Recent Trends in Standards Related to the Internet of Things and Machine-to-Machine Communications

One of major purposes of these standard technologies is to ensure interoperability between entities from different vendors and enable interworking between various technologies. As interoperability and interworking are essential for machine-to-machine communications (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) for them to achieve their ultimate goal, i.e., things to be connected each other, multiple standards organizations are now working on development M2M/IoT related specifications. This paper reviews the current activities of some of the most relevant standardization bodies in the area of M2M and IoT: third-generation partnership project (3GPP) core and radio network aspects, broadband forum, and oneM2M. The major features and issues being focused upon in these standards bodies are summarized. Finally, some key common trends among the different bodies are identified: a common service layer platform, new technologies mitigating an explosive growth of network traffic, and considerations and efforts related to the development of device management technologies.