Lightweight IoT information model
A lightweight and extensible information model for machine-to-machine systems is disclosed. A service layer information management architecture uses three categories of atomic objects, subjects, actions, and descriptions. Information for use within the model is built using the atomic information objects. Application programming interfaces are used to perform operations and information processing by different nodes. Common service functions are used in the model as instances of a generic common service information model.
1. A first network apparatus implementing a first machine-to-machine common service layer entity in a communication network, the first network apparatus comprising:
a memory comprising executable instructions; and
a processor that, when executing the executable instructions, effectuates operations comprising:
receiving, from a second network apparatus via the communication network, a RESTful request to create at least one application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object, wherein the request comprises:
at least one common service layer information model object description, wherein the at least one common service layer information model object description is application-specific and is defined by a first entity executing on the second network apparatus; and
wherein the at least one common service layer information model object consists of a description of a uniquely addressable resource that may be transferred between the first network apparatus, the second network apparatus and other entities implemented on other network apparatuses connected to the network; and
wherein the description consists of one or more characteristics, states, statuses, or any other attributes of the common service layer information object; and
creating the at least one application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object based on the at least one common service layer information model object description received from the second network apparatus;
wherein the application-specific instance of an common service layer information model object is discoverable and accessible via RESTful requests issued by other entities implemented on other network apparatuses connected to the network,
wherein the request to create the application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object further comprises one or more object creation rules, and
wherein creating the at least one application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object comprises creating the at least one application-specific instance of the common service layer information model object in accordance with the one or more object creation rules.
2. The first network apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise restricting use of the at least one application-specific instance by only the first entity executing on the second network apparatus.
3. The first network apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a response to the second network apparatus via the communication network comprising a confirmation of the creation of the at least one application-specific object instance.
4. The first network apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a response to the second network apparatus via the communication network comprising an identifier for the at least one application-specific object instance.
5. The first network apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise transmitting a response to the second network apparatus via the communication network comprising an attribute that identifies a type of the at least one application-specific object instance.
6. The first network apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise advertising, via the communication network, the at least one application-specific object instance to another network apparatus implementing a second machine-to-machine common service layer entity.
7. The first network apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise sending to the another network apparatus the at least one application-specific object instance in response to a retrieve message received from the second machine-to-machine common service layer entity.
8. The first network apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first entity executing on the second network apparatus comprises a first application executing on the second network apparatus.
9. In a first network apparatus implementing a first machine-to-machine common service layer entity in a communication network, a method comprising:
receiving, from a second network apparatus via the communication network, a RESTful request to create at least one application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object, wherein the request comprises:
at least one common service layer information model object description, wherein the at least one common service layer information model object description is application-specific and is defined by a first entity executing on the second network apparatus; and
wherein the at least one common service layer information model object consists of a description of a uniquely addressable resource that may be transferred between the first network apparatus, the second network apparatus and other entities implemented on other network apparatuses connected to the network; and
wherein the description consists of one or more characteristics, states, statuses, or any other attributes of the common service layer information object; and
creating the at least one application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object based on the at least one object description received from the second network apparatus;
wherein the application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object is discoverable by other entities implemented on other network apparatuses connected to the network,
wherein the request to create the application-specific instance of a common service layer information model object further comprises one or more object creation rules, and
wherein creating the at least one application-specific instance of a common service layer information mode object comprises creating the at least one application-specific instance of the common service layer information model object in accordance with the one or more object creation rules.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising restricting use of the at least one application-specific instance by only the first entity executing on the second network apparatus.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting a response to the second network apparatus via the communication network comprising a confirmation of the creation of the at least one application-specific object instance.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting a response to the second network apparatus via the communication network comprising an identifier for the at least one application-specific object instance.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting a response to the second network apparatus via the communication network comprising an attribute that identifies a type of the at least one application-specific object instance.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising advertising, via the communication network, the at least one application-specific object instance to another network apparatus implementing a second machine-to-machine common service layer entity.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising sending to the another network apparatus the at least one application-specific object instance in response to a retrieve message received from the second machine-to-machine common service layer entity.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first entity executing on the second network apparatus comprises a first application executing on the second network apparatus.