Generic Network Visualization Tool for Monitoring Adhoc Wireless Networks

Adhoc sensor network consists of dense wireless network having tiny, low-cost sensor nodes. Examples include military applications, and acquiring sensing information from inhospitable locations like thick forests, active volcano regions etc. Since the devices are scattered in a complex sensor network, It is very difficult to locate each node, know about its status and the topology of the wireless network. Hence the need of developing a system to visualise, control and monitor such networks arises. This paper presents implementation issues and author’s contribution to design and implement a generic framework of the ’Network Visualization tool’ to monitor adhoc wireless networks. The paper also elaborates system architecture, hardware and software organizations, and integration details of the proposed system with an exemplary wireless network based on standard IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol.