Optimization of Power and Latency of Medium Access Control Protocol of Wireless Sensor Network

ABSTRACT In wireless sensor networks (WSNs) used for continuous surveillance, the problem of monitoring critical data transmitted infrequently is an extreme challenge of energy usage and latency requirements. Current medium access control (MAC) protocols often have high energy consumption, primarily owing to idle listening, collision, and excessive data transmission, and as a result, are not suitable for such uses. This study proposes a novel protocol to optimize energy consumption and transmission delays in WSNs used to monitor infrequent critical data. This protocol is named OWuR‐MAC, that is, “Optimized Wake‐up Radio based Medium Access Control.” OWuR‐MAC implements an event‐driven wake‐up strategy utilizing wake‐up receivers so that devices can stay in the low‐power sleep mode until data transmission is necessary. Sensor nodes use wake‐up receivers, which allow them to remain at low‐energy sleep times until there is relevant data transmission that can wake them up. However, OWuR‐MAC dynamically modifies the wake‐up receiver sensitivity and transmission timing based on the characteristics of networked activity and environmental conditions. The protocol was implemented and compared with Fully Asynchronous Wake‐up Radio MAC (FAWR‐MAC) and Opportunistic Wake‐up Radio MAC (OPWUM) protocols of a similar category. The results indicate that OWuR‐MAC achieves lower rates of energy consumption, lower latency, and higher packet delivery ratios than the other two protocols.