Nodes may differ based on the availability of resources that are provided by the computer. Memory and the conditions of how the processing is done would affect the implementation of the protocols. Thus, this is a factor that has to be considered when provisioning sensors as they have to fit the risks that are put through and ensure that they can fit the need well.
Access patterns
An especially important consideration is how traffic will be created within the network as different patterns may occur when sensors send data. Some sensors may only send data occasionally when an event is triggered and go into sleep mode to conserve energy otherwise, while others may have to continuously produce data due to continually reporting based on the readings within the environment.
Routing for WSNs
Routing is always an issue we are going to have to address within different IoT networks, and WSNs are no exception to this. With the clusters of sensors that we have within the network, we need to ensure that the best path is taken from the source node to reach the destination node. As we’ve discussed, some challenges come with WSNs, which consequently lead to challenges within routing. These challenges include the limited energy resources that the sensor nodes have and the dynamic nature of the WSNs in that they continually have different conditions imposed on them.
Before we dive into the more complex routing methodologies, let’s introduce a simpler routing topology known as the star topology, which is often easier to grasp for those new to WSNs.
Star topology
In a star topology, all nodes communicate directly with a central node, often referred to as the gateway or hub. Each sensor node transmits its data to this central node, which then forwards the data to the respective destination or processes the data accordingly. The star topology is straightforward to manage, making it a good starting point for understanding routing in WSNs. However, its primary limitation is its range as all nodes must be within the communication range of the central node.
Now, let’s explore two of the more advanced routing methodologies used in WSNs.
