Addressing scalable, optimal, and secure communications over LoRa networks: Challenges and research directions

Abstract

The Internet of things (IoT) enables large‐scale deployments of very low‐power devices connected through wireless lossy links and able to interact with the surrounding environment (sensing and actuation). Two main challenges are then present: make them communicate; handle their energy consumption while respecting some cost constraints. Low‐power wide area networks (LPWANs) tackle these challenges by offering long‐distance coverage while guaranteeing the use of a very little amount of energy for communications. Among many LPWAN technologies, long range (LoRa) networks provide a very promising but incomplete basis for satisfying the needs expressed by the applications running on low‐power devices. This paper describes the LoRa technology from the architectural point of view and points out those aspects that permit its seamless integration into the IoT. As major contribution, a focus on the current and future research on LoRa networks is provided by inspecting 3 facets: scalability, quality of service, and security.

Sparse Satellite Constellation Design for Global and Regional Direct-to-Satellite IoT Services

“…Among LPWA technologies, Long-Range (LoRa) is a chirp spread-spectrum modulation technique [13] particularly appealing for satellite as it provides very low power consumption and large link margin [23]. LoRa operates within the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency bands, which can also be an advantage in terms of meeting otherwise complex worldwide frequency regulations [41]. It is important to note that ISM bands are not allocated to space services (satellites are not defined as ISM applications), which still requires appropriate International Telecommunications Union (ITU) licensing and coordination [42].…”

Direct-To-Satellite IoT - A Survey of the State of the Art and Future Research Perspectives

“…LoRa: it is the LPWA technology getting the widest interest into the research community on IoT communications, for several reasons. LoRa works on unlicensed spectrum supporting an asynchronous bidirectional link layer protocol defined in the open LoRaWAN specification [3]. More interestingly, it implements roaming by allowing IoT devices to communicate to redundantly deliver information through all LoRa gateways in range.…”

“…Downlink frames can be received during such time windows. Interestingly, the use of slotted Aloha or collision-free protocols can be enabled through proper protocol enhancement [3].…”

Enabling Internet of Everything Everywhere: LPWAN with Satellite Backhaul

“…Instead, with respect to multi-hop meshed WSNs, there is no need for sophisticated routing strategies among low power devices: the needed capabilities are limited to handling single-hop communications. Without a strict need of powerful circuitry, it is then possible to deploy more capillary networks of very cheap low power devices [10].…”