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Platform Overview

The Pixel Platform (“PixelCore”) is a complete and tightly integrated software technology solution for IoT and IoT-related data management and for services connected to this data. The benefits of the platform include providing a cohesive view of data, bridging organizational silos for more collaborative and effective management, providing access governance and security throughout an enterprise, providing ease of vendor management, and providing simple access to applications.

Platform Architecture

PixelCore consists of several key architectural building blocks including database, connectivity, device management, data processing, organisation, and normalization, events and notifications, analytics, visualization and reporting, IoT developer tools, and external interfaces.

Data Feed: LoRaWAN and Others

The key data-feed technology focus for the PixelCore is for LoRaWAN-enabled devices (also referred to as sensors). PixelCore is supplied with over one-hundred device drivers which allow the user full control and easy management of such sensors deployed in the field. However, starting from version-3 (“V3”) of PixelCore, MQTT and HTTP technology-bridge components were introduced including support for other technologies. PixelCore then became broader product with multi-technology support.

Data Processing

PixelCore supports key data processing functionalities, namely, data storage, data organisation and data normalisation. The device management block includes a device drivre layer over one-hundred device drivers which deliver well-processed and structured data storage. PixelCore's Objects and Schemas (similar to the Object Oriented Programming Class and Class Instance concepts), facilitate data processing through well-defined data structures of sensors and other devices.

Remote Procedure Calls

In addition to normal IoT uplink data processing, the device drivers layer exposes on-demand functionality of IoT devices to the native as well as to the third-party platform applications. This includes, but limited to, device reconfiguration, triggering arbitrary functions like switch on and switch off, enable and disable and similar.

Native Apps and Customization

On one hand, PixelCore allows easy and instant access to IoT data coming from various sources and technologies and, on the other hand, it also provides the end-users with a full set of ready-to-use applications, namely, PixelAdmin, PixelMonitor and PixelBoard. These applications are designed to be function and feature rich but are generic enough to host multiple most typical IoT use-cases. The applications are built using an open framework approach and have all their business logic components exposed and available for modification ???to the user. This allows very easy and quick customization of the functionality if needed. At the same time, the list of built-in functions is very comprehensive and allows instant use of the solution out of the box.

GraphQL API

PixelCore supports the modern GraphQL API, which significantly simplifies the access to the Platform functionality and allows subscription to live data within the same framework.

Other Functions

In addition to its core functionality, PixelCore provides users with built-in group-based permissions management, generic-purpose notifications support (integrated with emails, SMS, WhatsApp via Twilio and Telegram), media files storage server and user management which can be shared across applications.

Deployment Types

PixelCore is made available as Cloud or On-premises (local) editions.

Features

  • Device Management: ensures the connected devices are working and interacting properly with the Platform.
  • Database: scalable storage of device data.
  • Device Drivers Layer: for device isolation and control.
  • Data Representation Layer: for unified IoT device data representation.
  • Schemas and Objects: for managing and insuring integrity of data structures.
  • Remote Procedure Calls: a mechanism to execute remote functions exposed by devices.
  • Notifications: including SMS, emails, Whatsapp, Telegram and others.
  • Historical Data Storage: for later retrieval and processing.
  • Users and user profiles: for user and access management
  • Media Server: general-purpose file server.
  • Apps: Admin, Monitor, Board for visualisation and other management.
  • Business Logic Dispatcher module: for event-worker handling.
  • LoRaWAN Network Server: for connecting sensors, gateways and end-user applications and ensuring reliable and secure data routing all along the LoRaWAN network.
  • Modern GraphQL API External interfaces: integrate with 3rd-party systems and the rest of the wider IT-ecosystem via built-in application programming interfaces, software development kits, and gateways.
  • Technology Bridges for supporting data feed over multiple communication technologies.
  • Additional Tools: allow IoT developers prototype, test and market the IoT use case creating platform ecosystem apps for visualising, managing and controlling connected devices.