Network limitation about api

[benfrancis]

As described in our first blog post, there are three integration patterns for the Web of Things. The direct integration pattern, gateway integration pattern and cloud integration pattern.

So far in the Mozilla implementation we have focused on the gateway integration pattern because we feel this is where we can have the biggest impact by connecting existing smart home devices using non-IP PAN networks like ZigBee and Z-Wave to the Web of Things.

But the gateway is not the only way to connect things to the Web of Things. Implementations of the other integration patterns will need to overcome the challenges of traversing home firewalls and NAT.

[benfrancis]

Mozilla's Things Gateway implementation uses an optional TCP tunneling service which opens up a secure tunnel from the gateway to the Internet. During first time setup a user can choose their own subdomain and an SSL certificate is generated automatically by LetsEncrypt and a TCP connection established. No router configuration is required.

Otherwise, yes, this would be challenging for many users to set up.

[apiel]

Ok, I just setup the gateway and I have seen the tunnel, but that means that your Wot is limited to Mozilla gateway, and enforce the user to have a gateway at home. But there is many solution that doesn't require gateway, for example there is the Sonoff solution that can connect directly to internet. So why to ask user to have gateway if they don't need it!

[benfrancis]

I would question whether you actually want some IoT devices like that to be exposed directly to the Internet. But one possibility is that this gateway technology will be built into home routers, so you don't need an extra box.

[apiel]

This is a very optimistic vision :-) I just wanted to mention this issue because I thought this standard was intended to make Iot protocol accessible for everyone. But in the current use case, you restrict it to the Mozilla concept. To bad, I will not be able to use it, even if I would have love cause I think the concept of Wot is really awesome :-/

[apiel]

I am much more happy about this answer :D Now I understand, the reason why your recommendation are limited to the gateway pattern. I will try to use your Wot recommendation as inspiration to make a prototype of cloud integration, I guess it should be pretty much similar...