ByteSnap IoT standards and protocols guide

With the proliferation of IoT devices, protocols and standards ensure that the devices function correctly and communicate smoothly with each other.

Award-winning embedded electronics design consultancy, ByteSnap, has extensive experience in designing and developing reliable and secure IoT devices that meet regulatory requirements and industry standards. With this in mind and to mark World IoT Day on 9th April 2024, its engineers have put together a guide on IoT protocols and standards; why they matter, the most common ones and what to consider in the design process, and a handy technical glossary.

IoT protocols and standards: an overview

IoT protocols are guidelines, or a set of rules and standards on how devices should work, communicate, and exchange data within an IoT network. They define device connectivity, interoperability, security, and privacy within IoT systems. In the context of the IoT the protocols take into account the unique requirements of IoT devices, including limited processing power, memory, and energy. IoT protocols are designed to provide reliable and efficient comms between devices, minimise bandwidth use and keep power consumption low. 

IoT standards, meanwhile, define the requirements for IoT devices and systems. They can cover a wide range of topics, such as security, interoperability, and data formats. IoT standards are constructed and maintained by organisations and bodies that specialise in setting technical guidelines, frameworks, and best practices for IoT. Prominent organisations include the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC); Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF); Thread Group; Connectivity Standards Alliance. 

Among key international standards are ISO/IEC 30141:2018; ISO/IEC 27030:2020; and ISO/IEC 21823-3:2021.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are examples of commercial IoT standards and protocols that are widely used. The commercial IoT industry is still growing, with more protocols and standards emerging to meet the demand for streamlined, user-friendly devices in the consumer electronics market.

Choosing the right IoT product design standards and protocols for your project

Common IoT communication protocols include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRaWAN, and MQTT; while common IoT security standards include Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Matter and Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Choosing the right IoT protocol or standard for a project will depend on several factors within a spec - such as the type of device, the data transfer rate, power consumption, and range requirements. 

Device type: the type of device deployed plays a significant role in determining the suitable IoT protocol. If you're working with small, low-power devices like sensors or wearables, a lightweight protocol such as MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) may be preferable as it is efficient at transmitting small packets of data over constrained networks. For complex devices, including industrial equipment or smart appliances, that require robust communication capabilities, protocols like CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol) or HTTP might be better, offering features like request-response communication and support for larger payloads.

Data transfer rates: these vary depending on the application's needs. Projects involving real-time monitoring or control, such as smart home automation or industrial process optimisation, protocols like MQTT or CoAP are suited, because they enable low-latency communication and efficient data transmission. Applications that involve periodic data collection or infrequent updates, such as environmental monitoring or asset tracking, may see benefits using LoRaWAN or Sigfox, which prioritise long-range communication and low power consumption over high data rates.

Power consumption: is a critical consideration, particularly for battery-powered IoT devices where energy efficiency directly impacts device lifespan and maintenance costs. Lightweight protocols like MQTT and CoAP are designed to minimise power consumption by reducing the overhead associated with message formatting and transmission. Conversely, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Zigbee implement power-saving mechanisms like low-duty cycling and sleep modes to prolong battery life in devices such as wearables and smart sensors. 

Range requirements: The range over which IoT devices need to communicate varies depending on the deployment environment and application scenario. For projects that require local area coverage within a confined space, protocols like BLE or Zigbee offer short-range communication suitable for home automation, smart buildings, and indoor asset tracking. Alternatively, for applications spanning larger geographical areas or outdoor environments, protocols like LoRaWAN or NB-IoT (Narrowband IoT) provide long-range connectivity capable of reaching distances of several kilometres, making them ideal for applications such as agriculture monitoring, smart city infrastructure, and remote environmental sensing.

Why standards are key to IoT product design success

IoT product design standards are significant for electronics product designers and manufacturers for several reasons. Chiefly, they ensure interoperability between devices from different manufacturers. By adhering to a common standard, devices can communicate with each other seamlessly, reducing the need for proprietary communication protocols or gateways.

IoT product design standards also help to:

• Ensure the security and privacy of data transmitted between devices. Standards such as the Matter standard include several security features such as encryption, authentication, and device identity. This helps to ensure that data transmitted between devices is secure and private, reducing the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.
• Guarantee the reliability and scalability of IoT devices. Standards such as Zigbee or Bluetooth Mesh are designed to handle large-scale deployments of IoT devices, allowing them to communicate with each other efficiently and effectively.
• Reduce costs for electronics product designers and manufacturers. By adhering to a common standard, manufacturers can reduce the need for custom development and testing, reducing costs, and time-to-market for new products.
• Drive innovation in the IoT industry. By providing a common framework for communication between devices, designers and manufacturers can focus on developing new and innovative products and services, rather than developing custom communication protocols.

The success of an IoT project hinges not only on its core concept but also on various supporting factors like hardware, software, and infrastructure. Thus, taking a holistic approach to designing an IoT system becomes paramount, considering every aspect that contributes to its launch and use.

In the realm of IoT, the choice of product design standards and protocols holds immense significance. These standards serve as a universal language for IoT devices, facilitating seamless communication between them. Moreover, adherence to these standards ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and industry norms, reduces costs and improves efficiency, all pivotal steps in bringing IoT products to market fruition.