Sensinov

As the OMA Lightweight Machine 2 Machine (OMA LWM2M) protocol gains support in industry F-interop wanted to extend its remote testing platform to enable testing for this solution using this protocol. Digital Catapult selected and supported Sensinov to add this increasingly popular protocol to the platform’s capability.

Interoperability and standards are key challenges facing the development and adoption of IoT solutions across Europe.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a relatively new field and, as such, does not have established universal standards. This is slowing down the development and adoption of the technology as businesses developing IoT solutions need to test and adapt them to work with multiple protocols. To be commercially viable IoT solutions need to be interoperable with standards popular in the market, such as the as Lightweight M2M (LWM2M).

Solution testing is a real barrier to market entry as there are few opportunities to test. Businesses usually have to travel to events set up by standardisation bodies and may be on the other side of the World. For startups, the costs associated with these opportunities to test can make it impossible to participate, significantly slowing product development and time to market.

Digital Catapult is part of a European consortium delivering F-Interop, a programme supporting growth of the IoT sector.

These issues are not unique to the UK, so Digital Catapult supported F-Interop, a three year EU-sponsored programme that aims to research and develop IoT industry standards, develop a platform that enables remote interoperability and performance testing for IoT solution developers, and support researchers and small and medium businesses that are developing IoT products.

F-Interop wanted to extend its platform so it could test solutions that use the OMA Lightweight Machine 2 Machine protocol (OMA LWM2M)

Device management for IoT could be a deal breaker for large scale deployments because all devices will undoubtedly need firmware and software updates. Security for IoT devices is a moving target, forcing IT departments to manage security threats by upgrading the software for security algorithms on a regular basis. Security and device management must go hand-in-hand.

The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) specified a protocol known as Lightweight M2M (LWM2M) which is the only protocol, to date, that could be used for device management and for data exchange. Several large and small industry players have announced formal support for LWM2M. This made a strong case for F-Interop to add it to the protocols that F-Interop tools test interoperability with.

Digital Catapult collaborates with Sensinov, to extend F-Interop platform for LWM2M protocol

Digital Catapult selected Sensinov via an open call process to develop an extension to the F-Interop platform so it can be used to test interoperability with LWM2M protocol. Sensinov were provided with €100k funding for the project and received technical support from Digital Catapult.

This development of the F-Interop platform provides the opportunity for remote testing of solutions that use the LWM2M protocol, making it easier for developers to access testing and providing a more cost effective option than using test houses.

LWM2M testing now available remotely via F-Interop

As a result of the project, LWM2M developers can test the interoperability of their solutions using the F-Interop platform.

The option to test remotely reduces cost and makes it easier for small innovative companies and inventors to access.

This benefits the whole IoT ecosystem and will have an impact on the industry as a whole because it makes it easier for startups to get their solutions to market faster.