Optimized parent and path selection for battery powered devices within a wireless network

A first node that resides within a wireless network, the first node comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor that is coupled to the memory and, when executing the instructions:
• receives a first metric from a first potential parent node included in the wireless network, the first metric indicating a remaining battery life associated with a first path to a head node that includes the first potential parent node;
• receives a second metric from a second potential parent node included in the wireless network, the second metric indicating a remaining battery life associated with a second path that includes the second potential parent node;
• and
• selects a parent node from the first potential parent node or the second potential parent node based at least in part on the first metric and the second metric.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• receiving data associated with remaining battery life of one or more other nodes that reside within a wireless network;
• determining a value representing a remaining battery life of a first node;
• computing a metric based on at least one of the remaining battery life of the one or more other nodes or the remaining battery life of the first node;
• and
• transmitting the metric to a second node within the wireless network.