Impact of the Internet of Things on Computer Networks

1. Impact of the Internet of Things on Computer Networks James Byars December 12, 2013 IT422 – Computer Networks Professor Tim Johnson

2. Organization • Introduction • Internet of Things • Computer Network Challenges • 6LoWPAN • ROLL • CoRE • Conclusions

3. Introduction • The Internet of Things will present many challenges to computer networks • Addressing • LLNs • Constrained devices • Internet Engineering Task Force and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers addresses challenges

4. Organization • Introduction • Internet of Things • Computer Network Challenges • 6LoWPAN • ROLL • CoRE • Conclusions

5. What is the Internet of Things • Everything becomes a connected device • Car tires • Milk carton • Recliner in our living room

6. Problems with current computer networks • Not built for constrained devices • Address space • Inefficient in terms of power consumption • Scalability

7. Organization • Introduction • Internet of Things • Computer Network Challenges • 6LoWPAN • ROLL • CoRE • Conclusions

8. IPv6 and Smart Devices • IPv6 protocol changes • Larger address space • 16 bytes (3.4 x 10 ^38) addresses • Larger packet size • 1280 bytes • Fragmentation of forwarded packets not allowed • Not best option for constrained devices operating over LLNs • Currently, vendors are creating proprietary protocols for Smart devices

9. Organization • Introduction • Internet of Things • Computer Network Challenges • 6LoWPAN • ROLL • CoRE • Conclusions

10. IETF Creates 6LoWPAN Working Group • Defined 6LoWPAN Adaptation Layer • Allows integration of IPv6 over Wireless Personal Area Networks • The result:

12. 6LoWPAN Benefits • Supports packet fragmentation and reassembly • Allows header compression • 127 byte packet size • Scalable • Easy to deploy • Low memory footprint • Energy efficient

13. Organization • Introduction • Internet of Things • Computer Network Challenges • 6LoWPAN • ROLL • CoRE • Conclusions

14. ROLL (Routing Over Low-Power Lossy-Networks) • Current 802.15.4 MAC protocol for short range communications requires a star network topology • RPL created by ROLL (Routing Over Low-Power Lossy-Networks) IETF working group • RPL (Routing Protocol Over Low-power Lossy-networks ) defines standard for routing between devices with mesh topology

15. RPL Benefits • RPL makes efficient use of resources • After each ‘ping’ for new nodes • If none are detected • Wait longer before next request • If a change is detected • Shorten time between requests

16. Organization • Introduction • Internet of Things • Computer Network Challenges • 6LoWPAN • ROLL • CoRE • Conclusions

17. CoRE (Constrained RESTful Environments) • IETF working group responsible for defining CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol) • CoAP is a data transfer protocol that defines communication between constrained devices • Makes efficient use of limited resources

18. CoAP and HTTP • CoAP is a subset of HTTP • Uses HTTPs REST (Representational State Transfer) paradigm and applies it to constrained devices • CoAP uses UPD instead of TCP for packet retransmission • 4 byte binary header • 1 byte options (extendable to 2 bytes) • Makes use of PUT, GET, POST, DELETE • Uses HTTP response condes

19. CoAP Benefits • Can be implemented behind reverse proxy to enable seamless integration between HTTP and CoAP • Devices on either side of proxy do not have to know they are transmitting beyond the proxy

20. Organization • Introduction • Internet of Things • Computer Network Challenges • 6LoWPAN • ROLL • CoRE • Conclusions

21. Conclusions • IETF has recognized challenges presented by IoT • Any/all protocols must be defined knowing it will be operating on constrained devices over LLNs • Must be very efficient in terms of resources • All protocols discussed can be implemented over IPv6 networks • It will take large amount of effort and standardization, but IoT can be made possible

22. Questions?