Dimensioning wireless use cases in Industrial Internet of Things

Abstract

Industrial wireless is increasingly developing to enhance data dissemination in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for leveraging the visibility, control, and safety in industrial environments. In this paper we propose a generic framework that enumerates physical and cyber factors in an IIoT use case that may impact the performance of wireless transmissions and challenge the design work. These factors are discussed in a conceptually tiered structure using domain knowledge from operational technology (OT) applications, data services, and information technology (IT) infrastructures. The correlations between intra- and inter-domain factors are also discussed in search of efficient wireless design solutions. Given the diversity and variety of IIoT practices, such a framework that identifies general and specific wireless requirements in individual use cases would be of high practical value to industrial wireless design and implementation.