Atmel Corp, Cisco (News - Alert) and the Swedish Institute of Computer Science (SICS) announced a collaboration to launch uIPv6, reportedly the smallest open-source IPv6-ready protocol stack. uIPv6 enables any device, regardless of its power or memory limitations, to have an IP (Internet Protocol) address and thus enables Internet connection.

 

"An open-source, standard-compliant, small-footprint IPv6 implementation is essential to enable the next generation of sensor network applications," said Adam Dunkels, senior scientist at SICS and Contiki project leader.

 

The foundation of this new project is built on the essential strengths and expertise of each partner. Atmel’s (News - Alert) innovative low-power wireless hardware is being utilized, Cisco is contributing its expertise in IP networking, and SICS brings to the table its embedded operating systems design knowledge.

 

"By running an IPv6 stack, operating a network of sensors thus becomes as easy as operating a network of PCs, IP phones, or any other IP devices," said Patrick Wetterwald, president of the IP for Smart Objects Alliance (IPSO).

 

While the uIPv6 is inclusive of standard IP applications, it can be run on constrained platforms due to its small footprint and memory usage. Additionally, the power-efficiency of uIPv6 due to features like limited memory capacity and lower-layer energy management mechanisms make it all the more suitable for application on almost all constrained devices. Moreover, the ease with which it can be tailored to suit individual requirements adds to its credit.

 

Technically speaking, the uIPv6 stack has a minimum requirement of .3 KB (KiloByte) of SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) for buffering, and 11 KB of Flash for the code. While data structures need only 0.5 KB of SRAM, the Raven platform which embeds a wireless chip using the 802.15.4 standard, has been specifically designed in a way that smart objects' requirements can be effortlessly accommodated.

 

"Efficient, low-power wireless systems require ultra-low-power embedded microcontrollers paired with excellent radio performance," said Magnus Pedersen, Atmel's director of product marketing, MCU Wireless Solutions. "The fact that Cisco and SICS chose the Atmel AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) Raven picoPower wireless platform as the basis for their uIPv6 and 6LoWPAN implementation confirms Atmel's leading edge in low-power embedded wireless technology."