Category: Everything IoT

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Everything IoT

IoT Trends in 2021: Is IoT worth the buzz?

by Alok.

Internet of Things (IoT) is a term that has been turning heads since the last few years. But one needs to tread cautiously with fancy terms. Time and again, we have witnessed that they may not, unfortunately, be worth the noise and attention they get.

In this article, we take a hard look at relevant data to decide if it is worth the buzz…..

Where better to begin than with the global trend of number of connected devices, which gives a clear picture of IoT deployments globally. In fact, without looking at applications, one can just observe the chart (given below) with its year-on-year numbers, and they tell you a story.

To summarize: 21.7 billion device connections have been deployed cumulatively as in 2020.  To put it in context that’s 2.9 connected devices per person globally! (basis the latest census that estimates a ~7.5 billion world population)

One thing to note though: Every connected device is not an IoT device as per our IoT definition, which results in an important and fundamental question:

What makes an IoT device?

‘IoT Analytics’ defines the Internet of Things as a network of internet-enabled physical objects.

What basically this means is that IoT devices contain independent intelligence. The physical device is connected to a cloud and operates ‘independently’. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, are NOT IoT devices by this definition.

With 11.7 bn pure IoT devices as in 2020, the other key point that we absorb from this chart is the fact that 2020, in fact, has been a milestone year for IoT. This is because for the first time, the number of IoT devices crossed the number of non-IoT connected devices globally.

The acceleration in growth rate (from 10% between 2010 to 2020, to 13%, 2020 onwards) demonstrates the growing spurt in the sector.

So the ‘number of devices’ statistic look encouraging, but is it backed by real revenues and money invested?

For a long time, a consistent criticism to IoT has been its low maturity resulting in low or no monetization. Which means even if devices were being pumped into the ecosystem, the revenue and investments made for them was not substantial. (a business case was not immediately seen by decision makers, etc)

This seems to have taken a turn lately, which signifies maturity in certain segments: Statista boasts that the global IoT market grew from $100bn in 2017 to $212 billion to 2019, and as if that wasn’t enough, suggests it would reach $1.6 tn by 2025.worldwide. Even after rounding down the figures, that’s an estimated growth of approximately 7X in 7 years.

Business Insider is even more bullish, saying the IoT global market will grow to over $3 tn by 2026!

With number of connected devices and revenues presented, here are the sectors that are the growth drivers.

A BCG research report points out that ‘Discrete manufacturing’, ‘Logistics’ and ‘Transportation’ are key sectors for whom ‘the time has come’ with respect to IoT. In fact, 50% of the current overall spending in IoT is from these sectors.

What’s more interesting, is that with time, IoT applications will mature in other sectors like utilities, healthcare, automotive and retail. And hence the sustained year-on-year growth that we saw in the earlier charts.

But what are the end-user applications that are sustaining this growth? And what benefits are users deriving from IoT use-cases?

Based on multiple surveys and research reports,  these are the collated key benefits that we distilled out:

Transparency and Easier monitoring:
We can optimize any variable only after we can measure it by some means. One key driver that has boosted applications around IoT is its ability to give visibility to measurement. Be it temperature sensors for boilers, physical location for trucks, vital checks for patients, and more, visibility gives rise to transparency. By the virtue of ‘knowing’ the location of physical assets, organizations can create dashboards which are very handy for monitoring.

Better decisions:
The next step after monitoring is to enable better decision making. From new sets of data, one can take more informed decisions. Output can be then benchmarked against desired outcomes, be it saving costs, increasing efficiency, and so on.

Automating tasks:
One can also automate tasks by rule-based algorithms, as a result of the increased visibility. This is, of course, and extension to better decision making. Only that in this case it is automated rather than manual.

Cut energy cost:
This is a specific outcome increasingly being drawn as a result of IoT implementation, and hence has merit to give a special mention. Through sensors and automated building/ factory management, one can optimize energy costs expended by various activities on real-time data. This optimizes and hence cuts energy costs tremendously.

Predictive maintenance:
This is another area which deserves a special mention. Through sensors, one can increasingly monitor and predict when certain parts of large and complex machinery and infrastructure can fail. Doing this proactively, has found to save a tremendous amount of money and effort.

Increasing engagement:
Finally, with increasingly dynamic output, IoT devices have the ability to engage audiences with intelligent communication. This is, of course, an area we are particularly deep in, and Digital Signage Technology is a space that we see has great potential to build engagement at the point of sale.

Lest we forget, one cannot evaluate an industry in present times, without looking at the implications that the Covid pandemic would have on it.

Overall, we have seen an increase in technology adoption as a result of the pandemic since it helps remote communication and reduces physical contact/ intervention.

The IoT industry too, in the long run, is likely to be enabled as a result of the pandemic. Customers would demand remote deployments and monitoring, which means more devices deployed. However, in the short run, with certain industries largely affected, investments in new technologies may get postponed to a better day. Hence, strained in the short run but favourable in the long term, can be concluded as an outcome of the pandemic.

Finally, we check for ‘side-effects’. IoT at its core may be a boon, but the threats should not outweigh its value. The key area that needs mention here is ‘security’. Data & IT security becomes increasingly important with the many endpoints connected as part of the IT ecosystem, as they can be vulnerable to being exploited.

A Gartner report suggests that more than 25% of identified attacks in enterprises will involve IoT. Their survey indicated that 32% of IT leaders cite security as a top barrier to IoT success.

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest allied industry that will evolve and grow mature as a direct outcome of the growth in IoT. Stringent data & identity protection for assets as well as privacy laws need to be streamlined in the years ahead.

All in all, IoT seems to be worth the attention then?

With tailwinds ripe to steer growth, in the coming years, we will see IoT applications mature and mushroom across varied industries.

And as tech enthusiasts, if we do a bit of crystal ball gazing, I, for one, foresee an exciting journey ahead for us and for our IoT community.

But I leave it to you to take your call, if this is all worth the buzz. 🙂

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Everything IoT

Patents for Entrepreneurs

by Dr. Kumar Padmanabh

Dr. Kumar Padmanabh is an expert in the space of IoT, and has worked globally in the research labs of British Telecom, Bosch and Infosys. He has 25 patents under his name from across India and USA.

Intellectual property is a kind of property manifested in the form of an intangible creation of the human intellect. A patent is a special intellectual property created by an individual inventor or a group of inventors. Law gives an exclusive permission to the inventor(s) to make commercial use of the same and prohibits others to use it commercially or otherwise, without the consent of the original inventor. This article explores the intricacies of intellectual properties, especially patents. It also explains how and which ideas could be patented, common laws related to it and patent protection, all of which helps promote the culture of invention. It also explains who should ideally file a patent

Introduction

A poet writes a poem,  a novelist writes a novel, a musician composes music, a scientist invents new things and an innovator innovates on them.  Individuals put effort into creating art, craft, poems, novels, music, scientific inventions, and generic innovations. All new creations are known as intellectual properties. It is a ‘unique manifestation of the human intellect’.  In most countries across the world, the government gives the right to the original creator to use their creation for their commercial benefit or otherwise. This, in turn, prevents others from using the same property for their commercial use. Intellectual property is analogous to the real estate property. An individual having a registered house in his/ her name has the right to use that house at will. If they want, they can keep it empty, live in it, or give it out on rent and can give notice to its tenant to vacate that house. He/ she can also sell that property at will. And if someone occupies the house illegally, the government provides a mechanism to vacate that house, give compensation to the owner for the damage, etc. Similarly, the government protects the right of the owner of intellectual property. No one else is supposed to use or misuse the intellectual property. There are different forms of Intellectual Properties, and laws and mechanisms of protection laws differ amongst them.

  1. Copyright: A copyright could be given to a unique piece of compilation of objects, text, or artworks.  A poem, a novel, a book, paintings or design, and so on, can be copyrighted. Software code too can be under copyright. There is no need to exclusively register a copyright in government offices. Whenever any such objects are created, natural copyright belongs to the original creator. No one else could use or misuse the same without the written permission from the original creator. Whenever there is a dispute, the original creator needs to prove that (i) they(he/she) are (is) the original creator (ii) and there has been a use/misuse of the copyrighted material. It is not mandated by the government to register the copyrighted material. However, to prove its authenticity, it is good to register it in a public forum. For example, a set of poems could be published in a book, in a magazine or an article could be published in a journal. It will help the creator to prove the authenticity and priority of the date.
  2. Industrial Design: Graphics, sketches, drawing, design for industrial use case could be registered as an Industrial Design. The design of the product, graphical interface, and so on, falls under this category. The government gives the right to the original creator for its exclusive use and there is a penalty if someone uses it without permission.  Unlike copyrighted material, an Industrial Design should be registered in designated government offices.
  3. Plant Varieties: Any innovation on plants for agricultural purposes or otherwise belongs to this category. It is dealt with separately and again gives exclusive rights to the innovator.
  4. Trade Marks: Trademarks uniquely represent a company, product, or services. There is design innovation in creating a unique trademark, and it helps build brand recall. One needs to formally register a Trade Mark in a designated government office.
  5. Trade Secret: A trade secret is a unique process, formula, or so on, to do business. It is not mandatory to register this in government offices, and most importantly, one needs to maintain its secrecy.  For example, KC Das has a formula and process of cooking Rasagolla. However, if someone else comes to the recipe, he cannot be prosecuted. The secrecy of the recipe lies with KC Das.
  6. Patent: Patent is a right granted for technological inventions. It is enforced in a particular country. The country which grants a patent protect the right of the inventor and assignee who has commercial right on the same. In the next section, we explore types of patent, criterion on which a patent is granted, the rights of inventor, assignee, and other stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Patent as an Intellectual Property

Patent is a right provided by law to the inventor(s) or to the assignee of the patent on their scientific invention for a specific period of time. The assignee is an individual or a company that has acquired this right from the inventor. Inventor and assignee apply for the grant of a patent to government agencies. A patent is immensely beneficial for a startup, as it gives it an exclusive right on the technology and hence creates a ‘moat’, an entry barrier for competition. The following section describes the benefit of a patent, technology that could be patented, types of patent applications, the process and its enforcement, infringement and prosecution.

The benefit of a patent for the startups:

When an idea for a technology is unique or novel, it is highly recommended to get it patented. A startup can benefit through patents in the following ways:

  1. Minimize Competition: A patent prevents others to use the same idea. Purposefully or unknowingly if someone uses the same idea to draw commercial benefit, the original startup owning the patent can file a lawsuit and get compensated. A patent can be drafted tactically so that the competition cannot enter into the same business.
  2. An alternative source of revenue through License Fee: A startup can allow other companies to do business based on its ideas in lieu of a license fee. A license fee could be a one-time fee or it could be based on a fee on each product sold/manufactured or for every service provided. It often happens that the original company stops business on the same but continues generating revenue based on licenses given out.
  3. Funding: Investors generally keep their eyes open for ‘startups with wings’. A patented technology is a definite proof that the idea and technology used is novel. Given that the entry barrier patents create, it also adds to the comfort level for an investor, who would prefer a clear competitive advantage while funding.
  4. For better R&D: This is a based more on my practical experience. One invention leads to others, and once the process and intricacies of patents are understood, it leads to companies building a strategy around them. Also, when a startup files a for patent, it is more likely that other patents in the area will also be generated. It, therefore, accelerates and creates a cycle towards stronger R&D.
  5. Adds to branding value: A key KPI in a number of innovative companies are the number of patents filed. In the long run, a company which promotes a culture of R&D, and building patents, adds to its brand value by associating itself with ‘innovation’.

Types of Patent

A patent could be broadly classified in two ways:

  • Based on legal and statutory requirement, and,
  • Based on technical content

Based on legal and statutory requirement: As soon as there is an idea it should be filed for a patent just to obtain a ‘priority date’. If a particular domain is a ‘hot sector’, it is likely that a number of researchers/innovators would be working in the domain. It is also likely that someone else could be working on a similar idea. A key point to remember is that the person who files the patent first would get priority worldwide. Hence a patent should be filed – FAST! However, the next key question is the place where it needs to be filed.  If the business is limited to a particular geography the patent should be filed in the corresponding countries. Also, based on future strategy and expansion plans of the product, this should be tweaked further. Following are the types of patent that one can file based on legal and statutory requirement:

  1. Provisional Patent: If the idea is very ‘raw’ and it is likely that it will sharpen in the due course of time, then a “provisional patent” is recommended. Most countries give a year to file the final patent. A provisional patent gives a priority date and allows the idea to get matured in the process. It is to be noted that unless the provisional patent is finalized (within the course of the year), grant of the patent is not possible.
  2. Conventional Patent: This is a traditional and ordinary style of patent application. It is complete in nature.
  3. PCT Application: United Nation has an organizational wing that handles intellectual property, and is known as the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization). There is an international treaty known as the patent cooperation treaty and most countries have signed the treaty. This treaty allows international patent applications. Such international patent applications are known as PCT applications. Within a specific time period after filing a PCT application, one can file patent applications in any member countries of WIPO. This is a very helpful strategy for companies that have international expansion plans, but aren’t sure of specific geographies, which is generally case for any new company. Instead of spending money on multiple patents across countries, it makes sense to file a PCT, which gives the company time to expand, understand traction, and then file patents in the required target markets.
  4. Patent of Addition: If an inventor discovers something new on top of an existing patent, he/she can add new claims (claims will be described in subsequent subsection). Priority date and time period would remain the same.
  5. Divisional Patent: The technology related to an existing patent might get evolved further. There is a provision to divide the original patent into two or more patents. Such patent is known as divisional patent. However, priority dates of patents that spun off from the original one would remain the same as the original patent.

From a Technical Content perspective: It is to be noted that algorithms cannot be patented alone. However, copyright on algorithms is possible. Hence from technical content perspective, patents can be broadly classified into two categories:

  1. A system patent: A system patent describes how a system can be built to do specific tasks. It consists of a unique design for the system.
  2. A system and method:  When a unique design of a system and a unique operating procedure or method is required to do a specific task, it is known as system and method patent.

Process of getting the patent:

Following are the process for filing the patent:

  1. Idea Logging:  Every startup should have a mechanism of logging the ideas into the record. The logging system should be such that it can be used as evidence when there is an internal or external conflict on inventorship or otherwise. A simple notebook or journal where dates are maintained could be used for this purpose. Online journals could also be used for this purpose.
  2. Internal Evaluation: Once the idea is logged, it should be evaluated internally before filing the patent. The inventors should check on three different parameters (i) Novelty (ii) Type of patent and (iii) The Business Value.   The inventor should try to classify it as “System Patent” or as a “System and Method” patent and accordingly prepare a document.  Subsequently inventors should try to find novelty in the idea. Then the business team should try to find if there is a potential in the patent to generate revenue. If both these critical factors are evaluated as being ‘true’, then the company should file a patent.
  1. Preparing Idea Disclosure Document: A patent is a legal document and hence should be drafted by a professional who has experience of drafting patents. There are various law firms who have expertise for filing patents. They need a document called an ‘idea disclosure form’. Typically, an idea disclosure form has the following details: (1) Details of Inventors (2) Title of invention (3) Abstract of Invention (4) Details of the system and method of the invention with fine details including details on design of the system (5) Inventors claim, which is a description of novelty.
  2. Patent Application: Based on the idea disclosure, law firms search patent databases and try to establish a unique proposition in the patent. Law firms check whether (i) The idea is unique (ii) That it is not an obvious derivation/deduction from previous ideas (iii) That nowhere in the world, this idea is available in the public domain.If these conditions are satisfied, the law firm/ patent attorney prepares a patent application. It essentially has: (i) inventive steps (ii) design of system and methods (iii) claims.The patent application is written to cover maximum possible application areas. However, the application is written in such a way that any other person with the same scientific understanding can reproduce the system by reading the patent application.
  3. Filing of patent applications: The patent application is subsequently filed in the necessary government offices. There is an online mechanism also available. Government charges a fee which is differs from country to country.
  4. Publication of Patent: Typically, after approximately 18 months, the patent application is published through the government official publication channel. However, an early publication is possible too in lieu of a fee.
  5. Patent Examination: The applicant can initiate examination of patent. A patent attorney or a law firm can do it on their behalf. The patent examiner is an expert in the field and the patent examination is done to check the following aspect of a patent (i) Novelty (ii) Inventive Steps and (iii)the Application.
  6. Grant of a patent: If the examiner concludes it as novel and innovative, a patent is granted for a specific period of time.  In a typical case, it could be 20 years. In some of the cases even if patentability is concluded as genuine, the government can deny a patent if it is against the general interest of the nation.
  7. Rejection of a Patent: If there is an issue in the novelty, inventorship, steps taken or even the general interest of the nation, the patent examiner can reject a patent.

Some additional key facts about patents:

  1. Inventorship: If there are more than one inventors, then there should be a non-ambiguous contribution in invention. If there is an ambiguity in inventorship, then the patent might get rejected even after the grant.
  2. Implementation Requirement: Merely an idea is sufficient to file a patent. There is no need to even build a prototype or a product or a system to demonstrate the same.
  3. Idea in Public Domain: Once the idea is available in public domain, or it is demonstrated in any exhibition or to a group of people from which it is likely to be in public domain, then it is not eligible for patent. The idea should also not be available in the form of an end product to the end users. The information related to patent should not be available in public domain before its filing. This is often overlooked but an important factor to be considered while filing patents.
Conclusion

Patents are a niche, often overlooked, but integral part of a company trajectory. Patent strategy for an innovative company, therefore, needs to be carefully crafted and implemented to enable its effectiveness. If you have any comments or queries on the above subject, do not hesitate to reach out to us on info@intelisa.in

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Digital Signages Everything IoT

IoT based Digital Signages will gain significance during COVID-19

Digital Signages for Covid

by Mr. Anvesh Mantena

Note: The author of this article has over a decades experience as a digital technology consultant across global markets like US, Japan, Germany & India.

With the world heading towards a new normal, next generation IoT based digital signages are set to play a significant role to not just help business navigate the current operational challenges, but increase their preparedness to mitigate the impact of such challenges in the future. 

The words corona, social distancing and lockdown were virtually unheard of, a few months ago. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people and disrupted thousands of business worldwide. The reality of the outbreak is starting to settle in and business leaders are strategising to navigate a broad range of interrelated issues. One of the key business challenge that is industry agnostic, is ensuring health and safety of employee and customers. 

The fact that a vaccine is still months away, amplifies the relevance of digital signage which has taken up the role of providing the most important commodity of all: information. If the importance of digital signages was ever a question before Covid-19, there is no doubt of its value now.

Although it seems obvious, the need of the hour is to continuously remind your customers & employees about importance and safety related information to further drive the point. The cloud based solutions give complete control to the head office to drive emergency communication in real time to multiple or a specific remote location. Digital signages are all set to play a prominent role to keep people informed and fight against their fears at places where it matters the most.

While enabling communication remains to be the key, the next generation digital signage solution which are IoT based and are driven by AI, will works as a platform to build industry specific application that would not just help businesses navigate through the current pandemic but will increase their preparedness to mitigate the impact for the next one if any. The below are a few use cases which we would see gaining traction. 

  • Remote training: While training is a key for businesses to grow the current pandemic has been driving a wide range of reskilling initiative by organizations, virtual meeting tool like Zoom are helping white collar employees, the same can’t be said with blue collar employee. This is where digital signage are set to play a significant role. The real-time capabilities of the modern signage solution will help business reuse the screens placed at strategic point across factory floor to train workers.
  • Queue Management: Queues for entry into retail stores, is quite common these days. This will further formalise into appointment based shopping. IoT based digital screens installed at entrances of stores apart from its basic functionality to act as a medium of communication will also provide queue management services to regulate the inflow of customers thereby avoiding the pile-up of people in endless lines and increase the confidence of the customer to come and shop with them.  
  • Remote monitoring: With high levels of compliance standards being set by governments, organisations will need tools to monitor their implementation at manufacturing plants or retail stores. The next generation digital signages based on IoT platforms, integrated with sensor technology will eliminate blind spots, giving management a holistic view of operations that can be monitored remotely. In-built algorithms will automatically alert staff by bringing up relevant messages on screens at times when standards are not being met by employees. 
  • Local Community marketing: ‘When customer don’t come to you, you go to your customers’, is the mantra that businesses will follow. The advertisement spent for organisations will be very limited and targeted with companies being very particular on where every rupee is spent. Marketing in public places through OOH might lose its sheen with more marketers looking to reach the customer as-close-to-home. This will open up avenues for marketing agencies to invest in digital screen controlled by an efficient cloud solution in various large housing societies, which will take brands closer to the customers. Digtial signage solution will provide real time analytics on the advertisements making the business investments measureable. 
  •  Contactless attendance & screening: Finger print recognition has been a standard over the last decade for daily attendance registration at various offices/plants across the world. This pandemic has brought about an urgent need for a contactless technology.  Face recognition which is already making its presence in the mobile world will be the new normal. The camera scan along with a few thermal scanning sensors will see integration with IoT based digital signages for automatic attendance capture and screening at entrances with capabilities to automatically trigger warning messages.
  • Store Information & availability display:  In the short term, window shopping at malls will reduce due to the fear of infection, and customers will shop for a particular pre-decided product. The time they want to spend in stores will be minimal. In these scenarios, real time information on the availability of product and their exact location will be of great help for people to directly walk to the product pick it up and check out. Digtial signage’s will play a significant role by integrating the store inventory & layout diplaying real time product information and their availability. 

With the changing global context, Digital Signages are maturing from just being a marketing tool to an IoT based enabler by integrating real time applications, resulting in being an efficient and effective communication of the one of the most important asset – information!  

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