García-Martín Juan Pablo, Torralba Antonio
Electronic Engineering Department, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Seville, Spain.
Sensors (Basel). 2021 May 26;21(11):3718. doi: 10.3390/s21113718.
With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), Low Data Rate-Personal Area Networks (LR-WPAN) have been deployed for different applications. Now comes the need to integrate these networks in search of greater connectivity, performances, and geographic coverage. This integration is facilitated by the recent deployment of low power wide area networks (LPWAN) in the licensed bands, especially narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and long-term evolution for machine-type communications (LTE-M), which are standardized technologies that will continue evolving as part of the fifth generation (5G) specifications. This paper proposes a design methodology for combined networks using LR-WPAN and LPWAN technologies. These networks are combined at the device level using a cluster-tree topology. An example is shown here, where an existing IEEE 802.15.4 network is combined with NB-IoT. To this end, new dual nodes are incorporated, acting as cluster heads. The paper discusses the different aspects of formation and operation of the combined network. A dynamic link selection (DLS) algorithm is also proposed, based on which cluster headers dynamically determine the preferred link, depending on link quality and type of traffic. Extensive simulations show that the DLS algorithm significantly increases battery life on dual nodes, which are the nodes with the highest power demands.
随着物联网（IoT）的发展，低数据速率个人区域网络（LR-WPAN）已被部署用于不同的应用。现在需要整合这些网络以寻求更高的连接性、性能和地理覆盖范围。低功耗广域网（LPWAN）最近在授权频段中的部署促进了这种整合，特别是窄带物联网（NB-IoT）和机器类型通信的长期演进（LTE-M），它们是标准化技术，将作为第五代（5G）规范的一部分持续发展。本文提出了一种使用LR-WPAN和LPWAN技术的组合网络设计方法。这些网络在设备级别使用簇树拓扑进行组合。这里展示了一个示例，其中现有的IEEE 802.15.4网络与NB-IoT相结合。为此，引入了新的双节点，作为簇头。本文讨论了组合网络形成和运行的不同方面。还提出了一种动态链路选择（DLS）算法，基于该算法，簇头根据链路质量和流量类型动态确定首选链路。大量仿真表明，DLS算法显著延长了双节点的电池寿命，双节点是功率需求最高的节点。
