ISO/IEC 20924:2018
(Main)Internet of Things (IoT) - Vocabulary
Internet of Things (IoT) - Vocabulary
ISO/IEC 20924:2018(E) provides a definition of Internet of Things along with a set of terms and definitions forming a terminology foundation for the Internet of Things.
The electronic version of this International Standard can be downloaded from the ISO/IEC Information Technology Task Force (ITTF) website.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 06-Dec-2018
- Technical Committee
- ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 41 - Internet of Things and Digital Twin
- Drafting Committee
- WG 3 - ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 41/WG 3
- Current Stage
- DELPUB - Deleted Publication
- Start Date
- 16-Mar-2021
- Completion Date
- 31-Jan-2020
Relations
- Effective Date
- 05-Sep-2023
Overview
ISO/IEC 20924:2018, titled Internet of Things (IoT) – Vocabulary, is an internationally recognized standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that establishes clear definitions and terminology related to the Internet of Things. The standard provides a foundational vocabulary essential for consistent communication and understanding among professionals, researchers, and organizations involved in IoT technologies and applications.
This standard is vital for building a common language across the diverse stakeholders of the IoT ecosystem, including system designers, manufacturers, service providers, and users. By defining key terms such as IoT devices, gateways, entities, sensors, and trustworthiness, ISO/IEC 20924:2018 helps to reduce ambiguity, improve interoperability, and foster innovation within the IoT domain.
The electronic version is available from the ISO/IEC Information Technology Task Force (ITTF) website and is governed by strict copyright regulations to ensure authorized use and distribution.
Key Topics
ISO/IEC 20924:2018 covers a comprehensive set of terms divided into general and IoT-specific categories, providing clarity on fundamental concepts and IoT domain terminology:
General Terms
- Address: Identifies an endpoint as the source or destination of data.
- Architecture: Describes the fundamental design and relationships within a system.
- Asset: Physical or digital entity with value to individuals or organizations.
- Availability: Accessibility and usability of data or services by authorized entities.
- Interoperability: The ability of different systems or applications to exchange and use information.
- Service and Service Provider: Functional elements and organizations delivering distinct functionalities.
IoT Specific Terms
- Internet of Things (IoT): Infrastructure of interconnected entities, systems, and information resources processing data from physical and virtual worlds.
- IoT Device: Entities like sensors or actuators interacting with the physical environment.
- IoT Gateway: Facilitates connection between proximity networks and access networks.
- IoT System: An overarching system comprising devices, sensors, gateways, and actuators.
- IoT Trustworthiness: Encompasses security, privacy, safety, reliability, and resilience across the IoT lifecycle.
This standard also defines related concepts such as digital and physical entities, human and digital users, discovery services, identification contexts, and networks-each critical for a comprehensive understanding of IoT.
Applications
The ISO/IEC 20924:2018 vocabulary standard is crucial in a wide range of practical applications that rely on IoT technologies, including but not limited to:
- Smart Cities: Enabling consistent communication between sensors, actuators, and control systems to manage urban infrastructure effectively.
- Industrial Automation: Facilitating the integration of IoT devices and gateways with manufacturing systems for improved operational efficiency.
- Healthcare IoT: Supporting interoperable medical devices and digital health applications with clear terminology.
- Smart Homes: Aligning device interactions and services for enhanced user experience and security.
- Supply Chain and Asset Tracking: Standardizing terms related to tagging, identification, and tracking for transparent logistics management.
- Cloud-Integrated IoT Services: Defining cloud-related concepts such as cloud computing and cloud service providers within the IoT context.
By adopting ISO/IEC 20924:2018, organizations ensure a shared understanding that enables interoperability, compliance, and coordination across multidisciplinary IoT deployments.
Related Standards
ISO/IEC 20924:2018 aligns with and complements several other international standards and resources, including:
- ISO/IEC 30141 – Internet of Things (IoT) Reference Architecture: Provides architectural frameworks for IoT systems.
- ISO/IEC 27000-series – Security Techniques: Covers information security management systems critical for IoT trustworthiness.
- ISO/IEC 17788 & 17789 – Cloud Computing Vocabulary and Reference Architecture: Defines cloud paradigms integral to IoT cloud services.
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 – Architecture Description: Offers principles for system architecture useful in IoT system design.
- IEC Electropedia & ISO Online Browsing Platform: Terminology databases accessible for up-to-date technical vocabulary across related domains.
Adhering to these interconnected standards ensures comprehensive coverage of IoT terminology, architectural consistency, and secure system implementation.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 20924:2018, Internet of Things vocabulary, IoT terminology, IoT standard, IoT glossary, IoT devices, IoT systems, IoT trustworthiness, interoperability, IEC standards, ISO IoT standards, IoT definitions, IoT architecture, IoT security, IoT applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISO/IEC 20924:2018 is a standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Its full title is "Internet of Things (IoT) - Vocabulary". This standard covers: ISO/IEC 20924:2018(E) provides a definition of Internet of Things along with a set of terms and definitions forming a terminology foundation for the Internet of Things. The electronic version of this International Standard can be downloaded from the ISO/IEC Information Technology Task Force (ITTF) website.
ISO/IEC 20924:2018(E) provides a definition of Internet of Things along with a set of terms and definitions forming a terminology foundation for the Internet of Things. The electronic version of this International Standard can be downloaded from the ISO/IEC Information Technology Task Force (ITTF) website.
ISO/IEC 20924:2018 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 35.020 - Information technology (IT) in general. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
ISO/IEC 20924:2018 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to ISO/IEC 20924:2021. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
ISO/IEC 20924:2018 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
ISO/IEC 20924
Edition 1.0 2018-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Internet of things (IoT) – Vocabulary
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ISO/IEC 20924
Edition 1.0 2018-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Internet of things (IoT) – Vocabulary
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 35.020 ISBN 978-2-8322-6311-2
– 2 – ISO/IEC 20924:2018 © ISO/IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
3.1 General terms . 5
3.2 Internet of Things specific terms . 9
Bibliography . 11
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT) – VOCABULARY
FOREWORD
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International Standard ISO/IEC 20924 has been prepared by subcommittee 41: Internet of
Things and related technologies, of ISO/IEC joint technical committee 1: Information
technology.
This International Standard has been approved by vote of the member bodies, and the voting
results may be obtained from the address given on the second title page.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
– 4 – ISO/IEC 20924:2018 © ISO/IEC 2018
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
– reconfirmed,
– withdrawn,
– replaced by a revised edition, or
– amended.
INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT) – VOCABULARY
1 Scope
This document provides a definition of Internet of Things along with a set of terms and
definitions. This document is a terminology foundation for the Internet of Things.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1 General terms
3.1.1
address
value that can be used to identify an endpoint, which can designate the originating
source or destination of data being transmitted
3.1.2
application
software designed to fulfil a particular purpose
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC 24713-2:2008, 4.1, modified – “program or piece of” has been removed
from the beginning of the definition.]
3.1.3
architecture
set of fundamental concepts or properties of a system in its environment embodied
in its elements, relationships, and in the principles of its design and evolution
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011, 3.2, modified – "set of" has been added to the
...




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