Case of Discrete-Event Simulation of the Simple Sensor Node with CPN Tools

Abstract

The manuscript discusses the case of evaluating the performance of a computing unit in a sensor node using simulation modeling. The practice of utilizing modern wireless sensor networks shows that the amount of data transmitted from terminal nodes is strictly limited. Pre-processing of data directly in the sensor node cuts down the need for raw data transmission. However, at the same time it promotes the need to process sensor data in real-time, that implies increased demands on the processing unit. The article proposes a model based on colored Petri nets to assess the sufficiency of the computational capabilities of the signal processor. The discrete-event simulation model allows changing such case parameters as input data bit rate, ADC buffer size, hardware interrupt generation time, computing unit memory size, and others. The time parameters of data processing used for the model could be based on performance estimates and therefore must be obtained beforehand. The proposed model has been successfully applied to the case of specifying limitations on the supported operating modes of the sensor node of the leak noise correlator based on Raspberry Pi.