Wireless Networks for Data collection form Sensored Homes

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In this proposal, we seek to provide novel solutions to problems in gathering data from a variety of sensors deployed in homes. Those sensors report three kinds of data: (T1) safety-critical data, (T2) data with economic value, and (T3) data for planning and management information. The first kind of data comes from monitoring physical phenomena (e.g. fire and gas) and body-mounted sensors for health monitoring of patients. The second kind of data comes from all the utility meters (electricity, gas, and water). The third kind of data comes from other kinds of sensors (e.g. heat loss through windows). We will design application-specific wireless networks to gather data from home environment. The work will involve network topology control, routing and scheduling of data, and transport protocols for broadcasting and geocasting in large sensor networks with mobile sensors with real energy constraints. When developing strategies for home sensor networks, we must consider that different kinds of sensors have different application requirements (T1-T3), some sensors (e.g. body-mounted sensors) are mobile, and the application-level data must be transported with high reliability. These requirements cannot always be fulfilled at the same time. Therefore, trade-offs have to be analyzed with respect to different performance metrics. Efficiency, scalability, reliability, energy constraints, and application-specific designs are the criteria for topology control, scheduling and routing, and transport protocols that are applicable to real sensor networks. Developing such protocols and smart power supplies for sensors are the primary goals of this project. Research results from the project will provide the following benefits: (i) utility companies will have a scalable, reliable, and inexpensive way to gather data for micromanagement of their resources; (ii) health-care providers will receive real-time data from patients; and (iii) home owners will be notified about security and energy efficiency of their homes. The project will produce intellectual property in the field of advanced wireless sensor networks for monitoring of complex systems.