QoS control for random access wireless sensor networks

Herein, we present two new techniques that maintain QoS in a wireless sensor network even as sensors and base-stations die off. The first technique extends an earlier Gur game approach where QoS feedback is broadcasted to all sensors. The second technique provides QoS feedback to individual sensors as part of packet acknowledgements for random access protocols. The latter technique has the advantage of allowing sensors to operate in extremely low energy states when not transmitting data. While random access protocols exhibit low spectral efficiency, we contend that many cost-driven sensing applications are in practice not bandwidth limited. Through simulation, both strategies are shown to extend network life beyond the baseline Gur method. This work is especially applicable to remote, harsh environments where sensors die off at high rates and replenishment is not possible.