Platform based design for wireless sensor networks
We present a novel methodology for the design of interoperable Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). The methodology is based on the principles of Platform Based Design (PBD). PBD is a meet-in-the-middle approach where the top-down refinement of a design specification meets with bottom-up characterizations of possible alternative implementations. The design space exploration is performed based on estimates of the performance of the candidate solutions so that the overall design process is considerably sped up as expensive re-designs are avoided and design re-use is favored. PBD is based on the rigorous definition of appropriate abstraction layers that are effective in shielding the drudgery of implementation details while allowing the important information to be taken into account. If each layer is formally specified, formal verification, refinement and synthesis are all possible. Yet while the overarching approach is general, the layers of abstraction and the accompanying tools can be (and in general, are) application dependent. In this paper, we present three abstraction layers for WSNs and the tools that "bridge" these layers. We present a case study that show how the methodology covers all the aspects of the design process, from conceptual description to implementation.
platform based design sensor networks design automation