Node and network architecture for wireless pico systems [wireless sensor networks]

Picowireless networks (Jan M. Rabaey et al. article in July 2000 Iss. Computer Mag.) are being proposed in applications such as environmental monitoring, intruder detection and smart buildings. However, the two main challenges of picowireless networks are energy and bandwidth. This paper describes the design of cluster formation and optimization of network management in order to prolong the life of pico wireless sensor nodes and increase their bandwidth. The paper also describes the node architecture targeting an SoC platform.