مهدی ابرقوئی زاده

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly expanding technological domain that underpins digital transformation across industries and societies. This study aims to identify emerging trends in the functional aspects and application domains of IoT, as well as to examine the role of leading organizations in shaping its development. To achieve this, the research employed the ۱۰-Step Data Science Methodology, integrating large-scale patent data analysis, text mining, and interactive visualization. Patent records were retrieved from Lens.org using a comprehensive query covering IoT and related terms (e.g., smart devices, sensors, edge computing, machine-to-machine). The raw JSON data were parsed in Power Query, transformed into a star schema model, and analyzed through Power BI. Text mining was performed on patent titles (to extract application domains) and first claims (to capture functional aspects of IoT).

The findings reveal that IoT innovation is predominantly defined by method- and process-based claims, highlighting its role as a functional platform rather than a standalone device technology. Application analysis indicates that Smart Living (۸۶.۳k patents), Industrial & Manufacturing (۴۷.۴k patents), and Monitoring (۴۳.۰k patents) are the dominant categories, with emerging sub-domains such as Autonomous Vehicles, Smart Factories, and Things as Customer gaining prominence. Ownership analysis identifies Samsung Electronics, IBM, Qualcomm, Intel, LG, and Cisco as leading institutions, each with distinct areas of focus ranging from consumer IoT to industrial automation, communication technologies, and defense applications.

By combining patent analytics with an interactive Power BI dashboard, the study contributes a practical tool for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to monitor IoT innovation. The methodological approach demonstrates the value of AI-driven text mining in uncovering technological trajectories and provides a scalable framework for continuous improvement. Overall, the research concludes that IoT is evolving into a multi-dimensional ecosystem, simultaneously expanding across diverse industries and deepening into specialized applications, thereby reinforcing its position as a cornerstone of Industry ۴.۰.