Intermission-based adaptive structure estimation of wireless underwater networks

Performing distributed computation over underwater wireless sensor networks is challenging because no particular node may know the exact network size and structure. Recent techniques for estimating network structure or size are impractical for accomodating underwater networks made of a combination of fixed and mobile sensors. A solution is proposed to estimate dynamic network structures based on node-to-node intermissions. The current approach is more general than existing techniques and it enables distributed computing over underwater networks. In particular, broadcasts are considered and an adaptable network-structure estimation technique is derived. Simulation results support the proposed solution.