1329  Edge Data Acquisition

1329.1 Overview

Edge data acquisition is the process of collecting, processing, and transmitting sensor data at the network periphery - where physical devices meet the digital infrastructure. This section covers the fundamental concepts and techniques for efficient data collection at the IoT edge.

NoteKey Principle

Collect raw data at the edge, but only transmit what’s needed - 90% of IoT data is never analyzed. Edge processing reduces latency, saves bandwidth, extends battery life, and protects privacy.

1329.2 Chapter Contents

This topic is organized into three focused chapters:

1329.2.1 1. Architecture and Device Types

Understanding the foundation of edge data acquisition:

  • IoT Device Categories: Big Things, Small IP Things, and Non-IP Things
  • Connectivity Paths: Direct connection vs. gateway-mediated access
  • Data Generation Patterns: How different device types produce vastly different data volumes
  • Power Budget Framework: Decision tree for selecting acquisition strategies

Key takeaway: Match your acquisition strategy to device capabilities - cameras need compression, temperature sensors need aggregation, non-IP devices need protocol translation.

1329.2.2 2. Sampling and Compression

Technical foundations for efficient data handling:

  • Nyquist Theorem: Calculate appropriate sampling rates to avoid aliasing
  • Data Reduction Techniques: Aggregation, compression, event-based reporting, delta encoding
  • Compression Algorithms: Lossless (GZIP), lossy statistical (window aggregation), FFT-based, and semantic compression
  • Algorithm Selection: Decision tree for choosing compression based on analytics requirements

Key takeaway: Apply the 90% rule - aggregate “normal” readings locally, transmit only summaries and anomalies. This extends battery life from days to years.

1329.2.3 3. Power Management and Gateways

Practical constraints and integration:

  • Duty Cycling: Formulas for calculating battery life based on active/transmit/sleep patterns
  • Power Optimization: How to achieve 5x battery life improvement through optimized duty cycles
  • Gateway Functions: Protocol translation, store-and-forward buffering, security
  • Missing Data Handling: Imputation strategies and health monitoring

Key takeaway: Transmission dominates power budget - batch data and maximize sleep time to extend battery life from months to years.

1329.3 Learning Path

If you want to… Start with…
Understand device categories and architecture Architecture and Device Types
Learn sampling rates and compression algorithms Sampling and Compression
Calculate battery life and understand gateways Power Management and Gateways
Quick reference for a specific topic Use the chapter links above

1329.4 Prerequisites

Before starting this section, you should be familiar with:

1329.5 What’s Next

After completing this section, continue to: