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What is M2M?

dennis 0 comments I'll file this someday

Feb 02

I normally post about Flash and server-side technologies but I’d like to shift focus and talk about device programming a little bit. I actually need to take a bigger step back and mention an acronym that you’ve probably heard: M2M. If you haven’t heard it before I can guarantee you’ll hear about it in the coming months. For a good definition of M2M I would suggest checking out this link from M2M Magazine. It boils down to being able to communicate with machines out in the field. These machines consist of vending machines, elevators, oil wells, automobiles, road signs….you name it. Communicating with these machines means getting data from them as well as sending commands down to them.

For example, a vending machine might be programmed to report its inventory at 10:00AM everyday. If the machine is low on Coca Cola then it has the ability to stage a phone call, send a text message, or send an email saying “Hey, I’m low, please fill me up!”. If you think of the value proposition in this sort of solution you can realize that the normal approach to filling a vending machine might be:

1. Driver starts daily route
2. Driver stops and every machine and checks its inventory
3. If the machine is low go out to the truck and get Cokes
4. Come back to the machine and fill it up
5. Leave and go to the next machine not knowing if it needs to be filled

Oh yeah, did I mention the gas and wear and tear on the tires from having to carry a fully stocked truck? With an M2M deployment the process could be:

1. Machine calls, emails, or sends text message saying it needs 24 Cokes
2. Driver stocks machine
3. Driver leaves for next machine knowing ahead of time what it needs

Think about how optimized this new approach can be. Integrating GPS into the solution can only add to the value and return on investment. Now the driver can determine the most efficient route and make the most effective use of their time. You might be asking how all of this can be down and let me start by talking about the device side of things.

I recently had the pleasure of writing an article for M2M Magazine that discusses integrating the Nokia 12 module with a GPS receiver. Let me say that this module is incredible and you wouldn’t believe the amount of functionality that’s built into something the size of a matchbook. This module operates on GSM networks and has access to HTTP, SMS, GPS, I/O, RS232…the list goes on and on. To me the most powerful thing is that you can program using J2ME. You actually develop IMlets, which are a subset of J2ME MIDlets. The programming environment is very intuitive and you can literally be up and running in minutes.

So think about programming this module and embedding it into an automotive application. The module could tie into GPS and periodically check its location and post it to the internet (I’ll get to this shortly). It could also be programmed to receive commands that do such things as unlock your car doors or start your car engine (if you’re really lazy!). You could have your own miniature OnStar app up and running over the weekend. This assumes that you have some bit of hardware experience since you’ll need to interface it with your vehicle!

Now it gets really exciting. You’ve probably been wondering how to interface with the module. Instead of writing your own web portal application SensorLogic will take care of providing your backend application. Of course I’m plugging SensorLogic because it’s where I work and we seriously have the most robust M2M Portal application that you’ll find anywhere. Plus we have all the carrier relationships already established so you can deploy over cellular, satellite, pager, etc. You can even communicate over ethernet if necessary.

With the SensorLogic M2M Portal you’ll be able to monitor your automobile as well as send commands to tell it to unlock its doors or start its engine. You could even add what we call “Behaviors” that add intelligence to your machine. An example of a behavior would be to have the M2M Portal check the status of the car doors every night after 10:00PM. If they are unlocked then the M2M Portal could automatically lock them for you. Just so you know that this isn’t a figment of my imagination check out the screen shot below. This is map interface with 100s of assets deployed. The customer can click on the assets and send commands down to them without ever getting out of their chair!!

The M2M Portal is an incredible application and I will post more about it in the future. I will also try to most more developer related information on the Nokia 12 in the coming weeks. In the meantime, do your M2M research and see what the buzz is all about.