What is M2M?
Simply, M2M provides communications between people, devices, and systems.
Whether you call it machine-to-machine, man-to-machine, mobile-to-machine, machine-to-mobile, it is all the same.
M2M is connecting things in industry. They are including controllers, sensors, instruments, equipments, real machines and robots. We can call them in a collective term as devices in industry. They are expected to communicate with humans in various ways, where the M2M can be interpreted as a Man-to-Machine communication as well.
GSM based M2M platform enables more devices to communicate each other via SMS or GPRS from remote places. It is used for remote monitoring, remote controlling, remote sensing and remote telemeter.
The advantages of GSM based M2M devices are: wide spread coverage and cost effective solution.
M2M goal is to create value-added services to automate the business process over the communication networks.
The wide spread coverage and rapidly dropping operating cost of the cellular network is one good reason M2M is getting so much attention these days, and it's often the method that fits best. There are several methods of sending data over the cellular network. SMS/GPRS are all very popular digital cellular technologies. The advantage of these systems is the ability to send large amounts of data frequently. The primary disadvantage is a limited, but rapidly growing coverage area. However, if the application is in a populated area, it is highly likely that there is digital cellular coverage.
M2M APPLICATIONS
Typical applications include:
- Remote equipment sensing and control
- Remote alarm system, access control and alarm monitoring
- Security system monitoring
- Low cost telemetry system (wireless GSM and SMS based telemetry)
- Remote telemetry/meter (use SMS for data telemetry, data logging)
- Real-time fleet management
- Automatic meter reading.
- Stand off equipments control and monitoring
- Car remote control (alarm system, heater, central door)
- Tower lighting monitoring
- Power station monitoring and control
- Flood control monitoring
- Liquid tank level and temperature monitoring.
- Meteorological (weather) station monitoring
- Geological and earthquake monitoring
- Water Rig control and monitoring
- Process monitoring using SMS
- Supervisory control of water systems (measurement of water levels in rivers and dams)
- Remote control and monitoring of electricity transformers, high and low voltage cabins
- Remote control and monitoring of wind generators
- Remote control and monitoring of gas distribution plants .
- Monitor and control your home security system from anywhere using the mobile phone
- Unmanned Base Station control and monitoring
- Data centers and computer rooms control and monitoring
- Oil temperature near the oil tank, oil pressure in the engine, turbo boost pressure
- Light control
- Presence simulation
- HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) control and monitoring
- Cold room refrigeration system control and monitoring
- Remote control and monitoring of air quality and humidity
- Monitoring the state of vending machines for fill-level
- Monitoring the performance and maintenance needs of leased equipment
- Video monitoring