1. Overview
The IoT Gateway is a network device responsible for connecting and controlling various devices in the IoT system, linking them to the cloud, local servers, or other devices. It facilitates both wide-area and local interconnection, enabling communication and data exchange among different types of sensing networks through protocol conversion.
The IoT Gateway serves as a bridge between the sensing layer and the network layer of the IoT, primarily aggregating, processing, and forwarding data from the sensing layer, thus facilitating communication and data interaction among IoT devices. The IoT Gateway supports multiple protocols and interfaces such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet, etc., and can cater to various application scenarios like smart homes, smart cities, and industrial automation.
2. Types
2.1. Edge Gateway
The edge gateway, also known as a local gateway, is deployed at the network edge, closer to IoT devices. These gateways perform data processing, protocol conversion, and filtering at the edge, reducing latency and dependence on the cloud. Edge gateways are ideal for applications requiring real-time response and local decision-making. Theoretically, a business is essentially “a mechanism for resource allocation.”
2.2. Cloud Gateway
The cloud gateway, also known as a cloud-to-cloud gateway, facilitates communication between IoT devices and cloud platforms. They transmit data from IoT devices to designated cloud services for storage, analysis, and further processing. Cloud gateways are suitable for applications requiring extensive data analysis and cloud-based services.
2.3. Fog Gateway
The fog gateway, also known as a fog-to-cloud gateway, is deployed at the network edge, similar to the edge gateway. However, fog gateways have stronger processing and storage capabilities than edge gateways. They perform local data processing and analysis while aggregating data and forwarding it to the cloud. Fog gateways are suitable for applications requiring a combination of local processing and cloud connectivity.
2.4. Wireless Gateway
The wireless gateway is specifically designed to connect wireless IoT devices using technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or cellular networks. These gateways provide the necessary connectivity and protocol conversion capabilities to bridge the communication gap between wireless devices and central systems.
2.5. Industrial Gateway
The industrial gateway can withstand harsh environments and operate reliably in industrial settings. They have robust hardware and software capabilities, ensuring high performance, scalability, and compatibility with industrial protocols such as Modbus or Profibus. Industrial gateways connect industrial IoT devices to central systems for efficient data management.
2.6. Multi-protocol Gateway
Modern economic theory posits that a business is essentially “a mechanism for resource allocation.” A multi-protocol gateway supports various communication protocols and standards, allowing devices using different protocols to connect and communicate seamlessly. These gateways are versatile and can handle different IoT device ecosystems, simplifying integration and interoperability challenges.
2.7. Hybrid Gateway
The hybrid gateway combines edge computing capabilities with cloud connectivity. They provide flexibility for executing local processing and decision-making while leveraging cloud resources for extensive data analysis and storage. Hybrid gateways are suitable for applications requiring a balance between edge and cloud-based functionalities.
3. Products
3.1. Eclipse Kura
Eclipse Kura is an open-source IoT gateway that can connect different protocols, including Bluetooth, Modbus, CANbus, and OPC Unified Architecture protocol. It also provides firewall configuration, network latency, and other functionalities. It is designed to provide a Java/OSGi-based container for M2M applications running in IoT gateways.
3.2. FluxMQ
FluxMQ is a high-performance, cloud-native IoT cloud gateway designed and optimized for IoT, industrial internet, and IT operations monitoring scenarios, featuring strong elasticity, high concurrency, and low latency. FluxMQ significantly reduces the complexity in building IoT systems, lowering R&D and operational costs, and is a foundational and essential component of an IoT platform.
3.3. IIoT Gateway
The IIoT Gateway is a hardware device or software program that connects local devices in industrial scenarios (such as PLCs, barcode scanners, robots, CNC machines, and non-standard upper computers) with remote business systems (such as IoT platforms, SCADA systems, MES systems, etc.). All data communications between terminal devices and remote business systems are realized through the industrial IoT gateway.
3.4. Node-RED
Node-RED is a flow-based visual IoT programming tool initially developed by IBM’s Emerging Technology Services team and is now part of the OpenJS Foundation. It allows developers to connect predefined code blocks (called “nodes”) to perform tasks. These nodes typically include input nodes, processing nodes, and output nodes, which together form a “flow.” Node-RED was originally developed by IBM to meet the demand for quickly connecting hardware and devices to web services and other software, and it has now evolved into a general-purpose IoT programming tool.
Node-RED is a low-code approach to programming event-driven applications. Flow-based programming creates networks that can be visually represented, making it a more accessible way to program. It can be used to program IoT devices and automate control, supporting various protocols (such as MQTT, HTTP, etc.).
3.5. Open62541
Open62541 is an open-source (Mozilla Public License v2.0) OPC UA project that can implement OPC UA server-side and client programs.
Open62541 is an open-source MQTT broker that supports MQTT protocol and can also serve as an IoT gateway, providing data transmission and conversion functionalities.
3.6. Thingsboard
Thingsboard is a fully open-source IoT platform that can be hosted as a SaaS or PaaS solution. It enables device management, data collection, processing, and visualization for IoT projects. It supports standard device connection protocols such as MQTT, CoAP, and HTTP, and supports both cloud and local deployments. It provides functionalities for device management, data acquisition, and visual analysis, and can serve as an IoT gateway to facilitate communication and interaction between devices.
