BeSpoken Protocol for Data Dissemination in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

For wireless sensor networks with many location-unaware nodes, we investigate a protocol, dubbed BeSpoken, that steers data transmissions along a straight path called a spoke. The protocol directs data transmissions by randomly selecting relays to retransmit data packets from crescent-shaped areas along the spoke axis. The resulting random walk of the spoke hop sequence may be modeled as a two dimensional Markov process. We propose design rules for protocol parameters that minimize energy consumption while ensuring that spokes propagate far enough and have a limited wobble with respect to the spoke axis.