Delay optimal opportunistic pipeline routing scheme for cognitive radio sensor networks

In order to solve the problem of spectrum scarcity in wireless sensor networks, cognitive radio technology can be introduced into wireless sensor networks, giving rising to cognitive radio sensor networks. Delay-sensitive data applications in cognitive radio sensor networks require efficient real-time communication. Opportunistic pipeline routing is a potential technology to reduce the delay, which can use nodes outside the main forwarding path forward data opportunistically when the transmission fails. However, the energy efficiency of cognitive radio sensor networks with opportunistic pipeline routing is low, and the data transmission delay can be further optimized. In view of this situation, we propose the delay optimal opportunistic pipeline routing scheme named Variable Duty Cycle for Opportunistic Pipeline Routing (VDCOPR). In the Variable Duty Cycle for Opportunistic Pipeline Routing scheme, the nodes employ high duty cycle in the area far from the sink, and low duty cycle in the area near to the sink, which can achieve the balance of energy consumption and reduce the data transmission delay while not affecting network lifetime. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that, compared with previous opportunistic pipeline routing, energy consumption of network is relatively balanced and the data transmission delay can be reduced by 36.6% in the Variable Duty Cycle for Opportunistic Pipeline Routing scheme.