IoT architecture

three-tage (layer) IoT architecture

The most basic architecture is a three-layer architecture as shown in Figure 1. It was introduced
in the early stages of research in this area. It has three layers, namely, the perception, network,
and application layers.

(i)The perception layer is the physical layer, which has sensors for sensing and gathering
information about the environment. It senses some physical parameters or identifies other smart
objects in the environment.

(ii)The network layer is responsible for connecting to other smart things, network devices, and
servers. Its features are also used for transmitting and processing sensor data.

(iii)The application layer is responsible for delivering application specific services to the user. It
defines various applications in which the Internet of Things can be deployed, for example, smart
homes, smart cities, and smart health.

Fig 1
The three-layer architecture defines the main idea of the Internet of Things, but it is not sufficient
for research on IoT because research often focuses on finer aspects of the Internet of Things.
That is why, we have many more layered architectures proposed

4-layer (stage) IoT architecture

The 4-stage IoT architecture you mentioned is a common framework used to conceptualize the
components and flow of data in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. While it's true that the
specific architecture of an IoT system can vary depending on the application and
implementation, this basic framework provides a foundation for understanding how IoT systems
are typically structured. Let's briefly describe each of these layers:

fig2

1. Sensing Layer:

The Sensing Layer is the physical layer of IoT, where data is collected from the
real world. This layer consists of sensors and devices that can sense and measure
various parameters such as temperature, humidity, pressure, motion, and more.
 These sensors are responsible for capturing data from the environment and
converting it into a digital format for further processing.

2. Network Layer:

The Network Layer is responsible for connecting the sensors and devices to the
internet or a local network. This layer involves various communication protocols
and technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, cellular networks, or
LoRaWAN, to transmit data from the sensing devices to the data processing layer.
It manages the data transmission, routing, and connectivity aspects of the IoT
system.

3. Data Processing Layer:

The Data Processing Layer is where the raw data from the sensors is processed,
analyzed, and transformed into meaningful information. This layer often includes
edge computing devices or cloud-based servers that handle data storage,
aggregation, analysis, and machine learning algorithms. It's responsible for
making sense of the data and extracting valuable insights from it.

4. Application Layer:

The Application Layer is the topmost layer and represents the user interface or
applications that interact with the IoT system. This layer includes web and mobile
applications, dashboards, and other software interfaces that allow users to monitor
and control IoT devices, visualize data, set triggers, and make informed decisions
based on the processed information.

It's important to note that within each of these layers, there can be additional subcomponents and
functionalities depending on the specific IoT application. For example, in industrial IoT (IIoT),
there may be a control layer for managing actuators and automation systems, while in healthcare
IoT, there may be strict security and privacy considerations. Furthermore, the choice of
hardware, software, and protocols can vary widely based on the use case and requirements.
While the 4-stage IoT architecture provides a useful framework, the actual implementation of
IoT systems can be highly customized to meet the needs of different industries and applications.
Nevertheless, these fundamental layers help in understanding the flow of data and the key
components involved in an IoT ecosystem

five-layer (stage) IoT architecture

The five-layer architecture, which additionally includes the processing and business layers. The
five layers are perception, transport, processing, application, and business layers (see Figure 2).
The role of the perception and application layers is the same as the architecture with 4 layers.
The function of the remaining three layers.

(i)The transport layer transfers the sensor data from the perception layer to the processing layer
and vice versa through networks such as wireless, 3G, LAN, Bluetooth, RFID, and NFC.

(ii)The processing layer is also known as the middleware layer. It stores, analyzes, and processes
huge amounts of data that comes from the transport layer. It can manage and provide a diverse
set of services to the lower layers. It employs many technologies such as databases, cloud
computing, and big data processing modules.

(iii)The business layer manages the whole IoT system, including applications, business and
profit models, and users’ privacy. The business layer is out of the scope of this paper. Hence, we
do not discuss it further.

fig 3
Architecture Reference Model- Introduction