February 2015
44
M2M C
ommunication
Machine-to-Machine
communication knows no limits
By Alexander Bufalino,
Telit
and Rainer Rothmund,
CEP
Ten years ago, Machine-to-Machine
(M2M) communication was still
a niche topic. Today, it is regarded
as the key technology of a networked,
mobile future. Typical applications
include real-time monitoring and
control that takes into account a raft
of different requirements.
M2M technology allows wireless, automatic
communication between devices, between
vehicles or systems and service centers, but
also between individuals or vehicles and
devices. When implementing an M2M solu-
tion, a wide variety of modules and services
need to be taken into account, including hard-
ware components and mobile radio networks,
as well as system integration and consultancy
services.
Essentially, M2M solutions build on three
central components: at the heart of every
M2M application is a communications mod-
ule, and with it an embedded system which,
as the central communications interface, also
contains the sensors for recording measure-
ment values. Added to this is a component
that allows sensor values to be transmitted,
via radio signal for example, to a central point.
This evaluation system completes an M2M
solution. It receives and checks the values for
range violations, for instance in the context
of an application logic, alerting any down-
stream systems and managing the terminal
devices. These modules allow applications to
be created for real-time monitoring and con-
trol that enable companies to increase their
efficiency, reduce costs and offer better ser-
vice. For the transfer of data via mobile radio,
the communications modules are equipped
with a SIM card. This card is used to identify
the device on the network, in a similar way
to the SIM cards familiar from cell phones
and smart phones and other mobile devices.
The SIM chip used in M2M applications is
specifically designed to deliver a long ser-
vice life and be capable of operation even in
harsh conditions and during extreme fluctu-
ations in temperature. An important feature
for companies that want to implement an
M2M application: communications mod-
ules should support the entire bandwidth
of mobile radio technologies, starting with
GSM/GPRS via EDGE and UMTS/WEDGE/
HSDPA/HSPA all the way through to CDMA
and LTE. This gives users access to global
and demand-specific deployment.
The demands on M2M solutions can be
explained using specific products by way of
example, such as those offered by CEP AG in
Oberhaching, near Munich, a company that
acts as a center of expertise for implementing
M2M applications. One of these products is
the HT910 UMTS terminal from CEP. In view
of its technical design and interface options, it
offers a highly flexible range of possible uses,
can be used globally in the penta-band ver-
sion (HT910 G), and is specifically targeted
at systems integrators connecting the termi-
nal to their system environment. During the
upload, it supports HSPA+ upload data rates
of up to 5.76 Mbps and a HSPA+ download
data rate of up to 21 Mbps. The fast uplink
speed is ideal for areas of application that
require large volumes of data to be sent, such
as with digital signage applications. The termi-
nal supports a voltage range from 5 to 32 volts
DC and can be supplied with power in a USB
host-powered version directly via the USB
interface. This means that no separate power
pack is needed, offering truly flexible possi-
bilities for use. The HT910 supports also an
ultra-low power mode, drawing ~11mA when
no active data transmission is required. Appli-
cations for this feature include solar energy or
battery-powered equipment with online pay-
ment transactions or road traffic panels.
The data terminal features both a USB 2.0 and
a RS232 interface. Systems integrators are able
to use USB drivers for popular operating sys-
tems such as Win CE, Linux and Windows
(2000, XP, Vista, 7) so that the terminal can
be integrated quickly and easily into existing
application landscapes. It is also possible to
custom-program the terminal using Python
scripts. At the heart of the terminal is the small
(28.2x28.2x2.2mm) and compact HT910
M2M module from Telit, one of the leading
suppliers of M2M modules, in the land grid
array (LGA) form factor. Compared to the
previous ball grid array (BGA) form factor,
the modules can now be integrated even more
easily into an extensive range of solutions. As
Figure 1. The HT-910 termi-
nal features a particularly fast
upload speed and is suited for
areas of application that require
the sending of large volumes of
data, such as video surveillance.
(Source: CEP AG)
