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Machine Type
Communications (MTC or M2M) is expanding rapidly and has the potential
to generate significant revenues for mobile network operators. MTC
Devices are expected to outnumber voice subscribers by at least two
orders of magnitude. Some predictions are much higher. (Ref.
3GPP TS 22.368,
§7.1.4.) MTC enables machines to communicate directly with one another.
M2M communication has the potential to radically change the world around
us and the way that people interact with machines.
Currently deployed MTC
solutions are proprietary due to the absence of standards. Applications
driven by regulation are driving standards and”The
Internet of Things”
is expected to build on these standards.
Ubiquitous Sensor
Networks, an application of MTC, is an example of MTC addressed in
overview standards such as ITU-T Recommendation
Rec. Y.2221.
Use cases and scenarios are covered in this Recommendation as well as in
3GPP TS 22.368
mentioned above. An
ETSI M2M Workshop
in October 2010 provided current perspectives on standardization as well
as a number of interesting use cases.
There are
essential
differences between people and machines.
Machines are excellent
at routine and well-defined tasks that require a constant level of
attention; people get bored by repetition and stop paying attention,
make mistakes, miss inputs. People are very good at tasks that require
intelligence and adaptability; machines cannot cope with events outside
their programming. Machines can react to inputs very quickly; human
responses are slower.
As technology evolves,
there are
important changes in capabilities and costs.
More computing power,
memory and communication capabilities make it
possible
for machines to take over tasks presently done by, but not well suited
to human beings. Lower costs make it
practical
for machines to take over tasks not well suited to expensive human
beings. Increasing capabilities and lower costs together
open new opportunities
for revenue
generating services not previously economical to do.
The increasing
capability of machines makes it possible to avoid dull and repetitious
work having to be done by people, freeing them to utilize their
capabilities and intelligence in better suited and much more fruitful
activities.
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