Spatial correlation based MAC protocol for WSN

In densely deployed sensor networks, numerous sensor nodes may record any event that takes place in the area. However, in such scenarios, multiple nodes may attempt to send the recorded data simultaneously, resulting in increased chances of collisions and energy wastage. In order to alleviate this problem, this paper proposes a new approach to minimize the number of copies generated by correlated sensor nodes. This is accomplished by grouping the sensor nodes into correlated regions and selecting only a subset of nodes to send their recorded data to the sink. The proposed approach incorporates a new medium access protocol that puts the selected sensor nodes in sleep mode when not required. Additionally, a spatial correlation model is developed to identify correlated regions, and a node selection algorithm is proposed to select the appropriate sensor nodes. Simulation results indicate that the proposed approach significantly reduces both energy consumption and reporting delay by exploiting correlation characteristics and optimal node selection. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024.