Energy efficient information processing in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSN), which normally consist of hundreds or thousands of sensor nodes each capable of sensing, processing, and transmitting environmental information, are deployed to monitor certain physical phenomena or to detect and track certain objects in an area of interests. Since the sensor nodes are equipped with battery only with limited energy, energy efficient information processing is of critical importance to operate the deployed networks as long as possible. This chapter presents how some classical information processing problems, mainly focusing on estimation and classification, need to be reexamined in such energy constrained WSNs. We first present the basics of estimation and classification and certain typical solutions. We then introduce the requirements for supporting their counterparts in WSNs. Some recent energy efficient information processing algorithms are then reviewed to illustrate how to enforce energy efficient information processing in WSNs. Examples, questions, and solutions are also provided to help the understanding of the topic in this chapter.