A Wireless Sensor Network Architecture for Diversiform Deployment Environments

Network architecture is the foundation of network system. Wireless sensor networks (WSN) are always concentrated some key technologies under specific applications, and some prototype systems are developed according to specific applications of environments, but the research on WSN architecture is relatively weak currently. WSN is a highly complex distributed system, the defects in traditional WSN architectures are firstly studied, then the typical requirement objectives of WSN are acquired by analysis, and a set of design principles for WSN model is concluded. Because the WSN is mostly intended for variable and inhospitable environments, where persistent and continuous energy supply is lacking, the environment adaptive and energy efficient capabilities are integrant for WSN architecture. According with other objectives scalability and service-customized, an environment adaptive, energy efficient, hierarchical structure and sub-facets functions architecture model of WSN (EAWNA) is proposed. Furthermore, the design methods, general characteristics and functions of every lay or every module are described and discussed. At last, from the abstract levels of component framework, EAWNA is described formally besides all component layers entities are defined. EAWNA has not only the double characteristics: environment adaptive and energy efficient, but also has the traits such as multi-dimensional scalability, service-customized, and cross-layer interaction. EAWNA model can supply a theoretical framework and a kind of unified description method for diversified protocols in WSN.