FIREMAN: foraging-inspired radio-communication energy management for green multi-radio networks

Abstract

Autonomous foraging radio resource allocation (AFRRA) protocol; autonomous foraging radio resource allocation message (AFRRAM); energy management; FIREMAN; foraginginspired; green multi-radio networksThe tremendously rapid evolution of wireless networks into the next generation heterogeneous broadband and mobile networks has necessitated the emergence of the multiradio, wireless infrastructure. These wireless infrastructural technologies have been designed in such a manner as to enable them to be self-organised, self-configured, reliable and robust, with a capacity to sustain high traffic volumes and long "online" time. However, the desired networking and complex features have resulted in unnecessary network energy consumption, impacting negatively on the economy, environment and the ICT markets. In order to reduce the potential energy consumption in these networks, this chapter proposes a novel energy management scheme based on behavioural ecology. Inspired by the applied foraging theory, whereby a solitary forager in a random ecosystem makes optimal decisions that maximises its energy (nutrients) consumption, survival probability and lifetime, a Foraging-Inspired Radio-Communication Energy Management (FIREMAN) method has been developed. The FIREMAN method, consisting of optimal transmission energy allocation and energy saving efforts in multi-radio networks, has as its aim, the achievement of both optimal network energy consumption and lifetime. To attain a scalable solution, the FIREMAN method has been coordinated by a radio resource allocation protocol module built on the link layer of the networking protocol stack. The efficacy of the new method has been extensively validated through computer simulations of the energy and throughput performance. Future research directions linked to this contribution have also been furnished in this chapter.