Non-IP Data Delivery(NIDD) for Secure Communication and Efficient Power Usage

Can we use devices in a network without an IP address? ??

The answer is yes, it's possible with NON-IP Data Delivery (NIDD). Let's first find out "Why" it's needed.

The NIDD feature is supported in cellular network and NB-IoT network is meant for cellular IoT. It uses small payload, high latency, narrow band and the devices with NB-IoT typically sleeping most of the time. this helps devices to save more power.

? Also Importantly, Less payload size -->> Less power consumption. But there is always overhead of IP and TCP/TLS. also, TCP keeps connection open till acknowledgment is received which increases time of the connection. So, how to reduce more power consumption? ?? Here, NIDD comes into picture.

?? NIDD & UDP can be used to optimize the power. The main reason of using UDP instead TCP is, it's asynchronous and reduces time of the connection.

? How to set up NIDD?

To set up NON-IP, you need to configure APN which supports NON-IP on your sim card. Below are standard AT commands used.

Set an APN:

????+??????????????=1,"??????????","??????????.??????.??????"

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To check if PDP is activated:

????+???????????

+??????????: 1,1

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Now, your device is ready to send payload without IP address. ?? you can crosscheck with AT command that your device is having IP address or not but still it communicates with the endpoint.

??♂? Basically, IP-Pool is created within APN when user application sends attach request for NON-IP which assigns internal source IP mapped to IMSI number of SIM card. the payload received from device to IP-Pool is encapsulated to UDP destination IP and port and sent to server and vice versa.