Collaborative Signal Reinforcement in Sensor Networks

Sensor networks can be used for various application areas such as health, military, and home. Research in collaborative methods and wireless communication has enabled the development of sensor networks. This paper presents a collaborative signal reinforcement scheme for sensor networks in which a cluster of mobile, independent and interchangeable nodes collaborate to send a message to a distant node. The presented scheme offers several advantages over contemporary solutions, including higher fault tolerance, power efficiency, scalability and lower complexity and cost. The primary emphasis of the paper is placed on a novel signal reinforcement modulation method that enables the collaborative scheme. Simulations are presented that validate this collaborative scheme. Furthermore, experimental results obtained from a laboratory hardware prototype are also presented in support of the presented methods.