IoT Dictionary

Body Area Network.

A range of frequencies used by a technology for communication purposes. For example, the 2.4 MHz band is used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication.

Low-cost devices that communicate with smartphone apps indoors, without the need for GPS. Beacons use BLE and are key enablers for the smart retail category, triggering messages as consumers pass through locations or near products.

Data sets so large that they cannot be used with traditional database tools. Big data often requires massively parallel computing resources to access, curate and analyze. Big data analysis techniques are crucial to such disciplines as spotting business trends and simulation.

Bluetooth Low Energy.

Short-range wireless technology standard which operates on the 2.4 MHz band. Bluetooth can be used for sending both data and audio, with popular uses including wireless headsets and cordless keyboards. Bluetooth devices can be set up with different hardware profiles to help perform specific tasks, for example audio adapter, audio headset, serial, and keyboard profiles.

The latest iteration of Bluetooth, also called Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). It offers lower power use for portable devices and new profiles including Bluetooth Mesh, a Bluetooth topology that allows devices to be connected together, sending/repeating commands from the hub to any connected device. Apple’s iBeacon is an example of a BLE application, and BLE as many potential uses for IoT devices.

Bluetooth Low Energy.

The latest iteration of Bluetooth, also called Bluetooth 4.0. It offers lower power use for portable devices and new profiles including Bluetooth Mesh, a Bluetooth topology that allows devices to be connected together, sending/repeating commands from the hub to any connected device. Apple’s iBeacon is an example of a BLE application, and BLE as many potential uses for IoT devices.

A wireless network of wearable computing devices and physiological sensors, which may even be embedded inside the body. A BAN may also be referred to as a WBAN (wireless body area network) or a BSN (body sensor network). A key use case for BANs is e-Health applications.

Slang term for accidentally rendering a device inoperable by changing its configuration or shorting one of its circuits. Used as a verb, as in “what do I do if I brick my Raspberry Pi?” The inert device sits there like a brick.

Enterprise term recognizing that people are bringing their own Wi-Fi enabled devices into the corporate network.

Brownfield describes the problem and the process of having to consider already existing systems when implementing new software systems.

Base Station. The radios and other equipment at the cell sites that are used to communicate with the cellular devices.

Base Station Controller. The equipment that consolidates and controls multiple BS sites (usually, more than one BS is attached to a BSC).

Base Transceiver Station. This is a machine that enables wireless communication between user equipment, for example a mobile phone or a computer, and networks like the GSM network. The data is received through an antenna and is then processed and transmitted by the BTS to create a wireless connection.

Used to describe processes that are necessary to enable or execute communication between an end user and a database/server. These processes decide how data is transmitted, transformed, or calculated. This does not include the display of data or task-specific commands. It serves as a basis, consisting of algorithms, code, etc.

Bring Your Own Device.