Nama: Arif Rahman Hartiyan
Nim: 2341160037
Kelas: JTD 2A
Article Title: Implementation of True IoT Vision: Survey on Enabling Protocols and Hands-
On Experience
Authors: Pavel Masek et al.
Source: International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, 2016
1. Introduction and Background
The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized how devices interact
and communicate with each other, providing new levels of automation and connectivity. With
millions of devices being interconnected, there is an increasing need for efficient
communication protocols that can handle high data volumes and maintain low latency. MQTT
(Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) has emerged as one of the most widely used
protocols for IoT applications, particularly in scenarios where bandwidth and energy
efficiency are critical.
In this article, Masek et al. (2016) explore the role of MQTT in IoT and examine how it
contributes to achieving the vision of seamless and efficient communication in the IoT
ecosystem. MQTT operates primarily at the application layer, making it a versatile protocol
for real-time data transmission across various IoT applications.
2. MQTT Protocol and Its Applications in IoT
MQTT is designed for lightweight communication, making it suitable for low-bandwidth,
high-latency, and resource-constrained environments. The protocol operates on a
publish/subscribe model, where the sender (publisher) and receiver (subscriber) do not need
to be directly connected, but instead communicate through an intermediary called the MQTT
broker.
In the context of IoT, MQTT has found applications in a variety of industries. For instance, it
is widely used in smart homes, where sensors (e.g., temperature or motion sensors) send real-
time data to a central server or cloud platform. In agriculture, MQTT facilitates
communication between environmental sensors and control systems to manage irrigation,
temperature, and soil conditions.
Masek et al. (2016) further highlight the implementation of MQTT in smart city projects in
Europe. Sensors placed throughout urban environments (e.g., air quality monitors, traffic
sensors) transmit data to a central control unit via MQTT brokers, allowing for real-time
monitoring and decision-making.
3. MQTT Architecture and Working Mechanism
MQTT follows a publish/subscribe architecture, which provides flexibility and scalability.
The architecture involves three key components:
• Publisher: Devices that produce data, such as temperature sensors or smart
appliances.
• Broker: An intermediary that manages and forwards messages between publishers
and subscribers.
• Subscriber: Devices or applications that receive data based on specific topics they are
subscribed to.
For example, a temperature sensor in a room might send its data under the topic
building/room1/temperature. Any subscriber interested in this topic (e.g., a climate
control system) will receive the data, without requiring the publisher and subscriber to be
directly aware of each other.
MQTT supports three Quality of Service (QoS) levels:
• QoS 0: Messages are delivered once, with no acknowledgment.
• QoS 1: Messages are delivered at least once, with acknowledgment.
• QoS 2: Messages are delivered exactly once, ensuring no duplicates.
4. Evaluation and Performance Testing of MQTT
Masek et al. (2016) performed extensive testing of MQTT in simulated and real-world
environments. The results of these tests revealed that MQTT is highly efficient in terms of
both latency and bandwidth consumption. Specifically, the protocol exhibited low latency
(below 100ms) even when handling large numbers of devices, and it minimized network
traffic (less than 1KB per message).
In stress tests, MQTT maintained stable performance even with up to 1000 connected devices.
This is particularly important for IoT systems with numerous connected sensors or devices.
Furthermore, the protocol was shown to have a minimal impact on CPU and memory usage,
making it highly suitable for embedded devices with limited resources.
5. Security Considerations in MQTT
One of the key limitations of MQTT is its lack of native security features. Although it
provides efficient data transmission, it does not offer mechanisms for securing the
communication channels. To ensure data integrity and privacy, additional security layers such
as SSL/TLS encryption and user authentication are required.
Masek et al. (2016) emphasize that securing MQTT communication is crucial in IoT
deployments that involve sensitive data. Using SSL/TLS ensures that the communication
between devices and brokers is encrypted, preventing unauthorized access and data breaches.
Additionally, authentication mechanisms such as username/password or token-based systems
can be implemented to ensure that only authorized devices can publish or subscribe to topics.
6. Advantages and Challenges of MQTT
Advantages:
• Efficient and low-bandwidth communication
• Suitable for real-time and mobile applications
• Scalable and flexible, especially in large networks of devices
• Easy to implement and integrate into various IoT ecosystems
Challenges:
• Lack of built-in security features
• Dependence on a central broker, creating a potential single point of failure
• No native support for multicasting, which limits certain types of communication in
large-scale systems
7. Conclusion
MQTT remains a highly effective communication protocol for IoT applications, particularly
where efficiency, scalability, and low bandwidth are critical. However, it is essential that
security measures are implemented alongside MQTT to address potential vulnerabilities. The
combination of MQTT with encryption protocols and authentication mechanisms can help
create a robust and secure IoT communication infrastructure.
