A Stochastic Model for Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Network Architectures of IoT with an Improved Design

Abstract

Hybridisation of networks is a trend that will continue to evolve for more efficient communication solutions. Hybrid power line communication (PLC) and wireless networks deployed for the Internet of Things (IoT) applications have improved the efficiency of low-power and lossy networks (LLNs). State-of-the-art solutions on hybrid networks are mainly application specific and does not provide a mathematical model to evaluate the network performance. Furthermore, the parallel PLC and wireless networks result in more power consumption due to the additional circuitry required to support and switch between two networks. There is a need for a generalized study on hybrid network architectures. A mathematical model must be developed to evaluate the performance of hybrid networks. Unlike parallel PLC and wireless networks, some intermediate solutions must be proposed that can offer the benefits of wired and wireless networks without increasing power consumption and circuit complexity. The paper presents a generalized study on hybrid network architectures. A hybrid network has been proposed that can offer the benefits of wired and wireless networks in the best possible way. A novel Markov-based stochastic model has been developed to evaluate the reliability of hybrid network designs. The analytical results obtained from Continuous Time Markov Chains (CTMC) have been validated by simulation using MATLAB. Spectral and energy efficiency have been evaluated for the hybrid designs along with a trade-off analysis. The proposed hybrid network (with 50% jump nodes being hybridized) is 33.53% more reliable for data transmission than parallel wired and wireless networks after 100 hours of operation.

KEYWORDS:

• Energy efficiency
• Internet of Things
• Markov model
• Power line communications
• Reliability
• Spectral efficiency
• Wired networks
• Wireless networks

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the Department of Science &Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, under project grant number [SR/WOS-A/ET-8/2018].

Notes on contributors

Neeti Gupta

Neeti Gupta received the BTech degree in electronics and communication engineering from Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, India in 2010 and the MTech degree in electronics and communication engineering from Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, Ghaziabad, India in 2012. She is currently pursuing PhD from Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, India and working on the Department of Science &Technology (DST), Govt. of India-funded project entitled: “Bandwidth and energy efficiency schemes for IoT sensor networks”. Since July 2012, she has been teaching and doing research in multidisciplinary areas. Her research interest includes wireless sensor networks, IoT architecture and dimensions. Email: [email protected]

Vidushi Sharma

Vidushi Sharma obtained PhD in computer science in 2008 and presently working as an assistant professor at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, India. She teaches post-graduate and graduate-level courses. She has above 80 international and national publications and two patents and has mentored one Government and two corporate projects. She has written two books, one of which is published by Taylor & Francis. Her research interests include IT applications in management and performance evaluation of information systems; which includes wireless sensor networks, IoT, application software and e-commerce system.