Medium Access Control for Wireless Sensor Networks based on Impulse Radio Ultra Wideband

This paper describes a detailed performance evaluation of distributed Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks based on Impulse Radio Ultra Wideband (IR-UWB) Physical layer (PHY). Two main classes of Medium Access Control protocol have been considered: Slotted and UnSlotted with reliability. The reliability is based on Automatic Repeat ReQuest (ARQ). The performance evaluation is performed using a complete Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) simulator built on the Global Mobile Information System Simulator (GloMoSim). The optimal operating parameters are first discussed for IR-UWB in terms of slot size, retransmission delay and the number of retransmission, then a comparison between IR-UWB and other transmission techniques in terms of reliability latency and power efficiency

Simulation Platform for Wireless Sensor Networks Based on Impulse Radio Ultra Wide Band

Impulse Radio Ultra Wide Band (IR-UWB) is a promising technology to address Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) constraints. However, existing network simulation tools do not provide a complete WSN simulation architecture, with the IR-UWB specificities at the PHYsical (PHY) and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layers. In this paper, we propose a WSN simulation architecture based on the IR-UWB technique. At the PHY layer, we take into account the pulse collision by dealing with the pulse propagation delay. We also modelled MAC protocols specific to IRUWB, for WSN applications. To completely fit the WSN simulation requirements, we propose a generic and reusable sensor and sensing channel model. Most of the WSN application performances can be evaluated thanks to the proposed simulation architecture. The proposed models are implemented on a scalable and well known network simulator: Global Mobile Information System Simulator (GloMoSim). However, they can be reused for all other packet based simulation platforms

Channel Capacity Limitations versus Hardware Implementation for UWB Impulse Radio Communications

Starting from the Shannon channel capacity, we propose an IR-UWB channel capacity based on the delay spread for multipath time variant channels. This IR-UWB channel capacity is obtained from the no ISI (Inter Symbol Interference) assumption and for binary modulations. The impact of the kind of implementation is considered on the IR-UWB channel capacity. This study is lead for mixed and mostly digital implementation. The key parameters and theirs impacts on the channel capacity are exposed in each case: the data converters for mostly digital implementations and the pulse generator capabilities for mixed implementations. Finally, these two implementations are compared from a data rate point of view. Their behaviors regarding an increase of the operating frequency are also studied

Performance Evaluation of Impluse Radio Ultra Wide Band Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper presents a performance evaluation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) based on Impulse Radio Ultra Wideband (IR-UWB) over a new simulation platform developed for this purpose. The simulation platform is built on an existing network simulator: Global Mobile Information System Simulator (GloMoSim). It mainly focuses on the accurately modeling of IR-UWB PHYsical (PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. Pulse collision is modeled according to the used time hopping sequence (THS) and the pulse propagation delay in order to increase the simulation fidelity. It also includes a detection and identification application based on a new sensing channel and new sensor device models. The proposed architecture is generic so it can be reused for any simulation platform. The performance evaluation is based on one of the typical WSN applications: local area protection, where sensor nodes are densely scattered in an access regulated area in order to detect, identify and report non authorized accesses to a base station for analysis. Two networks topologies using different protocol stacks are investigated. Their performance evaluation is presented in terms of reliability and latency

Reconfigurable IR-UWB radio interface for wireless sensor networks

Les travaux présentés lors de cette thèse s’inscrivent dans le cadre des réseaux de microsystèmes communicants dont les réseaux de capteurs sont l’exemple le plus connu. La problématique adressée est la conception d’une interface radio communicante répondant aux besoins spécifiques des microsystèmes communicants : simplicité, faible coût, faible consommation, faible encombrement, haut débit et reconfigurabilité. Les technologies actuelles sans fil comme le WiFi, le Bluetooth, et Zigbee ne sont pas en mesure de répondre à ces contraintes spécifiques. L’étude se focalise sur la technologie IR-UWB (Impulse Radio Ultra-WideBand). Dans un premier temps, une étude conjointe sur la capacité du canal et l’implémentation matérielle est menée pour déterminer l’architecture optimale des émetteurs-récepteurs en IR-UWB. Cette étude propose l’utilisation d’une architecture multi bandes IR-UWB (MB-IR-UWB) à implémentation mixte à 60 GHz avec des antennes directives. Cette solution est optimisée sur les critères de débit et puissance consommée. Afin de supporter l’ensemble des besoins des applications des réseaux de microsystèmes communicants et l’évolution de l’environnement d’opération, la reconfigurabilité doit être implémentée dans les émetteur-récepteurs proposés. Ces travaux présentent une proposition de reconfigurabilité par paramètres, qui permet de supporter la plus grande gamme de reconfigurabilités multi propriétés (débit, taux d’erreur, portée, puissance consommée, …) de l’état de l’art. Enfin, pour valider par la mesure les travaux sur la reconfigurabilité et sur les architectures d’émetteur-récepteurs IR-UWB, des implémentations FPGA et ASIC sont réalisées. Un nouveau procédé de synchronisation et démodulation conjointe reconfigurable est proposé dans le récepteur IR-UWB BPSK S-Rake. Les mesures montrent que le circuit de traitement proposé améliore les performances en synchronisation, démodulation, efficacité, débit du réseau, consommation et complexité du circuit. L’émetteur-récepteur IR-UWB reconfigurable proposé atteint un débit et une gamme de reconfigurabilité supérieure à l’état de l’art.The research work presented in this thesis is situated in the framework of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The issue addressed is the design of a radio interface answering the specific needs of WSNs: simplicity, low cost, low power, small size, high data rate and reconfigurability. Current wireless technologies like WiFi, Bluetooth, and Zigbee are not able to respond to these requirements. Thus this study focuses on Impulse Radio Ultra-WideBand (IR-UWB) technology. At first, a joint study of the channel capacity and the hardware implementation is carried out to determine the optimal architecture of IR-UWB transceivers. This study proposes an architecture using multi-band IR-UWB (MB-UWB-IR) with a mixed implementation at 60 GHz with directional antennas. This solution is optimized according to the criteria of data rate and power consumption. To support the all the needs of WSN applications and to adapt to the evolution of the WSN’s environment, reconfigurability must be implemented in the proposed IR-UWB transceiver. This thesis presents a new solution: the reconfigurability by parameters. It supports the widest range of multi-property reconfigurability (with respect to data rate, bit error rate, radio range, power consumption, ...) of the state of the art. Finally, to validate these techniques by measurements, FPGA and ASIC implementations are realized by using the reconfigurability and the IR-UWB transceiver architecture proposed. A new method for joint synchronization and demodulation is proposed for a reconfigurable IR-UWB BPSK S-Rake receiver. The measurements show that the proposed technique improves the circuit performance: synchronization, demodulation, efficiency, network throughput, power consumption and complexity of the circuit. The proposed IR-UWB reconfigurable transceiver achieves a data rate and a wider range of reconfigurability compared to the state of the ar