To level access and expand flexibility of monitor and control capabilities, the future of device technology is moving towards M2M (machine-to-machine, machine-to-mobile or mobile-to-machine) communications in enterprise applications. Common devices will advance to the point where they will recognize each other’s presence and role, and comply with end-user instructions, facilitating green building initiatives and enhancing operations. This in turn will enable remote access any time.

“Intelligent Enterprise Platform -- Connecting Devices to the Enterprise” is a white paper recently published by Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert), exploring the immense potential of the M2M platform. Implementation of this concept is reviewed including the ability to provide long-term cost savings in energy, maintenance and operations as well as improved comfort and productivity and real-time monitoring and reporting.

In a release, Frost & Sullivan senior industry analyst Jorge Moreno said, “It [M2M device technology application] must meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations of technology innovation. Tridium's enterprise platforms facilitate this convergence of IT (information technology) enterprise with building systems and other business assets. This converged communication solution complies with a building's original design and is future-adaptable to anticipate and respond to new technologies, process changes, and smooth system evolution.”

Open and interoperable systems supporting IT-friendly solutions for systems management are some of the underlying technology that makes M2M communications successful. This allows adding devices to the M2M control system or keeping it as it is making the implementation process more flexible to meet end-user needs as well as preferences.

A unified platform and easy data access through the Internet facilitating real-time information sharing is required to conduct operations, in order to create a smart interconnected network. Interoperability as well as integration between building infrastructures is simplified to maximize efficiency and cost savings. A fundamental role is played by wireless sensors.

Moreno also said, “The essence of a smart energy infrastructure is made up of millions of smart, connected devices such as sensors. Buildings, in general, could be outfitted with tens of thousands of small sensors, some Web-enabled, tied into a central computer for information gathering and control. Enterprise applications are exploiting the existing IT infrastructure to integrate these sensors, devices and systems which enables remote access, management and distributed control.”