D-CAS: Distributed and Adaptive Channel Assignment Scheme for Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper proposes a distributed and adaptive channel assignment (D-CAS) scheme for wireless sensor networks. D-CAS performs statistical analysis of load pattern of the individual cluster and adjusts channel assignment dynamically as per requirement generated by the current cluster’ traffic load. It follows a static schedule during infrastructure establishment based on initial traffic conditions and previous history. Later, it utilizes dynamic schedule for channel adjustments. Over a period of time, learning efficiency of the load prediction increases due to availability of more traffic patterns, which in turn, reduces transmission wait and increases the system throughput and network life significantly. It provides seamless data transmission even in peak hours and is highly immune to the random traffic change. This algorithm optimizes the channel utilization by best-of-four strategies and meets the real time requirement of sensor network applications. This algorithm is distributed at clusters level and central at node level i.e. it collectively possesses the advantages of all four: static, dynamic, central, and distributed channel assignment approaches. This paper ends with planned future work which includes simulation, performance analysis, and traffic prediction accuracy. Index Terms – Sensor Network, Channel Assignment, DCA, SCA, Hybrid, Distributed.