Abstract

The availability of low-cost hardware such as CMOS cameras and microphones has fostered the development of Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks (WMSNs), i.e., networks of wirelessly interconnected devices that are able to ubiquitously retrieve multimedia content such as video and audio streams, still images, and scalar sensor data from the

environment. In this paper, the state of the art in algorithms, protocols, and hardware for wireless multimedia sensor networks is surveyed, and open research issues are discussed in detail. Architectures for WMSNs are explored, along with

their advantages and drawbacks. Currently off-the-shelf hardware as well as available research prototypes for WMSNs

are listed and classified. Existing solutions and open research issues at the application, transport, network, link, and physical

layers of the communication protocol stack are investigated, along with possible cross-layer synergies and

optimizations.

Keywords: Wireless sensor networks; Multimedia communications; Distributed smart cameras; Video sensor networks; Energy-aware protocol design; Cross-layer protocol design; Quality of service

1. Introduction

3. Network architecture