# Network Lifetime Maximization in Wireless Mesh Networks for Machine-to-Machine Communication

## TL;DR

This paper introduces new optimization methods for extending the lifetime of wireless mesh networks in IoT applications by leveraging network reconfiguration, demonstrating significant improvements through numerical simulations.

## Contribution

It presents novel optimization formulations for network lifetime maximization that incorporate reconfiguration strategies suitable for heterogeneous IoT mesh networks.

## Key findings

- Network lifetime increased by up to 75% with reconfiguration.
- Few configurations needed for practical implementation.
- Low synchronization and signaling overhead for reconfiguration.

## Abstract

In this paper we present new optimization formulations for maximizing the network lifetime in wireless mesh networks performing data aggregation and dissemination for machine-to-machine communication in the Internet of Things. We focus on heterogeneous networks in which multiple applications co-exist and nodes may take on different roles for different applications. Moreover, we address network reconfiguration as a means to increase the network lifetime, in keeping with the current trend towards software defined networks and network function virtualization. To test our optimization formulations, we conducted a numerical study using randomly-generated mesh networks from 10 to 30 nodes, and showed that the network lifetime can be increased using network reconfiguration by up to 75% over a single, minimal-energy configuration. Further, our solutions are feasible to implement in practical scenarios: only few configurations are needed, thus requiring little storage for a standalone network, and the synchronization and signalling needed to switch configurations is low relative to each configuration's operating time.