Enhancements and Challenges in CoAP-A Survey

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Networking
• Internet of Things (IoT)

Background:

• The Internet of Engineering Task (IETF) developed the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) for resource-constrained IoT devices.
• CoAP, based on UDP, is a lightweight and efficient alternative to protocols like HTTP and MQTT for IoT applications.
• CoAP supports features like resource observation, discovery, and congestion control, enabling its use in domains such as home automation and health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey the shortcomings of the basic CoAP architecture.
• To highlight the enhancements made to CoAP over time to address its limitations.
• To discuss current challenges and issues within the CoAP architecture.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of CoAP architecture and its evolution.
• Analysis of CoAP's features, benefits, and drawbacks.
• Examination of CoAP enhancements and their impact.

Main Results:

• Identified key shortcomings in the original CoAP design.
• Documented various enhancements and modifications to the CoAP protocol.
• Highlighted ongoing challenges in CoAP implementation and deployment.

Conclusions:

• CoAP is a viable protocol for constrained IoT environments despite its initial limitations.
• Continuous enhancements are crucial for CoAP's sustained relevance and performance.
• Further research is needed to address existing challenges in CoAP architecture and applications.