Energy efficient distributed power management algorithm with directional antenna for wireless sensor networks

Energy efficiency is an important consideration in a battery powered wireless sensor network (WSN). We propose an energy efficient Distributed Power Management algorithm with Directional Antenna (DDISPOW) that adaptively manages nodes´ power in a dynamic wireless network to preserve network connectivity and reduce interference cooperatively. DDISPOW, with adequate transmit power, is capable of providing strongly connected reliable network. It stabilizes node connectivity over the dynamic network environment and attempts to prevent nodes from being completely disconnected from the network. It highlights the benefits of using directional antenna with lower average power, reduced interference and as much as 31% improved throughput. It will be shown that DDISPOW, while adaptively maintaining network connectivity and improving network performance, is energy efficient and significantly reduces interference when compared to common power strategy. It also alleviates the dependency of common node power strategy on few nodes that are isolated in the network by their physical location and surrounding network environment.