An Adaptive Superframe Structure Algorithm for IEEE 802.15.4 WPANs

To be adaptive to the bursty traffic of the wireless personal area network (WPAN), a superframe structure adjustment algorithm of IEEE 802.15.4 is proposed. According to the channel utilization ratio which is an index of the traffic load, the algorithm adjusts the duty cycle of the superframe automatically. The simulation results show that the algorithm is adaptive to the traffic variations effectively and saves much more energy not only for the end devices but also for the PAN coordinator. Moreover, the algorithm results in better performance on the lower delay and lower packet dropping rate.