A New Power-Efficient Scheme to Deliver Time-Sensitive Data in Sensor Networks

We present a power-efficient scheme to deliver time sensitive data packets in sensor networks. Data generated by sensors are frequently time sensitive in applications such as hazard monitoring systems, traffic controlling systems and battlefield commanding systems. Such data are associated with end-to-end deadlines, within which they must reach the base station. We make two contributions in this work. First, we propose a novel load-balanced routing scheme that distributes data packets evenly among the nodes relaying data towards the base station, avoiding bottlenecks and increasing the likelihood that packets will meet their deadlines. Second, we propose a method of grouping smaller packets into larger ones by delaying data transmissions at the relaying nodes whenever slack times are positive. Our packet grouping scheme significantly reduces packet transmissions, reduces congestion, and saves power in the sensor network. We verify the effectiveness of our approach through extensive simulations using the ns-2 simulation package