Information-theoretic lifetime maximization for IoBNT-enabled sensing

Abstract

Internet of Things (IoT) translates the physical world into a cyber form using wireless sensors. However, these sensors often lack longevity due to their energy-constrained batteries. This limitation is particularly critical for the Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT), in which sensors usually operate within an organism with minimum opportunities for replenishment. Thus, adopting energy-efficient strategies is vital to maximize the lifetime of such sensors and ensure the reliable execution of associated applications. To address this, this letter proposes an event-driven, time-adaptive transmission scheme based on the Kullback-Leibler (KL) distance. Specifically, the KL distance is used to measure the worth of transmitting the current sensor reading, enabling the sensor to decide whether to transmit in that sampling period, thereby saving energy and extending its lifetime. Furthermore, we identify the operational regions for sensors, namely safe, unsafe, and action, depending on application-specific parameters. The design and implementation of the required circuitry are also discussed, considering the unique constraints of the IoBNT. Performance evaluation validates that the KL distance improves sensor lifetime with an acceptable information loss.