LoRaWAN

Pr.  F.  Vannel  

fabien.vannel@hesge.ch

IoT
What  is  LoRaWAN

§ LoRaWAN defines  the  communication  protocol  and  system  architecture  for  the  
network  while  the  LoRa physical  layer  enables  the  long-­range  communication  
link.  The  protocol  and  network  architecture  have  the  most  influence  in  
determining  the  battery  lifetime  of  a  node,  the  network  capacity,  the  quality  of  
service,  the  security,  and  the  variety  of  applications  served  by  the  network.  

Source  :  LoRa alliance

Network  architecture

Source  :  LoRa alliance

Source  :  Semtech
Source  :  Semtech
Security

§ The  network  security  ensures  authenticity  of  the  node  in  the  network  while  the  
application  layer  of  security  ensures  the  network  operator  does  not  have  access  
to  the  end  user’s  application  data.  AES  encryption  is  used  with  the  key  exchange  
utilizing  an  IEEE  EUI64  identifier.
LoRaWAN main  characteristics

§ Device  can  send  up  to  250  Bytes  /  packet  

§ (max  value  depends  on  the  selected  DataRate)
§ Fixed  DataRate or  adaptive  DataRate
§ Interesting  for  moving  devices
§ Confirmed  or  Unconfirmed  messages
§ Port  communication  (1  to  223)
§ Uplink  and  Downlink  communications
§ Security  with  AES  128  encryption
§ Each  end  devices  should  have  a  unique  ID  (EUI64)  
§ 2  modes  for  end  device  activation  
§ OTAA (Over-­The-­Air Activation)
§ ABP (Activation  By Personalization)
§ 32  bits  End-­device  address  
§ Several  security  keys  (AES-­128)
§ Application  Key  (128  bits)
§ Network  Session  Key  (128  bits)
§ Application  Session  Key  (128  bits)
LoRaWAN (Europe)

§ Frequencies  :  867-­869  MHz

§ Bands  :  10
§ Channel  bandwidth  Uplinks  (from  Device  to  Gateway)  :  125/250  kHz
§ Channel  bandwidth  Downlink  (from  Gateway  to  Device)  :  125  kHz
§ Spread-­Spectrum  :  SF7  to  SF12
§ Data  Rate  :  250bps  to  50kbps
§ Tx Power  :  +14dBm
LoRaWAN DataRate (Europe)
LoRaWAN frequency (Europe)

§ A  minimum  of  3  channel  are  mandatory.

§ Additional  channels  can  be  configured  (depending  on  the  Gateway  configuration)

§ The  RX2  receive  window  uses  a  fixed  frequency  and  data  rate.  The  default  
parameters  are  869.525  MHz  /  DR0  (SF12,  125  kHz)  
LoRaWAN frequency (Europe)

§ Exemple of  additionnal channel  (depending  on  Gateway  configuration)

LoRaWAN packets

§ Uplink (From Device to  Gateway)

§ LoRa packet based on  explicit  header.  Payload with CRC

§ Downlink (From Gateway  to  Device)

§ LoRa packet based on  explicit  header  without CRC  for  the  Payload
LoRaWAN packets details

Encrypted  payload
LoRaWAN packets details

§ MHDR  field (MAC  header)  is 1  Byte.

§ 6  main  type  of  messages  can be transmited

Note  : RFU  mean  Reserved  for  F uture  Usage

LoRaWAN packets  encryption

§ Payload  encryption
§ The  encryption  scheme  used  is  based  on  the  generic  algorithm  using  AES  with  a  key  
length  of  128  bits.  

§ Depending  on  the  requested  port,  payload  is  encrypted  with  Network  Session  
Key  (port  0  )  or  Application  Session  Key  (port  1  to  223)
End-­Device  activation

§ End  device  can  join  a  network  using  two  methodologies:

§ ABP  (Activation  by  Personalization).  Following  parameters  should  be  shared  between  
the  network  and  the  end-­device:
• Device  ID  (32  bits)
• Network  Session  Key  (128  bits)
• Application  Session  Key  (128  bits)
§ Over  the  Air  Activation
• Application  Key (128  bits)
• Device  ID  (32  bits)  will  be  transmitted  by  the  network  to  the  End-­Device
• Network  Session  Key  and  Application  Session  Key  will  be  derivate  by  data  
coming  from  the  server  and  by  End  Device  data.

§ In  both  scheme  End  Device  unique  ID  (EUI64)  should  be  know  by  the  server  before  
activation.

16
Communication  classes

Source  :  LoRa alliance

Source  :  semtech
Source  :  semtech
Source  :  nickhunn.com
Timing  (Class  A)

§ End  Device  slot  timing

§ Transmit  channel  frequency  is  chosen  randomly  between  allowed  frequencies.

§ RX1  slot  is  same  channel  and  DataRate as  Transmit  channel
§ RX2  is  always  869.525  MHz  /  DR0  (SF12,  125  kHz)  
§ Default  setup:  
§ Received  Delay  1  =  1  second
§ Received  Delay  2  =  2  seconds
Message  sequence  example  (Class  A)
Message  sequence exemple
End  device  solutions

Source  :  Prof. Congduc Pham  

24
Gateways  solutions

25
Cloud  backbone  solutions

IBM

26