An MDP approach to transmission scheduling in WPCN networks

A key issue in Wireless Powered Communications Network (WPCN), deployed for periodic sensor measurement reporting, is the design of the nodes’ transmission schedule process. Under various unfavorable conditions, such as distant nodes and/or nodes located at the edge of the charging beam, blockage, or bad channel conditions in general, sensor nodes are insufficiently charged during the inter-transmission period. In these cases, successful reporting to the Access Point (AP) becomes problematic. To this end, we propose a Markov Decision Process (MDP) approach that allows nodes the choice of transmitting or refraining from transmitting and continue charging.