Dynamic VLAN-tagging approach for IoT Network Segmentation and ad-hoc Connectivity

The setup of a Internet of Things (IoT) network directly depends on the underlying network and communication infrastructure. These networks use protocols of the IEEE 802 protocol suite, including the IEEE 802.1Q standard for Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). The purpose of this technology is to segment a physical network into multiple logical networks, behaving like independent networks. Additionally, Quality of Service (QoS) is provided by VLANs in the form of prioritization. This is achieved by inserting a VLAN tag into the corresponding frames, typically managed by network devices. To evaluate this feature from another perspective, this paper proposes a protocol using VLAN-tagging on the end-device side for a dynamic and ad-hoc network segmentation. An evaluation of the proposed protocol is provided, using a proof-of-work implementation. The evaluation showed that the protocol is working and sufficient for a ad-hoc network segmentation and features advantages and disadvantages, discussed in the paper. A performance evaluation has been executed on readily available hardware, showing that the protocol can be used in certain IoT and Industry 4.0 network scenarios.