Problem Statement and Requirements for IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) Routing
RFC 6606
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) E. Kim
Request for Comments: 6606 ETRI
Category: Informational D. Kaspar
ISSN: 2070-1721 Simula Research Laboratory
C. Gomez
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya/Fundacio i2CAT
C. Bormann
Universitaet Bremen TZI
May 2012
Problem Statement and Requirements for
IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) Routing
Abstract
IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPANs) are
formed by devices that are compatible with the IEEE 802.15.4
standard. However, neither the IEEE 802.15.4 standard nor the
6LoWPAN format specification defines how mesh topologies could be
obtained and maintained. Thus, it should be considered how 6LoWPAN
formation and multi-hop routing could be supported.
This document provides the problem statement and design space for
6LoWPAN routing. It defines the routing requirements for 6LoWPANs,
considering the low-power and other particular characteristics of the
devices and links. The purpose of this document is not to recommend
specific solutions but to provide general, layer-agnostic guidelines
about the design of 6LoWPAN routing that can lead to further analysis
and protocol design. This document is intended as input to groups
working on routing protocols relevant to 6LoWPANs, such as the IETF
ROLL WG.
Status of This Memo
This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is
published for informational purposes.
This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has
received public review and has been approved for publication by the
Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Not all documents
approved by the IESG are a candidate for any level of Internet
Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 5741.
Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6606.
Kim, et al. Informational [Page 1]
RFC 6606 6LoWPAN Routing Requirements May 2012
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Table of Contents
1. Problem Statement ...............................................2
2. Terminology .....................................................5
3. Design Space ....................................................5
3.1. Reference Network Model ....................................6
4. Scenario Considerations and Parameters for 6LoWPAN Routing ......8
5. 6LoWPAN Routing Requirements ...................................13
5.1. Support of 6LoWPAN Device Properties ......................13
5.2. Support of 6LoWPAN Link Properties ........................15
5.3. Support of 6LoWPAN Characteristics ........................18
5.4. Support of Security .......................................22
5.5. Support of Mesh-Under Forwarding ..........................25
5.6. Support of Management .....................................26
6. Security Considerations ........................................27
7. Acknowledgments ................................................27
8. References .....................................................28
8.1. Normative References ......................................28
8.2. Informative References ....................................29
1. Problem Statement
6LoWPANs are formed by devices that are compatible with the
IEEE 802.15.4 standard [IEEE802.15.4]. Most of the LoWPAN devices
are distinguished by their low bandwidth, short range, scarce memory
capacity, limited processing capability, and other attributes of
inexpensive hardware. The characteristics of nodes participating in
LoWPANs are assumed to be those described in the 6LoWPAN problem
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