Samra Boulfekhar

Bio: Samra Boulfekhar is an academic researcher from University of Béjaïa. The author has contributed to research in topics: Wireless sensor network & Routing protocol. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 8 publications receiving 57 citations.

A Novel Energy Efficient and Lifetime Maximization Routing Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract: The energy consumption is a key design criterion for the routing protocols in wireless sensor networks (WSN). Some of the conventional single path routing schemes may not be optimal to maximize the network lifetime and connectivity. Thus, multipath routing schemes is an optimal alternative to extend the lifetime of WSN. Multipath routing schemes distribute the traffic across multiple paths instead of routing all the traffic along a single path. In this paper, we propose a multipath Energy-Efficient data Routing Protocol for wireless sensor networks (EERP). The latter keeps a set of good paths and chooses one based on the node state and the cost function of this path. In EERP, each node has a number of neighbours through which it can route packets to the base station. A node bases its routing decision on two metrics: state and cost function. It searches its Neighbours Information Table for all its neighbours concerned with minimum cost function. Simulation results show that our EERP protocol minimizes and balances the energy consumption well among all sensor nodes and achieves an obvious improvement on the network lifetime.

Localization Optimization in WSNs Using Meta-Heuristics Optimization Algorithms: A Survey

Abstract: In Wireless Sensor Networks, node localization is one of the most important system parameters. Determining the exact position of nodes in these networks is one of vital and tedious tasks. This paper presents a review of the most localization methods which optimize the localization error. It provides a new taxonomy of techniques used in this field, including Mobile Anchor, Machine Learning, Matematical Models and Meta-heuristics. In this later, we survey its different algorithms such as Genetic Algorithm, Particle Swarm optimization, Ant Colony Optimization, BAT optimization algorithm, Firefly Optimization Algorithm, Flower Pollination Algorithm, Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm, Artificial Bees Colony Optimization Algorithm, Fish Swarm Optimization Algorithm and others. Further, the comparison between these metaheuristics algorithms based localization optimization is done. Finally, a comprehensive discussion of the performance parameters such as accuracy, convergence rate, energy consumption and the number of localized nodes is given.

A survey on QoS routing protocols in Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET)

Abstract: Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) is an emerging new technology and a promising approach for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) domain. Many researchers focused on the creation of reliable, scalable and efficient routing protocols for VANET and improve their Quality of Service (QoS). Communication among vehicular nodes which enable drivers to take appropriate decision needs a high reliability, therefore the design of a routing protocol that ensures a certain level of QoS, represents one of the most important challenges of the vehicular networks, because VANET are characterized by specific features, such as restricted mobility, high node speed and a very dynamic topology. keeping in view of the above, this paper provides a detailed description of various existing QoS routing protocols in literature with an aim to classify them. Based on the optimization methods used to improve routing protocols in VANET, we have surveyed and classified the routing protocols into two classes, QoS routing protocols not based on meta-heuristics and QoS routing protocols based on meta-heuristics.

S-TDMA: A New MAC Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract: Due to the fact that sensor nodes are untethered and unattended, energy management is a critical issue in communication mechanism of a wireless sensor network. In this paper, we address this problem and propose a novel solution based on media access control technique. Our protocol STDMA (for Sensor-Time Division Multiple Access) exploits the inherent features of TDMA to avoid the main sources of energy wastage. It assigns sensors with consecutive time slots to reduce the frequency of state transitions. S-TDMA is carefully designed to overcome the high latency of traditional TDMA protocols. It also conserves energy when a node may not be transmitting or receiving packets. Simulation results show that the S-TDMA protocol functions well.

BEST-MAC: Bitmap-Assisted Efficient and Scalable TDMA-Based WSN MAC Protocol for Smart Cities

Abstract: Smart cities have been envisioned during the last decade. Moreover, various projects have been initiated to bring this concept into reality. Smart city is basically an emergence of the existing and new Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to make our living standard more safe and digitized. Wireless communications, such as sensors, actuators, intelligent transportation systems, and smart grids, have played a vital role in the dissemination of information under the given circumstances. Similarly, it is hard to declare any city as a smart city without taking benefits from wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, with new requirements and delay sensitive applications, the existing WSN requires significant alterations at several layers. In this paper, a new time division multiple access (TDMA)-based medium access control (MAC) protocol, called bitmap-assisted efficient and scalable TDMA-based MAC (BEST-MAC), is proposed for adaptive traffic in hierarchical WSNs that can be deployed in the smart cities. BEST-MAC is specifically designed to improve the quality control of such smart cities applications, where diverse traffic is required and loss or delay in data traffic is unacceptable. The main contributions of BEST-MAC include: 1) it uses small size time slots; 2) the number of those time slots is more than the number of member nodes; 3) knapsack algorithm is used to schedule time slots; and 4) short node address (1 B) is proposed to identify the member nodes. First two contributions of BEST-MAC handle adaptive traffic loads of all members in an efficient manner. The knapsack algorithm not only reduces the job completion time of a node but also minimizes the average packet delay with better link utilization. The short node address reduces the control overhead that improves the energy efficiency. The simulation results verify that the proposed BEST-MAC transmits more data with less delay and energy consumption compared with the existing MAC protocols.

Swarm Intelligence

Abstract: Swarm Intelligence is the principal peer reviewed publication dedicated to reporting research and new developments in this multidisciplinary field. The journal publishes original research articles and occasional reviews on theoretical, experimental, and practical aspects of swarm intelligence. It offers readers reports on advances in the understanding and utilization of systems that are based on the principles of swarm intelligence. Emphasis is given to such topics as the modeling and analysis of collective biological systems; application of biological swarm intelligence models to real-world problems; and theoretical and empirical research in ant colony optimization, particle swarm optimization, swarm robotics, and other swarm intelligence algorithms. Articles often combine experimental and theoretical work.

Different Energy Saving Schemes in Wireless Sensor Networks: A Survey

Abstract: Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are one of the very active research area. They have many applications like military, health care, environmental monitoring and industrial monitoring. The sensor nodes have limited energy source. Since in many cases the nodes are deployed in unreachable areas, hence recharging or replacing the battery of the sensor nodes is not an option. Therefore, one must employ techniques to conserve the energy by reducing the energy consumption by the nodes. In this paper, we discuss about the different energy saving schemes investigated by different research community in WSNs to reduce the energy consumption of the nodes and thereby improving the lifetime of the overall network. Energy saving protocols such as duty cycle, energy efficient routing, energy efficient medium access control (MAC), data aggregation, cross layer design and error control code (ECC) are discussed. Sleep/wake up method is adopted by the duty cycle approach to reduce the active time of the nodes and conserve their energy. The routing and MAC protocols use suitable energy efficient algorithms for saving energy. The data aggregation aims to save energy by reducing the number of transmissions. On the other side, cross layer approach looks for a cross layer optimization solution to improve the energy efficiency of the network. ECC reduces energy consumption by virtue of coding gain it offers which allows lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to achieve the same bit error rate (BER) as an uncoded system. Some techniques such as use of directional antennas, topology control and transmission power control which have been widely investigated for other ad-hoc networks for energy conservation are also discussed in brief in this paper.