CISCO IoT Reference Model
A popular model for IoT is the CISCO IoT Reference Model which consists of
7 levels:
Level 1: Physical Devices and Controllers (Edge; Things)
This level is also called the "edge level".
It contains the "things", such as sensors, devices and machines, virtual
objects.
Level 2: Connectivity
This level consists of the communication and processing units.
It carries out routing, switching, and the translation of protocols.
It facilitates communications between Level 1 devcices and with Level 1
devcices, as well as communication across networks.
Security and self-learning network analytics are also provided at this level.
Level 3: Edge (Fog) Computing
This level receives the data packets and outputs data understandable to
higher levels.
It combines network and data level analytics.
It performs data element analysis and transformation, data filtering,
cleanup, aggregation, and packet content inspection.
It can also generate events.
Level 4: Data Accumulation (Storage)
This level converts data-in-motion to data-at-rest.
Data format is converted from network packets to database relational
tables.
It transforms event-based computing to query based computing.
Data is also reduced through filtering and selective storage.
Level 5: Data Abstraction (Aggregation and Access)
This level creates schemas and views of data in the manner that
applications want.
It combines data from multiple sources.
It simplifies, filters, selects, projects and reformats data to serve client
applications.
It reconciles the differences in data shape, format, semantics, access
protocol and security.
Level 6: Application (Reporting, Analytics, Control)
This level controls the applications and performs business intelligence and
analytics.
Level 7: Collaboration and Processes
This level involves the people and business processes.
Levels 1 to 3 are also called the "edge-side layer".
Levels 4 to 6 are also called the "server/cloud-side layer".
Level 7 is also called the "user-side layer".
