IPv6 over IEEE 802.15.4 BOF (6lowpan)

Tuesday, March 8 at 0900-1130
=============================

CHAIRS: Geoff Mulligan <geoff.mulligan@invensysclimate.com>
        Nandakishore Kushalnagar <nandakishore.kushalnagar@intel.com>
        Gabriel Montenegro <gab@sun.com>

AGENDA:

Agenda Bashing 5m

Problem Statement 25m
6LoWPAN: Overview, Requirements, Assumptions, Problems and Goals
draft-kushalnagar-lowpan-goals-assumptions

The original milestones targetted a WG last call on this document for
February, which is not likely. Thus, this slot will hopefully arrive
at closure to prepare for the WG last call.

IPv6 over IEEE 802.15.4 30m
Transmission of IPv6 Packets over IEEE 802.15.4 Networks
draft-montenegro-lowpan-ipv6-over-802.15.4

Summarize the decisions taken and the technical approach. Finer
details about framing, header compression and packet delivery in a
mesh will benefit from the discussion.

Security Discussion 20m
No draft yet. The purpose is to put forth an initial description of
the threat model and the potential solutions in order to better
understand which IETF security mechanisms are relevant.

Implementation Considerations 20m
No draft yet. This slot will allow us to talk about how one would
implement such a device. Although this does not directly reflect
a document targetted for WG official status, it is important from
the point of view of better understanding and sharing what actual
"running code" might be like.

Gap Discussion 20m
No draft yet. The goal is to discuss what other desirable work items
are missing from the current charter and how to address them.


DESCRIPTION:

Note: Given that there is not much precedent for this type of activity at the
IETF, the text that follows is of an introductory nature. Hence, its objective
is to give a general idea of the application area and motivations for the work.
In particular, this section is not to be construed as detailing work items for
the working group. That is done in the following section on the "Scope of the
Working Group."

Well-established fields such as control networks, and burgeoning ones
such as "sensor" (or transducer) networks, are increasingly being based
on wireless technologies. Most (but certainly not all) of these nodes
are amongst the most constrained that have ever been networked
wirelessly. Extreme low power (such that they will run potentially for
years on batteries) and extreme low cost (total device cost in single
digit dollars, and riding Moore's law to continuously reduce that price
point) are seen as essential enablers towards their deployment in
networks with the following characteristics:

* Significantly more devices than current networks
* Severely limited code and ram space (e.g., highly desirable to fit
the required code--MAC, IP and anything else needed to execute the
embedded application-- in, for example, 32K of flash memory, using 8-bit
microprocessors)
* Unobtrusive but very different user interface for configuration
(e.g., using gestures or interactions involving the physical world)
* Robustness and simplicity in routing or network fabric

A chief component of these devices is wireless communication technology. In
particular, the IEEE 802.15.4 standard is very promising for the lower
(physical and link) layers. As for higher layer functions, there is
considerable interest in using IP technology. Even though it is not currently
IP-based, the ZigBee Alliance has related ongoing work. Accordingly, it is
expected that the working group will coordinate and interact with it.

The required work includes items in the following (incomplete) list:

* IP adaptation/Packet Formats and interoperability
* Addressing schemes and address management
* Network management
* Routing in dynamically adaptive topologies
* Security, including set-up and maintenance
* Application programming interface
* Discovery (of devices, of services, etc)
* Implementation considerations

Whereas at least some of the above items are within the purview of the
IETF, at this point it is not clear that all of them are. Accordingly,
the 6LoWPAN working group will address a reduced, more focused set of
objectives.


Scope of 6lowpan:

Produce "Problems Statement, Assumptions and Goals for IPv6 for LoWPANs"
(draft-ietf-lowpan-goals-assumptions-xx.txt) to define the problem
statement and goals of 6lowpan networks.

Produce "Transmission of IPv6 Packets over IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN Networks"
(draft-ietf-lowpan-ipv6-over-802.15.4-xx.txt) to define the basic packet
formats and sub-IP adaptation layer for transmission of IPv6 packets
over IEEE 802.15.4. This includes framing, adaptation, header
compression, address generation and a simple but sufficient mechanism
for ad hoc routing based on AODV.

The working group will reuse existing specifications whenever
reasonable and possible.

The working group will also serve as a venue for ongoing discussions on
other topics related to the more complete list outlined above.
Additional related milestones may be added in the future via a rechartering
operation.


Goals and Milestones:

MAR 2005
Working group last call on draft-ietf-lowpan-goals-assumptions-xx.txt
APR 2005
Submit draft-ietf-lowpan-goals-assumptions-xx.txt to IESG for
consideration of publication as Informational
MAY 2005
Working Group Last Call on draft-ietf-lowpan-ipv6-over-802.15.4-xx.txt
JUL 2005
Submit draft-ietf-lowpan-ipv6-over-802.15.4-xx.txt to IESG for
consideration of publication as Proposed Standard