
This term is attributed to Kevin Ashton, who in 1999 used it to describe embedded logic in physical items that can communicate with other devices beyond their own systems.

The data generated by the building infrastructure is also related to the next emergence of data to be transported referred to as the Internet of Things. As we design advanced intelligent buildings, they are generating their own data to add to the network load. We are now witnessing the start of fully integrated and automated buildings.

It started with the automation of manufacturing and business processes in other words, it started with the internal operations for which the buildings provided shelter. Through this evolution of computing and networking, there has been a parallel evolution in building design. Not having access can leave one feeling detached. Streaming video on the network is commonplace, and the Internet is so pervasive that it is not evident if data is being sourced from the enterprise network or the “cloud.” Access to office networks is expected to be ubiquitous in every building. We also saw the migration of telephone voice communications from private branch exchanges (PBXs) using large copper backbone telephone cables to Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), which uses the data network infrastructure. In the 2000s, video on the network continued to increase. There was rapid growth in data transport as the content of the Internet evolved from text to graphics, audio, and occasional video. During this decade, access to the Internet and Web became available in the office. E-mail and file transfer generated a lot of the network traffic.

In the 1990s, mainframes were rapidly being replaced by file servers communicating with desktop computers. In the 1980s, data transported from mainframe computers, mini-frame computers, and the early local area networks (LAN) connecting business workstations.
