmus creates software that connects industrial devices, both legacy and modern, so industrial companies can access data in real time. The platform works from the edge to the cloud, allowing businesses to manage the entire lifecycle of IoT deployments.