Performance of PHY layer links of WSN: Criterions and ways of improvement

Abstract

The paper concerns the challenges of optimization of physical (PHY) layer of wireless sensor networks (WSN). It is shown that performance of communication links of PHY layer can be considerably improved by transition to analog transmission in the channels “sensor node - base station” (SNBS). Unlike digital one, analog transmission allows optimization of communication links using tools of Bayesian estimation theory. The results of optimization determine minimal mean square error, limit power-bandwidth efficiency of transmission, capacity of the link and analytical form of transmission-reception algorithm permitting SNBS to attain these boundaries. The latter one permits to design high quality low energy/size/cost SNBS links for WSN with star and cluster topology.