Context-aware sensors and data muling
Suan Khai Chong, I. McCauley, Seng W. Loke, Shonali Priyadarsini Krishnaswamy · 2007
Abstract. Efficient collection of data represents one of the key challenges for sparsely deployed wireless sensor networks, due to issues that include heavily imposing particular nodes to relay sampled data and also draining sensor energy due to possible transmissions over long distances. A possible solution is to use existing data carriers, also known as data mules, in the environment. Though the application is often that of delay-tolerant networks, the technique is cost-efficient as it maximizes the use of existing network nodes. The domain of our interest is random mobility, where certain sensor nodes move with a random velocity as observed in real-life application scenarios. We believe that the use of data mules for real-life sensor networks require a unique solution. Thus, in this paper, we propose the use of a context-aware framework for data muling involving randomly mobile data mules. As a comparison, we have implemented a neighbour detection protocol for data muling and contrast it with an implementation that uses a context-aware approach with RFID sensors. The experimental results show that the use of contextual information derived from RFID sensors allows coordination of more reliable transmissions to be achieved in minimal time. 1