Necessity and Expectation for an Identification Scheme in IoT Service: Cases in South Korea

Background/Objectives: Individual things should uniquely be identified internationally, so that IoT services can be realized. Thus, a 'standardized, universal identification information system,' which can uniquely identify individual things and entities, is needed. Methods/Statistical Analysis: This study investigated the status of the use of identification schemes by industrial sector and by service through a keyword search in order to understand the global status of the use of the identification schemes. In addition, for an empirical analysis of the use of identification schemes in South Korea, a survey on the present condition of use and management of identification schemes was conducted with the entire industry sectors. Findings: As a result of a survey on the status of the use and management of identification schemes by industrial area and service investigated, it was found that identification number systems used uniquely for each industry varied. There is no standardized identification scheme used dominantly, but entry of each identification scheme into the IoT environment will play an essential role in implementing IoT service in various fields, such as smart farm, smart city, smart manufacturing, smart building, smart transportation, smart medical care, etc. Services and products in the initial stage of IoT currently implemented are themselves serving as a unique identifier or use a smart sticker or local area communication technology. In terms of technology, they are based on technologies centered on sensing and network rather than technologies about identification scheme. Application/Improvements: Not all IoT services must use an identification scheme in the future, an analysis of demands for identification schemes should precede, and based on this, a cost-benefit analysis is needed.