FetchIoT: Efficient Resource Fetching for the Internet of Things

Finding the right resource at the right time and space is a key enabler for a wide adoption and spread of the Internet of Things (IoI). The Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) and related standards are among the most prominent efforts working towards such a goal. Indeed, CoAP-related standards provide interesting mechanisms for resource discovery in both centralized and distributed architectures based on the CoAP's GET method. In this paper, we, first, highlight the limitations of GET-based discovery mechanisms. The paper, then proposes a new solution using the recently standardized FETCH method and develops its specifications, rules and semantics. The proposed solution is implemented in the recently released, secure and reliable OpenThread platform and compared with GET-based approaches in different home automation scenarios. Obtained results demonstrate the performance of FETCH-based discovery in achieving fine-grained, time-efficient and reliable discovery while preserving network resources.