Glossary

What is it? Access control is a security technique that employs a set of permissions and restrictions to regulate which users can access a facility or device and which operations...

What is it? Activation by personalization (ABP) is a method of end-device activation that directly links an end device to a previously chosen network. An end device activated through ABP...

What is it? Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) is a scheme that enables a network server to individually control data rate (the actual data successfully transferred in a certain period), radio...

What is it?  The application key (AppKey) is an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128-bit root key unique to the LoRaWAN® network's end device.  How does it work?  Not only is...

What is it?  An application network is a way to link applications, data, and devices over APIs (application programming interfaces). This makes it possible to expose some or all of...

What is it?  The Application Server is software that enables communication between the operating system on one side, external resources on another side, and user apps on the third side....

What is it?  The application session key (AppSKey) is a key used to encrypt and decrypt payload, i.e., the actual data pack sent to or received from the server. The...

What is it? A backhaul is a combination of copper, fiber, or wireless links that connect core (backbone) networks with subnetworks utilized by end users to access the web. Among...

What is it?  A base transceiver station (BTS), also known as a radio base station (RBS) or node B (eNB), is a fixed radio transceiver that links mobile devices to...

What is it?  Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), or Bluetooth Smart, is an energy-saving version of Bluetooth personal area network (PAN). It is the successor of Bluetooth Classic and was introduced...

What is it? A building automation system (BAS) is a computer-based solution designed to monitor and control a building's equipment, like HVAC, lighting, ventilation, alarms, security access, cameras, etc. This...

What is it?  A cellular network is a radio network dispersed over land areas known as cells. Each of the cells contains a fixed location transceiver called a base station....

What is it?  A channel plan, or frequency plan, is a term used to denote geo-specific channels and data rates, i.e., amounts of data transported through a network over a...

What is it? The Chirp, or Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS), denotes long-range radio frequency technology designed for wireless communication. It is used to identify and monitor indoor and outdoor locations...

What is it? A cloud data lake is a centralized cloud-hosted repository designed to store an organization's structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data at any scale. It supports data regardless of...

What is it? A computerized maintenance management system, or CMMS, is software that simplifies maintenance management by centralizing associated information, arranging repairs, monitoring the status of tasks, and tracking the...

What is it?  A control channel is a separate line or communications channel designed to carry codes rather than data.  How does it work?  In the GSM (Global System for...

What is it? A data rate is the amount of data transported through a network in a certain period. In other words, it is the speed at which data is...

What is it? A device class is a characteristic of the LoRaWAN® network's devices that refers to their operating mode and capabilities. There are 3 device classes: Class A, Class...

What is it? A direct digital control (DDC) system is a solution that enables a sensor-equipped computer to automatically control a condition or process. It is typically aligned with a...

What is it? The duty cycle in a LoRaWAN® network refers to a cycle that indicates the fraction of time a resource is busy. For instance, if a device transfers...

What is it? An end device is a web-enabled hardware device that serves as either the source or destination of data transferred through a network. For instance, it may be...

What is it? A frequency band is a defined collection of electromagnetic frequencies ranging from lower to higher. To be exact, the frequency spectrum includes extremely low, super low, ultra-low,...

What is it?  A home location register, also known as HLR, is a database of relevant data concerning subscribers who are allowed to utilize a global system for mobile communications...

What is it? The Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT, is the use of interconnected sensors, actuators, and other smart devices for industrial, manufacturing, and energy management purposes. Operational benefits...

What is it? Industry 4.0 (also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR) is the digital transformation of manufacturing industries through advanced technology integrations. This process is driven by...

What is it?  The Internet of Things, or IoT, is a system of interconnected smart devices that have their unique identifiers (UIDs), Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and the capability to...

What is it?  An IoT cloud platform is a network that supports the Internet of Things devices and applications. It comprises fundamental resources necessary for real-time operations and processing:  infrastructure ...

What is it?  IoT edge is a combination of devices, technologies, and services that support the edge computing framework. It allows the devices at the periphery of the IoT network...

What is it? An IoT gateway is an actuator that connects different types of sensors and devices in a single IoT network. It acts as a bridge between the smart...

What is it? An IoT sensor is a device that can detect and measure changes in the physical world, such as temperature, motion, light, sound, air quality, and others. It...

What is it? Industrial, scientific, and medical radio bands, or ISM bands, are a group of radio frequency bands or parts of the radio spectrum usually reserved for purposes different...

What is it? The Join Server is the LoRaWAN® network's component responsible for the join flow, spanning the authentication of the Network Server (which enables connectivity, management, and monitoring of...

What is it? The JoinEUI (AppEUI) is a 64-bit globally unique identifier assigned to the LoRaWAN® network's Join Server by either its owner or operator. It identifies the Join Server,...

What is it? LoRa is a wireless modulation technique that originates from Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) technology. It lies in encoding information on radio waves with the help of chirps,...

What is it? LoRaWAN® is a Media Access Control (MAC) layer protocol on top of the LoRa modulation technique. It is developed and maintained by the LoRa Alliance. How does...

What is it? LoRaWAN® frequency bands refer to a specified collection of electromagnetic frequencies in which the LoRaWAN® protocol operates. Basically, these are sub-gigahertz frequency bands varying in specification depending...

What is it? A LoRaWAN® gateway is a device that acts as an intermediary between sensors and devices within a LoRaWAN® network. LoRaWAN® is a wireless communication protocol that employs...

What is it?  LoRaWAN® Regional Parameters refer to official regional specifications available for download from the LoRa Alliance website. The necessity for these Parameters results from country-specific restrictions that come...

What is it? LoRaWAN® sensors refer to a combination of wireless sensors that empower long-range communication, lasting battery life, and simple data transmission. These sensors employ the Chirp Spread Spectrum...

What is it? The LoRaWAN® server is the core element of a network run by the LoRaWAN® communication protocol. It involves the LoRa modulation. This technique originates from the Chirp...

What is it? A low-power wide area network (LPWAN) is a connectivity technology that transfers data between low-bandwidth, battery-operated devices over long distances. Compared to common mobile networks, LPWANs stand...

What is it? Machine learning, or ML, is an artificial intelligence (AI) subset that empowers software applications to improve the accuracy of outcome prediction even if they are not explicitly...

What is it? Master systems integration is the consolidation of a building's technical systems and subsystems into a cohesive whole with a single interface. It helps to increase the utility...

What is it? Media access control (MAC) refers to the sublayer of the data link layer (DLL) in the seven-layer OSI network reference model, i.e., a framework that describes networking...

What is it?  The message integrity code (MIC) is a code that validates the integrity and authenticity of a message in a LoRaWAN® network. It is determined over specific fields...

What is it?  A mobile switching center (MSC) is the central component of a network switching subsystem (NSS), which switches calls between the mobile and other fixed or mobile network...

What is it? Network bandwidth is the measurement of a network's maximum capacity to transfer data in a specific amount of time. It is commonly represented in bits per second...

What is it? A network server is software designed to manage low-power wide area network (LPWAN) devices using the LoRaWAN protocol, which features long-range data exchange and lasting battery life....

What is it?  The network session key (NwkSKey) is a LoRaWAN® network component designed for interaction between the node and the network server, i.e., the server that empowers connectivity, management,...

What is it? An occupancy sensor is a device that detects the presence of a person in an indoor space and can automatically adjust the lights, temperature, or ventilation systems...

What is it? Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture, or OPC UA, is a cross-platform data exchange standard for industrial automation and communication on a machine-to-machine or PC-to-machine basis. Unlike its...

What is it? Open systems interconnection (OSI) is a reference model of the way applications interact through a network. It is intended to visualize the sequence of communication layers, from...

What is it?  Over-the-air activation (OTAA) is one of the methods for connecting a LoRa sensor to a LoRaWAN® network.  The sensor's participation in the network depends on the DevAddr...

What is it? Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is a key performance indicator that measures an asset's productivity. It is made up of three factors: availability (how often an asset operates...

What is it? A packet forwarder is a program that runs on a LoRa-based gateway (with or without GPS). It interacts with the LoRa chip to receive and transfer LoRa...

What is it?  The Paging Channel is one of the control channels within the GSM, i.e., the Global System for Mobile communication. Its main purpose is to notify a mobile...

What is it? The payload in API is a data pack that is sent to a server when one makes an API request. While an API, or an application programming...

What is it?  A personal area network (PAN) is a technology that interconnects devices commonly within the range of a single user covering nearly 10 meters. It allows devices in...

What is it?  A phasor measurement unit, also known as a PMU or synchrophasor, is a critical tool used on electric systems. It serves to increase operators' visibility into the...

What is it? The physical layer is the first and lowest layer of open systems interconnection (OSI), i.e., a reference model for how applications communicate over a network. This model...

What is it? Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology for providing devices with electric power in addition to data connection over a single twisted-pair Ethernet cable. This solution works...

What is it? Predictive maintenance is the use of data analysis tools and techniques to track the state of equipment in real-time. The goal is to optimize the lifespan of...

What is it?  A public switched telephone network, or PSTN, is a global combination of interconnected voice-oriented public telephone networks. Operating as a conventional circuit-switched telephone network, it encompasses all...

What is it?   Radiofrequency (RF) geolocation is the process of calculating a transmitter's location by using either the distance of the transmitter relative to a receiver or the angle (direction)...

What is it?  Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is a relative measurement that helps to evaluate the strength of the incoming signal in the LoRaWAN® network. It is aimed to...

What is it?  An RTLS (real-time location system) solution is a system designed to automatically determine and monitor object locations in real time. It is typically used for buildings and...

What is it? A signal-to-noise ratio, also known as S/N or SNR, denotes the strength of the desired signal in relation to background noise (undesired signal). This can be calculated...

What is it?  Smart architecture is planning and including complex smart systems that maximize the efficiency of a facility's operation and enhance its occupants' well-being. It takes account of the...

What is it? A smart building refers to a building that combines different systems, e.g., HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), lighting, alarms, and security, into the united network infrastructure....

What is it? A smart city is a municipality that utilizes information and communication technologies. The goal is raising operational efficiency, interaction with the public, enhancements to government services and...

What is it? A smart factory is a flexible, intelligent system that uses an interconnected network of advanced technologies to analyze data and automate production. It is designed to optimize...

What is it? A smart grid is a network based on technology that allows for providing consumers with electricity through two-way digital communication. It was originally intended to solve issues...

What is it? A smart home is a residential building that employs Internet-capable devices to allow for remote tracking and management of appliances and systems. This technology, also known as...

What is it? Smart manufacturing (SM) is an approach that employs IoT, Internet-connected machinery, computer controls, modeling, big data, and digital information technology. The purpose of SM is to improve...

What is it?  Smart metering is the measurement of a facility's electricity, gas, or water consumption by using a smart meter. This device has the ability to share this data...

What is it?  Smart waste management is a system that uses advanced technologies to optimize the collection, transportation, and disposal of waste. It aims to reduce the environmental impact, operational...

What is it? A smart workplace is an office, which is equipped with advanced technology, devices, and tools. This notion can be referred to as both a smart desk and...

What is it?  A spreading factor is a parameter that controls data transmission speed and chirp rate. It also influences range, congestion, time-on-air, battery life, and receiver sensitivity. There are...

What is it? Star, or hub-and-spoke, topology is a network topology type where each individual component is physically linked to a common central node, such as a switch or hub....

What is it?  A unique identifier (UID) is a numeric or alphanumeric string related to a certain entity within a system. This allows for access to the entity and interaction...

What is it?  A visitor location register (VLR) is a database that includes information on subscribers' roaming within the limits of a mobile switching center’s (MSC) location area. The purpose...

What is it? A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a type of software that helps optimize all the processes in a warehouse, such as receiving, storing, picking, packing, and shipping...

What is it?  Wireless communication technologies are solutions that enable the transportation of voice and data without using any wires or cables.  This type of communication does not involve physical...

What is it?  A wireless sensor is an IoT device that collects sensory information and detects changes in specified environments.  It is designed to measure certain parameters of its surroundings...

What is it?  A wireless sensor network, or WSN, is a group of transducers, i.e., electronic devices that convert energy from one form to another. These transducers have communications infrastructure...