title: Fast decision algorithms in low-power embedded processors for quality-of-service based connectivity of mobile sensors in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks.
abstract: When a mobile wireless sensor is moving along heterogeneous wireless sensor networks, it can be under the coverage of more than one network many times. In these situations, the Vertical Handoff process can happen, where the mobile sensor decides to change its connection from a network to the best network among the available ones according to their quality of service characteristics. A fitness function is used for the handoff decision, being desirable to minimize it. This is an optimization problem which consists of the adjustment of a set of weights for the quality of service. Solving this problem efficiently is relevant to heterogeneous wireless sensor networks in many advanced applications. Numerous works can be found in the literature dealing with the vertical handoff decision, although they all suffer from the same shortfall: a non-comparable efficiency. Therefore, the aim of this work is twofold: first, to develop a fast decision algorithm that explores the entire space of possible combinations of weights, searching that one that minimizes the fitness function; and second, to design and implement a system on chip architecture based on reconfigurable hardware and embedded processors to achieve several goals necessary for competitive mobile terminals: good performance, low power consumption, low economic cost, and small area integration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Technologies of Computers and Communications, Polytechnic School, University of Extremadura, Campus Universitario s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain. mariajaraiz@unex.es
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jaraíz-Simón
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gómez-Pulido
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vega-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D040421:Cell Phone; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D011786:Quality Control; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014159:Transducers