IAP/MQ defines several connection types:

• Peer-to-peer connections support relay of data directly from the edge device containing the source, such as an ambient light sensor, to the edge device containing the destination, such as a daylight harvesting controller. Characteristic for a peer-to-peer connection is that the data transfer does not require a facilitator such as a data collector, bus master or other relay service once the connection has been established.
  
  
• Simple point-to-point connections within one segment can connect datapoints of different data types, subject to type conversion rules. Point-to-point connections can also connect datapoints implemented in different edge protocols. Point-to-point connections require a facilitator within the segment, collectively called a datapoint connection manager, to orchestrate retrieval of source data, data transformation and delivery to destinations.

Peer-to-Peer

A peer-to-peer connection can be formed when source and destination data points reside within the same segment and share the same data type. Peer-to-peer connections also require that all sources and all destinations are served with the same edge protocol. The datapoint connection manager facilitates the creation of this connection in cooperation with the edge processor.

A strict implementation policy requires that the connection in the most efficient manner possible. For example, if an edge protocol supports true peer-to-peer connections, a strict peer-to-peer datapoint connection request fails if required resources are unavailable to implement the datapoint connection.

A smart implementation policy permits an automatic roll-over to a less efficient datapoint connection in this case; typically to a point-to-point connection using the datapoint connection manager as an active relay agent in the data transfer.

Example of a strict peer-to-peer datapoint connection:

Simple Point-to-Point

Simple point-to-point connections exist within one segment and require active datapoint connection manager participation to ensure receipt of source data, data transformation and distribution to destinations. Simple point-to-point connections are created when a connection uses different edge protocols or datapoint types. A point-to-point connection may also emerge from a peer-to-peer connection request with a smart implementation policy.

Example of a simple point-to-point datapoint connection: