Energy saving in intelligent buildings - via energy harvesting in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been widely used in pervasive systems such as intelligent buildings. As a vital factor of product cost, energy consuming in WSN has been focused upon, but only via energy harvesting can the problem be overcome radically. This article presents a new approach to harvesting electromagnetic energy for WSN from useless radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted in WSN, with a quantitative analysis showing its feasibility.

Modelling energy consumption of relay-enabled MAC protocols in ad hoc networks

To enhance the throughput of ad hoc networks, dual-hop relay-enabled transmission schemes have recently been proposed. Since in ad hoc networks throughput is normally related to their energy consumption, it is important to examine the impact of using relay-enabled transmissions on energy consumption. In this paper, we present an analytical energy consumption model for dual-hop relay-enabled medium access control (MAC) protocols. Based on the recently reported relay-enabled distributed coordination function (rDCF), we have shown the efficacy of the proposed analytical model. This is a generalized model and can be used to predict energy consumption in saturated relay-enabled ad hoc networks via energy decomposition. This is helpful in designing MAC protocols for cooperative communications and it is shown that using a relay results not only in a better throughput but also better energy efficiency.

Radio frequency energy harvesting in wireless sensor networks

As a vital factor affecting system cost and lifetime, energy consumption in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has been paid much attention to. This article presents a new approach to making use of electromagnetic energy from useless radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted in WSNs, with a quantitative analysis showing its feasibility. A mechanism to harvest the energy either passively or actively is proposed.

Modeling energy consumption of dual-hop relay based MAC protocols in ad hoc networks

Given that the next and current generation networks will coexist for a considerable period of time, it is important to improve the performance of existing networks. One such improvement recently proposed is to enhance the throughput of ad hoc networks by using dual-hop relay-based transmission schemes. Since in ad hoc networks throughput is normally related to their energy consumption, it is important to examine the impact of using relay-based transmissions on energy consumption. In this paper, we present an analytical energy consumption model for dual-hop relay-based medium access control (MAC) protocols. Based on the recently reported relay-enabled Distributed Coordination Function (rDCF), we have shown the efficacy of the proposed analytical model. This is a generalized model and can be used to predict energy consumption in saturated relay-based ad hoc networks. This model can predict energy consumption in ideal environment and with transmission errors. It is shown that using a relay results in not only better throughput but also better energy efficiency. Copyright (C) 2009 Rizwan Ahmad et al.

A peer-to-peer approach to content dissemination and search in collaborative networks

There are three key driving forces behind the development of Internet Content Management Systems (CMS) - a desire to manage the explosion of content, a desire to provide structure and meaning to content in order to make it accessible, and a desire to work collaboratively to manipulate content in some meaningful way. Yet the traditional CMS has been unable to meet the latter of these requirements, often failing to provide sufficient tools for collaboration in a distributed context. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) systems are networks in which every node is an equal participant (whether transmitting data, exchanging content, or invoking services) and there is an absence of any centralised administrative or coordinating authorities. P2P systems are inherently more scalable than equivalent client-server implementations as they tend to use resources at the edge of the network much more effectively. This paper details the rationale and design of a P2P middleware for collaborative content management.

Models for evolving networks: with applications in telecommunication and online activities

Driven by a range of modern applications that includes telecommunications, e-business and on-line social interaction, recent ideas in complex networks can be extended to the case of time-varying connectivity. Here we propose a general frame- work for modelling and simulating such dynamic networks, and we explain how the long time behaviour may reveal important information about the mechanisms underlying the evolution.