Implementation and Evaluation of Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) for the Android Operating System

The researchers and industry envision the future Internet as the Internet of Things (IoT). The future IOT consists of a network of globally identifiable physical objects/things integrated into existing informational network. IPv6 with potentially unlimited address space is an enabling technology towards the IoT. Smartphones will be integral part of the IOT which can interact with the “things” in the
wireless network or itself represents a thing in the IOT. The “things” in the IOT may be connected with a low powered IEEE 802-15.4 networks. The IPv6 over Low Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPAN) standard already enables the routing of traditional Internet traffic in 802.15.4 networks.

Real-world deployments of WSN require secure communication. We are convinced that in the web
enabled IOT DTLS will be an important security solution. We are already developing DTLS for the embedded devices (things) that use Contiki OS.

The focus of this thesis is to provide the same standardized DTLS for the Android OS based devices. The implementation includes the DTLS protocols that are mandatory in Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP). The thesis also include the evaluation of implemented DTLS with the other implementations of DTLS in Linux based operating systems.

The work will be carried out in NES group at SICS. NES is one of the European best research groups in the area of WSNs. NES has developed the well-known Contiki operating system, COOJA simulator, uIP stack, compressed IPsec, etc. We are looking for a top, creative student with strong interest in computer programming. Strong Java/Android programming skills are required. Since the work is
performed in an international environment, good communication skills in English are required.