!!! Overview
[{$pagename}] ([RFC 7228]) document provides a number of basic terms that have been useful in the standardization work for constrained-node networks.Small [devices] with limited CPU, memory, and power resources, so-called "constrained devices" (often used as sensors/actuators, smart objects, or smart devices) can form a network, becoming "[constrained Nodes]" in that network.  Such a [network] may itself exhibit constraints, e.g., with unreliable or lossy [channels], limited and unpredictable bandwidth, and a highly dynamic topology.

Constrained [devices] might be in charge of gathering information in diverse settings, including natural ecosystems, buildings, and factories, and sending the information to one or more [server] stations.  They might also act on information, by performing some physical action, including displaying it.  Constrained [devices] may work under severe resource constraints such as limited battery and computing power, little memory, and insufficient wireless bandwidth and ability to communicate; these constraints often exacerbate each other.  Other [entities] on the network, e.g., a base station or controlling server, might have more computational and communication resources and could support the interaction between the constrained [devices] and [applications] in more traditional [networks].

Today, diverse sizes of constrained [devices] with different resources and capabilities are becoming connected.  Mobile personal gadgets, building-automation devices, cellular phones, [machine-to-machine] ([M2M]) devices, and other devices benefit from interacting with other "things" nearby or somewhere in the Internet.  With this, the [Internet of Things] ([IoT]) becomes a reality, built up out of uniquely identifiable and addressable objects (things).  Over the next decade, this could grow to large numbers __FIFTY-BILLION__ of Internet-connected constrained devices, greatly increasing the Internet's size and scope.

The present document provides a number of basic terms that have been useful in the standardization work for constrained environments.  The intention is not to exhaustively cover the field but to make sure a few core terms are used consistently between different groups cooperating in this space.

In this document, the term "[byte]" is used in its now customary sense as a synonym for "[octet]".  Where sizes of semiconductor memory are given, the prefix "kibi" (1024) is combined with "byte" to "[kibibyte]", abbreviated "[KiB]", for 1024 bytes [ISQ-13].

In computing, the term "power" is often used for the concept of "computing power" or "processing power", as in [CPU] performance.  In this document, the term stands for electrical power unless explicitly stated otherwise.  "Mains-powered" is used as a shorthand for being  permanently connected to a stable electrical power grid.

* [Constrained Nodes]
* [Constrained Networks]
* [Challenged Networks]
* [Constrained-Node Networks]
** [Low-Power and Lossy Network]
** [LoWPAN], [6LoWPAN]
* [Power Terminology]
** [Scaling Properties]
** [Classes of Energy Limitation]
** [Strategies for Using Power for Communication]

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