Optimal packet fragmentation scheme for reliable and energy-efficient packet delivery in 6LoWPAN

Abstract

6LoWPAN is the protocol defined to deliver IPv6 packets over low-power wireless personal area networks (WPANs), in which each IPv6 packet is divided into multiple fragments suitable for being carried in an IEEE 802.15.4 frame. Route-over routing (ROR) and mesh-under routing (MUR) are the two schemes presented by 6LoWPAN working group. In this paper, the optimal fragmentation schemes are proposed to improve the end-to-end packet delivery rate (PDR) and reduce energy consumption in packet delivery for ROR and MUR. The proposed schemes are able to find the optimal number of fragments so that energy consumption is minimized while keeping PDR larger than a preset probability. Numerical results show that the proposed schemes are energy efficient while guaranteeing the preset PDR.