At home, or at the workplace, there are many devices such as computers, phones, printers, and even smart coffee makers that are connected via a network. This network technology, either digital or physical, allows the transfer of data. This could be sending an email on your computer, streaming videos on your phone, sending a print job to a printer, or setting the time to brew your coffee on your smart coffee maker using your phone. All of these require the use of a network.
One way is to plug cables, such as Ethernet cables, into the devices and connect them to another device named a switch. The LAN (local area network) in many locations hosts devices such as a patch panel and switch that allow for the networking of many machines. Providing shared access to all of those on the network through wired connections.
We can also connect devices wirelessly and a common way to do that is to use a wireless access point. A wireless network like this is known as Wi-Fi. An example of this is a mobile phone. It is impractical to cable it in, so wireless is a good option for that. The most familiar kind of network connection that can be used by IoT (internet of things) devices is a cellular network. For example, a mobile phone network. Cellular technology is a type of long-distance network tech. It is pretty different from short-range technologies like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It uses a global network of transmitters and receivers to carry voice, text, and digital data using radio waves. Cellular transmission depends on a network of transmission towers to communicate data. There is a center of a group of cells that act as a hub for the piece of the network, not for the entire network. An acceptable level of speed is also a significant factor that creates a relationship between cellular networks and IoT.
Networking plays an immensely important role within the realm of IoT as it serves as the core of what IoT is. Allowing us to connect and exchange data across many devices and networks to many different people. Either a physical connection, like a plug or port, or digital connection through wireless access points and cellular networks.
