Software-Defined Networking-Enabled Efficient Default Route Configuration in IEEE 802.15.4 Protocol: A Smart Algorithmic Approach

Today’s software-defined networking (SDN) applications have many challenges. Its main applications are focused on networks with nodes with high processing capacity. Applying SDN technology in nodes operating on batteries with limited computing capabilities is challenging. In this context, this paper proposes SDN-enabled algorithms for the remote configuration of the default route to be applied in multi-hop wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with tree-type topology using the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol. The routing algorithm to define the default route of each node is executed in an SDN-enabled WSN controller (SDWSN). The SDWSN controller receives information on the state of the network, executes the Djikstra or Kruskal algorithms, and configures the default route of the nodes remotely. The best route selection is based on the battery level of the nodes and the distance between them. The results show that using network protocols to configure the nodes remotely is unnecessary.