Divided Static Random Access Memory for Data Aggregation in Wireless Sensor Nodes

One of the most challenging issues in wireless sensor networks is extension of the overall network lifetime. Data aggregation is one promising solution because it reduces the amount of network traffic by eliminating redundant data. In order to aggregate data, each sensor node must temporarily store received data, which requires a specific amount of memory. Most sensor nodes use static random access memory (SRAM) or flash memory for storage. SRAM can be implemented in a one-chip sensor node at low cost; however, SRAM requires standby energy, which consumes a lot of power, especially because the sensor node spends most of its time sleeping, i.e. its radio circuits are quiescent. This study proposes two types of divided SRAM: equal-size divided SRAM and equal-ratio divided SRAM. Simulations show that both proposed SRAM types offer reduced power consumption in various situations. key words: wireless sensor network, data aggregation, data storage management, SRAM