A gap analysis of Internet-of-Things platforms (1502.01181v3)

Abstract: We are experiencing an abundance of Internet-of-Things (IoT) middleware solutions that provide connectivity for sensors and actuators to the Internet. To gain a widespread adoption, these middleware solutions, referred to as platforms, have to meet the expectations of different players in the IoT ecosystem, including device providers, application developers, and end-users, among others. In this article, we evaluate a representative sample of these platforms, both proprietary and open-source, on the basis of their ability to meet the expectations of different IoT users. The evaluation is thus more focused on how ready and usable these platforms are for IoT ecosystem players, rather than on the peculiarities of the underlying technological layers. The evaluation is carried out as a gap analysis of the current IoT landscape with respect to (i) the support for heterogeneous sensing and actuating technologies, (ii) the data ownership and its implications for security and privacy, (iii) data processing and data sharing capabilities, (iv) the support offered to application developers, (v) the completeness of an IoT ecosystem, and (vi) the availability of dedicated IoT marketplaces. The gap analysis aims to highlight the deficiencies of today's solutions to improve their integration to tomorrow's ecosystems. In order to strengthen the finding of our analysis, we conducted a survey among the partners of the Finnish IoT program, counting over 350 experts, to evaluate the most critical issues for the development of future IoT platforms. Based on the results of our analysis and our survey, we conclude this article with a list of recommendations for extending these IoT platforms in order to fill in the gaps.

• The paper establishes that current IoT platforms struggle with heterogeneous device support due to nonstandard communication protocols.
• It finds that deficiencies in data ownership, processing, and uniform APIs hinder effective application development and integration.
• The paper recommends adopting standardized protocols, robust data processing frameworks, and enhanced developer tools to foster a cohesive IoT ecosystem.

Evaluation of IoT Platforms: A Gap Analysis

The paper "A gap analysis of Internet-of-Things platforms" presents a comprehensive examination of the IoT ecosystem, analyzing the capability of current IoT platforms to meet the needs of various stakeholders, including device providers, application developers, and end-users. The authors evaluate a selection of both proprietary and open-source IoT platforms, focusing on six key areas: support for heterogeneous technologies, data ownership implications, data processing and sharing capabilities, developer support, ecosystem completeness, and the availability of IoT marketplaces. This analysis aims to highlight deficiencies in today's IoT solutions and provide recommendations for future improvement.

Key Findings

The paper underscores significant gaps in current IoT platforms, primarily due to the heterogeneity of IoT devices and the lack of standardized communication protocols. Moreover, the platforms exhibit a deficiency in handling data ownership securely, emphasizing the need for mechanisms ensuring privacy and security. The paper observes that while the processing of IoT data is critical, it is notably limited across platforms. Efficient data processing and sharing mechanisms are necessary to harness IoT data's full potential. From a developer's perspective, existing platforms predominantly offer nonuniform APIs, complicating the development of cross-platform applications. The lack of SDKs and Domain Specific Languages (DSLs) further highlights an area ripe for improvement.

The gap analysis also points to insufficient support for ecosystem formation. Existing solutions are silos of platform-specific systems, restricting the cross-platform integration of applications and services. For IoT marketplaces, fundamental infrastructures such as billing mechanisms and application/data catalogs are largely missing.

Implications and Recommendations

The paper suggests that addressing these gaps would not only enhance existing platforms but also stimulate the growth of the IoT ecosystem. One primary recommendation is to adopt standardized communication protocols to facilitate the integration of diverse devices. Introducing local handling and processing of data, along with fine-grained access control, would significantly improve data management and security. The development of a dedicated IoT marketplace could drive economic growth, offering new business models and increasing the re-usability of data and applications.

From a theoretical perspective, the gap analysis encourages research into constructing uniform data models and standardizing APIs. Practically, platforms need to integrate more robust data processing frameworks that can be utilized at the edge, thus reducing latency and enhancing real-time capabilities. Future IoT solutions should also emphasize creating a developer-friendly environment with comprehensive SDKs and DSLs tailored for IoT applications. Moreover, ecosystems can be enriched through financial incentives for developers and broader application and service sharing.

Speculation on Future Directions

Looking forward, the paper implies that the future of IoT platforms lies in enhancing interoperability and user control. The proliferation of standardized, secure solutions could lead to a more cohesive IoT landscape, reducing current fragmentation. The authors speculate on the necessity of establishing IoT marketplaces that could radically transform how data and applications are accessed and monetized. Furthermore, research into efficient data processing and edge analytics will be pivotal as IoT deployments continue to scale globally.

In conclusion, this paper provides a thorough analysis of the IoT platform landscape, offering insightful recommendations to bridge existing gaps. As the IoT ecosystem evolves, addressing these highlighted challenges will be crucial for fostering innovation and realizing the full potential of IoT technologies.