NTT Com | IPv6 Global Community

To create new IPv6 businesses, we think that it is important not only to develop the IPv6 network, but also to provide customers with an environment for practical use of the merits of IPv6 which realizes "a secure, easy and real-time communication between objects on an End-to-End basis."
As one of the examples of using the merit of IPv6, NTT Communications has developed "m2m-x (development code)" which is a new communication procedure to realize a secure and easy two-way real-time communication through the Internet.

The present Internet has been used mainly for access to the Web and sending/receiving e-mails. This is a Client/Server communication model where the server responds to the requests from the client (one-way communication). In the future, however, if the existing Client/Server communication model is used for access to net home electric appliances from outside, some problems will occur.

[Figure 1] (Click to enlarge)

There are several problems to overcome before connecting various home electric appliances to the network and realizing a secure connection from outside via the Internet

1. Security

(1)

You want to prevent a stranger from accessing your home air conditioner. Therefore, it is necessary to build a mechanism where only specific authorized persons (objects) can have access to the appliances.
Also, the network may suffer from DoS attacks caused by information on public view such as DNS. Therefore, it is necessary to build a mechanism for concealing the existence itself from unauthorized parties

(2)

The security against spoofing and interception of communication and tampering should be assured.
It is necessary to build a mechanism with a secure authentication function and for a secure exchange of cryptographic keys.

(3)

Security of home LAN is assured by blocking access from outside with a simple FW such as a router.
It is necessary to build a mechanism where the FW can be controlled in real time only when receiving signals.

2. Simplicity

In utilizing IPv6 for net appliances such as home electric appliances, complicated setting procedures would obstruct the expansion of the IPv6 service.
It is necessary to build a mechanism where anybody can use the service securely only by a simple setting procedure

3. Low cost

An increase in processing protocol load leads to an increase in cost for terminal devices. Cost for terminal devices should be reduced by simplifying the mechanism of authentication and key exchange.
In addition, it is necessary to review the method of realizing the services such as a server relay system that may cause an increase in cost.

m2m-x is the platform which can solve these problems and realize a secure, simple and low-cost "two-way real-time communication."

[Figure 2] (Click to enlarge)