Assignment of an Ethertype for IPv6 with LoWPAN Encapsulation

The IETF has defined a format for IPv6 datagram encapsulation ("LoWPAN encapsulation"). This document regards any IPv6 datagram using the Dispatch octet as defined in section 5.1 of RFC 4944 to be using LoWPAN encapsulation. LoWPAN encapsulation as defined in RFC 4944 has been updated by , and may be extended and modified by future IETF standards document. The intended layer 2 technology for IPv6 datagrams using LoWPAN encapsulation as originally defined is , which does not provide for a protocol switch in its layer 2 headers. There is interest in supporting Ethertype based protocol dispatch for LoWPAN encapsulated IPv6 datagrams: Usage of LoWPAN encapsulation in conjunction with IEEE 802.15.9 Multiplexed Data Service , which provides the ability to perform upper layer protocol dispatch for IEEE 802.15.4 networks. Wi-SUN Alliance intends to use the 15.9 Multiplexed Data Information Element to dispatch LoWPAN encapsulation frames to upper stack layers. As specified in IEEE 802.15.9, dispatch of LoWPAN encapsulation frames will require an Ethertype be assigned for LoWPAN encapsulation. LoWPAN encapsulation will likely be needed for WiFi Alliance's HaLoW standard (low power operation in the 900 MHz band) Other layer 2 technologies such as Ethernet and debugging tools such as Wireshark require a unique protocol type field for LoWPAN encapsulation to properly interpret IPv6 datagrams that use LoWPAN encapsulation. Any existing or future Layer 2 technology, incorporating Ethertype based upper layer dispatch, can use the Ethertype proposed in this document to dispatch LoWPAN encapsulated IPv6 datagrams.