Internet of Things Patterns
This is an excerpt of the pattern that was first published in [1].

Always-On Device

Icon of the Always-On Device pattern

Some devices have to be available and responsive at all times. If the energy supply allows it, leave the device running and connected at all times.

Context:

You have a Mains-Powered Device or a device that has plenty of energy available, even though it is a Period Energy-Limited Device, Lifetime Energy-Limited Device, or Energy-Harvesting Device.

Problem:

You have a device with an inexhaustible energy supply and need to have it available and responsive at all times.

Forces:

  • Energy Savings: Saving energy is not the top priority in your situation.

  • Reachability: The device has to be online and reachable all the time.

  • Reactivity: The device has to react to commands instantly.

  • Functionality: All of the device’s functionality has to be available all the time.

Solution:

Let the device be always on so that it is permanently connected to the network and in a state where it can receive and execute commands as soon as they arrive.

Solution sketch of the Always-On Device pattern

Solution Details:

This is an excerpt of a previously published pattern. The full pattern can be found in [1].


Benefits:
Drawbacks:

Variants:

Related Patterns:

Known Uses:

  1. L. Reinfurt, U. Breitenbücher, M. Falkenthal, F. Leymann, and A. Riegg, “Internet of Things Patterns for Devices: Powering, Operating, and Sensing,” International Journal on Advances in Internet Technology, vol. 10, no. 3 & 4, pp. 106–123, 2017. Available at http://www.iariajournals.org/internet_technology/inttech_v10_n34_2017_paged.pdf