Linley IOT – Focus on Security
June 2015 – The Linley group held their first event focusing on IOT and the issues and breakthroughs in the technology and the market. The three topics addressed by the conferne were processor design for IOT applications, security at the IP and product level and finally the key to battery operated mobile design energy efficiency.
The lead session was on processor design. The session featured papers by CEVA, GlobalFoundries and Synopsys. The Global Foundries group focused on the use of FD-SOI as a substrate material to create low power processors that can operate at extended battery life and as a platform for high performance RF. Synposys had their ARC processor group presented on the tradeoffs between full microprocessors with an RTOS (Real Time Operating System) and Ethernet connectivity vs using a microcontroller that is basically a baremetal device supported by embedded flash or NVNOR memory. The device tradeoff has to do with battery use, and if the interface is touch and button control or if it via a voice interface.
The lunch speaker was from startup IOT device maker Petzilla. Thier device is a remote AV unit that captures the action ofyour per and allows you to communicate with it. As an additional response action, the device can dispense water and treats . The device has integrated networking and a social media link so the videos and stills can be remotely posted. The device UI and social media aspects were as important to the design as were the electrical components chosen.
Inside Secure IOT Solution
Following the keynote the conference focused on security starting with the IP and device design up to the system. Inside Secure, Freescale, and Synopsys all spoke about data security and operational security of the devices that needs to be embedded at the architectural level. Inside Secure and Freescale also spoke of other security measures besides data encryption that are available and necessary in some applications.
The last session was on energy efficiency and battery usage for mobile IOT devices. Synopsys, Cadence and Arteris all spoke on design methods for extending battery life, lowering device leakage, and minimizing standby and minimum operating state power.
The conference was well attended with most of the attendees looking to gain insight on the key technology tradeoff issues for custom IOT cores and standard product platforms
