Performance Evaluation of an IEEE 802.15.4-Based Thread Network for Efficient Internet of Things Communications in Smart Cities

The increasing demand for Internet of Things (IoT) applications has resulted in vast amounts of data, requiring the utilization of big data analytics. The integration of big data analytics in IoT-based smart cities can greatly benefit from the development of wireless communication protocols, among which the Thread protocol has emerged as a promising option. Thread is IEEE 802.15.4 based and has advanced capabilities like mesh networking, IPv6 support, and multiple gateways providing no single point of failure. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a low-cost mesh network using Raspberry Pi, nRF52840 dongle, and OpenThread 1.2 (i.e., an open-source software implementation of the Thread protocol stack). The research elaborates on the hardware and software solutions used, as well as the network topologies adopted. To evaluate the performance of the developed system, extensive real-time tests are performed, considering parameters, such as jitter, packet loss, and round trip time. These tests effectively demonstrate the effectiveness of the Thread network. Furthermore, the impact of varying payload size and bitrate on the network is analyzed to understand its influence. The behavior of the multi-hop network is also examined under link failure scenarios, providing insights into the network's robustness. Our findings provide valuable insights for researchers interested in designing low-cost and efficient mesh networks for various IoT applications, including home automation, building/campus monitoring systems, distributed industrial IoT applications, and smart city infrastructure.