A comprehensive energy conservation solution for mobile ad hoc networks

Multiple energy conserving approaches have been proposed for wireless networks that are exploited by the link layer and network layer protocols. Unfortunately, integrating these approaches in ad hoc networks is difficult. Due to the temporally random nature of access protocols, methods based on entering low energy states cause severe degradation of network capacity and also degrade the performance of routing protocols. Meanwhile, methods used by routing protocols that give preference to shorter links or attempt to balance load to prolong the longevity of the plurality of nodes require commitment to one or the other of these metrics without regard to link layer approaches. We show that through the integrated use of our access and routing protocols, synchronous collision resolution (SCR) and node state routing (NSR), that these types of energy conservation mechanisms can be managed simultaneously. We conclude with a simple simulation of the integrated use of these protocols. The simulations demonstrate that these protocols reduce the rate of energy consumption by the network but that in determining their effectiveness, the end-to-end throughput of the network must be considered.