Flow control mechanisms for the bundle protocol in IEEE 802.15.4 low-power networks

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks are networks formed by wireless sensor nodes that generally feature a low-power microcontroller and an IEEE 802.15.4 radio. Most Delay Tolerant Wireless Sensor Networks in literature use proprietary protocols that are specifically designed for a single purpose. In this paper we explore, how the Bundle Protocol can be used on top of the IEEE 802.15.4 PHY and MAC layers, while avoiding overhead for additional layers in between. To pursue this, a Convergence Layer has to realize certain tasks that usually are dealt with in layers 3 and 4 of the OSI 7-layer protocol stack. We argue that flow control has to be an integral ingredient of the Convergence Layer and compare the performance of four different mechanisms using our Bundle Protocol implementation for Contiki.