Long-Lived Smart Utility Network Management Using Modified IEEE 802.15.4 MAC

In this paper, we propose a low-power multi-hop data-frame transmission scheme to realize a long-lived SUN (smart utility network) as promoted by the IEEE 802.15 TG4g group, and MAC modifications in the existing IEEE 802.15.4 MAC in order to support the TG4g PHY amendment. In the proposed scheme, turned-off beacons are employed in the superframe structure to reduce power wastage due to periodic transmission, and the existing concepts of active and inactive periods in 15.4 MAC are adopted; thus, effective sleep periods for each meter device are assigned. Moreover, by constructing a tree-shaped topology with incoming and outgoing superframes as defined in 15.4 MAC, multi-hop frame transmission is easily realized according to the topology. Furthermore, we propose a dynamic re-association procedure for optimizing the allocated active period and achieving low power consumption over the entire system. The results of computer simulation confirm that the proposed system allocates suitable active periods according to frame traffic while maintaining low power consumption.