» M2M Technology «

What is Machine-to-Machine connected computing?
Communication between remote machines is not a new technology. In fact, during the Apollo mission there was telemetric data transfer of vital signs. The main difference now is that it is possible to correlate data from different sources (machines) today. Kontron’s M2M solution transitions from data stored in proprietary silos to making data available in a well-defined cloud environment. This new paradigm allows for analysis of data from different sources and different usage models. Additionally, with the affordability and wide-spread availability of wireless network connectivity, the focus moves away from merely transmitting the data to focus more on what benefit can be derived from the collected data. This change brings about completely new M2M applications scenarios like smart metering and allows for development of new business models and solution offerings.

What is the importance of M2M technology?
The M2M ecosystem is rapidly expanding. Wireless operators, MVNOs and ISPs are rolling out new billing programs for M2M wireless broadband transaction services to meet the growing demand for connected computing.

If you consider, that each embedded system contains some valuable data there is a big potential to add new value propositions.

In cooperation with independent software vendors (ISVs), or MAPs (M2M Application Platform) providers as they are becoming known, Kontron can offer tested middleware and cloud services for our M2M client devices to ensure secure real-time computing data compilation. This enables direct communications, yet supports seamless integration to existing industry-oriented database systems.

How is Kontron simplifying M2M technology for OEMS and Service Providers?
The Kontron M2M Smart Services Developer Kit was developed in collaboration with Intel to include a high performance, M2M device that can be easily enabled to develop and test M2M services. Kontron’s cost effective M2M family of small, powerful, low power M2M systems are designed to offer OEMs production ready hardware solutions to accelerate smart services deployment opportunities together with our software and connectivity partners.

All Kontron M2M devices are optimized to work with Kontron’s carrier-grade, high-density AdvancedTCA platform configurations and component hardware, as well as Kontron’s NEBS-3 and ETSI compliant carrier grade or communications servers that serve cloud computing and shorten design cycles for TEMs, NEPs and IT managers implementing central office or enterprise data networking solutions.

M2M System Usage Models

The Kontron M2M System included in the Kontron M2M Smart Services Developer Kit is a “Swiss Army Knife” example of an M2M system that can be used in multiple ways to generate, aggregate and transmit machine to machine data to the cloud. All of the M2M system usage models are “edge” devices that act as either nodes or gateways.

• Indirect Nodes and Sensors – These devices provide monitoring services, and frequently use WPAN 802.15.4 or WLAN 802.11 wireless communication.
• Direct Nodes – This device operates in a stand-alone capacity to send and receive data from the cloud, and may use multiple radio technologies to accomplish their mission.
• Gateways – These devices aggregate data from indirect nodes and sensors and deliver commands back using multiple radio technologies while acting as an onramp to the Cloud on behalf of many indirect nodes and sensors in a localized area.

The Kontron M2M System from the Kontron M2M Smart Service Developer Kit may be used in all three usage models. For development and testing the appropriate WWAN modem and SIM card need to be added for WWAN testing. Additional drivers and network operator certifications may also be needed to support the WWAN module on a given network. Kontron supports OEMS with these requirements via NRE for high volume M2M system commitments.

The Kontron M2M Smart Service Developer Kit’s M2M System supports multiple types of connectivity out of the box for development purposes and testing:

• Ethernet for wired broadband access
• 802.15.4 for wireless personal area networking
• Wi-Fi for wireless local area networking
• 3G for wireless broadband t networking (integrated or drop-in option)

The extensive capabilities allow the developer and OEM to test the smart services application in a connected environment that will be similar to an actual deployment. Kontron’s M2M Smart Services Developer Kits may be used for pilot deployments as well.

Speed time-to-market for M2M solutions (Available Q4)



» Small connected computing device for application development/testing
» 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN/802.15.4 WPAN capable for immediate application wireless connectivity testing
» 2 options for broadband wireless connectivity: 1) Integrated 3G for drop-in SIM or 2) Drop-in a pre-certified standard PCI Express minicard 3G/4G module and SIM
» Accelerometer, dual HDMI, HD audio, GB Ethernet and 3x USB ports



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M2M Connected Technologies
Several connection technologies are used in M2M. Here is a brief overview.

WLAN in M2M

Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN), IEEE 802.11, is widely used in M2M devices.  Wi-Fi, as 802.11 is commonly called, is also widely used for personal computers, tablets, smart phones, e-readers and gaming consoles. Wi-Fi networks are either supported by an access point or router, or are ad-hoc. The Wi-Fi Alliance (http://www.wi-fi.org) certifies Wi-Fi products for reliability and interoperability.

When Wi-Fi is used by an M2M indirect control node the device talks to the M2M gateway/router device but can’t provide data from other M2M indirect control nodes. The M2M gateway coordinates the network and acts as the trust center for the Wi-Fi security keys. There are various levels of security support for Wi-Fi networks that include encryption and key exchange. The M2M gateway and the direct node may use Wi-Fi to send data to the cloud. In those cases an Internet Service Provider (ISP) will be needed to support data transmission.

Wi-Fi range varies with the frequency used. Wi-Fi radios often support multiple bands and are backward compatible so that movable client devices are ensured of connectivity even when in the area of an older router.  802.11b/g generally supports a range of 120 ft (32 m) indoors to 300 ft (95 m) outdoors. 802.11n range is up to double that of 802.11b/g. 802.11a generally supports less than 802.11b/g ranges.

Kontron’s M2M System supports 300 Mbps throughput with 802.11 a/b/g/n at 2.4GHz band for 802.11b/g/n and 5GHz band for 802.11a.

WPAN in M2M

IEEE 802.15.4 is a low power, low data transfer wireless mesh networking standard that provides a WPAN (wireless personal area network) often used in M2M devices. Frequent uses of 802.15.4 enabled devices include intelligent lighting systems, building/home automation, smoke and intrusion detection, health data and other sensing. Future revisions will support increased usage in consumer electronics by increasing features and flexibility.

When 802.15.4 is used in an M2M indirect control node the device talks to the M2M gateway/router device but can’t provide data from other M2M indirect control nodes. The M2M gateway coordinates the network and acts as the trust center for the 802.15.4 security keys.

There are several types of 802.15.4 networks that operate in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band worldwide and ISM (industrial, scientific, medical) 915MHz band in the US and Australia and 868 MHz in Europe.
Kontron’s M2M system supports 802.11.15.4.

ZigBee® devices must be certified by the ZigBee Alliance (http://www.zigbee.org) for reliable interoperability. All ZigBee Certified testing is completed by independent testing firms: NTS, TUV and TRaC Global.

Raw ZigBee over the air data rates range from 20 kbps to 250kbps. ZigBee protocols minimize the time the ZigBee radio is on to conserve battery life. Latency is low and devices can go from sleep to active mode in 30 seconds. Transmission range extends 33 to 246 feet (10-70 meters) and more for ZigBee pro.

6LoWPAN: Internet Protocol v 6 Over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks defines encapsulation and header compression mechanisms that allow IPv6 packets to be sent to and received from over 802.15.4 based networks for Smart Grid and other implementations.

WirelessHART: Highway Addressable Remote Transducer is an open-standard wireless mesh networking technology developed by HART Communications Foundation. The protocol utilizes a time synchronized, self-organizing, and self-healing mesh architecture. The protocol currently supports operation in the 2.4 GHz band using IEEE 802.15.4 standard radios. The HART Protocol was developed in the mid-1980s by Rosemount Inc. for use with a range of smart measuring instruments. Originally proprietary, the protocol was soon published for free use by anyone, and in 1990 the HART User Group was formed. In 1993, the registered trademark and all rights in the protocol were transferred to the HART Communication Foundation (HCF). The protocol remains open and free for all to use without royalties.

WWAN in M2M

2.5G, 3G and 4Gare the generations of standards for international mobile telecommunications. Broadband wireless wide area networks are used in cellular phones, computers, tablets, e-readers and other devices.
When WWAN is used by an M2M direct control node or by an M2M gateway the system talks directly to the cloud and security is managed by the network operator, or carrier. There are a plethora of WWAN technologies for each generation of standards and multiple operators in each country. Generally operators have purchased the rights to the spectrum used for their services and require qualification of any device to be sold for use on their network. Throughput varies based on the technology and operator allocations of spectrum.
Kontron’s M2M System supports the drop-in (or pre-installed option) of the pre-certified Ericsson 5521gw modem with drivers for the Kontron M2M Smart Services Developer Kit. The SIM card does not accompany the kit from Kontron and must be added by the developer for 3G connectivity. Drivers are needed to support other modems and may be available from middleware ISVs or others.  Generally WWAN service providers require products to be tested on their network.

Ethernet in M2M

M2M systems may also use wired broadband connectivity to transfer data. All Kontron M2M systems support Ethernet connectivity.
Often M2M gateways will use wired broadband connectivity if the gateway is to be deployed in a stationary, non-mobile environment. The same is true for stationary direct nodes; wired Ethernet can be used for cloud transmission. In both cases Internet Service Providers (ISPs) may be used for cloud access in lieu of WWAN providers.
All Kontron M2M Systems are Ethernet enabled.

M2M Software

Intel architecture supports a wide range of OS options. The Kontron M2M System that is part of the Kontron M2M Smart Services Developer Kit comes preloaded with a 90 day free trial of Wind River Linux 4.1. Other OS options may be used by the developer as needed loading via USB from the external port. Additional drivers and BSP development may be needed to support the radios in the Kontron M2M System if a different OS selected. Some software companies may have this readily available in addition to other software needed to support M2M smart services.

Successful M2M deployments need additional software and services in the mix to ensure that data gathered by the M2M nodes can be processed and actions can be taken. Middleware providers have made this easier for the OEM by providing suites of software, M2M Application Platforms (MAP), that integrate the real-time data collected into business databases. Human error is minimized and audit trails are automated. Operational efficiency gains can help the enterprise save on downtime and field service calls by driving preventative maintenance rather than costly reactive situations.

Besides providing the ability to integrate the real-time data many middleware and framework companies also provide transaction validation and verification services to ensure that billing from broadband providers is consistent with usage levels.

MAP companies provide middleware and services SDK (software development kits) for development and for deployment. The differences are explained as follows:

• Development SDKs: Middleware and services partners help companies who want to develop their own code and integrate the complete solution. Device APIs and Cloud Application APIs are provided to develop agent code and application connectivity. Toolkits are provided to integrate and troubleshoot connectivity with cellular modems.
  
  
• Deployment SDKs: Middleware and services partners provide a complete turnkey solution which includes cellular connectivity and existing relationships with the world’s largest carriers. There is no coding required, only configuration using a graphical design tool with point and click, drag and drop for quick time to field trial and golden image release for semi-custom volume production by Kontron.
  
  

Smart services developers can help an OEM build the M2M software for the desired M2M smart services application.
Kontron and Intel work with the Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) worldwide that are serving the M2M marketplace. Kontron also provides software services to help OEMs in their product development effort.
To learn more about our M2M Application Platform partner solutions please see MAP Partners.

Kontron M2M Smart Services Development Kit
Out-of-Box Guide

Chapter 1 - What's in the Kit




Chapter 2 - Assembling the Kit




Chapter 3 - Activating the Kit




Chapter 4 - Desktop Resources/ Accessing Support




Smart Building Automation on Kontron M2M Intelligent Systems

M2M Application Platform (MAP) Partners



ILS Technology provides a leading global ready-to-use, off-the-shelf cloud platform to connect enterprise IT systems to the devices and machines on which businesses depend. ILS Technology solutions are easy to deploy to the Kontron M2M System without the need for months of complex programming or development. ILS Technology offers unparalleled security to protect company and customer data and ensure regulatory compliance.

The deviceWise M2M Application Deployment Kit contains ILS Technology’s configurable deviceWISE M2M Gateway software, the Kontron M2M System, which is an Intel® Atom™ processor-based M2M gateway hardware platform, ILS Technology M2M developer cloud subscription and access to ILS Technology’s professional services team. The software includes a robust “out-of-the-box” device connection library, edge processing and an event engine, allowing customers to create simple workflows to translate the raw data from connected devices to intelligent events for secure transmission to applications in the cloud or at their own locations.

If you already have a Kontron M2M Smart Services Developer Kit, visit www.ilstechnology.com/kontron for access to the ILS deviceWise platform.

Wind River
Wind River reduces the complexity for both device manufacturers and companies to adopt M2M. In collaboration with its partners Intel, Kontron, and Eurotech, we are creating M2M solutions that enable OEMs to easily build M2M devices and enable operators, service providers, and end customers to deploy and manage them in a secure environment. The combination of hardware, connectivity, OS, tools, M2M software, integration, testing, and services saves several man-years of development over a "do it yourself" (DIY) approach.

Wind River is focused on “foundational” M2M software to ensure the devices are connected, secure, and manageable. This is critical to both the design and operations of M2M devices and systems. Wind River brings the #1 commercial embedded Linux OS, leading tools, partner relationships with top embedded ISVs, enhancements for connectivity, security, and manageability, and our professional services expertise. With the Embedded Development Kit for M2M Smart Services you can accelerate implementations, reduce complexity, and build a solid foundation to grow and expand over time.

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M2M Smart Services Solutions: Connected, Managed, Secure

M2M Smart Services Developer Kit
Speed time-to-market for M2M solutions
More Information

• Feature rich development kits and application specific deployment units
• Connectivity: IEEE802.11, IEEE802.15.4, 3G/4G Cellular
• Cloud enabled secure communication with existing Carriers / Cloud providers
• Application ready "Machine to Machine" middleware
• Ecosystem partnerships with global market leaders