IoT Levels | Five levels of IOT

Imagine building a smart home. You can do it all in one room (Level 1) with basic lights and speakers, or expand across rooms (Level 2) with complex sensors and automation. That’s the power of IOT Levels: they tell you how to arrange the pieces of your connected world. But before you go ahead we will suggest to know about the IOT and it’s Characteristics.

With IOT Levels, the same smart home system can be simple or sophisticated, depending on your needs. Level 1 keeps everything local, like a smart bulb controlled by a nearby switch. Level 2 connects devices to a central hub, letting your phone adjust lights from anywhere.

Think of levels like building blocks: you choose the ones that fit your project. Need basic monitoring? Stick with Level 1. Want advanced automation? Explore Level 2. The key is flexibility – IOT Levels empower you to create the perfect connected world, step-by-step.

The IOT architecture comprises five main IOT Levels:

Table of Contents

• IOT Level 1: Device level
• IOT Level 2: Network Level
• IOT Level 3: Platform Level
• IOT Level 4: Application Level
• IOT Level 5: Business Process Level
• Conclusion-

IOT Level 1: Device level

Level 1 in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem represents the most basic yet crucial layer. Think of it as the foundation stones upon which more complex connected systems are built. It involves a straightforward arrangement of components focused on local data collection and actuation.

Let’s Understand IOT Level 1-

This level revolves around “individual things” with built-in sensors and actuators. Imagine smart thermostats, fitness trackers, or simple irrigation systems.

Each device operates independently, gathering data (e.g., temperature, steps taken, soil moisture) and responding directly to that data (e.g., adjusting temperature, tracking activity, activating irrigation).

Let’s Understanding IOT Level 1 visually:

Benefit of IOT Level 1-

• Simplicity: Easy to set up and use, ideal for beginners or small-scale projects.
• Low cost: Requires minimal infrastructure and complex components, making it affordable.
• Privacy: Data stays local, reducing concerns about cloud storage and security.
• Reliability: Works independently, even without an internet connection, ensuring basic functionality.

IOT Level 2: Network Level

Level 2 of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem takes the foundation of Level 1 and introduces connectivity, centralization, and intelligence. It’s where things get interesting, allowing for more complex interactions, data analysis, and remote control.

Let’s Understand IOT Level 2-

Level 2 IOT takes individual devices with sensors and actuators and connects them through a central hub, like a brain, for broader control.

This hub crunches data, makes decisions, and talks to devices over various networks like Wi-Fi or even satellites. Data gets stored in the cloud for easy access and analysis, allowing you to monitor and control everything remotely through apps or dashboards.

It’s like having a personal orchestra conductor managing your connected devices!

Let’s Understanding IOT Level 2 visually:

Benefit of IOT Level 2-

• Increased functionality: Enables complex automation, remote control, and advanced data analysis.
• Scalability: Supports a larger number of devices and wider geographical coverage.
• Deeper insights: Aggregates data from multiple devices, providing a comprehensive understanding of the system’s behavior.
• Security: Centralized security management can be implemented, offering better protection.

IOT Level 3: Platform Level

This level acts as the brain of the operation, responsible for data aggregation, management, and initial processing.

Cloud platforms, fog computing systems, and middle ware solutions reside here, providing services like data storage, analytics, and device management.

Let’s Understand IOT Level 3-

The heavy lifting happens here. Cloud platforms, fog computing systems, or powerful edge servers analyze aggregated data from multiple devices, enabling complex calculations, trend identification, and real-time decision-making.

Networks like cellular, Wi-Fi, or dedicated IoT protocols connect devices to gateways and the cloud, data flow over larger distances. Data is stored in central cloud databases .

User interaction usually occurs through web dashboards, mobile apps, or APIs.

Let’s Understanding IOT Level 3 visually:

Benefit of IOT Level 3-

• Scalability: Supports large numbers of interconnected devices spread across vast geographical areas.
• Advanced analytics: Enables complex data analysis, leading to deeper insights and intelligent decision-making.
• Remote control: Provides centralized control and management of all devices from anywhere in the world.
• Enhanced security: Cloud platforms offer robust security features and centralized control for better protection.

IOT Level 4: Application Level

Instead of sending all their information straight to the internet, they can do some thinking for themselves first. This is called “edge analytics.”

Let’s Understand IOT Level 4-

Imagine a system with many smart devices collecting information, like temperature sensors in your house. Level 4 IOT is like having each sensor do some basic analysis itself, like figuring out if it’s getting too hot, before sending the data to a central “brain” in the cloud.

This brain stores and analyzes all the data to understand the bigger picture, like figuring out if your whole house is overheating.

But here’s the cool part: even other “brains” can join in to analyze the data from different sensors. It’s like having multiple experts looking at the information from different angles to give you even better insights.

This system works well when you have lots of devices, lots of data, and need complex calculations. Think of it like managing a huge factory with thousands of machines – each sending data, needing analysis, and influencing each other. That’s where Level 4 IOT shines!

Let’s Understanding IOT Level 4 visually:

IOT Level 5: Business Process Level

Level 5 of the IoT architecture takes data collection and analysis to a more complex level compared to lower levels. Here’s what characterizes it.

Let’s Understand IOT Level 5-

• Multiple end nodes: These are sensor devices that gather data or actuators that perform actions based on commands.
• Coordinator node: This acts as a central hub within the network, collecting data from end nodes and relaying it to the cloud.
• Cloud-based data storage and analysis: All collected data is sent to the cloud for processing and storage. Powerful computing resources can handle large datasets and complex algorithms.
• Cloud-based application: The user interface and control functionalities reside in the cloud, accessible through web browsers or mobile apps.

Let’s Understanding IOT Level 5 visually:

Benefit of IOT Level 5-

• Scalability: Can handle large networks with numerous devices.
• Efficiency: Coordinator node reduces network traffic and simplifies communication.
• Advanced analysis: Cloud computing enables complex algorithms and deep learning.
• Centralized control: Offers a unified platform for managing and monitoring the system.

Conclusion-

From basic data collection (Level 1) to complex cloud-coordinated networks (Level 5), the IoT ladder offers diverse solutions. Lower levels excel in simplicity and direct device communication, while higher levels unlock powerful analysis and centralized control. Choosing the right level depends on your needs: data size, processing requirements, and desired control. Remember, complexity comes with trade-offs like latency and security.