An energy and QoS-aware packet transmission algorithm for IEEE 802.15.4 networks

With the increasing deployment of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the demand for energy efficiency (EE) and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee for such networks is on the rise. In a distributed WSN, the EE could be directly related to the operational expenditure (OPEX) due to the frequent replacement of batteries. An increasing EE helps prolong the network lifetime. Energy efficiency in a WSN can be improved by optimising PHY and MAC layer algorithms. In this paper, we introduce an adaptive energy efficiency algorithm, known as ABSD that changes the MAC parameters of the IEEE 802.15.4 sensor nodes in response to the queue occupancy level of sensor nodes and the offered traffic load conditions. By adapting the transmission parameters, the ABSD algorithm minimises the network contention which could in turn improve the energy efficiency as well as the throughput. The paper also presents a mathematical model to characterise the energy consumption processes controlled by the IEEE 802.15.4 MAC layer. Our ABSD algorithm is simulated by using an OPNET-based discrete event simulation model. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm offers high EE and maintains high QoS for different offered load conditions.