Machine-to-Machine (M2M) introduction

Imagine everything around you which you use in your daily life connected to the internet. It would be fun to control everything using your internet on your mobile or your laptop or PC.

Imagine you able to start your air conditioner at home before just before you reach there. Imagine your coffee ready even before you reach your office. Imagine advertising companies controlling billboards in real time - changing ads remotely. 

A lot more can be done.... i hope I can explain what M2M is and where it can apply.

What is M2M?

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication is a form of data communication that involves one or more entities that do not necessarily require human interaction or intervention in the process of communication. M2M is also named as Machine Type Communication (MTC) in 3GPP. It is different from the current communication models in the ways that it involves:

- new or different market scenarios

- lower costs and effort

- a potentially very large number of communicating terminals - little traffic per terminal, in general

Systems that enable machines to communicate with back-end information systems and/or directly with other machines, in order to provide real-time data. M2M communication can be event-based, that is triggered by the occurrence of a particular event, and/or polling based, that takes place in predefined time intervals. 

Machina Research defines M2M as “Connections to remote sensing, monitoring and actuating devices, together with associated aggregation devices” 

M2M communication could be carried over mobile networks (e.g. GSM-GPRS, CDMA EVDO networks). In the M2M communication, the role of mobile network is largely confined to serve as a transport network. 

Applications of M2M

There are various places where this technology can be applied. The picture below depicts the universe of M2M also called "The Internet of Things".

Let me list down a few applications which cover the M2M umbrella. The umbrella is pretty large as you can see above. 

• Security : Surveillances, Alarm systems, Access control, Car/driver security 
• Tracking & Tracing : Fleet Management, Order Management, Pay as you drive, Asset Tracking, Navigation, Traffic information, Road tolling, Traffic optimization/steering 
• Payment : Point of sales,Vending machines,Gaming machines 
• Health : Monitoring vital signs, Supporting the aged or handicapped, Web Access Telemedicine points, Remote diagnostics 
• Remote Maintenance / Control : Sensors, Lighting, Pumps, Valves, Elevator control, Vending machine control, Vehicle diagnostics 
• Automated Metering : Power, Gas, Water, Heating, Grid control, Industrial metering 
• Manufacturing : Production chain monitoring and automation 
• Facility Management : Home / building / campus automation 

The above applications can fall under 2 broad buckets depending on the type of application - Consumer Applications and Enterprise applications.

The applications are subjects by themselves and can be talked about in detail. 

So from the above you may have realized that there are 3 parts to the complete M2M thing (a) The Device  (b) The network (c) The application. M2M has a huge ecosystem covering the above 3 parts. There can be discussions around how and who are making and selling these products. 

Think about this and let me know......