The Internet of Things (IoT): A Study of Architectural Elements

Abstract

The Internet of Things(IoT) is a technology which is currently emerging and it can be viewed as a network of objects connected via. Internet, which aims to increase the availability of Internet at anyplace and any time(the state or capacity of being everywhere, especially at the same time) through integration of the physical objects (embedded with software, sensors, actuators etc.) into the information network which enables these objects to collect data and exchange it. IoT paradigm when applied to Cultural Heritage (CH) encompasses a very wide range of technologies, hence a single reference architecture won't be enough for all possible implementations. IoT's basic model is a 5-layered architecture comprising of Business, Application, Service Management, Object Abstraction and Objects layers. With the evident fact that IoT is still in its formative stages, the main objective of this paper is to reflect that the IoT architecture is growing in an evolutionary fashion. An area of overlap exists between several reference architectures and this study of 5-layer model shows how architecture in this context means a framework for the specifications of physical objects, their organization, communication principles, operational methods and data formats used in their operations. This model provides a definitive goal for rethinking CH in terms of sustainability along with development of new activities that generate economic returns.