6LoWPAN: Advantages and Disadvantages

This page explores the advantages and disadvantages of the 6LoWPAN network. It highlights the benefits and drawbacks of 6LoWPAN.

What is 6LoWPAN?

Introduction: “6LoWPAN” stands for IPv6 over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks. This open standard is defined in RFC6282 by the IETF. It enables IPv6 packets to be transmitted to and from a 6LoWPAN network.

It’s commonly used with IEEE 802.15.4 in the 2.4 GHz band. Furthermore, it supports other networking mediums like sub-1 GHz low power RF, PLC, Bluetooth Smart, and low power Wi-Fi.

Figure 1: 6LoWPAN mesh network

As shown in Figure 1, an edge router is necessary to interface the IPv6 network with the 6LoWPAN network. The edge router performs three main functions:

• Data exchange between 6LoWPAN devices and the internet (or IPv6 network).
• Local data exchange between devices within the same 6LoWPAN network.
• Generation and maintenance of the radio subnet of the 6LoWPAN network.

The 6LoWPAN connects to other IP networks via links like Ethernet, Wi-Fi, 3G, or 4G.

Figure 2: OSI stack vs 6LoWPAN stack

Figure 2 illustrates the protocol layers of the OSI stack compared to the 6LoWPAN stack. It consists of:

• Physical layer
• Data link layer (MAC/adaptation)
• Network layer
• Transport layer
• Application layer

The Physical layer converts data bits into signals for over-the-air transmission and reception.

The Data link layer establishes a reliable link between two connected nodes by detecting and correcting errors during transmission/reception. It includes CSMA/CA MAC functionality and handles data framing.

The 6LoWPAN adaptation layer manages the adaptation from IPv6 to IEEE 802.15.4.

The Network layer addresses and routes data through the network.

The Transport layer creates communication sessions between applications, using TCP/UDP protocols.

The Application layer is responsible for data formatting, often using HTTP over TCP, CoAP, or MQTT.

Here are some key features of a 6LoWPAN network:

• Frequency: 2.4 GHz
• Outdoor range: ~ 200 meters (Maximum)
• Data rate: 200 Kbps (Maximum)
• Max. nodes: ~ 100

Benefits or Advantages of 6LoWPAN

The following are the benefits or advantages of 6LoWPAN:

• 6LoWPAN is a mesh network, which is robust, scalable, and self-healing.
• It offers a long communication range, capable of detecting signals even below the noise level.
• It consumes less power due to reduced transmission time (using short time pulses), saving energy and extending battery life.
• It supports large networks, accommodating millions of devices.
• It provides low-cost and secure communication in IoT devices.
• It supports one-to-many and many-to-one routing, enabling transparent internet integration.
• It uses the IPv6 protocol, allowing direct routing to cloud platforms.

Drawbacks or Disadvantages of 6LoWPAN

The following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of 6LoWPAN:

• It is less secure than Zigbee.
• It has less immunity to interference compared to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices.
• It supports a short range without a mesh topology.