6LowPan – Towards Zero-Configuration Forwireless Building Automation: System Architecture

In this paper, we describe the techniques and technologies used in our home automation system based on 6LowPan. This IP-based protocol has the advantage that no extra layer or logic is required for communication with a node in or outside the network. The 6LoWPAN network is divided into three main parts: the central server, the edge-routers and the embedded motes. The central server is located at the top-most level and keeps track of the complete network status. This server allows users to request the status and to administer system changes. It runs a database, which holds the necessary information about the complete network.On the bottom-most level one can find the embedded Zolertia motes. These motes can measure physical entities (i.e. temperature, humidity, etc.) and/ or toggle the status of attached devices (i.e. lighting, heating, etc.). In between one can find the edge-routers, formed by combining a Zolertia mote together with a Beaglebone. The edge routers allow the data to bridge the compressed IPv6 embedded wireless network and the regular IPv6 network. Dedicated IPv6/IPv4 tunneling ensures communication between the central server and the beagle bones.