Research Article
A Review of Reference Architectures for the Next-Generation Internet of Things Systems
@ARTICLE{10.4108/eetsis.9877, author={Sorin-Daniel Gheorghe}, title={A Review of Reference Architectures for the Next-Generation Internet of Things Systems}, journal={EAI Endorsed Transactions on Scalable Information Systems}, volume={12}, number={7}, publisher={EAI}, journal_a={SIS}, year={2026}, month={2}, keywords={Internet of Things, Reference Architectures, Next-Generation IoT Systems, System Engineering, Industry 5.0}, doi={10.4108/eetsis.9877} }- Sorin-Daniel Gheorghe
Year: 2026
A Review of Reference Architectures for the Next-Generation Internet of Things Systems
SIS
EAI
DOI: 10.4108/eetsis.9877
Abstract
The rapid evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) demands robust architectural models capable of integrating emerging technologies and managing growing system complexity. This paper presents a structured review of IoT Reference Architectures (RAs), analysing their conceptual foundations, structural organization, and technological readiness in the context of Next-Generation IoT (NGIoT) technologies. The study examines RAs based on their support for disruptive technologies, including Edge/Fog/Cloud Computing, 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Twins, Augmented Reality, Blockchain, and the Tactile Internet. Special emphasis is placed on the ASSIST-IoT RA, evaluated as a modular, cloud-native blueprint aligned with modern software design principles. Reflecting decentralization, scalability, interoperability, and resilience, ASSIST-IoT emerges as a production-ready framework for building intelligent and adaptive IoT systems. The findings synthesize current RAs trends and limitations, offering a forward-looking perspective that informs the development of NGIoT systems driven by data-driven and human-centric innovation.
Copyright © 2026 Sorin-Daniel Gheorghe et al., licensed to EAI. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, which permits copying, redistributing, remixing, transformation, and building upon the material in any medium so long as the original work is properly cited.
