Evaluation of mutually complementary multichannel sensor network for wireless and power lines.

We propose the sensor network where two different media of wireless communication and wire communication are used in a mutually. This sensor network, called mutually complementary multichannel sensor network (MMSN), can mutually complement the route in which communication is not possible via radio frequency or power lines. We defined the concept and architecture of MMSN. Recently, the amount of research on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) has been increasing. However, WSN has the potential to generate discommunication route. The existence of such discommunication route damages the stability of a network system. MMSN can use both wireless communication and power line communication as required. MMSN supplements the routes in which communication is not possible via only radio frequency or power lines MMSN expands networks range, improves communication reliability, improves the communication efficiency, and prolongs network lifetimes. We developed the evaluation boards and implemented MMSN prototype networks actually. MMSN prototype can handle both ZigBee and PLC at the same time, and it mutually complements the route that cannot be used for communication via only radio frequency and power lines. We confirmed that MMSN prototype could complement the route that cannot be used for communication via only radio frequency and power lines, and could expand networks range.