Distributed transmission protocol for lifetime maximization in sensor networks

This paper addresses the design of distributed transmission protocol for lifetime maximization in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). A dynamic protocol for lifetime maximization (DPLM) is proposed. This protocol exploits both the channel state information (CSI) and the residual energy information (REI) at each individual sensor. The principle of DPLM resembles the retirement planning strategy: be more opportunistic by prioritizing sensors with better channels for transmission when the network is young and more conservative by favoring sensors with more residual energy when the network is old. The asymptotic optimally of DPLM in terms of utilizing CSI is established analytically. The performance of DPLM is evaluated via simulations.