A Network Protocol to Enhance Robustness in Tree-Based WSNs Using Data Aggregation

This paper proposes a data gathering strategy for wireless sensor networks and an implementation based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The algorithm combines the benefits of single-path and multi-path routing strategies in a hybrid solution which makes use of alternative paths when necessary. We adopt a caching and retransmission technique, which exploits some peculiar features of data aggregation, with the use of implicit acknowledgments of reception. The paper also discusses simulation results that show how the mentioned techniques, combined with exploitation of the features of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard have been used to obtain an efficient protocol that takes energy consumption into account.