Event Stream Processing

Event Stream Processing

by Blog

 

 

Event Stream Processing

In today’s fast-paced digital world, the ability to process and analyze data in real-time has become crucial for businesses across various industries. One technology that has gained significant attention and adoption is Event Stream Processing (ESP). In this blog post, we will explore what ESP is, its benefits, and its applications in different domains.

Event Stream Processing refers to the ability to process and analyze a continuous flow of events or data in real-time. These events can be generated from a variety of sources, such as sensors, social media feeds, financial transactions, clickstreams, and more. ESP systems are designed to handle high volumes of data and analyze it in real-time, allowing organizations to derive valuable insights and make data-driven decisions.

 

Highlights: Event Stream Processing

  • Massive Amounts of Data

It’s a common theme that the Internet of Things is all about data. IoT represents a massive increase in data rates from multiple sources that need to be processed and analyzed from various Internet of Things access technologies. In addition, various heterogeneous sensors exhibit a continuous stream of information back and forth, requiring real-time processing and intelligent data visualization with event stream processing (ESP) and IoT stream processing.

  • Data Flow

This data flow and volume shift may easily represent thousands to millions of events per second. It is the most significant kind of “big data” and will exhibit considerably more data than we have seen on the Internet of humans. Processing large amounts of data from multiple sources in real time is crucial for most IoT solutions. Making reliability in distributed system a pivotal factor to consider in the design process.

  • Data Transmission

Data transmitted between things instructs how to act and react to certain conditions and thresholds. Analysis of this data turns data streams into meaningful events, offering unique situational awareness and insight into the thing transmitting the data. This analysis allows engineers and data science specialists to track formerly immeasurable processes. 

 

Before you proceed, you may find the following helpful:

  1. Docker Container Security
  2. Network Functions
  3. IP Forwarding
  4. OpenContrail
  5. Internet of Things Theory
  6. 6LoWPAN Range

 



Event Stream Processing.

Key Event Stream Processing Discussion points:


  • Introduction to Analytics and Data handling.

  • Discussion on the IoT Stream Processing.

  • The challenges time series data.

  • Highlighting Event Steam Processing.

  • Dicussion on products that can be used.

 

Back to basics with Stream processing technology

Stream processing technology is increasingly prevalent because it provides superior solutions for many established use cases, such as data analytics, ETL, and transactional applications. It also enables novel applications, software architectures, and business opportunities. With traditional data infrastructures, data and data processing have been omnipresent in businesses for many decades.

Over the years, the collection and usage of data have grown consistently, and companies have designed and built infrastructures to manage that data. However, the traditional architecture that most businesses implement distinguishes two types of data processing: transactional processing and analytical processing.

 

  • A key point: Analytics and data handling are changing.

All this type of new device information enables valuable insights into what is happening on our planet, offering the ability to make accurate and quick decisions. However, analytics and data handling are challenging. Everything is now distributed to the edge, and new ways of handling data are emerging.

To combat this, IoT uses emerging technologies such as stream data processing with in-stream analytics, predictive analytics, and machine learning techniques. In addition, IoT devices generate vast amounts of data, putting pressure on the internet infrastructure. This is where the role of cloud computing comes in useful. Cloud computing assists in storing, processing, and transferring data in the cloud instead of connected devices.

 

Benefits of Event Stream Processing

One of the key benefits of Event Stream Processing is its ability to provide real-time insights. Traditional batch processing involves storing data and analyzing it in batches, which can lead to a delay in obtaining insights. ESP, on the other hand, enables organizations to react and respond to events as they happen, leading to faster decision-making and improved operational efficiency.

Another advantage of ESP is its ability to handle complex event patterns. ESP systems can detect and process complex event patterns in real-time, allowing organizations to identify and respond to critical situations promptly. For example, in the financial industry, ESP can be used to detect fraudulent transactions by analyzing patterns and anomalies in real-time, enabling immediate action to prevent financial loss.

Event Stream Processing Application

Event Stream Processing finds applications in various domains. In the retail industry, ESP can be used to analyze customer behavior and preferences in real-time, allowing retailers to personalize offers and improve customer experience.

In the healthcare sector, ESP can be leveraged to monitor patient data in real-time, enabling early detection of critical conditions and timely intervention. In the transportation industry, ESP can provide real-time insights into traffic patterns, helping to optimize routes and improve transportation efficiency.

To implement Event Stream Processing, organizations can utilize various technologies and tools. Some popular ESP frameworks include Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, and Apache Storm. These frameworks provide the necessary infrastructure and processing capabilities to handle high-speed data streams and perform real-time analytics.

 

IoT Stream Processing: Distributed to the Edge

IoT represents a distributed architecture. We have the distribution of analytics from the IoT platform, either cloud or on-premise, to network edges, making analytics more complicated. A lot of the filtering and analysis is carried out on the gateways and the actual things themselves. These types of edge devices process sensor event data locally.

Some can execute immediate local responses without contacting the gateway or remote IoT platform. A device with sufficient memory and processing power can run a lightweight version of an Event Stream Processing ( ESP ) platform.

For example, Raspberry PI supports complex-event processing ( CEP ). Gateways ingest event streams from sensors and usually carry out more sophisticated steam processing than the actual thing. Some can send an immediate response via a control signal to actuators, causing a state change.

 

Technicality is only one part of the puzzle; data ownership and governance are the other.

 

Time Series Data – Data in Motion

The reaction time must be immediate without delay in specific IoT solutions, such as traffic light monitoring in smart cities. This requires a different type of big data solution that processes data while it’s in motion. In some IoT solutions, there is too much data to store, so the analysis of data streams must be done on the fly while being transferred.

It’s not just about capturing and storing as much data as possible anymore. The essence of IoT is the ability to use the data while it is still in motion. Applying analytical models to data streams before they are forwarded enables accurate pattern and anomaly detection while they are occurring. This analysis offers immediate insight into events enabling quicker reaction times and business decisions. 

Traditional analytical models are applied to stored data offering analytics for historical events only. IoT requires the examination of patterns before data is stored, not after. The traditional store and process model does not have the characteristic to meet the real-time analysis of IoT data streams.

In response to new data handling requirements, new analytical architectures are emerging. The volume and handling of IoT traffic require a new type of platform known as Event Stream Processing ( ESP ) and Distributed Computing Platforms ( DCSP )

Event Stream Processing
Diagram: Event Stream Processing.

 

 

Event Stream Processing ( ESP ) 

ESP is an in-memory real-time process technique enabling the ability to analyze continuously flowing events in data streams. Assessing events in motion is known as “event streams.” This reveals what is happening now and can be used with historical data to predict future events accurately. To predict future events, predictive models are embedded into the data streams.

This type of processing represents a shift in how data is processed. Data is no longer stored and processed; it is analyzed while still being transferred, and models are applied.

ESP applies sophisticated predictive analytics models to data streams and then takes action based on those scores or business rules. It is becoming popular in IoT solutions with predictive asset maintenance and real-time detection of fault conditions.

For example, you can create models that signal a future unplanned condition. This can then be applied to ESP, quickly detecting upcoming failures and interruptions. ESP is also commonly used in network optimization of the power grid and traffic control systems.

ESP is in-memory, meaning all data is loaded into RAM. It does not use hard drives or substitutes, resulting in fast processing, enhanced scale, and analytics. In-memory can analyze terabytes of data in just a few seconds and can ingest from millions of sources in milliseconds. All the processing happens at the system’s edge before data is passed to storage.

How you define real-time depends on the context. Your time horizon will depict whether you need the full power of ESP. Events with ESP should happen close together in time and frequency. However, if your time horizon is over a relatively long period and events are not close together, your requirements might be fulfilled with Batch processing.

 

Batch vs Real-Time Processing

With Batch processing, files are gathered over time and sent together as a batch. It is commonly used when fast response times are not critical and for non-real-time processing. Batch jobs can be stored for an extended period and then executed; for example, an end-of-day report is suited for batch processing as it does not need to be done in real-time.

However, they can scale, but the batch orientation limits real-time decision-making and IoT stream requirements. Real-time processing involves a continual input, process, and output of data. Data is processed in a relatively small period. When your solution requires immediate action, real-time is the one for you. Examples of batch and real-time solutions include Hadoop for batch and Apache Spark focusing on real-time computation.

 

Hadoop vs Apache Spark 

Hadoop is a distributed data infrastructure that distributes data collections across nodes in a cluster. It includes a storage component called Hadoop Distributed File System ( HDFS ) and a processing component called MapReduce. However, with the new requirements for IoT, MapReduce is not the answer for everything.

MapReduce is fine if your data operation requirements are static, and you can wait for batch processing. But if your solution requires analytics from sensor streaming data, then you are better off using Apache Spark. Spark was created in response to the limitations of MapReduce.

 Apache Spark does not have a file system and may be integrated with HDFS or a cloud-based data platform such as Amazon S3 or OpenStack Swift. It is much faster than MapReduce and operates in memory and real time. In addition, it has machine learning libraries to gain insights from the data and identify patterns. Machine learning can be as simple as a python event and anomaly detection script.

 

Internet of things theory

Internet of Things Theory

by Blog

Internet of Things Theory

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept that has rapidly gained momentum in recent years, transforming the way we live and interact with technology. With the proliferation of smart devices, interconnected sensors, and advanced data analytics, IoT is revolutionizing various industries and reshaping our daily lives. In this blog post, we will explore the fundamental aspects of the Internet of Things and its potential impact on our future.

The Internet of Things refers to the interconnectivity of physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other objects embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity. These devices are capable of collecting and exchanging data, enabling them to communicate and interact with each other without human intervention. IoT is transforming how we perceive and utilize technology, from smart homes and cities to industrial applications.

Sensors and Actuators: At the heart of the Internet of Things lies a network of sensors and actuators. Sensors collect data from the physical world, ranging from temperature and humidity to motion and light. These devices are equipped with the ability to detect and measure specific parameters, providing valuable real-time information.

Actuators, on the other hand, enable physical actions based on the data received from sensors. They can control various mechanisms, such as opening and closing doors, turning on and off lights, or regulating the temperature in a room.

Communication Protocols: For the IoT to function seamlessly, effective communication protocols are essential. These protocols enable devices to transmit data between each other and to the cloud. Some popular communication protocols in the IoT realm include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and LoRaWAN. Each protocol possesses unique characteristics that make it suitable for specific use cases. For instance, Wi-Fi is ideal for high-speed data transfer, while LoRaWAN offers long-range connectivity with low power consumption.

Cloud Computing and Data Analytics: The massive amount of data generated by IoT devices requires robust storage and processing capabilities. Cloud computing plays a pivotal role in providing scalable infrastructure to handle this data influx. By leveraging cloud services, IoT devices can securely store and access data, as well as utilize powerful computational resources for advanced analytics. Data analytics, in turn, enables organizations to uncover valuable insights, optimize operations, and make data-driven decisions.

Edge Computing: While cloud computing offers significant advantages, some IoT applications demand real-time responsiveness, reduced latency, and enhanced privacy. This is where edge computing comes into play. Edge devices, such as gateways and edge servers, bring computational power closer to the data source, enabling faster processing and decision-making at the edge of the network. Edge computing minimizes the need for constant data transmission to the cloud, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced bandwidth requirements.

Matt Conran

Table of Contents

Highlights: Internet of Things

The Transformation

The Internet is transforming, and this post discusses the Internet of Things Theory and highlights Internet of Things access technologies. Initially, we started with the Web and digitized content. The market then moved to track and control the digitized world with, for example, General Packet Radio Service ( GPRS ). 

Machine-to-machine ( M2M ) connectivity introduces a different connectivity model and application use case. Now, we embark on Machine Learning, where machines can make decisions with supervised or unsupervised controls. This transformation requires new architecture and technologies to support IoT connectivity, including event stream processing and the 6LoWPAN range.

The Move to SDN

Traditional networks start with a group of network devices and a box-by-box mentality. The perimeter was more or less static. The move to Software-Defined Networking ( SDN ) implements a central controller, pushing networking into the software with the virtual overlay network. As we introduce the Internet of Things theory, the IoT world steadily progresses, and we require an application-centric model with distributed intelligence and time series data.

Understanding the Basics

The Internet of Things theory connects everyday objects to the Internet, allowing them to communicate and share data. This section will provide a comprehensive overview of IoT’s fundamental concepts and components, including sensors, actuators, connectivity, and data analysis.

Internet of things theory

Real-world Applications

IoT has permeated various industries, from smart homes to industrial automation, bringing significant advancements. This section will showcase a range of practical applications, such as smart cities, wearable devices, healthcare systems, and transportation networks. By exploring these examples, readers will understand how IoT reshapes our lives.

Challenges and Concerns

While the potential of IoT is immense, some challenges and concerns need to be addressed. This section will delve into data privacy, security vulnerabilities, ethical considerations, and the impact on the workforce. By understanding these challenges, we can work towards creating a safer and more sustainable IoT ecosystem.

Future Implications

The evolution of IoT theory is an ongoing process. In this section, we will explore the future implications of IoT, including the integration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain technologies. Additionally, we will discuss the potential benefits and risks that lie ahead as the IoT landscape continues to expand.



Internet of Things Theory.

Key Internet of Things Theory Discussion points:


  • Introduction to the Internet of Things.

  • Discussion of IoT use cases.

  • The challenges around IoT security.

  • Highlighting data flow and connectivity.

  • Dicussion on IoT access technologies.

Related: Before you proceed, you may find the following helpful.

  1. OpenShift Networking
  2. OpenStack Architecture

Internet of Things Theory and Use Cases

Applications of IoT:

The applications of IoT are vast and encompass various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and more. IoT is revolutionizing patient care in healthcare by enabling remote monitoring, wearable devices, and real-time health data analysis. The agricultural industry benefits from IoT by utilizing sensors to monitor soil conditions and weather patterns and optimize irrigation systems. IoT enables intelligent traffic management, connected vehicles, and advanced navigation systems in transportation, enhancing efficiency and safety.

Benefits and Challenges:

The Internet of Things offers numerous benefits, such as increased efficiency, improved productivity, enhanced safety, and cost savings. Smart homes, for instance, enable homeowners to control and automate various aspects of their living spaces, resulting in energy savings and convenience. IoT allows predictive maintenance, optimizes operations, and reduces downtime in the industrial sector.

However, with the vast amount of data generated by IoT devices, privacy and security concerns arise. Safeguarding sensitive information and protecting against cyber threats are critical challenges that must be addressed to ensure IoT’s widespread adoption and success.

Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

With IoT, massive automation and real-time data collection become possible. This translates into increased efficiency and productivity across industries. From smart factories optimizing production processes to automated inventory management systems, IoT streamlines operations and minimizes human intervention.

Improved Quality of Life

IoT has the potential to enhance our daily lives significantly. Smart homes with IoT devices allow seamless control of appliances, lighting, and security systems. Imagine waking up to a house that adjusts the temperature to your preference, brews your morning coffee, and even suggests the most efficient route to work based on real-time traffic data.

Enhanced Safety and Security

Leveraging IoT can significantly enhance safety and security measures. Smart surveillance systems can detect and react to potential threats in real time. IoT-enabled wearable devices can also monitor vital signs and send alerts during emergencies, ensuring timely medical assistance.

Environmental Sustainability

IoT plays a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability. Smart grids enable efficient energy management and reduce wastage. IoT devices can monitor ecological parameters like air quality and water levels, facilitating proactive measures to protect our planet.

The Future of IoT:

The Internet of Things has only scratched the surface of its potential. As technology advances, we can expect IoT to become more sophisticated and integrated into our daily lives. The emergence of 5G networks will enable faster and more reliable connectivity, unlocking new possibilities for IoT applications. From intelligent cities that optimize energy consumption to personalized healthcare solutions, the future of IoT holds immense promise.

Back to Basics With the Internet of Things Theory

We need to examine use cases when introducing the Internet of Things theory. So, we know that IoT enables everyday physical objects, such as plants, people, animals, appliances, objects, buildings, and machines, to transmit and receive data—the practical use case for IoT bounds only to the limits of our imagination.

The devices section is where we will see the most innovation and creativity. For example, there has been plenty of traction in the car industry as IoT introduces a new era of hyperconnected vehicles. Connected cars in a mesh of clouds form a swarm of intelligence.

The ability to retrieve data from other vehicles opens up new types of safety information, such as black ice and high winds detection.

Internet of things theory
Diagram: Internet of Things theory.

No one can doubt that the Internet has a massive impact on society. This digital universe enables all types of mediums to tap into and communicate. In one way or another, it gets woven into our lives, maybe even to the point where people decide to use the Internet as a base point in starting their businesses. More importantly, the Internet is a product made by “people.” 

However, we are heading into a transformation stage that will make our current connectivity model look trivial. The Internet of Things drives a new Internet, a product made by “things,” not just people. These things or smart objects consist of billions or even trillions of non-heterogeneous devices. The ability of devices to sense, communicate, and acquire data helps build systems that manage our lives better.

We are beginning to see the introduction of IoT into what’s known as smart cities. In Boston, an iPhone app called Catchthebusapp informs application owners of public transport vehicles’ location and arrival times. GPRS trackers installed on each car inform users when they are running late.

This example proves that we are about to connect our planet, enabling a new way to interact with our world. The ability to interact, learn, and observe people and physical objects is a giant leap forward. Unfortunately, culture is one of the main factors for resistance.

 

Internet of thing Theory and IoT security

Due to IoT’s immaturity, concerns about its security and privacy are raised. The Internet of Things Security Foundation started in 2015 in response to these concerns. Security is often an afterthought because there is such a rush to market with these new devices.

This leaves holes and gaps for cyber-criminals to exploit. It’s not just cyber-criminals that can access information and data; it’s so easy to access personal information nowadays. This explains the rise in people utilizing Proxies to protect their identity and allow for some privacy while protecting against hackers and those wanting to obtain personal data. The IoT would benefit from this proxy service.

A recent article on the register claims that a Wi-Fi baby heart monitor may have the worst IoT security of 2016. All data between the sensor and base station is unencrypted, meaning an unauthenticated command over HTTP can compromise the system. Channels must be encrypted to overcome information and physical tampering.

 

Denial-of-sleep attacks

IoT also opens up a new type of DDoS attack called denial-of-sleep attacks that drain a device’s battery. Many of these devices are so simplistic in design that they don’t support sophisticated security approaches from a hardware and software perspective. Many IoT processors are not capable of supporting strong security and encryption.

IoT opens up the back door to potentially billions of unsecured devices used as a resource to amplify DDoS attacks. The Domain Name System ( DNS ) is an existing lightweight protocol that can address IoT security concerns. It can tightly couple the detection and remediation of DDoS tasks. In addition, analyzing DNS queries with machine-learning techniques predicts malicious activity.

 

Internet of Things Theory: How Does it Work?

IoT is a concept, not a new technology. It connects data so applications can derive results from viewing the analytics. However, it’s a complex environment and not a journey a single company can take. Partnerships must be formed to offer a total data center-to-edge solution for a complete end-to-end solution.

Sense & Communicate

To have something be part of the Internet of Things, we must follow a few steps. At a fundamental level, we have intelligent objects that can “sense and communicate.” These objects must then be able to interact and collaborate with other things on the Internet.

These things or smart objects comprise a physical entity and a digital function. The physicals include sensory capabilities to measure temperature, vibration, and pollution data.

Sensors transmit valuable data to an Internet of Things Platform. The central IoT platform integrates data from many heterogeneous devices and shares the analytics with various applications addressing use cases that solve specific issues. The actuators perform a specific task – opening a window or a lock, changing traffic lights, etc.

Data Flow & Network Connectivity

The type of device depicts the chosen network connectivity. We have two categories: wireless and Wired. For example, a hospital would connect to the control center with a wired connection ( Ethernet or Serial ), while other low-end devices might use a Low-Power, Short-Range network.

Low-power short-range networks are helpful for intelligent homes with point-to-point, star, and mesh topologies. Devices using this type of network range between tens and hundreds of meters. They require long battery life, medium density, and low bandwidth. The device type does depict the network. If you want the battery to last ten years, you need the correct type of network for that.

Fog computing

Machine learning and IoT go hand in hand. With the sheer scale of IoT devices, there is too much data for the human mind to crunch. This results in the analysis carried out on the fly between devices or distributed between gateways at the edge. Fog computing pushes processing and computation power down to the actual device.

This is useful if there are expensive satellite links and when it is cost-effective to keep computation power at the device level instead of sending it over network links to the control center.

It’s also helpful when network communications increase the battery consumption in the sensor node. As the IoT becomes more widely accepted and incorporated, we expect to see a greater demand for fog computing systems.

 

6LoWPAN

Gartner released a report stating over 20 billion devices will participate in the Internet of Things by 2020. A person may have up to 5,000 devices to interact with. This type of scale would not be possible without the adoption of IPv6 and 6LoWPAN. 6LoWPAN Range stands for Low-power Wireless Personal Area Networks. It enables small, low-powered, memory-constrained devices to connect and participate in IoT.

Its base topology has several mesh-type self-healing 6LoWPAN nodes connected to the Edge router for connectivity and integration to the Internet. The edge routers act as a bridge between the RF and Ethernet networks.

Summary: Internet of Things

In this digital age, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become an integral part of our lives. From smart homes to connected devices, IoT has revolutionized the way we interact with technology. In this blog post, we explored the various aspects of the Internet of Things and its impact on our daily lives.

Section 1: What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things refers to the network of interconnected devices and objects that can communicate and exchange data with each other. These devices, equipped with sensors and connectivity, can range from smartphones and wearables to household appliances and industrial machinery. The IoT enables seamless communication and automation, making our lives more convenient and efficient.

Section 2: Applications of the Internet of Things

The applications of IoT are vast and diverse. Smart homes, for instance, leverage IoT technology to control lighting, temperature, and security systems remotely. Healthcare systems are also benefiting from IoT, with wearable devices monitoring vital signs and transmitting real-time health data to healthcare professionals. Furthermore, industries are utilizing IoT to optimize production processes, track inventory, and enhance overall efficiency.

Section 3: Challenges and Concerns

While the Internet of Things offers numerous advantages, it also presents certain challenges and concerns. Security and privacy issues arise due to the vast amount of data being generated and transmitted by IoT devices. As more devices connect to the internet, the potential for cyber attacks and data breaches increases. Additionally, the sheer complexity of managing and securing a large-scale IoT network poses a significant challenge.

Section 4: The Future of IoT

As technology continues to advance, the Internet of Things is poised for even greater growth and innovation. With the advent of 5G networks, the connectivity and speed of IoT devices will vastly improve, opening up new possibilities. Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning with IoT promises smarter and more autonomous systems that can adapt to our needs.

Conclusion:

The Internet of Things has undoubtedly transformed the way we live and interact with our surroundings. From enhancing convenience and efficiency to driving innovation across industries, IoT has become an integral part of our digital ecosystem. However, as we embrace this connected future, it is crucial to address the challenges of security and privacy to ensure a safe and trustworthy IoT landscape.