LTE Cellular Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT)

NB-IoT is the Internet of Things (IoT) technology used for cellular communication. NB-IoT devices deliver much better capability and performance, such as: increased area coverage of up to one kilometer; a massive number of devices—up to 200,000—per a single base-station area; longer battery lifetime of ten years; and better indoor and outdoor coverage for areas with weak signal, such as underground garages.

The cellular NB-IoT technology is a challenging technology to use and understand. With more than 30 projects presented in this book, covering many use cases and scenarios, this book provides hands-on and practical experience of how to use the cellular NB-IoT for smart applications using Arduino™, Amazon Cloud, Google Maps, and charts.

The book starts by explaining AT commands used to configure the NB-IoT modem; data serialization and deserialization; how to set up the cloud for connecting NB-IoT devices; setting up rules, policy, security certificates, and a NoSQL database on the cloud; how to store and read data in the cloud; how to use Google Maps to visualize NB-IoT device geo-location; and how to use charts to visualize sensor datasets.

Projects for Arduino are presented in four parts. The first part explains how to connect the device to the mobile operator and cellular network; perform communication using different network protocols, such as TCP, HTTP, SSL, or MQTT; how to use GPS for geo-location applications; and how to upgrade NB-IoT modem firmware over the air. The second part explains the microcontroller unit and how to build and run projects, such as a 7-segment display or a real-time clock. The third part explains how NB-IoT can be used with sensor devices, such as ultrasonic and environmental sensors. Finally, the fourth part explains how NB-IoT can be used to control actuators, such as stepper motors and relays.

This book is a unique resource for understanding practical uses of the NB-IoT technology and serves as a handbook for technical and non-technical readers who are looking for practicing and exercising the cellular NB-IoT technology. The book can be used by engineers, students, researchers, system integrators, mobile operators’ technical staff, and electronics enthusiasts.

To download the software which can be used with the book, go to:

https://github.com/5ghub/NB-IoT

Hossam Fattah is a technology expert in 4G/5G wireless systems and networking. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada in 2003. He received his Master of Applied Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada in 2000. He completed his B.Sc. degree in Computers and Systems Engineering from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt in 1995. Between 2003 and 2011, he was in academia and industry, including Texas A&M University. Between 2011 and 2013, he was with Spirent Communications, NJ, USA. Since 2013, he has been with Microsoft, USA. He is also an affiliate associate professor at University of Washington, Tacoma, WA, USA, teaching graduate courses on IoT and distributed systems and collaborating on 5G research and innovations. He has had many patents and technical publications in conferences and journals. He is a registered professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers, British Columbia, Canada. He is the author of the recent book 5G LTE Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT). His research interest is in wireless communications and radio networks and protocols, cellular quality of service, radio resource management, traffic and packet scheduling, network analytics, and mobility.