Optimal and secure protocols in the IETF 6TiSCH communication stack

In order to cope with large multi-hop resource-constrained and IPv6-compliant Low-power and Lossy Networks (LLNs), based on IEEE802.15.4 radios, novel protocols have been standardized within the IETF. More recently, the IEEE802.15.4e Timeslotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) MAC amendment has been designed to meet the requirements of industrial applications, by reducing idle-listening and improving reliability in the presence of narrow-band interference and multi-path fading. To integrate this new powerful MAC within the framework of IPv6-based LLN protocols, a new IETF working group has been defined, namely “IPv6 over the TSCH mode of IEEE 802.15.4e” (6TiSCH). In a timely way, this paper presents our contribution to the early standardization efforts required to define (i) an optimal distributed scheduling technique able to allocate resources between any couple of neighbors, while seconding the minimal bandwidth requirements and avoiding collisions, and (ii) a scalable framework supporting setting-up and maintenance of secured domains. Supported by the scientific interest to this reasearch topic, we strongly believe that the 6TiSCH stack will be a viable solution for a wide gamut of optimal and secured IoT applications in industrial environments.