Applying LVQ techniques to compress historical information in sensor networks

Summary form only given. In the emerging area of wireless sensor networks, a typical challenge is to retrieve historical information from the sensor nodes. We propose a new technique, called adaptive learning vector quantization (ALVQ), to compress this historical information. Our technique is based on the following two observations: (1) in sensor networks, the historical information exhibits similar patterns over time; and (2) different measurements are intrinsically correlated. Our algorithm works as follows: first, the codebook is obtained through a LVQ (learning vector quantization), which adjusts the codebook to be nearer to the optimal codebook. Second, ALVQ compresses the codebook update data pieces and transfers the compressed information to the base station. Using 2-level piece-wise regression, ALVQ can compress the updates with high precision while saving more bandwidth for data transmission in order to increase the quality of the approximation. In our experiments we used weather data to compare the performance of the ALVQ algorithm with the recently proposed SBR (self based regression) technique. Our experimental results demonstrate that the LVQ learning process significantly improves the quality of the codebook, thus increasing the regression precision. In addition the use of two-level regression for transmitting the codebook updates further minimizes the required bandwidth. Overall the ALVQ technique can achieve the same precision with SBR while using 75% of the bandwidth.