NICT Successfully Develops IEEE P802.15.10 Compliant Wi-SUN Radio Devices for Non-IP Routing in Large Scale Networks

December 2, 2015

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology

NICT has successfully developed IEEE P802.15.10 compliant Wi-SUN radio devices for non-IP routing in large scale networks. IEEE P802.15.10 is the ongoing project of the IEEE 802.15 working group on layer 2 routing over IEEE 802.15.4 based networks. This protocol is expected to support large scale networks with thousands of devices and come as a promising technology as we move towards an increasingly interconnected society.

Achievements

Figure 1: Implementation of layer 2 routing

Based on the R&D of advanced non-IP routing technology, NICT and Professor Hiroshi Harada of Kyoto University developed and presented a joint proposal on a routing protocol for radio devices in large scale IEEE 802.15.4 based networks to the IEEE P802.15.10 project on layer 2 routing. As a result, our proposal was adopted by the Task Group 10 of IEEE 802.15. The latest version of the recommended practice was completed this August.

NICT successfully implemented the first devices compliant to the current specifications this November. Figure 1 illustrates an example of the implementation. These devices are able to organize themselves into a mesh topology in an autonomous way. This makes them user friendly thanks to their plug-and-play feature. The devices are able to communicate over multiple hops using the layer 2 routing protocol, enabling them to communicate even in a non-IP environment. The system provides a data concatenation feature, enhancing the performance in data collection oriented applications such as smart metering, monitoring, etc. Bi-directional communication also allows the control or management of the devices. Multiple services can be provided in a single network by a single or multiple mesh roots. Devices transmit their data frames on the appropriate path depending on the service they want to access.

Future prospects

This work will be used as part of the development of future Wi-SUN profiles addressing building automation, factory automation, monitoring and management applications, etc.

Appendix

Autonomous mesh topology construction

A mesh root acts as the controller of the network and initiates the topology construction. It transmits information on the mesh to build that may comprise the service(s) available such as a data collection service, a temperature control service, etc. Each device member of the mesh also broadcast information on the mesh they have joined, on their status in the mesh, etc. In this way, all devices within the mesh are able to know their neighbors and select the appropriate device to use to forward a frame addressed to the mesh root. Figure 2 shows an example of information exchange for topology construction, and route establishment.

Figure 2: Topology construction and route establishment between each devices and the mesh root

Data concatenation

Figure 3: Data concatenation
[Click picture to enlarge]

Data concatenation focuses on applications often requiring data collection, such as smart metering or monitoring. In these applications, the data frames are addressed to a single destination. It is therefore possible to combine or concatenate multiple frames and transmit them at once. This reduces the risk of collision and alleviates the bottleneck effect that appears as data frames converge to the destination. Figure 3 illustrates the concatenation of the data frames from devices A, B, C and D, addressed to the mesh root.

Support for multiple services

Figure 4: Multi-service/Multi-mesh root network
[Click picture to enlarge]

A network may need to provide several services. For example, in a building automation network, services such as temperature and humidity monitoring, smart lighting, door and elevator control among others, might be needed. A mesh root can provide multiple services and a service can be provided by multiple mesh roots. The paths may vary depending on the service a device wishes to use. Figure 4 illustrates a network with two mesh roots, each providing a different service.