Scalable Computing and Communications: Theory and Practice

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Fault Tolerance and Transmission Reliability in Wireless Networks

Wolfgang W. Bein and Doina Bein

12.1   INTRODUCTION: RELIABILITY ISSUES IN WIRELESS AND SENSOR NETWORKS

With the rapid proliferation of networks, be they wired or wireless, a large number of interconnected devices have been deployed unattended to perform various tasks, ranging from monitoring the nation's critical infrastructure to facilitating civilian applications and business collaborations, to providing intelligence for tactical operations. In the military arena, modern warfare practices mandate the rapid deployment of energy-limited units that stay in constant communication with each other, command centers, and supporting systems such as sensor networks, satellites, and unmanned vehicles. Sensors coupled with integrated circuits, known as “smart sensors,” provide high sensing from their relationship with each other and with higher-level processing layers. Smart sensors find their applications in a wide variety of fields such as military, civilian, biomedical, and control systems. In military applications, sensors can track troop movements and help decide deployment of troops. In civilian applications, sensors can typically be applied to detect pollution, burglary, fire hazards, and the like. Wireless body sensors (called “biosensors”) implanted in the body must be energy-efficient, robust, lightweight, and fault-tolerant, as they are not easily replaceable, repairable, or rechargeable. ...