The effect of discrete power levels on energy-efficient wireless broadcast in ad hoc networks

In this paper, we take initial steps toward developing energy-efficient broadcast algorithms for ad hoc wireless networks that operate under changing connectivity conditions. Such algorithms need to be distributed. And to be distributed these algorithms need to probe neighboring nodes to determine possible connectivities at different power levels. We proceed toward this goal by revisiting and modifying previously obtained broadcast algorithms that were centralized and in which the exact levels of minimally necessary RF power to reach neighboring nodes could be determined. Instead, we now constrain RF power to take values from a finite discrete set, and evaluate the impact on algorithm performance. We then discuss further modifications for distributed operation.