Graphical User Interface for OpenThread

This paper presents an implementation of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the OpenThread software. OpenThread is a software package for Thread. Thread is a networking protocol for Internet of Things (IoT) designed for home automation. OpenThread package was released by Nest Labs as an open source implementation of the Thread specification v1.1.1. The OpenThread includes IPv6, 6LoWPAN, IEEE 802.15.4 with MAC security, Mesh Link Establishment, and Mesh Routing. OpenThread includes all Thread supported device types and supports both SOC and NCP implementations. OpenThread runs on Linux and allows the users to use it as a simulator with a command line interface. This research is focused on adding a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to the OpenThread. The GUI package is implemented in TCL/Tk (Tool Control Language). OpenThread with a GUI makes working with OpenThread much easier for researchers and students. The GUI also makes it easier to visualize the Thread network and its operations.