1174  HTTP and Modern Protocols for IoT

1174.1 Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Understand HTTP Limitations: Explain why traditional HTTP is problematic for IoT
  • Avoid Common Pitfalls: Recognize and prevent frequent HTTP mistakes in IoT systems
  • Evaluate HTTP/2 and HTTP/3: Analyze modern HTTP protocols for IoT applications
  • Apply Best Practices: Implement proper connection management and error handling

1174.2 Module Overview

This module covers HTTP protocols for IoT applications, including common pitfalls to avoid and modern HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 improvements. The content has been organized into focused chapters for easier learning:

1174.2.1 Chapter Guide

Chapter Topics Covered Estimated Time
HTTP Pitfalls and Connection Management Polling battery drain, TLS overhead, real-time handling, WebSocket management, payload protection 15-20 min
HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 for IoT Multiplexing, HPACK compression, QUIC transport, 0-RTT resumption, protocol selection 15-20 min

Total Module Time: ~30-40 minutes

1174.3 Quick Navigation

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graph TB
    subgraph Module["HTTP for IoT Module"]
        Pitfalls["HTTP Pitfalls<br/>Connection Management"]
        Modern["HTTP/2 & HTTP/3<br/>Modern Protocols"]
    end

    subgraph Topics1["Pitfalls Coverage"]
        P1["Polling Battery Drain"]
        P2["TLS Handshake Overhead"]
        P3["Real-Time Event Handling"]
        P4["WebSocket Management"]
        P5["Payload Protection"]
    end

    subgraph Topics2["Modern HTTP Coverage"]
        M1["HTTP/2 Multiplexing"]
        M2["HPACK Compression"]
        M3["HTTP/3 QUIC"]
        M4["0-RTT Resumption"]
        M5["Protocol Selection"]
    end

    Pitfalls --> P1
    Pitfalls --> P2
    Pitfalls --> P3
    Pitfalls --> P4
    Pitfalls --> P5

    Modern --> M1
    Modern --> M2
    Modern --> M3
    Modern --> M4
    Modern --> M5

    Pitfalls --> Modern

    style Pitfalls fill:#E67E22,stroke:#D35400,color:#fff
    style Modern fill:#16A085,stroke:#16A085,color:#fff

Figure 1174.1: Module structure showing progression from pitfalls to modern solutions

1174.4 Start Learning

Recommended path: 1. Start with HTTP Pitfalls and Connection Management to understand common mistakes 2. Continue to HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 for IoT for modern solutions

For experienced developers: - Jump directly to HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 for IoT for protocol comparison

1174.5 Key Concepts Preview

1174.5.1 HTTP Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Polling Battery Drain: HTTP polling drains batteries 20-40x faster than MQTT
  • TLS Handshake Overhead: New connections add 400-600ms latency on cellular
  • Fixed Reconnection Intervals: Causes thundering herd problems
  • Missing Keep-Alive: 60-80% latency penalty without connection pooling
  • Unbounded Payloads: Can crash resource-constrained gateways

1174.5.2 Modern HTTP Solutions

Protocol Key Feature IoT Benefit
HTTP/2 Multiplexing 50x faster gateway uploads
HTTP/2 HPACK compression 90% header reduction
HTTP/3 QUIC 0-RTT 30-50% power savings
HTTP/3 Independent streams No head-of-line blocking
HTTP/3 Connection migration Mobile network handoff

1174.6 Prerequisites

Before diving into this module, you should be familiar with:

1174.7 What’s Next?

Begin with HTTP Pitfalls and Connection Management to understand common HTTP mistakes before exploring modern solutions.

After completing this module, continue to: - IoT API Design Best Practices for REST API design guidance - Real-Time Protocols for VoIP/RTP/SIP in IoT