Priority-based routing framework for image transmission in visual sensor networks: Experimental analysis

A Visual Sensor Network (VSN) is a specialized Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) equipped with cameras. Its primary function is to capture images, videos and send them to power rich sink nodes for processing. As image data is much larger than scalar data sensed by a typical WSN, applications of VSN require much bigger amount of data to be transferred to the sink. Due to constraints of WSN such as low energy, limited CPU power and scarce memory, transmission of large amount of data becomes challenging. On the other hand, some VSN applications require critical image features sooner than the entire image to take action. In this paper, we provide the details of experiments done using our proposed Priority-based Routing Framework for Image Transmission (PRoFIT). PRoFIT is designed to deliver critical image features at high priority to the sink node for early processing. Peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) analyses show that PRoFIT improves VSN application response time as compared to priority-less routing. This paper also contains the design of our VSN testbed. Multiple indoor and outdoor experiments were performed to validate the framework. This framework also improves the energy efficiency of the network. The results show that the PRoFIT is 40% efficient in terms of energy consumption. © 2013 The Science and Information (SAI) Organization.