Virtual sensor network

Virtual Sensor Networks (VSNs) is an emerging form of collaborative Wireless Sensor Networks. Sometimes the acronym VSN is also used in Video Sensor Networks. VSNs support collaborative, resource efficient, and multi-purpose WSNs. These networks may involve dynamically varying subset of sensor nodes and/or users. VSNs are useful in three major classes of applications:

A single WSN is deployed to monitor rock sliding and animal crossing in a mountainous retain (two applications). Each application use nodes from the other application to relay its data to the signaling systems and/or to its members.

1. Geographically overlapped applications
   • E.g., monitoring rock slides and animal crossing within a mountainous terrain. Different types of devices that detect these phenomena can relay each other for data transfer without having to deploy separate networks. Here the advantage is saving in hardware cost.
2. VSNs are useful in logically separating multi-purpose sensor networks
   • E.g., smart neighborhood systems with multifunctional sensor nodes. In stead of traditional WSNs that runs one single applications, VSN enabled nodes run multiple applications
3. VSNs can be used in certain dedicated applications
   • E.g., To enhance efficiency of a system that track dynamic phenomena such as subsurface chemical plumes that migrate, split, or merge. Such networks may involve dynamically varying subsets of sensors. Here the advantage is the ability to connect right set of nodes at the right time.

A VSN can be formed by providing logical connectivity among collaborative sensors. Nodes can be grouped into different VSNs based on the phenomenon they track (e.g., rock slides vs. animal crossing) or the task they perform. VSNs are expected to provide the protocol support for formation, usage, adaptation, and maintenance of subset of sensors collaborating on a specific task(s). VSNs should make efficient use of intermediate nodes, networks, or other VSNs to deliver messages across members of a VSN. The main idea of VSNs is the collaboration and resource sharing. By doing so nodes achieve application objectives in a more resource efficient way.

References

[1] A. P. Jayasumana, Q. Han, and T. Illangasekare, “Virtual sensor networks - a resource efficient approach for concurrent applications,” In Proc. ITNG 2007, Las Vegas, Apr. 2007.
[2] H. M. N. D. Bandara, A. P. Jayasumana, and T. H. Illangasekare, “Cluster tree based self organization of virtual sensor networks,” In Proc. Wireless Mesh and Sensor Networks: Paving the Way to the Future or yet Another...?, New Orleans, Nov. 2008.