Paper Info
Title
Link Estimation and Routing in Sensor Network Backbones: Beacon-Based or Data-Driven?
Abstract
In the context of IEEE 802.11b network testbeds, we examine the differences between unicast and broadcast link properties, and we show the inherent difficulties in precisely estimating unicast link properties via those of broadcast beacons even if we make the length and transmission rate of beacons be the same as those of data packets. To circumvent the difficulties in link estimation, we propose to estimate unicast link properties directly via data traffic itself without using periodic beacons. To this end, we design a data-driven routing protocol Learn-on-the-Fly (LOF). LOF chooses routes based on ETX/ETT-type metrics, but the metrics are estimated via MAC feedback for unicast data transmission instead of broadcast beacons. Using a realistic sensor network traffic trace and an 802.11b testbed of ~195 Stargates, we experimentally compare the performance of LOF with that of beacon-based protocols, represented by the geography-unaware ETX and the geography-based PRD. We find that LOF reduces end-to-end MAC latency by a factor of 3, enhances energy efficiency by a factor up to 2.37, and improves network throughput by a factor up to 7.78, which demonstrate the feasibility and the potential benefits of data-driven link estimation and routing.
Year
DOI
Venue
2009
10.1109/TMC.2008.155
IEEE Trans. Mob. Comput.
Keywords
Field
DocType
ieee 802.11b,index terms— wireless sensor network,data traffic,data packet,reliability,mac latency,network throughput,real time,data-driven link esti- mation,sensor network backbones,network testbed,unicast link property,broadcast link property,data-driven link estimation,broadcast beacon,unicast data transmission,link estimation,energy,routing protocol,energy efficiency,energy efficient,testing,unicast,wireless sensor network,data transmission,spine,sensor networks,feedback,broadcasting,wireless sensor networks,routing protocols,sensor network,indexing terms
Beacon,Wireless network,Data transmission,Computer science,Network packet,Computer network,Unicast,Throughput,Wireless sensor network,Routing protocol
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
8
5
1536-1233
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
18
0.72
27
Authors
3
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Hongwei Zhang193567.71
Anish Arora22974270.71
Prasun Sinha32527181.57