Scale-free topology optimization for software-defined wireless sensor networks: A cyber-physical system

Due to the limited resource and vulnerability in wireless sensor networks, maximizing the network lifetime and improving network survivability have become the top priority problem in network topology optimization. This article presents a wireless sensor networks topology optimization model based on complex network theory and cyber-physical systems using software-defined wireless sensor network architecture. The multiple-factor-driven virtual force field and network division–oriented particle swarm algorithm are introduced into the deployment strategy of super-node for the implementation in wireless sensor networks topology initialization, which help to rationally allocate heterogeneous network resources and balance the energy consumption in wireless sensor networks. Furthermore, the preferential attachment scheme guided by corresponding priority of crucial sensors is added into scale-free structure for optimization in topology evolution process and for protection of vulnerable nodes in wireless sensor networks. Software-defined wireless sensor network–based functional architecture is adopted to optimize the network evolution rules and algorithm parameters using information cognition and flow-table configure mode. The theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed wireless sensor networks topology optimization model possesses both the small-world effect and the scale-free property, which can contribute to extend the lifetime of wireless sensor networks with energy efficiency and improve the robustness of wireless sensor networks with structure invulnerability

Can SDN Technology Be Transported to Software-Defined WSN/IoT?

© 2016 IEEE. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are essential elements of the Internet of Things ecosystem, as such, they encounter numerous IoT challenging architectural, management and application issues. These include inflexible control, manual configuration and management of sensor nodes, difficulty in an orchestration of resources, and virtualizing sensor network resources for on-demand applications and services. Addressing these issues presents a real challenge for WSNs and IoTs. By separating the network control plane from the data forwarding plane, Software-defined networking (SDN) has emerged as network technology that addresses similar problems of current switched-networks. Despite the differences between switched network and wireless sensor network domains, the SDN technology has a real potential to revolutionize WSNs/IoTs and address their challenging issues. However, very little has been attempted to bring the SDN paradigm to WSNs. This paper identifies weaknesses of existing research efforts that aims to bring the benefits of SDN to WSNs by mapping the control plane, the OpenFlow protocol, and the functionality between the two network domains. In particular, the paper investigates the difficulties and challenges in the development of software-defined wireless sensor networking (SDWSN). Finally, the paper proposes VSensor, SDIoT controller, SFlow components with specific and relevant functionality for an architecture of an SDWSN or SDIoT infrastructure

Feasibility and performance analysis of sensor modeling in OPNET

The current surge in wireless sensor network research has led to the extensive use of network simulation software to simulate new and novel protocols. Analysis via simulation allows for the validation of protocols before being fully deployed in physical networks. Though superior in modeling RF signals and network operations, current wireless network simulation software lack fully functional sensor models that replicate a sensor’s interaction with the environment. Realistic and specific sensor models do exist, however very little has been incorporated into commonly used network simulators. It is questionable whether the typical approach of modeling sensed data as random processes offers anything close to reality. It is, therefore, the goal of this work to investigate the feasibility and benefit of developing user-configurable sensor models in a widely used network simulation software called OPNET. This work examines various types of sensors and categorizes them based on the way the sensors may be modeled in OPNET. Sensors are grouped into four distinct categories as follows. The first group, called ambient sensors, is used to categorize sensors that sense information in its surroundings such as ambient temperature and humidity. The second group of sensors are called self-characterizing sensors. These type of sensors are used to help a wireless node identify its physical properties, including acceleration and internal temperature. Sensors that help a wireless node identify external objects are called objectcharacterizing sensors. This group is further subdivided into two sections, intrusive and non-intrusive sensors. An intrusive object characterizing sensor sends out energy in some waveform and interprets data from the waveform reflected back. Sensors in this category include ultrasonic and sonar sensors. Finally, non-intrusive sensors characterize an object passively, such as that done by infrared heat sensors. Leveraging the well-defined Wireless Module in OPNET, an infrared thermal imaging sensor module, typically used for detection and tracking, will be developed and examined. Results via simulation will demonstrate the benefit of utilizing the developed sensor model as compared to traditional approaches used in network simulation. Feasibility and benefits for modeling other sensor types, such as velocity and global positioning sensors will also be examined

A Novel Framework for Software Defined Wireless Body Area Network

Software Defined Networking (SDN) has gained huge popularity in replacing traditional network by offering flexible and dynamic network management. It has drawn significant attention of the researchers from both academia and industries. Particularly, incorporating SDN in Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) applications indicates promising benefits in terms of dealing with challenges like traffic management, authentication, energy efficiency etc. while enhancing administrative control. This paper presents a novel framework for Software Defined WBAN (SDWBAN), which brings the concept of SDN technology into WBAN applications. By decoupling the control plane from data plane and having more programmatic control would assist to overcome the current lacking and challenges of WBAN. Therefore, we provide a conceptual framework for SDWBAN with packet flow model and a future direction of research pertaining to SDWBAN.Comment: Presented on 8th International Conference on Intelligent Systems, Modelling and Simulatio