IoE registration server

The IoE Things can directly register on a Home Gateway or on a Server device configured with the IoE service.

The Home Gateway provides 4 ethernet ports as well as a wireless access point configured with the "HomeGateway" ssid on channel 6. WEP / WPA-PSK / WPA2 enterprise can be configured to secure wireless connections. The picture below shows 4 IOE Things attached to a Home Gateway The Home Gateway is connected to the Internet through it's Internet WAN ethernet port.

The IoE Things can be remotely managed through a web interface hosted by the Home Gateway. The Home Gateway internal (LAN) IP address is 192.168.25.1 but it can also be accessed through it's Internet facing IP address (not configured in this lab, configuration done with a wifi connected laptop). The following screenshot displays the status of the 4 IOE Thngs connected to the gateway.

Home Gateway login (web) : admin
Home Gateway password : admin

IoT Things status in Home Gateway web interface

IoE components in Packet Tracer 8.2

Connecting IoE components

As they don't have ethernet interface, IoE components can't be directly connected to the Home Gateway. These smaller sensors or actuators are connected to a microcontrollers (MCU-PT) card. The MCU-PT is connected to the gateway which only sees the microcontroller board but not the IoE components. The Home Gateway relies on the remote control API eventually programmed on the MCU-PT to get the sensor's status.

Packet Tracer 7 - MCU board connected to Home Gateway

Real world MCU are for example Arduino boards like the Arduino Yún Shield

No IoT device status returned by the MCU-PT

Programming IoE components

An IoE programming editor is included in the Home Gateway web interface. It allows Javascript or Python programming of the MCU-PT microcontroller. Code is programmed through the web interface and then published to the MCU board. The following sample code makes the led connected to the digital0 port blink.

function setup() {
	pinMode(1, OUTPUT);
	Serial.println("Blinking");
}

function loop() {
	digitalWrite(0, HIGH);
	delay(1000);
	digitalWrite(0, LOW);
	delay(500);
}

Packet Tracer 7 IoT javascript sample program

As you can see on the screenshot below, Packet Tracer 8.0 emulates Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) for IoT objects programming.

Arduino IDE - IoT led blinking script

Things interacting with Packet Tracer 8.2 simulated environment

Packet Tracer features a dynamic environent management (temperature, gas, pressure, light, ...) to make IoT device simulation more realistic. Many devices or Things affect or respond to the environment in Packet Tracer : a Fire Sprinkler will raise the water level and humidity in a container, an old car will increase various gases and ambient temperature when turned on, a smoke detector can be used to trigger an alarm when the smoke in environment increases to a certain point...

The table below lists all the things available in Packet Tracer 8.1.1 and their behaviors with respect to the simulated environment :

Thing Icon Environment Behavior
ATM Pressure Sensor Atmospheric Pressure Sensor Icon Detects the Atmospheric Pressure and displays it.

The default detection range is from 0 to 110 kPa.

 

Carbon Dioxide Detector Carbon Dioxide Detector Icon Detects Carbon Dioxide.
Carbon Monoxide Detector Carbon Monoxide Detector Icon Detects Carbon Monoxide.
Door Door Icon Affects Argon, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, Nitrogen, O2, Ozone, Propane, and Smoke. When the door is opened, those gases will decrease to a maximum of 2% in total change.

When the door is opened, the rate of transference for Humidity and Temperature is increased by 25%. The rate of transference for gases is increased by 100%.
Fan Fan Icon Affects Wind Speed, Humidity, and Ambient Temperature.

At Low Speed Setting, the Wind Speed is set to 0.4 kph. The rate of cooling the Ambient Temperature is set to -1C/hour. The rate of reducing the Humidity is set to -1% per hour.

At High Speed Setting, the Wind Speed is set to 0.8 kph. The rates of change for Ambient Temperature and Humidity is two times of the low setting.
Fire Sprinkler,
Ceiling Sprinkler
Fire Sprinkler Icon
Ceiling Sprinkler Icon
Affects Water Level at a rate of 0.1 cm per second.

Affects Humidity at a rate of 5% per hour.
Garage Door Garage Door Icon Affects Argon, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, Nitrogen, O2, Ozone, Propane, and Smoke. When the door is opened, those gases will decrease to a maximum of 4% in total change.

When the door is opened, the rate of transference for Humidity and Temperature is increased by 50%. The rate of transference for gases is increased by 100%.
Home Speaker,
Speaker
Home Speaker Icon
Speaker Icon
Affects Sound Volume at 65 dB.

Affects Sound Pitch at 20 CPS to 60 CPS.

Affects White Noise at 20%.
Humidifier Humidifier Icon Affects Humidity at a rate of 1% per hour.
Humidity Sensor Humidity Sensor Icon Detects Humidity.
Humiture Monitor,
Humiture Sensor
Humiture Monitor Icon
Humiture Sensor Icon
Detects Ambient Temperature and Humidity and outputs the value as a sum of the Ambient Temperature and Humidity divided by 2.
Lawn Sprinkler,
Floor Sprinkler
Lawn Sprinkler Icon
Floor Sprinkler Icon
Affects Water Level at a rate of 0.1 cm per second.

Affects Humidity at a rate of 5% per hour.
LED LED Icon Affects Visible Light with a maximum output of 1%.
Light Light Icon Affects Visible Light with a maximum output of 20%.
Old Car Old Car Icon Affects Carbon Monoxide at a rate of 1% per hour.

Affects Carbon Dioxide at a rate of 2% per hour.

Affects Smoke at a rate of 3% per hour.

Affects Ambient Temperature at a rate of 1% per hour.
Photo Sensor Photo Sensor Icon Detects Visible Light.
Piezo Speaker Piezo Speaker Icon Affects Sound Volume at 10 dB.

Affects Sound Pitch 20 CPS.
RGB LED RGB LED Icon Affects Visible Light with a maximum output of 2%.
Smart LED,
Dimmable LED
Smart LED Icon
Dimmable LED Icon
Affects Visible Light with a maximum output of 3%.
Smoke Detector,
Smoke Sensor
Smoke Detector Icon
Smoke Sensor Icon
Detects Smoke.
Solar Panel Solar Panel Icon Detects Sunlight to generate electricity.
Temperature Monitor Temperature Monitor Icon Detects Ambient Temperature.
Temperature Sensor Temperature Sensor Icon Detects Ambient Temperature.
Water Level Monitor,
Water Detector
Water Level Monitor Icon
Water Level Sensor Icon
Detects Water Level.
Wind Sensor Wind Sensor Icon Detects Wind Speed.
Wind Turbine Wind Turbine Icon Detects Wind Speed to generate electricity.
Window Window Icon Affects Argon, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, Helium, Methane, Nitrogen, O2, Ozone, Propane, and Smoke. When the door is opened, those gases will decrease to a maximum of 1% in total change.

When the door is opened, the rate of transference for Humidity and Temperature is increased by 20%. The rate of transference for gases is increased by 100%.
Drain Actuator Water Drain Icon Affects Water Level at a rate of -0.5 cm per second.
Sound Frequency Detector Sound Frequency Icon Detects Sound Pitch and displays it.
Furnace,
Heating Element
Furnance Icon
Heating Element Icon
Affects Humidity at a rate of -2% per hour.

Affects Ambient Temperature at a rate of 10°C per hour.
AC,
Air Cooler
Air Conditioner Icon
Air Cooler Icon
Affects Humidity at a rate of -2% per hour.

Affects Ambient Temperature at a rate of -10°C per hour.