Title
A reinforcement learning-based link quality estimation strategy for RPL and its impact on topology management.
Abstract
Over the last few years, standardisation efforts are consolidating the role of the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) as the standard routing protocol for IPv6-based Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Although many core functionalities are well defined, others are left implementation dependent. Among them, the definition of an efficient link-quality estimation (LQE) strategy is of paramount importance, as it influences significantly both the quality of the selected network routes and nodes’ energy consumption. In this paper, we present RL-Probe, a novel strategy for link quality monitoring in RPL, which accurately measures link quality with minimal overhead and energy waste. To achieve this goal, RL-Probe leverages both synchronous and asynchronous monitoring schemes to maintain up-to-date information on link quality and to promptly react to sudden topology changes, e.g. due to mobility. Our solution relies on a reinforcement learning model to drive the monitoring procedures in order to minimise the overhead caused by active probing operations. The performance of the proposed solution is assessed by means of simulations and real experiments. Results demonstrated that RL-Probe helps in effectively improving packet loss rates, allowing nodes to promptly react to link quality variations as well as to link failures due to node mobility.
Year
DOI
Venue
2017
10.1016/j.comcom.2017.08.005
Computer Communications
Keywords
Field
DocType
RPL,Topology and mobility management,Link quality estimation,Experimental evaluation
IPv6,Asynchronous communication,Lossy compression,Computer science,Packet loss,Computer network,Real-time computing,Wireless sensor network,Energy consumption,Routing protocol,Reinforcement learning
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
112
C
0140-3664
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
5
0.39
38
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Ancillotti, E.120213.66
Vallati Carlo218225.52
Raffaele Bruno3123290.09
Enzo Mingozzi41055100.39