Analysis and performance evaluation of Dynamic Frame Slotted-ALOHA in wireless Machine-to-Machine networks with energy harvesting

One of the main challenges of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications is to extend the network lifetime by either using energy efficient communication protocols or by making use of energy harvesting techniques. In this paper, we consider a wireless M2M network composed of a large group of end-devices with energy harvesting capabilities that periodically transmit data to a gateway. We have analyzed and evaluated the probability of delivery, which measures the ability to transmit data to the gateway, using the Dynamic Frame Slotted-ALOHA (DFSA) protocol at the MAC layer. We have validated the correctness of the analytical model by means of computer-based simulations using MATLAB. Results show how the probability of delivery is influenced by the energy harvesting rate, the number of end-devices, the capacity of the energy storage devices (e.g., batteries), and the minimum energy that an end-device needs to transmit data. It has been possible to identify optimal configuration regions to extend the lifetime of M2M networks.