Hybrid Group Management MAC Protocol for Smart Grid Communication Topology and Big Data Processing

Abstract

By analyzing the enormous amount of data from smart grids with Internet of Things and sensor technologies, many benefits can be brought to the social welfare as well as the existing electric power systems. The wireless sensor network (WSN) topology implemented based on the power line communication network relies on the smart grid communication topology and has the characteristic of continuously supplying power to wireless gateway devices and specific sensor devices. Furthermore, it is essential to optimize wireless sensor data transmission methods for maximizing the lifespan of wireless sensor networks and enabling smart grids to be smart. In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient hybrid group management (HGM) MAC technology suitable for collecting and processing big data generated by various smart sensor devices in smart grid communication topologies. The proposed HGM MAC scheme defines anchor nodes that receive power from power line communication networks and battery-powered mobile sensor nodes to optimize wireless sensor networks for smart grid communication topology. HGM MAC is basically based on GM MAC and 3D GM MAC, but can be mainly used in environments such as factories, buildings, and power transmission and distribution networks. The major differences between HGM MAC and existing GM MAC are to ensure that all mobile nodes are connected at 1-hop distance from sink or anchor node and to reduce the burden of contention among mobile sensor nodes by proposing anchor active mode. Additionally, to prevent sensor data from being lost during transmission due to any unexpected events or big data generation in the target field, better buffer thresholds are derived for each group of mobile sensor nodes by applying various coefficient and constant sets to buffer threshold calculation functions. From energy efficiency simulation results, the proposed technology is verified to improve the performance by about 40% compared to the existing GM MAC and data loss has been completely prevented. Considering the characteristics of power line communication networks, power facility monitoring and management, and processing requirements for big data generated by various smart devices in smart grid, the proposed wireless sensor data communication technology is expected to be useful for design, analysis, and performance improvement of wireless sensor networks for smart grid infrastructures.