6LoWDTN: IPv6-enabled Delay-Tolerant WSNs for Contiki

Low-power Wireless Personal Area Networks (LoW-PANs) solutions such as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can be deployed in scenarios characterized by partial node mobility and unreliable radio links. In such challenging conditions, normal ad-hoc networking approaches might result in unstable topologies and major data losses, thus hindering or limiting the validity of the solution. In case the application does not entail delay requirements, Delay Tolerant Networking (DTN) approaches could improve data delivery, thanks to cooperative nodes selectively storing and forwarding data to counter bad connectivity. In order to cope with such issues, this paper proposes 6LoWDTN, a DTN transport layer for WSNs built on-top the 6LoWPAN stack and derived from CHARON opportunistic networking solution. 6LoWDTN has been designed and implemented based on the μIPv6 stack provided by the Contiki operating system.