An Energy-Efficient Multi-Channel Design for Distributed Wireless Sensor Networks

This article discusses the importance of designing an efficient medium access control (MAC) protocol for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to optimize energy consumption at the data link layer while transmitting high traffic applications. The proposed protocol, EE-MMAC, is an energy-efficient multichannel MAC that reduces energy consumption by minimizing idle listening, collisions, overhearing, and control packet overhead. EE-MMAC utilizes a directional antenna and periodically sleep technique in a multi-channel environment. Nodes exchange control packets on the control channel to choose a data channel and decide the beam direction of the flow. Simulation results show that EE-MMAC achieves significant energy gains (30% to 45% less than comparable IEEE 802.11 and MMAC) based on energy efficiency, packet delivery ratio, and throughput.