Unicast/multicast performance in single-hop duty-cycled 6LoWPAN networks

In this paper, we propose a comprehensive analysis of latencies and power consumption of unicast and multicast communication patterns in single-hop duty cycled 6LoWPAN networks. Simulation and testbed experiments are realised under different Radio Duty Cycling (RDC) protocols, channel checking rates and packet fragmentation. The findings of this study confirm, in asynchronous RDCs, the general view that multicast consumes more energy than unicast. However, by putting numbers along with this extensive analysis, we argue that multicast power consumption is acceptable taking into account additional advantages multicast approaches can provide in comparison with unicast approaches. When fragmentation is present; however, multicast showed large power consumption (about three times) and big latencies (about 35% delays) when compared to the performance registered by unicast.