“Machine to Machine” (M2M), is a set of wireless network technologies, allowing data communication between them, without the need for human intervention.
There are currently two families of technologies: wired and wireless. The most popular are 2G and 3G networks. Although there are others focused on short-range radio frequencies such as NFC or long-range radio frequencies such as Wireless M-Buss. Let’s discover what an m2m network is about.
Learn more about the m2m network?
The m2m network is a communication technique that is mainly used for remote surveillance. The most concrete example is stock replenishment, where vending machines will send a message to anothers when an article starts to run out.
The machine-to-machine (m2m) network has a significant role in many areas such as:
- Warehouse management
- Remote monitoring
- Supply chain management
- Oil and gas management
- Traffic control
- Robotics
- Remote medicine.
The m2m technology can include some important elements such as sensors, RFID, connected device, Wi-Fi network or programmed computing solution.
What are the particularities of the m2m network?
It should be noted that m2m technologies, or machine to machine network, centred on radio frequency, use mainly radio or machines sensors placed on the systems that we want to connect. Data exchanges are made thanks to a radio frequency network for a longer range. This technology is mainly used for Smart Metering applications.
For very long range, radio frequency technology can be associated with an integrated SIM card. These are the M2M SIM cards that are mostly seen on 2G and GPRS networks.
Finally, it should be noted that data transfer via the PLC or Power Line Carrier network is mainly used in real time in a more specific context. There must first be a power grid.
The m2m network in today’s world
With the increased popularity of connected objects, m2m or machine-to-machine technology is becoming even more popular. It is important to know that connected objects at home (smart home, home appliance or in the office require solid communication supports for better exploitation. The main m2m applications areas are in the transport sector with better fleet management, in the energy consumption sector with the implementation of smart meters, or in the environmental sector with connected weather stations.
To find out more about the m2m network, you can consult Matooma and the many articles about it.
As far as the m2m 2G network is concerned, you should know that it was designed for voice only, as opposed to 3G, which supports voice and data; and 4G, for a more high-end internet connection. With 5G, however, it will be possible to set up international broadband communications to connect billions of devices around the world through the Internet of Things (IOT).
What are the advantages of the m2m network?
The m2m network makes it possible to manage machines or equipment between each other thanks to wired or cellular networks and specialized software. This ability to remotely monitor and remotely manage guarantees a reduction in service management costs thanks to: remote diagnostics, remote updates, remote troubleshooting and other interesting features.
Thanks to the m2m communications, it will not be necessary to deploy a team in the field. It will be entirely possible to manage everyday objects such as heating or even larger objects such as telemetry systems, flow sensors or cardiac monitoring.
By taking a ride to Matooma, you will learn more about the m2m network.
Successful machine to machine communication requires equipment such as modems and routers that can support technologies such as GSM, Ethernet, LTE and EDGE.
