Improving resource-constrained IoT device lifetimes by mitigating redundant transmissions across heterogeneous wireless multimedia of things

Abstract

In Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks (WMSNs), nodes capable of retrieving video, audio, images, and small scale sensor data, tend to generate immense traffic of various types. The energy-efficient transmission of such a vast amount of heterogeneous multimedia content while simultaneously ensuring the quality of service and optimal energy consumption is indispensable. Therefore, we propose a Power-Efficient Wireless Multimedia of Things (PE-WMoT), a robust and energy-efficient cluster-based mechanism to improve the overall lifetime of WMSNs. In a PE-WMoT, nodes declare themselves Cluster Heads (CHs) based on available resources. Once cluster formation and CH declaration processes are completed, the Sub-Cluster (SC) formation process triggers, in which application base nodes within close vicinity of each other organize themselves under the administration of a Sub-Cluster Head (SCH). The SCH gathers data from member nodes, removes redundancies, and forwards miniaturized data to its respective CH. PE-WMoT adopts a fuzzy-based technique named the analytical hierarchical process, which enables CHs to select an optimal SCH among available SCs. A PE-WMoT also devises a robust scheduling mechanism between CH, SCH, and child nodes to enable collision-free data transmission. Simulation results revealed that a PE-WMoT significantly reduces the number of redundant packet transmissions, improves energy consumption of the network, and effectively increases network throughput.