Improving Infrastructure and Systems Management with Machine-to-Machine Communications

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1 Improving Infrastructure and Systems Management with Machine-to-Machine Communications

2 Contents Executive Summary... 3 The Role of Cellular Communications in Industrial Automation, Infrastructure, and Systems Management... 4 Leveraging a M2M Platform... 6 Key Requirements for M2M Application Development and Management Platforms... 7 Best Practices for Wireless M2M Application and Management Platforms... 8 Conclusion

3 Executive Summary As modern buildings and infrastructure become more automated, more organizations are turning to wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) communications. M2M technology allows private and public organizations to monitor and control telemetry systems, sensors, cameras, industrial equipment, and virtually any other system remotely and cost-effectively. As a result, organizations can more effi ciently manage manufacturing facilities, commercial buildings, transportation infrastructure, farms and vineyards, and dozens of other remote systems, even in the most hard-to-reach locations. M2M solutions reliably connect sensors and monitoring devices for a broad range of applications, including: Industrial automation, with cellular communications functioning as the primary or backup network to supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems Building automation Public infrastructure and traffi c systems, including real-time traffi c monitoring, video monitoring, and billboard and street light management Agricultural monitoring and automation Remote systems management In the past, however, organizations wishing to connect remote systems and infrastructure had little choice but to develop, implement, and operate the entire communication system on their own a huge and costly endeavor. Companies were also hampered by communications technologies that relied on traditional media (telephone lines, radio communications) that limited where and how equipment in the fi eld could be connected. Today, the expansion of wireless wide-area network (WWAN) public cellular networks means that organizations can connect more monitors, sensors, and other equipment in more places than ever before. In addition, M2M management systems have evolved to the point that companies can use fully developed, comprehensive M2M platforms that allow them to deploy infrastructure and systems management applications much more easily and inexpensively. This paper explores how cellular-connected technology benefi ts organizations managing remote infrastructure and systems, and the key requirements and best practices to consider when implementing M2M applications. 3

4 The Role of Cellular Communications in Industrial Automation, Infrastructure, and Systems Management Organizations working with industrial and manufacturing facilities, commercial properties, public infrastructure, and other remote systems are increasingly seeking to automate processes and monitor equipment remotely. For a broad range of companies, the ability to collect data and control systems in real time can unlock signifi cant benefi ts, increasing effi ciency and productivity, lowering costs, and improving safety and security. Cellular M2M connectivity can play a central role in achieving these benefi ts. Examples include: Industrial and manufacturing: Industrial and manufacturing companies face constant pressure to lower costs and improve speed and effi ciency. As these companies seek to boost productivity, they are using increasingly sophisticated manufacturing and supply chain automation applications. To reap the benefi ts of automation, however, they need to be able to gather more real-time data from the plant fl oor. Cellular technologies allow these companies to monitor and control equipment virtually anywhere, even in hard-toreach and temporary locations. They enable companies to operate SCADA systems from anywhere in the facility or even remotely, and help drive down costs by integrating industrial equipment with security and environmental controls. Commercial property: Companies operating commercial and large residential properties can realize substantial cost savings by monitoring and automating building environmental systems. Cellular M2M solutions provide a means to integrate all environmental controls into a single, remotely controllable system, and to integrate with video surveillance and security systems. Ultimately, companies can monitor, control, and secure multiple properties from anywhere, even as they improve power effi ciency and reduce operating expenses. Public infrastructure: Organizations managing highways, traffi c light systems, and other public infrastructure are seeking to relieve traffi c congestion and improve safety. New traffi c monitoring and decision support systems can help them accomplish this, but they are only as good as the available data. Public organizations are increasingly turning to cellular M2M solutions to collect real-time traffi c and infrastructure data, especially from remote locations that would be too diffi cult or expensive to connect with wired communications. Agriculture: Farms, vineyards, and other agricultural businesses need real-time information about crops and climate, and the ability to monitor conditions at hundreds or even thousands of points across a vast geographic area. Connecting sensors and portable equipment via land lines across vast farms and vineyards is simply not possible. Cellular technology empowers agricultural companies to maintain more in-depth, real-time information about the health of their crops, and to reduce labor costs and risk. 4

5 Systems management: In addition to these applications, a broad range of organizations are using cellular M2M solutions to connect other types of remote systems. Real-world examples include systems monitoring construction sites and structures for vibrations, automated irrigation systems in parks and farms, systems to track mining and farming equipment, portable systems used for testing and measurement, and much more. For all of these diverse applications and businesses, cellular M2M connectivity can address a variety of business and technical challenges, and enable a number of important benefi ts. With M2M connectivity, organizations can: Gain real-time information about infrastructure, equipment, or any other system from virtually anywhere Remotely monitor, update, and control a broad range of equipment from environmental controls to manufacturing equipment to irrigation systems, and more Extend connectivity to locations that would be too diffi cult or expensive to connect otherwise Gain the fl exibility to move equipment as needed, or bring up and tear down systems quickly for temporary or seasonal deployments Securely and reliably transmit data to and from remote systems Easily manage and control connected devices across the country or around the world Build systems that can withstand harsh environmental conditions with rugged M2M solutions designed to be deployed outdoors Leveraging a M2M Platform Clearly, cellular connectivity can provide a number of valuable benefi ts for many kinds of organizations and applications. But how can organizations take advantage of it? The architecture of a cellular M2M infrastructure is simple in concept. A remote device be it a piece of equipment in a plant, an environmental sensor, an irrigation system control is connected to a cellular-connected modem or module. That cellular gateway interfaces with the connected asset and communicates with the organization s back-end network through a cloud-based portal. Through this cloud portal, the organization can monitor and control its assets in the fi eld, securely and remotely, in real time. While the concept behind an M2M solution is straightforward, however, the traditional effort required to build one has been extremely complex. An M2M infrastructure must include a redundant, fault-tolerant wireless messaging system, deployed with connection to the mobile network operator (MNO). It requires redundant back-offi ce hardware, 5

6 including database, servers, disk arrays, load balancers. To enable the monitoring and management capabilities organizations need, an M2M communication platform also traditionally required extensive software development, including application development tools, user interface development tools, embedded development tools, all of which historically required thousands of hours of custom integration and development. This is to say nothing of the many applications that are often overlooked, yet nonetheless vital to a remote communications and control infrastructure: Mechanisms to subscribe wireless devices to the network Mechanisms to control and update wireless devices Systems to collect information from the wireless devices, and other systems to acquire and visualize that data Systems to manage and control the assets being monitored Given this complexity inherent in the M2M model, and the enormous time and costs it represents, many organizations simply could not justify implementing wireless M2M communications, despite its compelling benefi ts. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. Today, organizations managing industrial sites, infrastructure, and remote systems can take advantage of mature M2M application development and management platforms that operate over public cellular networks. As a result, dozens of organizations and applications can benefi t from remote monitoring and control for the fi rst time, and can do so much more quickly and cost-effectively. To realize the most benefi t from a cellular M2M implementation, however, it is important to assure that the platform provides all of the essential capabilities for modern cellular M2M deployments. Key Requirements for M2M Application Development and Management Platforms A cellular M2M communications solution encompasses six primary elements (Figure 1): Intelligent wireless communication devices to connect to equipment and assets Remote confi guration and management tools to set or change parameters and remotely troubleshoot any potential connectivity issues A centralized and redundant front-end database where the wireless devices send data A centralized command-and-control infrastructure to receive and present that data An operations portal to manage uptime of the network of M2M devices An application programming interface (API) to link data from the M2M front-end database with the organization s back-end system applications and user interfaces 6

7 Figure 1. M2M Platform Overview Connected Assets Digital Signs Public Safety/ Traffic Control Asset API Asset API Module Communications Gateway Wireless Device Data, Events, Commands, and Updates Connected Asset Data, Events and Commands Industrial Protocol & Logic Engine MNO Subscription Control and Usage Configuration for Connectivity Logic M2M Cloud Services API Subscription Management Device Management Asset Management Build your own M2M Application UI Or interface to: - ERP/CRM Applications - Inventory and Billing Applications - Work Force Management Applications Healthcare X 1000 s Mobile Network Operators In addition to providing those basic attributes, the M2M management platform must perform the following core management applications: Subscription management: This encompasses all the core tasks related to managing wireless devices on a public cellular network, including activating and deactivating devices, suspending and resuming operation, changing rate plans and monitoring wireless data consumption. Wireless device management: This encompasses the tools necessary to monitor and control all connected wireless modules and gateways. This capability allows organizations to manage updates and fi rmware confi guration changes, for example, to respond to changing requirements of the mobile network operator. Management of the underlying asset: This encompasses how the wireless device communicates with and controls the connected asset. 7

8 Best Practices for Wireless M2M Application and Management Platforms In addition to meeting the basic requirements for supporting M2M applications, what should organizations look for in a wireless M2M application and management platform? To assure a system that is effective and easy to deploy and operate, the platform should meet the following criteria: It should be carrier-agnostic. An organization may have assets or locations to connect across a country, or even around the globe. To give organizations the fl exibility to connect assets in the best manner possible no matter where they may be located, the M2M platform s subscription management systems should be carrier-agnostic, and capable of operating with multiple mobile networks worldwide. It should provide advanced wireless device management capabilities beyond simply pushing out firmware or configuration changes. Organizations should choose platforms that can provide granular information about the health and status of wireless modems or modules to allow them to quickly diagnose issues. For example, if a device has lost wireless signal strength, the company needs to know if it is an issue with the device or the cellular network. The M2M platform should provide the information necessary to debug those issues and communicate effectively with the network operator about any problems. It should also be scalable enough to accommodate large regional and national deployments, without adding management complexity. It should provide advanced tools to manage and monitor connected assets. To avoid the need for extensive (and expensive) custom software development and integration, the M2M platform should make it as easy as possible to connect with deployed assets in the fi eld. Developers should be able to easily capture control parameters and command systems for any connected asset, using standard programming languages. And, they should be able to easily access exposed APIs to incorporate features and functions into the control system. The platform should provide comprehensive development tools. The most functional M2M platforms include application simulation tools that provide developers with detailed information about a planned function before anyone ever uses the application, allowing organizations to make smarter business decisions. (As one example, the solution should be able to provide accurate predictions of cost differences between collecting status updates on all connected environmental sensors every hour, versus four times per day.) The M2M platform must be designed to support secure transactions: M2M technology communicating sensitive information or controlling remote equipment must incorporate strong security mechanisms such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), encrypted IPSec virtual private network (VPN) connection to the cellular network, and jamming detection. 8

9 The M2M platform must be designed to support large-scale, industrial environments under lessthan-ideal conditions. An industrial-strength M2M platform will be fully redundant, highly reliable, and able to quickly recover from faults. It will also be highly secure to protect system assets and data, and meet regulations governing infrastructure communications. And, the solution will be scalable enough to accommodate large regional and national deployments, without adding management complexity. Finally, the M2M platform should be comprehensive. It should include infrastructure, cloud software and every other component necessary to build and operate an M2M communications platform, rather than forcing organizations to work with multiple vendors and assemble the solution themselves. Conclusion The benefi ts of M2M communication now extend to a large and growing group of organizations: industrial and manufacturing companies, facilities companies, public infrastructure agencies, agriculture, mining, and more. Despite the diversity of these businesses and applications, the advantages of cellular communications are often the same: more visibility, more control and more tools to optimize organizational effi ciency, safety, and profi tability. In addition, the barriers that used to prevent these organizations from taking advantage of remote monitoring and automation primarily, the need to custom design every aspect of the solution from scratch no longer apply. By using modern M2M management and application platforms, and taking care to choose platforms designed to meet real-world requirements, organizations can take full advantage of the M2M revolution. About Sierra Wireless Sierra Wireless is a proven partner in M2M communications for industrial infrastructure and systems management. Developed based on two decades of experience supporting M2M applications, the Sierra Wireless AirVantage M2M Cloud is the fastest way to build, deploy, and manage wireless industrial, infrastructure, and other remote systems management applications. Sierra Wireless brings every element necessary for M2M application connectivity and development together: pre-integrated gateways and embedded modules; a comprehensive remote device management service; and an enterprise M2M platform to simplify development and integration. With the complete, ready-to-deploy AirVantage M2M Cloud, organizations can: Reduce the cost of deploying and supporting an M2M solution Simplify and reduce the costs of developing connected applications Signifi cantly reduce time to market for M2M deployments Eliminate IT operational expenditures necessary to support connected assets and locations, with no server software installation or maintenance required More effectively scale and expand M2M systems as business needs dictate For more information: 9