Energy efficient power control policies for the low rate WPAN

Energy efficiency is a major concern in large scale wireless sensor networks. Transmit power control can provide an effective mechanism for improving energy efficiencies. In this paper, an alternative approach to power management is presented which is applicable to wireless sensor networks. The approach is based on developing power control policies which take into account the sensor networks deployment characteristics and the RF environment in which the sensor network is deployed. The method developed in the paper can be applied, in general, to packet based transceivers. but the energy models developed for optimizing the transmit power are based on IEEE802.15.4(TM) devices, specifically the Chipcon CC2420. As illustrated in the paper, the approach provides a straight forward method for evaluating the feasibility of a network's deployment strategy as well as providing insight into modifications to the wireless network design to obtain greater energy efficiencies.