Active buffer management for sensor node based on spatial correlation

Congestion in wireless sensor networks usually occurs when the traffic is heavy. Buffer management determines how to drop or buffer the arriving packet when congestion occurs. This paper presents a buffer management algorithm for wireless sensor nodes. The algorithm has four advantages: First, this algorithm is based on spatial correlation of sensing data, it can drop the most redundant data instead of useful data; Second, the algorithm ensure fairness among the stream on the view of spatiality; Third, the algorithm is an active buffer management algorithm, it can drop packet early in order to buffer burst application data; Finally, the algorithm only needs one floating-point calculation, it is fit for the sensor nodes.