SDaN: Software Defined Adaptive Networking - IoT and beyond

Abstract

In this position paper, I present my vision on how enhancing the interaction between devices in an Internet of Things (IoT) network and the mechanisms of Software Defined Networking (SDN) can not only improve the efficiency of wirelessly transmitted data but can strengthen the viability and manageability of devices in an IoT network and beyond. By expanding the composition of SDN to encompass not only the existing North (controller API), South (device API), East and West interfaces (distributed controller(s) API) – viewed as an X-/Y-axis, but also an holistic adaptive Z-axis, which mandates a higher layer abstraction of the root APIs irrespective of the underlying architecture. This adaptive Z-axis improves the global view by offering an abstracted view of the network control and management for all objects in the network. In this proposal all interfaces, irrespective of axis, can be viewed as a single abstraction, by which inter-operative function calls can be leveraged adaptively between the device(s) and the network(s). By leveraging these additional constructs, I believe SDN can improve the capabilities and efficiency of IoT networks and beyond.