Network protocols

IPv4 and IPv6 both play a role at various points within many IoT systems. Tailored protocol stacks such as IPv6 over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPAN) support the use of IPv6 in the network-constrained environments that many IoT devices operate within. Furthermore, 6LoWPan has been designed to support wireless internet connectivity at lower data rates for devices with very limited form factor. 

In addition to this, 6LoWPAN builds upon the 802.15.4 Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks (LRWPAN) specification to create an adaptation layer that supports the use of IPv6. The adaptation layer provides features that include IPv6 and UDP header compression and support for fragmentation, allowing support for sensors in a variety of uses, including building automation and security. Using 6LoWPAN, designers can take advantage of the link encryption offered within IEEE 802.15.4 and can apply transport layer encryption, such as DTLS.