TinyReef: a register-based virtual machine for Wireless Sensor Networks

Virtual machine in wireless sensor networks is commonly used to address the lack of non functional requirements such high level programming abstractions and heterogeneity. In addition, virtual machine also enables update or adds a program at run-time of the sensor nodes. However, the virtual machine approach increase the program execution cost. This paper presents TinyReef, a register-based virtual machine for wireless sensor networks. By having a register-based architecture, instead of stack-based, programs require fewer instructions in order to implement a task. And so, the program become smaller, reducing the VM interpretation cost. Furthermore, a smaller program requires less update cost.