IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine - November/December 2021 - 59

Figure 1. Abstract view of PIoT networks.
Figure 2. PIoT networks in a vicinity.
PERSONAL INTERNET OF THINGS
(PIoT)
The two categories of IoT devices (i.e., IoT in
Home and IoT on Person) that communicate in
the order of short range (i.e., a meter or a couple
of meters) between themselves and with an
external network via a local gateway are collectively
called the Personal IoT (PIoT) networks.
For example, a user with a smartphone or any
other IoT device sitting in the car gets connected
to the car creates a PIoT network. Thus, we
define the PIoT network as " A group ofconnected
devices focused mainly in homes and the immediate
proximity ofan individual. "
The recent technological advancement in
antenna technology, massive MIMO, and communication
on higher spectrum bands provides high
datarate wireless broadband, long- and shortrange
communications. This technological progression
has led to various applications related to
consumer goods. Nonetheless, when it comes to
extreme short-range communications, as in the
case of the PIoT network, the current mobile IoT
standards or 5G standards, in a broad sense, do
not support extreme short-range communication
capabilities. Therefore, the PIoT network demands
a framework that enables the seamless integration
of PIoT into the 5G ecosystem.
CREATING PIoT NETWORKS
IoT devices, mainly homes or around an individual's
vicinity such as home, car, and office creates
personal networks (see Figure 1). These
personal devices use different non-3GPP-based
technologies (such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave,
Infrared, and NFC) as a local gateway (see Figure 2).
In PIoT networks, each of the IoT devices or applicationmight
require different types of connectivity
November/December 2021
methods. For example, garage door openers use ZWave
or Zigbee and require a home base control
unit, whereas personal voice assistance might use
WLAN technologies and needs constant interaction
to a smartphone using cloud-based control.
Thus, the requirements for creating a PIoT network
vary considerably from device to device and
day-to-day operation. Furthermore, the communication
complexity and cost effectiveness are also
challenging. Consequently, the seamless integrationof
the PIoTdevicescommunicating over different
non-3GPP-based technologies into the 3GPPbased
network is crucial.
In PIoT, we broadly classify two potential
issues: 1) device to device within the PIoT network
and 2) interaction between PIoT devices and 3GPP
network. First, as the devices are neither fullymanaged
by the PIoT network nor by the 3GPP network,
setting up the PIoT network is difficult and
costly at times. Second, the IoT device connectivity
is somuch fragmented, as shown in Figure 2. To
summarize, this fragmentation confuses the user
and makes it difficult to take the mass adaptability
of consumer PIoT devices and provide seamless
connectivity. Current age technology such as
Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Edge Computing,
and Data Analysis will strengthen sustainable
and secure PIoTdeployment.
COMMUNICATION ASPECTS OF PIoT
The current 5G standards support both shortand
long-range communication; however, they do
not support very short-range communications and
consumer-based private networks (e.g., PIoT networks)
where a user can, in conjunction with an
operator (PLMN) can easily manage consumer IoT
devices.4 Thus, the support for PIoT in the 5G
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