Performance analysis of wireless sensor networks using queuing networks

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are autonomous wireless systems consists of a variety of collaborative sensor nodes forming a self-configuring network with or without any pre-defined infrastructure. The common challenges of a WSN are network connectivity, node mobility, energy consumption, data computation and aggregation at sensor nodes. In this paper we focus on intermittency in network connectivity due to mobility of sensor nodes. We propose a new mathematical model to capture a given entire WSN as is with intermittency introduced between the communication links due to mobility. The model involves open GI/G/1/N queuing networks whereby intermittency durations in communication links are captured in terms of mobility models. The analytical formulas for the performance measures such as average end-to-end delay, packet loss probability, throughput, and average number of hops are derived using the queuing network analyzer and expansion method for models with infinite- and finite-buffer nodes, respectively. For models with 2-state intermittency, we analyze the performance measures by classifying these models into three types: namely, model with intermittent reception, model with intermittent transmission and/or reception, and model with intermittent transmission. We extend the analysis to multi-state intermittency models. We demonstrate the gained insight of WSNs through extensive numerical results.