Final answer:
The statement is true; gateways can preprocess data from sensors locally. This is utilized in IoT and edge computing to enhance system efficiency, reduce latency, and conserve bandwidth.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, gateways can indeed be configured to perform pre-processing of the collected data from thousands of sensors locally before transmitting it to the next stage. This capability is especially important in the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing, where gateways serve as intermediaries between sensor networks and the cloud or central servers. By processing data locally, gateways can reduce latency, minimize bandwidth usage, and provide quicker responses to data-driven events.
For example, a gateway can aggregate sensor readings to send a summarized report instead of raw data streams. It can also filter out irrelevant data, thus optimizing the data that needs to be transmitted. By handling computational tasks closer to the data source, gateways can support real-time decision-making and improve overall system efficiency.