Wireless Sensor Network MAC Research Articles

Dense Clustered Multi-Channel Wireless Sensor Cloud

Dense Wireless Sensor Network Clouds have an inherent issue of latency and packet drops with regards to data collection. Though there is extensive literature that tries to address these issues through either scheduling, channel contention or a combination of the two, the problem still largely exists. In this paper, a Clustered Multi-Channel Scheduling Protocol (CMSP) is designed that creates a Voronoi partition of a dense network. Each partition is assigned a channel, and a scheduling scheme is adopted to collect data within the Voronoi partitions. This scheme collects data from the partitions concurrently and then passes it to the base station. CMSP is compared using simulation with other multi-channel protocols like Tree-based Multi-Channel, Multi-Channel MAC and Multi-frequency Media Access Control for wireless sensor networks. Results indicate CMSP has higher throughput and data delivery ratio at a lower power consumption due to network partitioning and hierarchical scheduling that minimizes load on the network.

Aggregation for adaptive and energy-efficient MAC in wireless sensor networks

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocols are considered an energy-efficient solution to prolong wireless sensor network lifetime. However, their drawbacks such as the complexity of slot assignment and schedule maintenance, clock synchronization and low channel utilization during low traffic conditions are to be overcome in a good and efficient way. In this paper we present On-demand Convergecast Sensor MACS (OCSMACS), a centralized and adaptive multihop scheduling-based TDMA protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks. OCSMACS achieves high energy efficiency by adopting a novel requests aggregation mechanism for adaptive slot assignments such that all requests generated by active nodes are aggregated in a very few small size packets. In addition, knowledge of data correlation is integrated in the design of underlying multihop scheduling schemes to improve energy efficiency and extend network lifetime. Furthermore, OCSMACS adopts an energy-efficient protocol called PROGRESSIVE for the topology discovery and setup phases. The performance of OCSMACS is compared against existing protocols based on simulations using ns-2 and the results show that OCSMACS outperforms these protocols in terms of energy efficiency and network lifetime. Also, the integration of correlation knowledge in the scheduling process improves performance and extends network lifetime.

RC-MAC: A Receiver-Centric MAC Protocol for Event-Driven Wireless Sensor Networks

Event-driven wireless sensor networks (WSNs) usually operate under light traffic load. However, when an event is detected, a large number of packets may be generated. A MAC protocol designed for this kind of WSNs should be able to swiftly adapt to the two conditions. Most WSN MAC protocols are optimized for light traffic for the energy efficiency consideration. In this paper, we propose a novel receiver-centric MAC protocol called RC-MAC that seamlessly integrates duty cycling and receiver-centric scheduling, providing high throughput without sacrificing the energy efficiency. To handle bursty traffic triggered by an event, RC-MAC takes advantage of the underlying data gathering tree structure of WSNs and the multichannel technique supported by current IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceivers to assist scheduling of medium access. The throughput is improved in two phases with receiver-centric medium access scheduling and distributed channel assignment. First, on a data gathering tree, a receiver is able to coordinate the medium access of multiple senders so as to reduce collisions and achieve high throughput. Second, different receivers coordinate their senders in different channels and the throughput is further improved by allowing parallel data gathering. Observing packet processing time on low cost sensor nodes, we design a scheduling pattern that ensures fairness between source nodes without sacrificing the throughput. We evaluate the performance of our RC-MAC through measurements of an implementation in TinyOS on TelosB motes and extensive ns-2 simulations. Compared with contention-based and scheduling-based MAC protocols, we show that the throughput and the fairness under heavy traffic load are significantly improved by the receiver-centric scheduling. Due to the high throughput, the energy efficiency is also improved.

Energy-aware and load-balanced parent selection in RPL routing for wireless sensor networks

The IEEE 802.15.4 and RPL standards are commonly used for MAC and routing in wireless sensor networks, respectively. In single-hop networks, duty cycling is supported by the beacon-enabled mode of 802.15.4. In multi-hop networks, 802.15.4 uses a cluster-tree while RPL is based on a DoDAG structure. Several studies report that the performance of RPL over cluster-tree-based 802.15.4 degrades owing to the incompatibility of these structures. In this paper, we propose a dynamic parent selection in RPL that takes both load and energy constraints into consideration. We base our work on a modified cluster-tree MAC, which is compatible with RPL and permits selecting multiple parents. For each packet, we select the preferred parent based on a composite metric incorporating remaining energy and recent load on paths to the sink. Simulation results show that our mechanism extends network lifetime and improves network performance in terms of end-to-end delay and packet delivery ratio.

A Survey on Asynchronous MAC protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor network (WSN) plays an important role in applications like surveillance, agriculture monitoring, health monitoring, industrial automation etc. Large number of low cost sensor nodes are distributed that can communicate with each other. WSN MAC protocols can be classified in to Synchronous, Asynchronous, Multiple channels and Frame based [2].Our paper focuses on the latest progresses in Asynchronous MAC protocols

The Application Research of Sensors Non-autonomous Moving WSN MAC Protocol in Tailings Dams

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is widely used in environmental monitoring such as Tailings Dams, because of its low cost, high accuracy, and can remotely get monitoring information. We focuses on Tailings Dams monitoring application, proposed a MAC protocol with sensors non-autonomous moving. This protocol can quickly response events and fully considers about energy consumption. To develop network connectivity, this paper also developed the drift trajectory generation algorithm. At last, we make a simulation about the algorithm in MATLAB platform, and make a comparison between visual trajectory and real trajectory. The result shows that both trajectories are highly flt in speed and direct, there is an internal consistency between them.

Virtual Clustered MAC Layer Protocol Design of a Wireless Sensor Network: ES-MAC

Sensor-MAC (S-MAC), one kind of use common type activities / sleep cycle wireless sensor network MAC layer protocol, we propose a strengthening type Enhanced S-MAC, called ES-MAC, and part of its application in wireless sensor networks than the outer layer of low traffic. ES-MAC is divided into three stages: the first stage is to create a virtual cluster region and preset transmission path; third stage of data transfer; second stage of data collection and sorting. Sensing node virtual cluster in the region, competitive manner using micro slot (Mini-Slot) determine the order of data transmission. In the data transfer phase has been established using the sequential transfer of data, the sense node in order to reduce the unnecessary and excessive collision monitoring, sleep time, and the growth of nodes. Simulation results show that, ES-MAC under different flow and different cycles, compared with S-MAC has lower average packet delay time.

Probability Detection CSMA with Monitoring Based on the Improved Binary Tree Conflict Resolution Algorithm

This paper presents a new wireless sensor network MAC protocol: the probability detection CSMA protocol with monitoring function based on the improved binary tree conflict resolution algorithm. By using the average cycle method, the paper gets the mathematical expressions of the throughput, system average delay of the probability detection CSMA protocol with monitoring function and the probability detection CSMA protocol with monitoring function based on the improved binary tree conflict resolution algorithm through complicated mathematical modeling, rigorous mathematical derivation. The computer simulation results not only confirm the correctness of the theoretical analysis but also show that the probability detection CSMA protocol with monitoring function based on the improved binary tree conflict resolution algorithm due to adding to the conflict resolution algorithm, resulting in the increases of systemic throughput but increase the time delay of the system.

Analysis of the WSN MAC Protocols under Jamming DoS Attack

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a wireless network consisting of small nodes with sensing, computation, and wireless communications capabilities. The design of wireless sensor networks depends of many factors, such as transmission errors, network topology and power consumption. Many routing protocols, protocols for data transmission, are specifically designed for wireless sensor networks where energy consumption is essential. This paper provides a brief description of the IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee standard, also surveys the known attacks on wireless sensor networks. WSNs are particularly vulnerable to several key types of attacks. These attacks can be performed in several different ways. One of the commonly used methods is a denial of service (DoS), but there are also other types of attacks from which we should be aware as a traffic analysis, privacy violation, physical attacks etc. Three MAC protocols, such as IEEE 802.15.4 MAC, T-MAC, and S-MAC are proposed to analyse the performance of the WSN under DoS attack using OMNeT++ simulator. Different application scenarios have been evaluated. Performance parameters such as throughput, network delay, energy consumption in the coordinator, and network load are the main considered factors in our study.

Research on Sensor Medium Access Control Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

The design of S-MAC protocol focuses on how to save energy effectively , how to adapt to the requirements of network scale, node density and topological structure change , and equality, throughput, and bandwidth utilization efficiency are placed on the secondary position This paper points out the classification, basic principal, main mechanisms and key technology of a wireless sensor network MAC protocol.

Locally Synchronized MAC Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) consist of large number of sensor nodes. These nodes are distributed in a particular area for the purpose of collecting data/queries etc. WSNs have played an important role in applications such as industrial automation, smart buildings and intrusion detection so on. On the basis of energy efficiency, overhead and data delivery performance, WSN MAC is divided into four categories: locally synchronized, nonsynchronized, globally synchronized and multichannel. This paper surveys the latest progresses in locally synchronized MAC protocols.

Research of wireless sensor networks MAC protocol model based on QoS

Research of wireless sensor networks MAC protocol model based on QoS

Scalable Channel Allocation and Access Scheduling for Wireless Internet-of-Things

Wireless communication channels are a scarce resource shared among multiple users in either scheduled or randomized fashions. We challenge a few design aspects of the widely used IEEE 802.11 MAC in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), such as the use of RTS, CTS, and ACK handshaking and the binary exponential backoff mechanisms, and argue that these key mechanisms incur high channel overhead and cannot effectively eliminate hidden terminal problems in multi-hop scenarios. Instead, we propose a set of efficient grid-based channel allocation and access scheduling algorithms using Latin squares, called as GAALS, for scalable WSNs with single-radio multi-channel communication capabilities. Using nodal location information and forming grids over the WSN deployment area, GAALS maps Latin squares to the grids, and dynamically assigns multiple channels to the WSN grids for channel access scheduling purposes. The fairness and scalability of GAALS are analyzed and evaluated in multiflow multihop WSNs with multi-channel capabilities. The results show that GAALS achieves much better performance than other multichannel protocols.

CSMA/CA Protocol for Wireless Sensor Network Based on Probability Function Detection

This paper mainly analyzes a type of wireless sensor network MAC protocol based on probability function detection with random multi-access protocol to ensure a higher systemic throughput and stability by using channel load equilibrium. By using the average cycle method, we get the mean waiting time of information packet, the formulas of performance index of the systemic throughput, and the life cycle of node through mathematical derivation strictly. At last, gives the simulation results.

Z-MAC: Performance Evaluation and Enhancements

Most of the hybrid wireless sensor networks MAC protocols are based on conventional Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) wireless protocols. Z-MAC is an efficient hybrid protocol which alternates between CSMA and TDMA. It utilizes CSMA in low channel contention and switch to TDMA mode in high channel contention. In this paper, we show that Z-MAC does not perform well under high traffic load. It also proposes few enhancements to achieve better performance.

A Massive Transmission Scheme in Contention-Based MAC for Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks

For transmitting the data which is composed of sensed information in sensors, wireless sensor networks have been developed and researched for the improvement of energy efficiency, hence, many MAC protocols in WSN employ the duty cycle mechanism. Since the progressed development of the low power transceiver and processor let the high energy efficiency come true, the delivery of the multimedia data which occurs in the area of sensor work should be needed to provide supplemental information. In this paper, we design a new scheme for massive transmission of large multimedia data where the duty cycle is used in contention based MAC protocol, for WMSN. The proposed scheme can be applied into the previous duty cycle mechanism because it provides two operations between normal operation and massive transmission operation. Measuring the status of the buffer in a sender and the condition of current radio channel can be criteria for the decision of the above two operations. This paper shows the results of the experiment by performing the simulation. The target protocol of the experiment is X-MAC which is contention-based MAC protocol for WSN. Two approaches, both X-MAC which operates only duty cycle mechanism and X-MAC(MTS) which operates combined massive transmission scheme, are used for the comparative.

Energy-Efficient MAC Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks - A Review

Energy efficiency is the kernel issue in the designing of wireless sensor network(WSN) MAC protocols. Energy efficiency is a major consideration while designing wireless sensor network nodes. Most sensor network applications require energy autonomy for the complete lifetime of the node, which may span up to several years. These energy constraints require that the system be built such that Wireless sensor networks use battery-operated computing and sensing devices. A network of these devices will collaborate for a common application such as environmental monitoring. Each component consumes minimum possible power, ensure the average successful transmission rate, decrease the data packet average waiting time, and reduce the average energy consumption. Influencing by the design principles of traditional layered protocol stack, current MAC protocol designing for wireless sensor networks (WSN) seldom takes load balance into consideration, which greatly restricts WSN lifetime. As a novel Forwarding Election-based MAC protocol, is presented to prolong WSN lifetime by means of improving energy efficiency and enhancing load balance.

Transient Coordinator: a Collision Resolution Algorithm for Asynchronous MAC Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) often employ asynchronous MAC scheduling, which allows each sensor node to wake up independently without synchronizing with its neighbor nodes. However, this asynchronous scheduling may not deal with collisions due to hidden terminals effectively. Although most of the existing asynchronous protocols exploit a random back-off technique to resolve collisions, the random back-off cannot secure a receiver from potentially repetitive collisions and may lead to a substantial increase in the packet latency. In this paper, we propose a new collision resolution algorithm called Transient Coordinator (TC) for asynchronous WSN MAC protocols. TC resolves a collision on demand by ordering senders` transmissions when a receiver detects a collision. To coordinate the transmission sequence both the receiver and the collided senders perform handshaking to collect the information and to derive a collision-free transmission sequence, which enables each sender to exclusively access the channel. According to the simulation results, our scheme can improve the average per-node throughput by up to 19.4% while it also reduces unnecessary energy consumption due to repetitive collisions by as much as 91.1% compared to the conventional asynchronous MAC protocols. This demonstrates that TC is more efficient in terms of performance, resource utilization, and energy compared to the random back-off scheme in dealing with collisions for asynchronous WSN MAC scheduling.

MAC2: A Multi-Hop Adaptive MAC Protocol with Packet Concatenation for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor network MAC protocols switch radios off periodically, employing the so-called duty cycle mechanism, in order to conserve battery power that would otherwise be wasted by energy-costly idle listening. In order to minimize the various negative side-effects of the original scheme, especially on latency and throughput, various improvements have been proposed. In this paper, we introduce a new MAC protocol called MAC2(Multi-hop Adaptive with packet Concatenation-MAC) which combines three promising techniques into one protocol. Firstly, the idea to forward packets over multiple hops within one operational cycle as initially introduced in RMAC. Secondly, an adaptive method that adjusts the listening period according to traffic load minimizing idle listening. Thirdly, a packet concatenation scheme that not only increases throughput but also reduces power consumption that would otherwise be incurred by additional control packets. Furthermore, MAC2 incorporates the idea of scheduling data transmissions with minimum latency, thereby performing packet concatenation together with the multi-hop transmission mechanism in a most efficient way. We evaluated MAC2 using the prominent network simulator ns-2 and the results show that our protocol can outperform DW-MAC — a state of the art protocol both in terms of energy efficiency and throughput.

Competition at the Wireless Sensor Network MAC Layer: Low Power Probing interfering with X-MAC

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) combine sensors with computer networks and enable very dense, in-situ and live measurements of data over a large area. Since this emerging technology has the potential to be embedded almost everywhere for numberless applications, interference between different networks can become a serious issue. For most WSNs, it is assumed today that the network medium access is non-competitive. On the basis of X-MAC interfered by Low Power Probing, this paper shows the danger and the effects of different sensor networks communicating on a single wireless channel of the 2.4 GHz band, which is used by the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.