Applying a Hybrid Polling Approach by Software Implementation to Extend the Lifetime of a Wireless Sensor Network

Wireless Sensor Networks are networks suitable for data collection in harsh environments, where it would be difficult or costly the deployment of wired infrastructure. In spite of these advantages, such networks often rely on batteries to operate, which may lead to a serious limitation on the networks lifetime. Bearing this in mind, in this article is proposed and tested a hybrid polling approach that reduces the number of frames transmitted by the router node. Thus, the router node lifetime can be extended significantly and hence the network lifetime. The proposed technique becomes progressively more advantageous, when compared to classical polling technique, as the number of network nodes increases. The experimental results obtained using a network with four nodes indicate a network lifetime increase of about 32.14%. Importantly, the sensor network lifetime extension increases the economic viability of the technology and thus makes it more accessible to potential users.