Skip to content

Device Tables Overview

Ioto Device Tables is a global, replicated, multi-active database solution that transparently synchronizes data between devices and the cloud.

Similar to AWS DynamoDB Global Tables for replicating data between AWS regions, Ioto Device Tables connects a cloud-side AWS DynamoDB database to a device-resident Ioto embedded database.

Device Tables take the pain out of replicating data between devices and the cloud. Without additional code, it will automatically and transparently synchronize data and state between your devices and the cloud.

Device Tables delivers fast, predictable local read and write access while offering automatic replication of changes.

Database Replication Features

  • Transparent replication between cloud and devices.
  • Bi-directional synchronization.
  • Per-table synchronization control.
  • Resilient catch-up should the device or cloud go offline.
  • Database triggers for notification when state data changes.
  • Automatic creation of CustomMetrics from the device data stream.

Challenge

Aggregating device data in the cloud is not a simple problem.

To centralize device state typically requires several crucial steps:

  • State must be captured in the device.
  • State must be sent reliably to the cloud despite network disconnections.
  • State must be stored and managed in the cloud.
  • Conflicts with simultaneous updates must be resolved.
  • State updates from the cloud must be sent to the device reliably despite devices being offline.

These factors combine to make centrally aggregating device data decidedly non-trivial.

Ioto Device Tables solves these issues for you, so you can focus on your device specific logic and value.

Ioto Agent Embedded Database

The Ioto agent embedded database is an ultra high performance NoSQL database for embedded applications. It supports fast, in-memory, local data access and optional transparent synchronization of data to and from the cloud. The Ioto agent embedded database is designed to be compatible with AWS DynamoDB so that it can easily replicate structured device data to the cloud. It is modeled after AWS DynamoDB and the OneTable access library.

The database uses Red/black binary search indexes and has controllable local persistence to disk and to the cloud on a per-table basis.

JSON documents

The database stores items as JSON documents that are a nested collection of properties to arbitrary depth. As JSON is one of the most prevalent data exchange formats, storing data in JSON greatly reduces data replication and API transmission costs.

Ioto includes a powerful JSON query engine that you can use to query and manipulate JSON documents.

Database Features

  • High performance NoSQL management document database.
  • JSON document items with flexible query API.
  • Efficient import and export of database items.
  • Red/black binary search indexes.
  • Simple, non-waiting API.
  • Controllable persistence with change triggers.
  • Transparent bi-directional data synchronization with the cloud.
  • Unified data schema between device and cloud databases.
  • Based on AWS DynamoDB and DynamoDB OneTable.