Machine-to-machine (M2M) technology support low-power communication among connected devices. One important feature of M2M communication is zero or negligible human involvement. Since, it enables the design of automated devices, services and applications. 

This article shows you the end-to-end information of current Machine to Machine Communication Projects Topics, Research Areas and Ideas!!!

To establish real-time communication, the engineering professionals first deploy the sensors at a planned position to conveniently transfer data within the network of devices through the internet. In this, the whole network operations can be screened through a software application for analyzing incoming data. Further, we have also listed the most significant M2M communication connections. 

Types of M2M connections

• Wireless Connections in Industrial 4.0
• Serial Connection
• Power Line Connection (PLC)

Overview of Machine To Machine communication

As mentioned earlier, M2M communication is intended to provide automated data transportation and assessment among electronic/mechanical devices. In general, the M2M network model is developed with wireless field-deployed devices along with RFIDs / implanted sensors. In some cases, it may include wireline accessibility but it goes beyond cellular communication. 

To gain extra knowledge on Machine to Machine communication, we have listed few main classifications of M2M systems. Let’s have a glance over them. 

Taxonomy of Machine to Machine Communication

• Applications
  • M2M based Smart Grid and Smart Home
  • Satellite Navigation System
  • Mobile M2M Applications
• Architecture
  • Cloud –assisted M2M
  • 3GPP (direct, indirect or hybrid) Models
  • Home Energy Control System (Smart Grid)
  • Network Architecture
  • Multi-hop Cognitive Radio Multi-path Networking
  • Communication Models
  • System Block Structure
  • IP-based / Non-IP based Gateways
  • M2M topology in UDN
  • M2M architecture and standards
  • Physical Deployment of M2M in UDN
  • M2M standards and Vehicular Context Architecture
• MAC Protocols
  • MAC Protocols and AM Proposals Classifications
  • Access Performance Assessment
  • Management Schemes
  • M2M Services Access Requirements

Now, we can see the technologies used for M2M communication. These technologies provide the protocols for establishing secure data transmission in the M2M network. Our developers are experienced in all these technologies to provide you with end-to-end support in machine to machine communication projects. Further, we are also working on other emerging technologies. 

Trending Topics in Machine to Machine Communication

• WiMAX
• Fiber to the x (FTTx)
• Wi-Fi
• Generic DSL (xDSL)
• ZigBee      
• Wireless LAN (WLAN)
• M2M Area Network

What is M2M used for?

M2M models use the dedicated single-channel connection (i.e., point-to-point communication links) for launching automated communication among sensors, hardware, and computing devices over cellular communication technologies like LTE / 5G. 

In some cases like Internet of Things, the communication majorly depends on IP-based services to transfer data through cloud platforms/gateway. In the real world, the imprints of M2M communication are found in many applications such as business, ITS, healthcare, etc. 

Further, we have also given the list of important features of M2M communications.

Key features of M2M

• Ability to control time delay for transmitting and receiving data
• Incorporate capability to identify events at different conditions
• Empower to frequently transmit and receive small-size data 
• Include time tolerance which means the communication delay
• Minimum power usages enhances the performance of M2M applications
• Enable the packet switching services in dynamic environment
• Assist to warn devices based on location specific triggers if the devices go beyond the coverage
• Assure the efficient traffic modeling, reliability, QoS, security, etc.

However, the Machine-to-Machine Communication field is technically advanced; and it has so many research issues that are not solved properly. Therefore, these issues are currently gaining more consideration among active scholars. We are here to solve m2m research issues with our advancing techniques. More than this list, we are also extending our support in other upcoming research challenges.

Research Issues in M2M Communication

• Security and Privacy Challenges
• Bad Communication Link Connectivity
• Difficult to meet all QoS Requirements
• No Optimization in Relay Node Selection 
• Greater Traffic Congestion due to Multi-devices
• Inadequate Scalability for huge-scale Communication

As stated by European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the Machine to Machine communication has certain requirements. These requirements are needed to be considered while designing M2M systems. Our experts have long-term experience in improvising these requirements in M2M-based applications development. And, some of the primary requirements are given as follows for your references. 

M2M requirements

• Anonymity
  • Need to secure the M2M device information by hiding the device identity
• Scheduling for Message Communication
  • Ability to control the message schedules and network access with the consideration of scheduling delay tolerance of M2M applications
• Scalability
  • Flexible to support any number of devices without affecting the usual functionalities
• Delivery Modes
  • Support different types of communication modes to reduce the network load
  • For instance: Broadcast, Unicast, Multicast and Anycast
• Logging
  • Enable to document the information of system events on the basis of requests
  • For instance: inoperative services, damaged data, failed deployment attempts, etc.   
• Path Selection for Message Communication
  • Select the routing paths in an optimal manner based on certain criteria
  • For instance: consider delays, network cost, transmission failures, etc.
• M2M Application Communication Policies
  • M2M models enable the data transmission between M2M applications / devices in the network through various communication technologies
  • For instance: IP-based networked devices interact with each other in P2P way

Generally, the M2M models are constructed to be either device-specific or task-specific. For that, different standard communication protocols are introduced for M2M data transmission. Here, we have given you a set of M2M communication protocols that are widely used in the internet of things domain for M2M communication. 

What are the protocols for M2M Communication?

• MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport)
  • Messaging Protocol
• OMA DM (Open Mobile Alliance Device Management)
  • Device Management protocol
• TR-069 (Technical Report 069)
  • Application Layer Protocol
• Google Thread
  • Wireless Mesh Protocol
• HyperCat
  • Information Discovery Protocol
• AllJoyn
  • Software Infrastructure (Open-source)
• OneM2M (One Machine-to-Machine)
  • Communications Protocol
• OMA LightweightM2M (Open Mobile Alliance Lightweight Machine-to-Machine)
  • Device Management protocol

Some of the protocols are described in detail by the following.

For illustration purposes, here we have given you the list of IoT protocols in a detailed explanation. We hope that this will help you to understand the protocol usage in IoT-based M2M communications. Let’s have a look over the 3 primary IoT protocols below,

Open Mobile Alliance Light Weight M2M (OMA LWM2M)

• Designed for service and device management
• Employ DTLS for comprehensive security
• M2M service providers offer services to M2M users
• Install interface between M2M servers and devices
• Incorporates access control, firmware update and device statistics for device management
• Have in-build performance constraints for scalability, architecture design, CoAP, low-cost devices, etc.

Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT)

• Open-source lightweight messaging protocols
• Used to create connection between constrained networks and small devices
• Provide security by hiding sender identity
• MQTT Port –  8883 (with SSL) and 1883 (without SSL)
• Guarantee the data delivery assurance with reliability 
• Well-suited for large-network with back-end server support
• MQTT reduce the IoT device needs by bandwidth, session awareness, etc.
• Intended for resource-limited devices (bandwidth and power) and high-delay networks

Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)

• IoT based web transfer protocol for constrained networks and nodes
• Utilize DTLS and microcontrollers
• Support applications of smart energy and manufacturing
• Similar to HTTP, it supports different payloads
• Enable the resource available for clients depends on REST model
• Make desired choice of IoT protocols and data format
• Objective is to reduce the resource consumption on network and nodes
• Provide functions such as POST, GET, DELETE and PUT for resource accessibility
• User-friendly to establish connection among devices through cross-protocol proxies

Intending to update our knowledge on current trends, our research team regularly undergoes studies on recent research articles. So, we are continuously in touch with current developments of Machine to Machine Communication projects. Here, we have given you few top-demanding research areas of Machine to Machine Networks. 

Important Research Areas in M2M Communication

• Wireless Virtual Sensor Networking
• M2M for Smart Grid Modeling
• IEEE 802.11ax Protocol based M2M
• Cognitive-based Ad Hoc Networks
• Software defined Machine-to-Machine
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicle aided M2M
• Distributed Cloud Services in M2M Models
• Integration of Ad-hoc in M2M Networks
• Social Sensor Networking and Communication
• Peer Network based M2M Services
• Cooperative M2M in Industrial Networks
• M2M in Hybrid LTE Communication
• Cognitive Radio Sensor Communication
• OMA Lightweight Machine-to-Machine Protocol
• Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT)
• M2M based Wireless Body Area Network Service
• Software Defined Networks for M2M Applications
• M2M-Cellualr Communication (LTE, LTE-R / M / P / A)
• Information-Centric / Network-Centric M2M System

With the default constraint of considering novelty, our research team proposes an exclusive research topic. Here, we have given you some important topics for Machine to Machine Communication Projects from the latest research areas. Further, we also assist you if you are interested in knowing new technological advancements in various research topics.

Project Topics in M2M Communication 

• Optimized Power and Energy Preservation in Cellular-based M2M Services
• LTE-based Packet Scheduling Schemes for M2M Applications
• Advance Cluster-based Optimization Techniques for Large-scale M2M Networks 

To the end, we are pleased to notify you that we support not only topics but also in own ideas and opinions. In truth, our ultimate goal is to design and develop unique Machine to Machine communication projects. We hope you won’t miss this fruitful opportunity of holding our hands to reach the peak of your career.