SBCs (Single Board Computers): Designed as standalone, small-form-factor computers. They often include:

Display Interfaces: HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.

Input Connections: USB for keyboards, mice, etc.

General Purpose Functionality: Can run a full operating system for wider applications.

Controller Boards: Focus on controlling specific hardware or systems.

Limited direct I/O: Limited connectors for displays/input devices.

Specialized tasks: Designed for embedded applications within larger systems.

References

SBC Examples: https://www.raspberrypi.org/ , https://www.beagleboard.org/

Controller Board Examples: https://www.arduino.cc/

Purpose of POC: A proof-of-concept (POC) validates the feasibility and potential value of a solution within its intended operational environment.

Scaling: POCs are small-scale, allowing for quicker and less costly testing before committing to a full-scale deployment.

Real-world Evaluation: Unlike manufacturer demos, a POC exposes the system to the unique variables (e.g., interference, usage patterns) present in the user's specific setting.

KPI alignment: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) define success metrics for the wireless IoT solution (e.g., uptime, device responsiveness, data accuracy). Continuous monitoring tracks performance against these KPIs.

Meeting Business Needs: Monitoring ensures the solution delivers the intended value. Are response times fast enough? Are business processes supported effectively?

Proactive maintenance: Monitoring can reveal performance issues before they become critical failures, allowing for proactive fixes.

Optimization: Monitoring data over time helps identify areas for fine-tuning the solution to further align with business requirements.

References

Wireless IoT monitoring tools: Vendor documentation or articles on specific tools and the KPIs they can track.

ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library): Frameworks emphasizing monitoring and continuous improvement.

RFID for Livestock: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are the most widely used technology for livestock tracking and individual identification on large farms.

Benefits:

Unique ID: Each RFID tag has a unique code.

Data Storage: Some tags store information about the animal.

Durability: Tags withstand outdoor conditions.

Automated Reading: Tags can be scanned quickly.

References

RFID (General): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-frequency_identification

Mesh Connectivity Depends on Signal: Mesh nodes relay data for each other. Weak signal strength between nodes can disrupt connectivity throughout the network.

Troubleshooting Signal Issues: Physically relocating affected nodes can improve their ability to form stable connections with other nodes in the mesh.

Why Other Options May Not Help:

Separate Mesh: Splits the network, not solving the root connectivity issue

Output Power: May help marginally, but significant improvement is typically achieved through repositioning.

Security Settings: Unlikely to cause connectivity issues between properly configured nodes in the same mesh.

LoRa Modulation: LoRa (Long Range) is a proprietary wireless technology that utilizes Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) modulation.

CSS Characteristics:

Spread spectrum technique for resilience against interference.

Chirps (frequency sweeps) enable operation below the noise floor for long range.

References

LoRa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa

Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirp_spread_spectrum

JSON Fundamentals: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a text-based format for representing data in a structured, yet flexible way. Its key features are:

Key-Value Pairs: Information is organized as "key":"value" pairs, making it human-readable.

Plaintext: JSON is not encrypted, ensuring easy parsing across different systems.

JSON vs. Other Options

Not Encrypted: Security must be handled at a higher layer if needed.

Not Optimized for Databases: While JSON can be stored in databases, it's designed for data exchange, not database structure.

Not Inherently Compressed: Compression can be used with JSON, but it's not a core feature.