6LoWPAN

(Introduction, Problem Statement &

Nandakishore Kushalnagar
Intel Corporation
 What is LoWPAN?
• LoWPAN is a wireless network comprising low power (small batteries
for months or even years) and low cost (<$10) devices
• Typical usages of LoWPAN networks are –
– Networking transducers (sensing & actuation, eg. smart sensors –
Such usages may need in network processing)
– Networking simple controls (light & switch)
– Networking complex controls (light & switch & motion sensor)
• Standards based Phy and MAC exist for LoWPAN networks viz.,
IEEE802.15.4 and *possibly* IEEE802.15.3b
• Topologies that are commonplace today include – star, mesh, and
combinations of star and mesh
• Today LoWPANs are already becoming a reality

LoWPAN - A different *beast* compared to traditional

Low power Storage limitations, Periodic sleep Simplicity (CPU Periodic sleep aware
low overhead aware routing, low usage), low management, low
(1-2 years lifetime on overhead overhead overhead
batteries)
Low cost Stateless address Small or no Ease of Use, Space constraints
generation routing tables simple
(<$10/unit) bootstrapping

Low bandwidth Compressed Low routing Low packet Low network overhead
addresses overhead overhead
(<300kbps)

High density Large address space Scalable and Robust Easy to use and
– IPv6 routable to *a scalable
(<2-4? units/sq ft) node*

IP network interaction Address routable Seamless IP Work end to end Compatible with
from IP world routing from IP network SNMP, etc
 Subtleties of IEEE 802.15.4
• Small packet size –
– Max MAC frame size: 127 bytes
– Max MAC payload: 102 bytes
– With security (worst case): 81 bytes
• Uses 64 bit MAC addresses, but has provisions for 16 bit
short addresses
• Support for multiple topologies
• Supports AES block cypher in several modes (AES-
CCM-64 authenticated encryption mandatory)
• Data rates from 20kbps to 250kbps
• Range from 10m to 30m
Other potential LoWPAN standards
• IEEE 802.15.3b a.k.a. UWB supporting
higher bit rate emerging
• Maybe others ?
 Goals of 6LoWPAN
• In all cases, when possible reuse existing protocols before
creating new ones
• Address mismatch between MTU sizes of LoWPANs and IPv6
• Support stateless auto configuration of IPv6 addressing (and
perhaps other schemes like location-aware, etc)
• Specify header compression (use existing and/or new techniques
such as header reconstruction, header short circuiting, etc)
• Define security model, mechanisms, configuration procedures
and bootstrapping
• Specify network management (SNMP?)
• Specify routing suitable for LoWPAN networks (MANET?,
topology aware, Below L3 and/or above L3?, etc)
• Specify methods to enable and disable IPv6 over LoWPAN.
• Specify hooks between L3 and higher layers?
• Specify lightweight discovery mechanisms
• Specify requirements and potential changes at L3 and above
(e.g., issues with reliable data transfer)
• Specify implementation considerations and best common
practices of an IPv6 stack
 Why IP?
• Most of the IP based technologies
already exist, well known and proven to
be working.
• The pervasive nature of IP networks
allows use of existing infrastructure.
• Intellectual property conditions for IP
networking technology is either more
favorable or at least better understood
than proprietary and newer solutions.
 Why IPv6?
• Pros –
– More suitable for higher density (futuristically 2 orders of
magnitude larger than traditional networks)
– Statelessness mandated
– No NAT necessary (adds extra cost to the cost prohibitive WSN)
– Possibility of adding innovative techniques such as
location aware addressing
– IEEE 64 bit address subsumed into IPv6 address
• Cons
– Larger address width (Having efficient address compression
schemes may alleviate this con)
– Complying to IPv6 node requirements (IPSec is mandated)
 Why not IPv4?
• Limited address space
• Not as compressible
• NAT functionality needs gateways, etc
leads to more cost
• Statelessness not mandated
Backup
 Drafts of 6LoWPAN
• Define a *shim* layer below IP
– Fragmentation/Reassembly to satisfy IPv6 MTU of 1280 bytes
– Routing including mesh
– Header compression mechanisms
• Header reconstruction for intra PAN communication
• Header short circuiting
– Header configuration to enable/disable IPv6
• Define a IPv6 LoWPAN Profile
– Address IPv6 node requirements
– Define
• L2/L3 interface mechanism
• Appropriate security services
• Routing considerations
• Network management with SNMP
• Implementation considerations
• Miscellaneous (may be subsequent drafts)
– Hooks from L3 for in network processing (especially critical for WSN)
– Transport layer (UDP / TCP)
– Security configuration
– Light weight discovery mechanisms
– More?