Connectivity Framework
3: Connectivity Reference Architecture
feasible. We need connectivity architectures that can address the diversity of IIoT systems, while tacking the N ² challenge and enabling the vision of the industrial internet.
The rest of this section describes a connectivity reference architecture that achieves near linear scalability, O( N), with respect to the number of connectivity technologies. It accomplishes this by defining a small set of connectivity core standards. Standardized core gateways bridge the connectivity core standards. Domain-specific connectivity technologies need a gateway to just one of the connectivity core standards, to participate in an information exchange with the rest of the IIoT ecosystem.
3.2 CONNECTIVITY CORE STANDARDS
New connectivity technologies will need to be integrated with legacy technologies during a system’ s lifetime. A connectivity architecture shall allow a plethora of connectivity technologies to interoperate within an industry, and across industries to support the vision of an IIoT that spans industries.
A connectivity gateway bridges one or more connectivity technologies, as shown in Figure 3-2.
Functional Domain Other Endpoints
Other Connectivity Technologies
Endpoints Gateway
Connectivity Core Standards( baseline)
Gateway
Other Functional Domain
Figure 3-2: Connectivity Gateway Concept. A connectivity core standard technology( baseline) is one that can satisfy all of the connectivity requirements for a functional domain. Gateways provide two functions( 1) integrate other connectivity technologies used within a functional domain,( 2) interface with connectivity core standards in other functional domains.
IIC: PUB: G5: V1.0: PB: 20170228- 22-