Modeling and Optimization of Parallel and Distributed Embedded Systems

Chapter 3An Application Metrics Estimation Model for Embedded Wireless Sensor Networks^*

Advancements in semiconductor technology, as predicted by Moore's law, have enabled high transistor density in a small chip area resulting in the miniaturization of embedded systems (e.g., sensor nodes). Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are envisioned as ubiquitous computing systems, which are proliferating in many application domains (e.g., defense, health care, surveillance systems) each with varying application requirements that can be defined by high-level application metrics (e.g., lifetime, reliability). However, the diversity of WSN application domains makes it difficult for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) sensor nodes to meet these application requirements.

Since COTS sensor nodes are mass-produced to optimize cost, many COTS sensor nodes possess tunable parameters (e.g., processor voltage and frequency, sensing frequency), whose values can be tuned for application specialization [69]. The WSN application designers (those who design, manage, or deploy the WSN for an application) are typically biologists, teachers, farmers, and household consumers that are experts within their application domain, but have limited technical expertise. Given the large design space and operating constraints, determining appropriate parameter values (operating state) can be a daunting and/or time-consuming task for nonexpert application managers. Typically, sensor node vendors assign initial generic tunable ...