Software Defined Wireless Network (SDWN): an evolvable architecture for W-PANs

Rarely the interest in a new networking paradigm has increased at such a velocity as it is happening for software defined networking (SDN). Motivations of this hype of interest are several but the most important can be re-conducted to the following three: (i) SDN simplifies network configuration and management; (ii) SDN makes the network evolvable; (iii) SDN frees operators from vendors' lock-in. Eagerly, in some cases, or reluctantly, in others, both operators and manufacturers of communication and networking equipments have started new lines of research, development, and marketing focused on SDN. A quick look at the list of members of the organizations promoting the development of SDN-related standards suffices to understand that players of the wireless domain are trying to ride this wave as well. However, it is difficult for the observers to understand where such a wave is headed to in very common networking scenarios involving infrastructureless wireless communications. This paper is an attempt to fill this gap. In fact, a major objective of this paper is to analyze (i) what are the advantages of SDN in infrastructureless wireless networking environments such as wireless personal area networks (W-PANs), and (ii) what are the requirements that must be satisfied to apply SDN in W-PANs. Furthermore, a complete SDN solution for W-PANs, named Software Defined Wireless Network (SDWN), is introduced and a prototype implementation is described.