Protocol stack virtualization support in IoT

Abstract

Massive IoT scenarios involve a huge number of devices where deployment, provisioning, and configuration are carried out without any human intervention. Well-known mechanisms of resource discovery and management attempt to enable some of this functionality typically associated with zero-configuration schemes. In this article, we explore the novel use of protocol stack virtualization (PSV) to provide flexibility in the deployment and management of constrained sensors, actuators, and controllers in massive IoT access networks. Specifically, these devices exhibit low power consumption that limits processor computational capabilities and transmission rates that affect, among other things, deployment and maintenance. In this scenario, we present and analyze an end-to-end PSV massive IoT solution. We describe the different building blocks, their interaction, and what role they play as part of the overall mechanism. Additionally, we focus on the performance of the solution by looking at how network impairments, like packet loss and latency, affect deployment of the virtualized protocol stacks.