Energy Efficient Network Protocols for Wireless and Mobile Networks

Abstract

Abstract : This research project studied the design, analysis and implementation of energy efficient (also called power aware) network protocols for wireless and mobile networks. In particular, we focused on the medium access control, scheduling, reservation signaling, and transport protocols. The research considered two different types of networks: infrastructure networks, where a central base station coordinates the mobile users' network communications, and self-organizing networks where the mobile users form a self-organize network of which a specific example is wireless sensor networks. The research methodology consisted of rigorous and detailed performance analysis based on three techniques: mathematical modeling, discrete-event simulation based modeling and experimental implementation (where feasible) on a wireless testbed of the developed protocols and algorithms. Adaptive energy efficient algorithms within medium access control (MAC) protocols for wireless networks were developed. A performance analysis of different wireless MAC protocols was conducted from an energy-efficiency perspective. We have also designed and analyzed a low-power MAC protocol for such wireless infrastructure networks. A set of scheduling algorithms that dynamically schedule the transmission channel to mobiles based on traffic requests and battery power levels of mobiles were developed. Scheduling algorithms for scheduling traffic in wireless data networks with multiple channels per cell were developed. The main objective of the scheduling algorithms was to reduce the computation time while maximizing the utilization of the network resources, thereby improving the system throughput. The problem of providing quality of service (QoS) support and routing for wireless networks in the presence of user mobility was studied.