6TiSCH Operation Sublayer (6top) Protocol (6P)
RFC 8480

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Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                      Q. Wang, Ed.
Request for Comments: 8480               Univ. of Sci. and Tech. Beijing
Category: Standards Track                                  X. Vilajosana
ISSN: 2070-1721                          Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
                                                             T. Watteyne
                                                          Analog Devices
                                                           November 2018

             6TiSCH Operation Sublayer (6top) Protocol (6P)

Abstract

   This document defines the "IPv6 over the TSCH mode of IEEE 802.15.4e"
   (6TiSCH) Operation Sublayer (6top) Protocol (6P), which enables
   distributed scheduling in 6TiSCH networks.  6P allows neighbor nodes
   to add/delete Time-Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) cells to/on one
   another.  6P is part of the 6TiSCH Operation Sublayer (6top), the
   layer just above the IEEE Std 802.15.4 TSCH Medium Access Control
   layer.  6top is composed of one or more Scheduling Functions (SFs)
   and the 6top Protocol defined in this document.  A 6top SF decides
   when to add/delete cells, and it triggers 6P Transactions.  The
   definition of SFs is out of scope for this document; however, this
   document provides the requirements for an SF.

Status of This Memo

   This is an Internet Standards Track document.

   This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
   (IETF).  It represents the consensus of the IETF community.  It has
   received public review and has been approved for publication by the
   Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG).  Further information on
   Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 7841.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8480.

Wang, et al.                 Standards Track                    [Page 1]
RFC 8480                   6top Protocol (6P)              November 2018

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2018 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (https://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
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   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
      1.1. Requirements Language ......................................5
   2. 6TiSCH Operation Sublayer (6top) ................................5
      2.1. Hard/Soft Cells ............................................6
      2.2. Using 6P with the Minimal 6TiSCH Configuration .............6
   3. 6top Protocol (6P) ..............................................7
      3.1. 6P Transactions ............................................7
           3.1.1. 2-Step 6P Transaction ...............................8
           3.1.2. 3-Step 6P Transaction ..............................10
      3.2. Message Format ............................................12
           3.2.1. 6top Information Element (IE) ......................12
           3.2.2. Generic 6P Message Format ..........................12
           3.2.3. 6P CellOptions .....................................13
           3.2.4. 6P CellList ........................................16
      3.3. 6P Commands and Operations ................................17
           3.3.1. Adding Cells .......................................17
           3.3.2. Deleting Cells .....................................19
           3.3.3. Relocating Cells ...................................21
           3.3.4. Counting Cells .....................................27
           3.3.5. Listing Cells ......................................28
           3.3.6. Clearing the Schedule ..............................30
           3.3.7. Generic Signaling between SFs ......................31
      3.4. Protocol Functional Details ...............................31
           3.4.1. Version Checking ...................................31
           3.4.2. SFID Checking ......................................32
           3.4.3. Concurrent 6P Transactions .........................32
           3.4.4. 6P Timeout .........................................33
           3.4.5. Aborting a 6P Transaction ..........................33
           3.4.6. SeqNum Management ..................................33
           3.4.7. Handling Error Responses ...........................40
      3.5. Security ..................................................40