Protocol Integration for Intelligent Monitoring Applications in Wireless Sensor Networks - Foundations on Natural and Artificial Computation - page 510

Protocol Integration for Intelligent Monitoring
Applications in Wireless Sensor Networks

Antonio M. Ortiz, Fernando Royo, Teresa Olivares, Luis Orozco-Barbosa,
Jose Carlos Castillo, and Antonio Fernandez-Caballero

Albacete Research Institute of Informatics
University of Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
{ amanuel,froyo,teresa,lorozco,josecarlos,caballer } @dsi.uclm.es

Abstract. Integration of algorithms and protocols from different layers
will make possible the deployment of large-scale wireless sensor networks
which are the basis of interesting monitoring applications. The growing
number of nodes that comprise within these networks requires a correct
organization and ecient node synchronization to ensure data reliability.
In this study, we focus on the integration of fuzzy-logic based routing
with a TDMA MAC protocol. By considering the experimental results
of them working separately, we have integrated them to work together.
The use of a rapid configuration and ecient slot assignment from the
MAC protocol, and the accuracy of the logical tree created using fuzzy
logic, allows to have a network in which nodes are both organized and
synchronized, while load balance extends network lifetime.

Keywords: Wireless sensor networks, Fuzzy-logic, MAC, Routing,
Cross-Layer Integration.

1 Introduction

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) comprise a large number of sensor devices
that communicate with each other via wireless channels, with limitations of
energy and computing capabilities. The ecient and robust realization of such
large, highly-dynamic and complex networking environments is a challenging
algorithmic and technological task [1].
Our research takes a cross-layer-based approach, working with the components
of an emerging general-purpose sensor networking infrastructure. Networking is
important because it provides the glue that allows individual nodes to collab-
orate. Radio communication is the major consumer of energy in small sensor
nodes. Thus, the optimization of networking protocols can greatly extend the
lifetime of the sensor network as a whole [2].
This paper focuses on both the link and network layers. The former layer is
approached by considering a media-access control (MAC) protocol, while topol-
ogy control and a routing approach are discussed for the latter. The MAC layer
must manage the communication channel available for the node, and so must
avoid collisions and errors in communications.