An Early-Stopping Protocol for Computing Aggregate Functions in Sensor Networks

Abstract—In this paper, we study algebraic aggregate computations in Sensor Networks. The main contribution is the presentation of an early-stopping protocol that computes the average function under a harsh model of the conditions under which sensor nodes operate. This protocol is shown to be time-optimal in presence of unfrequent failures. The approach followed saves time and energy by relying the computation on a small network of delegate nodes that can be rebuilt fast in case of node failures and communicate using a collisionfree schedule. Delegate nodes run simultaneously two protocols, namely, a collection/dissemination tree-based algorithm, which is shown to be optimal, and a mass-distribution algorithm. Both algorithms are analyzed under a model where the frequency of failures is a parameter. Other aggregate computation algorithms can be easily derived from this protocol. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first optimal early-stopping algorithm for aggregate computatio...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2009
• Where: PRDC
• Authors: Antonio Fernández Anta, Miguel A. Mosteiro, Christopher Thraves
• Keywords: Aggregate Computation, Delegate Nodes, Dependable Computing, PRDC 2009, Sensor Networks