A Sensor Network Cross-Layer Power Control Algorithm that Incorporates Multiple-Access Interference

This paper presents a wireless sensor network (WSN) transmit power control algorithm designed to minimize WSN node energy consumption. The algorithm determines transmit power levels using an optimization that accounts for energy consumed by the physical and link layers of the protocol stack. This cross-layer optimization incorporates a physical layer model that uses knowledge of the WSN medium access control (MAC) layer algorithm to accurately model multiple access interference (MAI). Analytical and simulation results show that accounting for MAI in this fashion results in a significant energy savings relative to comparable WSN power control algorithms.