Specifications

14
Wireless Connectivity Guide Texas Instruments 4Q 2014
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6LoWPAN
6LoWPAN Overview
6LoWPAN
6LoWPAN is an open standard defined
by IETF (Internet Engineering Task
Force) in RFC 4944. It defines IPv6
over low power, low cost RF networks.
The 6LoWPAN technology natively
supports IPv6 addresses on all nodes
in a LoWPAN. 6LoWPAN uses mesh
technique to support large scalable
networks that require IP connectivity.
In case one route fails, the technology
allows nodes (routers) to find new
routes throughout the network, making
6LoWPAN a robust wireless solution.
Like in a ZigBee
®
environment
information is routed even if a node
is out of order. 6LoWPAN makes the
wireless embedded Internet possible!
6LoWPAN can be used with several
different PHY layers, both sub-1 GHz
and 2.4 GHz. It runs on top of IEEE
802.15.4 and enables end-to-end IPv6
addressing and IP context.
Application areas
• Outdoorlightingsystems
• Thefocusmarketsandapplications
are larger scale networks that require
connection to an IP backbone
network.
• Themostrelevantcasesare,butnot
limited to:
Smart metering
Home, building and industrial
automation
Industrial automation/monitoring/
process control
Logistics and asset tracking
Security large scale/commercial
TI’s 6LoWPAN solutions
TI’s 6LoWPAN solutions are based on
hardware from TI and software from its
third party Sensinode Ltd. Sensinode
Ltd. is a leading supplier of 6LoWPAN
software components. TI’s 6LoWPAN
solutions include:
• Completehardwareandsoftware
6LoWPAN platforms
• High-performanceradio,basedon
the CC1101 radio design or CC1110
and CC430 System-on-Chip (SoC)
solutions
• Applicationsupport
• Developmentkitsandtools
TI offers two 6LoWPAN platforms, built
on the CC1180 and CC430 radios.
Both platforms are for sub-1-GHz
operation.
• TheCC430SoCisadevicethatis
targeted for low power applications
and small form factor designs. The
CC430 SoC runs both the 6LoWPAN
stack and the customer application
on networks up to 50 nodes
• TheCC1180canbeusedas
a wireless network processor.
Containing the 6LoWPAN stack,
the CC1180 communicates to the
system’s main processor through
the UART interface. This partitioning
option allows the designer to
keep the application on the main
processor
• The CC1101/MSP430 platform is
a two-chip solution for larger node
applications. The memory size of the
MSP430F5xx family provides more
partitioning for both the stack and
application profile.