Connectivity Framework
3: Connectivity Reference Architecture
Endpoints
Domain-Specific Connectivity Technology
Gateway to a Connectivity Core Standard
Connectivity Core Standards
Core Gateways
Figure 3-3: A standardized gateway between core connectivity standards can allow domain-specific endpoints connected to one core standard to communicate with domain-specific endpoints integrated over another core standard.
To realize the goals of communication across functional domain and horizontal interoperability across industries, a standardized Core Gateway shall be defined between each of the core connectivity standards, as shown in Figure 3-4.
Endpoints
Domain-Specific Connectivity Technology
Gateway to a Connectivity Core Standard
Connectivity Core Standards
Core Gateways
Figure 3-4: Each core connectivity standard requires a standardized gateway to all other core standards. Each additional core standard creates increasing complexity and interoperability challenges. By restricting the design to a few core connectivity standards, we cover the needs of IIoT systems across the functional domains, and attain the goal of horizontal interoperability across industries.
Let K be the number of core standards. Then the number of core gateways that will be standardized is K *( K- 1) / 2, as shown in Figure 3-4. If N is the total number of connectivity technologies( see Figure 3-1), then only additional( N-K) gateways are needed with the introduction of core standards. The total number of gateways required becomes K *( K-1)/ 2 +( N-
IIC: PUB: G5: V1.0: PB: 20170228- 24-