Prioritized Shortest Path Computation Mechanism (PSPCM) for wireless sensor networks

Area of Science:

• Computer Science
• Network Engineering
• Wireless Communication

Background:

• The Routing Protocol for Low-power and Lossy Networks (RPL) is standard for Internet of Things (IoT) Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs).
• RPL's standard Objective Functions (OFs) do not handle heterogeneous data priorities, leading to inefficiencies.
• This results in suboptimal network performance and power management for time-sensitive and delay-tolerant data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel mechanism for prioritizing heterogeneous data packets in RPL-enabled WSNs.
• To address inefficient power management issues associated with varied data priorities.
• To enhance overall network performance and operational lifetime.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of the Prioritized Shortest Path Computation Mechanism (PSPCM).
• PSPCM classifies and prioritizes data streams based on their urgency.
• The mechanism computes shortest and power-efficient paths tailored to data priorities.

Main Results:

• PSPCM achieved an average Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) of 91.49%.
• Average power consumption was reduced to 1.37mW.
• The mechanism effectively accommodates data with varying priorities, improving battery saving.

Conclusions:

• PSPCM offers a superior solution for routing heterogeneous data in WSNs compared to existing mechanisms.
• The proposed mechanism enhances network efficiency, battery longevity, and performance for IoT applications.
• PSPCM ensures that routing paths meet the specific needs of prioritized data streams.