Congatec's new Cloud API for IoT gateways communicates with local smart sensors, processes and converts the acquired data, and executes automated actions based on a local rules engine, reducing traffic to the IoT cloud and enabling rapid local actions. Secure bidirectional data exchange with any suitable cloud is achieved using the secure MQTT TLS protocol. The best-practice design solution utilizes the Microsoft Azure cloud. Customers can access this cloud via HTTPS in either client or administrator mode. All these features make the new Congatec Cloud API for IoT gateways an ideal starting point for OEMs that need to access smart sensor networks through IoT gateways and IoT edge servers. Typical application areas can be found in various IoT segments, from industrial production and machinery to smart cities, smart facilities, smart homes, smart grids, healthcare IoT, the transportation sector, and digital signage.
Congatec's new Cloud API impresses with its application availability and built-in openness for integrating a wide range of wireless sensor interconnections, including Bluetooth LE, ZigBee, LoRa, and other LPWANs, as well as wired protocols for building or factory automation, all through a single Cloud API. Heterogeneous protocol configurations and communication with other gateways are also possible. Typical applications for this latter scenario include connected machines in Industry 4.0 and intralogistics systems.
“Every smart sensor network has its own specific requirements. Heterogeneous sensor networks are often necessary, and various database implementations can be found in IoT clouds. At the IoT edge, we are able to handle these heterogeneous, bidirectional demands by centrally orchestrating local smart sensor networks, including IoT edge gateways. Our congatec Cloud API, ready for IoT gateways, meets this need. Its freely programmable software modules can be used instantly to access our boards and their data, as well as connected sensor networks. They are available in C++ and can be used as a template for any specific, customized implementation. This greatly simplifies the development of individual IoT solutions,” explains Christian Eder, Marketing Director at congatec.
Detailed Feature Set:
The main software components of the congatec best practice solution are the various API Cloud function modules, as well as the demo and test modules for third-party IoT clouds. The congatec API Cloud sensor engine for IoT gateways makes communication with local sensors and actuators protocol-independent. It also normalizes data logs to freely definable physical units and checks for consistency. The congatec operating system library (CGOS) integrates relevant gateway system parameters, such as system temperature, CPU workload, and intrusion detection. The rules engine allows the gateway to initiate warnings and automated actions locally if certain values exceed or threaten to exceed a defined threshold. Finally, the communication engine handles vendor-independent, encrypted cloud data communication via wired or wireless internet connections. The IoT Cloud assessment software provides the necessary tools to consolidate sensor data in the cloud. In addition, they can establish core messaging and control rules for connected IoT applications, define additional scaling scenarios, and provide dashboards for remote clients.
Congatec provides OEMs with all the necessary software modules in C++ source code upon request, simplifying the development of custom IoT applications for Linux and Windows based on this application-ready reference design. Congatec also offers additional software services for the Cloud API and its cloud connectivity upon request.
