Force-based navigation in wireless sensornets

Certain scenario-oriented network tasks require a non-traditional approach to routing. This happens when routing should become aware of the node´s state defined beyond the network layer (e.g., sensed value, current physical location, etc.). In this paper we present an approach that helps software elements to navigate through the network based on the metaphors of fields and forces known from physics. The elements encapsulate logic to make a decision on the next move in the dynamic environment that is formed by overlapping, interacting fields and represent a physical value (e.g., fire) or a role (e.g., sink node). As a result, the force is induced on a node which pushes the element in a certain direction, towards or even away from the field source. We illustrate the feasibility of our solution using an emergency evacuation scenario for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). We show that our system is simple yet provides more flexibility and functionality than existing counterparts.