IoT Platform Product Architecture on Google Cloud
The IoT platform product architecture on Google Cloud provides a unified interface for managing a diverse range of devices. It offers essential features such as MQTT and HTTPS data connectivity, device provisioning, authentication, and management, along with telemetry storage and visualization, data processing, and alerting capabilities.
In terms of ingestion endpoints, most commercial IoT platforms include an MQTT endpoint and often an HTTPS endpoint for data ingestion. The MQTT endpoint can be implemented in different ways, with some platforms using a connector between MQTT and another message service, while others provide a full MQTT broker. HTTPS is a common alternative protocol with wider support on mobile devices and web browsers.
Load balancing is an important consideration, and the same principles apply as in the Standalone MQTT broker architecture on Google Cloud. Device authentication and credential management are crucial, with various authentication methods available, including X.509 client certificate authentication, JWT token-based authentication, and username and password authentication.
Connected devices typically publish telemetry events and state information to the platform through ingestion endpoints. An IoT platform with capabilities like software and system updates, configuration updates, credential creation and management, and a rules engine and data processing is recommended.
Backend workloads can be managed using the platform's internal data storage and transport capabilities, with options like AMQP, RabbitMQ, Kafka, and an integrated database system. In cases where the platform has a complete MQTT broker, backend applications can communicate with devices via MQTT.
Use cases where an IoT platform is a better choice than a standalone MQTT broker or direct connection to Pub/Sub include smart appliance management and logistics and asset tracking. In smart appliance management, the platform's capabilities are essential for monitoring device state, managing updates, and capturing activity. In logistics and asset tracking, the full-featured device management is crucial for monitoring asset state and location, and ingesting and analyzing sensor data.
Overall, the IoT platform product architecture on Google Cloud offers a comprehensive solution for managing and processing data from connected devices in various applications.
