S-GinMob: Soft-Handoff Solution for Mobile Users in Industrial Environments

Abstract

In current research studies and testbed deployments of sensor networks, individual sensor nodes are usually assumed to be static. However, recent applications require mobile sensor nodes, something that poses unique challenges in aspects like resource management, topology control, and performance. In this paper we propose a novel soft-handoff mobility protocol that provides zero handoff time and zero packet losses. The proposed solution uses cross-layer information from the MAC layer, the Topology Control, and the Performance Debugging modules of the employed architecture. Our solution was implemented and evaluated in a critical scenario inside an oil refinery.