Can P2P swarm loading improve the robustness of 6LoWPAN data transfer?

Abstract

The recent arrival of 6LoWPAN, an IPv6 variant for low-power wireless devices, allows for the development of IP-based applications for low-power wireless networks like sensor networks. As these networks often suffer from unreliable radio channels or frequent node failure, the question arises how 6LoWPAN-based applications can be hardened against such issues. In this paper, we examine if well-known concepts from the research domain of P2P networks can be applied for increasing the robustness of 6LoWPAN networks. For this purpose, we design and implement a straightforward P2P system for data sharing that is adapted to the low system capabilities of a typical 6LoWPAN device. Our preliminary evaluation shows that P2P mechanisms like swarm loading are able to improve the robustness of a 6LoWPAN application.