Data dissemination in low duty-cycle multi-channel multi-hop wireless sensor networks

Use of multiple frequency channels in a wireless sensor network alleviates bandwidth limitations in communication. Moreover, operating wireless sensor network with low duty-cycle conserves energy and thus prolongs network lifetime. With the benefits, these approaches bring challenges for data dissemination. In data dissemination each node tries to forward data to maximum neighbors in order to achieve maximum network coverage. It becomes difficult for each node to make forwarding decisions in a context where multiple channels are available with different channel conditions and many of its neighbors are sleeping due to low duty-cycle. Hence, selection of the right channel is a critical issue for each node to disseminate data reliably and efficiently. In this paper, we present a distributed channel selection scheme for efficient data dissemination in low duty-cycle multi-channel multi-hop wireless sensor network and name it as a Smart Channel Selection Scheme. Through simulations, we have analyzed the performance of our proposed approach and compared it with three relevant approaches i.e. Random Channel Selection, Channels´ Condition based Channel Selection, and Neighbors based Channel Selection. Simulation results confirm that our approach outperforms the relevant approaches in terms of reliable and efficient data dissemination. With proposed Smart Channel Selection Scheme we can achieve more than 70% packet delivery ratio under as low as 40% duty-cycle.