"... the interconnection of uniquely identifiable embedded computing devices within the existing Internet infrastructure."
Can be direct via Ethernet or Wifi internet connection from the embedded device, or indirect via any other means of IO to/from another device which is directly connected. Since few embedded devices have the computing power and memory necessary to manage TCP/IP stack, most IOT devices are indirectly connected... often to a local PC, SmartPhone, Router, or other dedicated device. There are "internet modems", such as the ESP 8266, available which act only to bridge a low power embedded device (Arduino, etc...) to the internet, but then if you have the computing power on the "modem" why do you need the embedded processor? Why not just do everything on the "modem"?
Also: