[Truncated abstract] This thesis develops a scheduled protocol (time division multiple access, TDMA) called flexible-schedule-based TDMA Protocol (FlexiTP), to address the problem of providing end-to-end guarantees on data delivery, whilst also respecting severe resource constraints of wireless sensor networks. FlexiTP achieves this balance through a distributed, synchronised, and loose slot structure in which sensor nodes can build, modify, or extend their schedules based on their local information. In FlexiTP, it is not necessary to predetermine the number of slots required for a network. FlexiTP's local repair scheme allows nodes to adjust their schedules dynamically and autonomously to recover from node and communication faults. Hence, it maintains a reliable and selforganising multihop network. Most sensor network protocols designed for data gathering applications implicitly assume a periodic rate of data collection from all nodes in the network to the base station. However, nodes may want to report their data more rapidly or slowly depending on the significance and importance of their data to the end-user. The problem is that traditional TDMA-based protocols are not flexible to changes in traffic patterns because of their rigid slot structure schemes. This thesis aims to solve this problem by developing an ondemand TDMA slot transfer method that leverages the flexible-slot structure algorithm of FlexiTP to transfer time slots from one part of the network to another part. ... While these communication patterns are sufficient for monitoring applications, individual sensor nodes may need to send their data to multiple destination nodes across the network in order to execute a distributed cooperative-function based on their local environment. This peer-to-peer communication pattern makes sensor networks more reactive to triggers from the environment. This thesis attempts to solve the problem of lack of peer-to-peer communication in the design of a TDMA-driven protocol by extending the idea of on-demand TDMA slot transfer method to allow each sensor node in the network to claim extra time slots to communicate with any other nodes (peers) in the network, without going through the base station. Nodes in the network may have different priorities of data because of event-triggering sensor readings or various types of sensor readings (e.g., light, temperature, and humidity) they provide. When nodes with high priority packets increase the frequency of their data collections, the network bandwidth may be dominated by these nodes. It is desirable to allow nodes with low priority packets to aggregate their packets and so enabling these nodes to send their data to the base station under the current available network bandwidth. This thesis proposes an on-demand data aggregation algorithm that enables sensor nodes to perform an in-network-aggregation based on their current sensing requirements and network capacity constraints. In summary, this thesis describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of protocols for wireless sensor networks that focus on achieving energy-efficiency, provisioning performance assurances, and supporting reactivity and adaptability in constantly changing environment.

This volume contains the proceedings of the Seventh Mediterranean Ad Hoc Networking Workshop (Med-Hoc-Net'2008), celebrated in Palma de Mallorca (llles Balears, Spain) during June 25-27, 2008. This IFIP TC6 Workshop was organized by the Universitat de les Illes Balears in cooperation with the Asociaci6n de Tdcnicos de lnform~tica and sponsored by the following Working Groups: WG6.3 (Performance of Computer Networks) and WG6.8 (Mobile and Wireless Communications). The rapid evolution of the networking industry introduces new exciting challenges that need to be explored by the research community. Aside the adoption of Internet as the global network infrastructure these last years have shown the growing of a set of new network architectures without a rigid and known a priori architecture using wireless techniques, like sensor and ad-hoc networks. These new types of networks are opening the possibility to create a large number of new applications ranging from domestic to nature surveying. These new networks are generating new technical challenges like the capability of auto-reconfiguration in order to give the network an optimal configuration, the energy saving need when the nodes have not a source of energy other than a small battery, new protocols to access the network and to convey the information across the network when its structure is not completely known or should be discovered, new paradigms for keeping the needed information security and privacy in a quite uncontrolled environment, and others.

If there exists a single term that summarizes the key to success in modern industrial automation, the obvious choice would be integration. Integration is critical to aligning all levels of an industrial enterprise and to optimizing each stratum in the hierarchy. While many books focus on the technological components of enterprise information systems, Integration Technologies for Industrial Automated Systems is the first book to present a comprehensive picture of the technologies, methodologies, and knowledge used to integrate seamlessly the various technologies underlying modern industrial automation and information systems. In chapters drawn from two of Zurawski's popular works, The Industrial Communication Technology Handbook and The Industrial Information Technology Handbook, this practical guide offers tutorials, surveys, and technology overviews contributed by experts from leading industrial and research institutions from around the world. The book is organized into sections for cohesive and comprehensive treatment. It examines e-technologies, software and IT technologies, communication network-based technologies, agent-based technologies, and security in detail as well as their role in the integration of industrial automated systems. For each of these areas, the contributors discuss emerging trends, novel solutions, and relevant standards. Charting the course toward more responsive and agile enterprise, Integration Technologies for Industrial Automated Systems gives you the tools to make better decisions and develop more integrated systems.

Computer communication networks have come of age. Today, there is hardly any professional, particularly in engineering, that has not been the user of such a network. This proliferation requires the thorough understanding of the behavior of networks by those who are responsible for their operation as well as by those whose task it is to design such networks. This is probably the reason for the large number of books, monographs, and articles treating relevant issues, problems, and solutions in this field. Among all computer network architectures, those based on broadcast mul tiple access channels stand out in their uniqueness. These networks appear naturally in environments requiring user mobility where the use of any fixed wiring is impossible and a wireless channel is the only available option. Because of their desirable characteristics multiple access networks are now used even in environments where a wired point-to-point network could have been installed. The understanding of the operation of multiple access network through their performance analysis is the focus of this book.

This book is the definitive guide to the techniques and applications of position location, covering both terrestrial and satellite systems. It gives all the techniques, theoretical models, and algorithms that engineers need to improve their current location schemes and to develop future location algorithms and systems. Comprehensive coverage is given to system design trade-offs, complexity issues, and the design of efficient positioning algorithms to enable the creation of high-performance location positioning systems. Traditional methods are also reexamined in the context of the challenges posed by reconfigurable and multihop networks. Applications discussed include wireless networks (WiFi, ZigBee, UMTS, and DVB networks), cognitive radio, sensor networks and multihop networks. Features - Contains a complete guide to models, techniques, and applications of position location - Includes applications to wireless networks, demonstrating the relevance of location positioning to these "hot" areas in research and development - Covers system design trade-offs and the design of efficient positioning algorithms, enabling the creation of future location positioning systems - Provides a theoretical underpinning for understanding current position location algorithms, giving researchers a foundation to develop future algorithms David Muñoz is Director and César Vargas is a member of the Center for Electronics and Telecommunications, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico. Frantz Bouchereau is a senior communications software developer at The MathWorks Inc. in Natick, MA. Rogerio Enríquez-Caldera is at Instituto Nacional de Atrofisica, Optica y Electronica (INAOE), Puebla, Mexico. - Contains a complete guide to models, techniques and applications of position location - Includes applications to wireless networks (WiFi, ZigBee, DVB networks), cognitive radio, sensor networks and reconfigurable and multi-hop networks, demonstrating the relevance of location positioning to these 'hot' areas in research and development - Covers system design trade-offs, and the design of efficient positioning algorithms enables the creation of future location positioning systems - Provides a theoretical underpinning for understanding current position location algorithms, giving researchers a foundation to develop future algorithms

Infrastructure for Homeland Security Environments Wireless Sensor Networks helps readers discover the emerging field of low-cost standards-based sensors that promise a high order of spatial and temporal resolution and accuracy in an ever-increasing universe of applications. It shares the latest advances in science and engineering paving the way towards a large plethora of new applications in such areas as infrastructure protection and security, healthcare, energy, food safety, RFID, ZigBee, and processing. Unlike other books on wireless sensor networks that focus on limited topics in the field, this book is a broad introduction that covers all the major technology, standards, and application topics. It contains everything readers need to know to enter this burgeoning field, including current applications and promising research and development; communication and networking protocols; middleware architecture for wireless sensor networks; and security and management. The straightforward and engaging writing style of this book makes even complex concepts and processes easy to follow and understand. In addition, it offers several features that help readers grasp the material and then apply their knowledge in designing their own wireless sensor network systems: * Examples illustrate how concepts are applied to the development and application of * wireless sensor networks * Detailed case studies set forth all the steps of design and implementation needed to solve real-world problems * Chapter conclusions that serve as an excellent review by stressing the chapter's key concepts * References in each chapter guide readers to in-depth discussions of individual topics This book is ideal for networking designers and engineers who want to fully exploit this new technology and for government employees who are concerned about homeland security. With its examples, it is appropriate for use as a coursebook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students.

Learn the fundamental concepts, major challenges, and effective solutions in wireless sensor networking This book provides a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the fundamental concepts, major challenges, and effective solutions in wireless sensor networking (WSN). Distinguished from other books, it focuses on the networking aspects of WSNs and covers the most important networking issues, including network architecture design, medium access control, routing and data dissemination, node clustering, node localization, query processing, data aggregation, transport and quality of service, time synchronization, network security, and sensor network standards. With contributions from internationally renowned researchers, Wireless Sensor Networks expertly strikes a balance between fundamental concepts and state-of-the-art technologies, providing readers with unprecedented insights into WSNs from a networking perspective. It is essential reading for a broad audience, including academic researchers, research engineers, and practitioners in industry. It is also suitable as a textbook or supplementary reading for electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science courses at the graduate level.