Data Streaming Overview
Network Survey can stream survey data in real-time to remote servers using MQTT or gRPC protocols. This enables live monitoring, automation, and integration with other systems.
Streaming vs Local Logging
Section titled “Streaming vs Local Logging”| Feature | Streaming (MQTT/gRPC) | Local Logging (Files) |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | Remote server | Local device storage |
| Real-time | Yes | No (must export) |
| Internet Required | Yes | No |
| Battery Impact | Higher (network usage) | Lower |
| Data Loss Risk | Network interruptions | Device storage failure |
| Use Case | Live monitoring, automation | Offline surveys |
You can use both simultaneously - stream to server while logging locally as backup.
Supported Protocols
Section titled “Supported Protocols”Publish/Subscribe messaging protocol
- Lightweight, efficient
- Most common for IoT
- JSON message format
- TLS/SSL support
- Topic-based routing
Best for: Most users, cloud integration, simple setup
See MQTT Streaming for details.
High-performance RPC framework
- HTTP/2 based
- Binary Protocol Buffers (protobuf)
- More efficient than MQTT
- Lower latency
Best for: High-throughput, low-latency, custom integrations
See gRPC Streaming for details.
gRPC vs MQTT
Section titled “gRPC vs MQTT”| Feature | gRPC | MQTT |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | HTTP/2 | TCP |
| Format | Protocol Buffers (binary) | JSON (text) |
| Efficiency | Higher (smaller messages) | Lower (larger messages) |
| Latency | Lower | Higher |
| Setup | More complex | Simpler |
| Best For | High-throughput, custom integrations | IoT, simple setup |
When to use gRPC:
- Need maximum efficiency
- High data volume
- Low latency requirements
- Building custom integration
- Already using gRPC infrastructure
When to use MQTT:
- Simple setup preferred
- Using cloud IoT platforms
- Standard IoT use case
- JSON messages acceptable
- Already using MQTT infrastructure
What Can Be Streamed
Section titled “What Can Be Streamed”Each technology can be streamed independently:
- Cellular - GSM, CDMA, UMTS, LTE, NR cell records
- Wi-Fi - 802.11 beacon records
- Bluetooth - BLE and Classic device records
- GNSS - GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BeiDou records
- Device Status - Battery, network state, location
Selective Streaming: Enable only the technologies you need to reduce data usage and battery consumption.
Use Cases
Section titled “Use Cases”Live Monitoring
Section titled “Live Monitoring”- Real-time network quality dashboard
- Coverage map updates
- Alert on signal degradation
- Live survey tracking
Automation
Section titled “Automation”- Trigger actions based on survey data
- Automated network testing
- Integration with monitoring systems
- Data pipeline to analytics platforms
Cloud Integration
Section titled “Cloud Integration”- Stream to AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub, Google Cloud IoT
- Process data with cloud functions
- Store in cloud databases
- Build real-time visualizations
Research
Section titled “Research”- Collect data from multiple devices
- Centralized data repository
- Real-time analysis
- Collaborative surveys
Battery Impact
Section titled “Battery Impact”Streaming uses more battery than local logging due to cellular data usage:
Tips to Reduce Impact:
- Stream only needed technologies
- Use Wi-Fi instead of cellular
- Increase scan intervals
- Disable streaming when not needed
Related
Section titled “Related”- MQTT Streaming - MQTT setup and configuration
- gRPC Streaming - gRPC setup and configuration
- Message Formats - Understanding data formats
- File Logging Overview - Alternative to streaming